Chris Dunn graduated from UNI in 2012 with Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Communications. Since, he has worked at several area not-for-profits, currently being employed as the Outreach and Communication Coordinator with Cedar Valley Hospice for the past five years. Today, Chris will be giving an overview of care provided by Cedar Valley Hospice and how it differs from other types of healthcare.
At Cedar Valley Hospice, we do much more than provide hospice and palliative care for our patients. We also look after the well being of their families and our community members through grief support, education and ways for the people of our community to get involved. Cedar Valley Hospice believes one person can change a life, so we invite you to connect with us today.
Rotary honored six members as People of Action: Champions of Health on World Health Day 7 April, in recognition of their work to improve the foundation of good health at home and across the globe. The work of these members proved especially important and challenging due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
They will also be recognized at the 2021 Virtual Convention for their outstanding contribution to health.
Our club has lost another towering figure of community service - Steve Thorpe passed away Saturday, April 3. The family received friends at services this week, and Locke Funeral Home has a webpage where memories can be shared:
Join us to celebrate April birthdays...this group was denied proper recognition last year as the pandemic changed everything. Let's show this group some love!
Do you want to learn how Rotary's membership strength is in our diversity? Join Emily Tucker, Regional Membership Chair for Rotary International, at the Virtual District Conference on April 30 and May 1.
#Rotary member Maria Kliavkoff and her club are inspiring conversations and connections focused on the eight Pillars of Positive Peace.
What difference can one conversation, one action really have? As a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada living and working in the border area between Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia, I have always had a passion for peace. By good fortune, I have had the opportunity to meet four RI presidents, and I asked each what polio eradication has taught Rotarians about peace. The answer that inspired me most came from past RI President Barry Rassin, who told me “peace happens one conversation at a time.”
Rotary International has had a long relationship with the United Nations from its founding where over 40 Rotarians had role in drafting the United Nations Charter. Later an English Rotary club came up with the idea of UNICEF. Rotary has been a non-governmental observer at the United Nations for many years and Rotary's efforts in world wide disease prevention and health promotion including programs such as Polio Plus involve cooperation with the World Health Organization which is a UN affiliate. The speech today will deal with challenges to democracy from the rise of global populism and the prospects for internationalism and cooperation with this development and in a post COVID world.
Iowa United Nations Association Executive Director - Debra DeLaet, Ph.D.
Beth McCrindle is our amazing coordinator of the special luncheon and has the following words...
This honors program will be different this year-obviously without the “lure” of lunch and getting out of the building for part of the day we tried to make the formatting more appealing. The program will be a fabulous video of all of the honor students from Columbus, East, Expo, Valley, Waterloo Christian and West put together for us by the Superintendent’s office. Surrounding the video will be words of advice and congratulations offered by those our club as honored in the past who are all graduates from Waterloo.
Katie McCrindle Kroeger. Honor student who went to Spain as a Rotary Exchange Student between West and Wartburg. Now an outdoor enthusiast living in Colorado.
The Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 12-16 June 2021, in Taipei, Taiwan, will now be a virtual event in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
We are sorry that we will not see you in Taipei this year, but this decision, made by the Rotary Board of Directors, is necessary to protect the health of everyone involved. We will share more details about the 2021 Rotary International Virtual Convention soon. Here’s what you need to know now:
This year’s “Duck Pluck” will take place on May 1, 2021, virtually. The winning ducks will be plucked out of Michelle Bell’s hot tub during the District Conference!
Mr. Norman Ussery - one of our own dedicated members - is talking about the Waterloo Community Playhouse updates!
Norman Ussery Norman was raised in the Virgin Islands where he worked in several theatres, taught at University of the Virgin Islands and was co-founder of St. Thomas’ Pistarckle Theatre. He graduated from Duke University and has worked at Twin City Stage in Winston Salem, NC, the North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, NC, Theatre Tallahassee in Tallahassee, FL, and Theatre Arlington in Arlington, TX. Through his career, he has been an avid participant in the American Association of Community Theatres and is an advocate for collaboration in the arts, especially among theatres. He currently serves on the board of the Iowa Community Theatre Association. His background includes management in both professional and community theatres. In addition to theatre management, he has worked extensively as an actor and a director, mostly in the southeastern US and the Caribbean.
The City of Waterloo’s 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan process is underway! Our partners at deNovo have created a community survey to gain input from Waterloo residents and anyone who visits, works, or cares about the community.
Tell us what makes Waterloo great and be entered to win a prize pack with tickets and swag from Waterloo favorites such as Lost Island, the Waterloo Black Hawks, Waterloo Bucks, a Waterloo golf package, Phelps Youth Pavilion passes and more just for sharing your thoughts.
Your input will help us develop a vision for the future of Waterloo. Be a part of your community’s success by sharing your thoughts on Waterloo’s best features and opportunities.
