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               It's a road trip this week to the Isle Casino and Hotel. We hope you saw the story in the July 12 Courier about the impact the casino has had on local governments and non profits.

               The city got $800,000 last year, the county another $400,000 and the non profit Black Hawk County Gaming Association got 4.6 million. In past years those funds have paid for part of the Phelps Pavillion, the river loop, and improvements to the baseball stadium along with many more.

               So join us Monday and stay off the casino floor until after the meeting.

President Steve is off to a great start as our new club President, and our web site has a new look.

One of the great functions of our ClubRunner web site is the ability to easily change the format and color scheme.  Our projects, club history, photos and calendar all all still easy to find on the home page, members can expect new content and project details to be added weekly.

Explore our web site and you can see:
Events Calendar - future events like the Family Picnic and upcoming speakers
Historic Photo Rosters - See the forefathers of our club
Itzhak Perlman Concert - Tickets are selling out fast!

If you'd like to contribute with stories or photos, email Mason.

Long-time member given "honorary" status   

               B. J. (Barney) Beecher has been a member of our club for 51 years; that ought to be good for something. So Monday President Steve announced Barney has been made an honorary member.

               Joining Steve and Barney in the picture are son John Beecher; also at the meeting was grandson Mike Beecher.

               Congratulations, Barney.

               Please support our club's major international service project this year. We lost the support of Rotarians in Ohio who had pledged to fill 500 boxes, so it is critical that every member agree to fill at least one box. In recent years only a little over half of our members did so while other clubs in the area were 100 percent.

               Many members tell us it is fun to shop for youngsters. And if you just can't get to the mall, the other way you can help is to donate $45 and have someone else do the work. Be sure to make your check payable to The Community Foundation and mark "Shoebox Project" in the memo line.  If you just can't wait to get that donation to us, use the Google Checkout button below and your donation will be deposited right in our bank account!

               Boxes need to be filled and returned by September 11; after that we'll need help inspecting, sorting and packing them for shipment.

Rotary Clubs throughout Iowa are supporting the growth of young leaders through a RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) camp in August of this summer.   More young people are needed.  

District 5970 has a great RYLA camp planned Aug 14-16th 2009 for youth between 16 & 19 years of age or students who've completed the 10-12th grade. However, for whatever reasons the application numbers have not been sufficient to conduct the camp. Cost has been kept at the minimum at $280 per camper and we've been suggesting that the student pay a portion with the club making up the difference.
 

Unless several additional campers get registered before July 31st we will cancel the RYLA camp for this year. Registration forms are available on the district web site.
 

Please review the material regarding the camp at the District web site at http://www.district5970.org/  or call co-coordinator Gus Glaser at 563-652-9047 or give Gerald Retzlaff a call at 319-480-0014 (C)  If you know a young person who could benefit please get in touch.

               One member of our club is interested in participating in a National Immunization Day or NID where thousands of volunteers immunize children against polio. In the process of checking for her, we found opportunities for travel to Ethiopia, Nigeria and India in the next six months.

               The trip is not for the faint of heart; it will be hard work in third world countries where the disease is still endemic. But it will also be a life-changing experience for those who go.

               If you would like information on one or more of the trips, contact Dave Buck. You'll pay your own way and return committed to the program.