Improving sanitation in communities around the world is part of our history.
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
Like many things this year, Empty Bowls will look a little bit different with the event taking place entirely online. Throughout the event week join us in learning about the Food Bank, while also raising awareness and educating the community on the issue of hunger. This will be done through a variety of different online medias. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and bid on both silent and live auction items.
Since 2002, good progress has been achieved to boost girls' enrollment in school. However, an estimated 129 million girls worldwide remain out of school and face multiple barriers to education.
These include distance to school, cultural norms and practices, school-related gender-based violence and early or forced marriage. Boys and girls face barriers to getting a good education in conflict-affected areas where safety and security can be compromised, and in households that depend on their labor or income.
Rick Harnish co-founded the High Speed Rail Alliance in 1993 with a passion for revitalizing the region he grew up in, lives in and loves. The Alliance builds the political will for systemic change by advocating for integrated rail and transit networks connected by 200+ mph high-speed lines. By connecting cities, towns and airports, the high-speed trains will dramatically expand economic opportunities and slash carbon emissions.
The Rotary Clubs of Kingston and area are continuing their tradition of community service by providing volunteers as ushers and screeners for the local COVID-19 immunization clinic at the INVISTA Centre.
There are four Rotary clubs and two Rotaract clubs in Kingston, and members from all six clubs are assisting this effort.
“Rotarians have been assisting Kingstonians for 100 years in many areas, particularly support to youth, seniors, and the underprivileged,” said Mike Moore, local Rotarian. “COVID has presented an entirely new challenge for Kingston. So, Rotarians and Rotaractors have responded by donating significant sums of money to the Food Bank, have helped deliver food to needy families, produced and distributed masks to disadvantaged families, and will be helping KFL&A Public Health in perhaps the most positive, impactful event of our lifetime, vaccinating our residents.”
To celebrate 75 years of cooperation and a shared history of working together toward a healthier and more peaceful world, Rotary presented the United Nations (UN) and its agencies, theWorld Health Organization (WHO)and UNICEF, with its highest recognition: The Rotary Award of Honor.
The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market is a grassroots effort to establish a community-owned grocery store that emphasizes local, healthy, and sustainable.
Tom Wickersham is a member of the Co-op’s board of directors. During the the day he serves as the Program Director at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
Get a guided tour of the Rotary World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.
As one of the two Rotary clubs normally conducting club meetings at One Rotary Center in Evanston, Illinois, USA, members of the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse were touched by General Secretary John Hewko’s inspirational tour of Rotary World Headquarters. Seeing Room 711, the location of the first Rotary meeting, was a reminder that club members later this year will once again walk by it on our way to club meetings, just as we did prior to the pandemic.
In past years, our Club has celebrated Presidents Day by honoring and learning about our club’s history from our Past and current Presidents. This year we will not have a table or dais, but we will have the opportunity to hear from some of our Past Presidents about their term in office and other memories about our club. Join us using the Zoom link below and celebrate our club's current president Annie Vander Werff, and all our past presidents who have carried our club for 106 years!
Dr. Jay Paul Ginther M.D., 74, of Waterloo, passed peacefully at 2:30am on February 4, 2021 at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital after a long history of battling heart problems. Music that he had performed with the Metropolitan Chorale played in the background. His wife, Ann, and their three adult children, Katrina, Greg, and Alex were with him. He believed in God the Creator that holds all of nature in balance, and he believed that death was an opening to the fullness of God's presence. In the end, Jay was sorry to leave us, but too tired to stay any longer.
Jay was born July 10, 1946 in Jersey City, NJ to Dorothea (Halloran) Guinther M.D. and John Paul Guinther M.D. Jay attended Wesleyan College in Connecticut where he was active in the Glee Club and Church Choir. Jay earned his M.D. from Columbia University in New York City. He was completing his surgical internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital where he met his wife Ann (Willenbring) Ginther.
In his youth, Jay was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. In his 30's he ran the Boston Marathon. As an adult, he was involved in the Rotary Club. He was passionate about traveling around the world to experience new cultures, foods, and study history. Jay was a wine enthusiast and active member in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls wine club. Jay and Ann loved music and sponsored many symphony fundraisers. Jay enjoyed nature throughout his life; whether it was gardening, exploring national parks, or walks with his wife through local trails in Waterloo. He was also a proud member of Mensa.
Rotary International President Holger Knaack shares the importance of taking on big challenges and increasing our impact to create new opportunities.
The Covid pandemic, while bringing so much suffering to the entire globe, has also enabled Rotary to open opportunities in many different ways, such as this institute and the virtual meetings we hold. These are so important as they bring leaders together to brainstorm on how to take on the challenges ahead. We are now in a time of rapid change and we have to keep working together to ensure Rotary comes out of this difficult time in a much stronger position,” said RI President Holger Knaack, while delivering the convocation address at the GETS event for RI zones 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Striking a pensive note, he said, “Rotary was founded in a world that doesn’t exist any longer, it is a different world now, which moves faster and is harder to comprehend. And it is filled with crises to manage. And yet it gives us new opportunities.”
He said even before this crisis, people were meeting and keeping connected to different friends in different ways. “Social media and online connections were already there but they have now become more important. We are all now used to working virtually. Most important, the younger generation that has grown up in this world, has a stronger desire for service and connections.”
Kevin and Beth have been Rotarians for a long time and one aspect they’ve always enjoyed is attending makeup meetings while traveling. Years ago Kevin attended a meeting of the local club in Iguacu, Argentina, and was the only English speaker there. The difficulty was - he was staying in the rain forest and no cab would drive him back after the dinner meeting. Thank goodness for his College German class and another visiting Rotarian from Berlin! They were able to communicate sufficiently to get a “volunteer” to drive him back! (“Will it build good will and better friendships?” Yes!!)
The McCrindles have attended so many meetings of the Princeville Club in Kauai that some consider them Ohana (family) members. There are many others but obviously all this has changed since the Pandemic! They now don’t have to find another virtual meeting-they can continue meeting right here in Waterloo! They both agree that when traveling it’s a “fun” (5th of the 4-Way Test!) way to stay.
Our club has lost another member this week, Dr Jay Ginther has passed away. His wife Ann specifically reached out to Beth McCrindle to notify our club and shared these words:
You can read Jay's blog about bone health and osteoporosis here:
We'll update the club with service details as they become available, please keep Ann and their family in your thoughts.
For over 50 years, Hawkeye Community College has distinguished itself as one of Iowa’s best community colleges. They're known for an environment that is academically challenging, for our caring faculty and staff, and for providing students the latest technology.
Fellow Rotarian and President of Hawkeye Community College Dr. Holcomb will share what's happening and expound on new initiatives on campus.
Deb Pullin-Van Auken has an update on our Rotarians who are giving to the Rotary Foundation.
Cheers to Us!
In these pandemic times, it is important to recognize members of our club that have shown the spirit of philanthropy through OUR The Rotary Foundation, including those that have achieved the EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) level (they give at least $25 per year to the Annual Fund) and those that are sustaining members (they give at least $100 per year to the Annual Fund). Let’s celebrate the spirit of philanthropy ( + = number of $1,000 level donations after achieving Paul Harris Fellow status):
The Job Foundation is a local non-profit with a mission to equip K-12 students and their families for economic advancement. This is accomplished through a comprehensive approach that stresses financial education, stewardship training, academic achievement, and attainment of key resources to increase financial stability. The Job Foundation envisions a world where all children, from every socio-economic background, are well-equipped with the financial skills, knowledge, and assets needed for their financial and life success.
https://thejobfoundation.org/
Kelsey Umthun earned her BA in Family Services and a certificate in Nonprofit Management. She began working at The Job Foundation in 2016. Kelsey has walked alongside students and families in the program for four years and currently serves as The Job Foundation’s Director of Development.
Rotary members rise to the challenge of the #Covid19 pandemic to distribute 800,000 masks to first-responders and essential workers in ten cities
In the early morning of 29 September, a cargo ship carrying 800,000 face masks arrived at the Port of Boston. Over the course of the following 14 days, those masks were delivered to first responders, healthcare providers, and frontline workers in cities, towns, and villages across New England.
This is a story of service and leadership. It’s a story of how our District and Zone responded to a crisis, rallied its resources, put boots-on-the-ground to bring disparate and far-flung communities together to spread goodwill. Most importantly, it’s a story about working together and using our collective professional backgrounds through the Rotary network to make a difference.
I am so grateful that Mason Fromm reached out to Bill Robert and his family recently.
Had Mason not connected with Bill and his son Mike, we might not have had the chance to lift Bill up, send cards, or share Rotary memories with him during what turned out to be his final days. (Mason compiled a book of the 2020 Reporter highlights for Bill).
Mason shared, "Bill Robert passed away on Sunday morning (January 17th) about 12:30. They had just moved him into hospice Friday evening, and Saturday brought another day of more pain, medications, and "fuss" that Bill didn't appreciate. However, Mike was able to share our Reporter archive with him and he said Bill shared memories about a few of our members.
I'm so glad we were able to get the book in his hands Friday and I hope Bill felt the love of his club in his final hours.
Mike said there will not be a memorial service, but I asked him to reach out if our club can be of any assistance to the family."
67 years to be committed to an organization like Rotary is admirable. We will celebrate the life of Bill Robert at our meeting today with a moment of silence. If you are not able to be with us, please take a moment to remember Bill - and if you're moved to stop by Dairy Queen - I'm sure it would make him smile if you chose to eat an ice cream cone in his memory!
Yours in Rotary, Annie Vander Werff President 2020-21
We hosted around 60 members and guests for Hovey's presentation January 11th, but there was simply too much story to fit in a single meeting. We heard "the rest of the story" January 18th.
Watch Hovey's complete story on our YouTube Channel:
Efforts to #endpolio in India have had lasting benefits: stronger health systems, improved vaccine delivery & robust disease response. Congratulations on 10 years without a case of wild polio, now let’s end polio for all!
Normally held in the fall, this year's One Rotary Summit has moved to January offering two VIRTUAL 90-minute sessions. Save these dates...
Tuesday, January 26th @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, January 30th @ 10:00 am
ORS is one of Rotary's best training programs that offer new ideas and best practices to help your club work on three key areas... membership, foundation, and public image.
With the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in March, ORS can compliment pre-training for your incoming presidents, and president-nominees. But, any Rotarian can attend at no cost, plus no travel! So watch for registration info out soon and plan to join us for One Rotary Summit!
Our very own Hovey Brom (yes, that's him in uniform) will be presenting and you DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT. He served under General George Patton in WWII and has done so many amazing things in his 95 years! Learn more about him in this 2012 Courier article
“Right now, I can see all my patients through my mobile phone,” says Prakash Paudyal, a pulmonologist and member of the Rotary Club of Jawalakhel, Nepal. Paudyal uses a Kubi device to turn a tablet into a “mini-robot” for remote monitoring of his COVID-19 patients who are in isolation at Nepal National Hospital. Paudyal learned about the Kubi and other telehealth practices during a vocational training team trip to the San Francisco area last year. “I do one round with all my [protective] gear on, and then I see all my patients through this mini-robot,” he says, thankful that the Kubi helps protect him from exposure to the virus.
The use of telehealth has surged worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, a study by McKinsey found that 46 percent of consumers are now using telehealth, up from 11 percent in 2019. Broadly defined, telehealth includes everything from virtual visits with a doctor to remote monitoring of a patient’s vitals to mobile health technologies.
James Gude, a California physician who founded a telemedicine practice called OffSite Care, says that when a doctor conducts a video consultation with the assistance of an on-site nurse and with access to a patient’s records and diagnostic test results, it can be nearly as effective as seeing a patient in person. “With a nurse there to help me examine you, I can order and look at everything I need,” he says. There are also sophisticated “robots” that allow a doctor to see a patient via videoconference and even send instrument readings, allowing the doctor to listen to a patient’s heart through a stethoscope, for example.
The people who fill the truly essential roles in society are often in short supply
By Joe Queenan Illustrations by Sébastien Thibault
From time to time, societies run low on the things — and the people — they really need. We wake up one day and realize that there are too few doctors. Or far, far, far too few nurses. Or it suddenly dawns on us that there aren’t enough teachers, engineers, or plumbers to go around. There are certainly never enough guys who work well with sheetrock.
Other professionals we have in spades. There are always more than enough landscapers, baristas, actors, masseurs, personal trainers, hairdressers, IT guys, and chefs. Nor are we ever in any real danger of running out of hedge fund managers, ballerinas, real estate agents, claims adjusters, standup comics, bartenders, aspiring singer-songwriters, or car salesmen. But the people who fill the truly essential roles in society are often in short supply.
Something like this may already be happening with Good Samaritans. From time to time, societies run desperately low on the kinds of devoted, implacable altruists who are always ready to pitch in and make the world a better place.
Our club typically ends each calendar year with a 2-week hiatus from regular meetings. We will not virtually meet December 28th or January 4th and hope our members will stay healthy and warm until we reconvene on Zoom January 11th.
Maternal health projects give Rotary clubs in Uganda a sense of purpose during COVID-19 restrictions
In March, the Ugandan government moved rapidly to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, issuing a strict lockdown and closing schools before the country had experienced more than a handful of reported cases.
The measures have been credited with saving lives and limiting the spread of the virus in the country, which had recorded only 1,200 cases and five deaths in August as the continent of Africa approached a million.
Still, those measures didn’t come without a cost, including lost jobs and hardships on pregnant women unable to reach a hospital due to the travel restrictions. Reuters reported that one woman in Kampala struggled for 90 minutes to reach a hospital a mile and a half (about 2.4 km) away. Both she and the baby died. In addition, the Women’s Probono Initiative, an advocacy group, reported cases of six other women and two babies dying during the lockdown.
When the Rotary Club of Rubaga, Kampala, heard of the reports, they knew they had to act to provide a safe transport option. The club donated an ambulance to provide medical transport to residents of Kikajjo, about a 40-minute drive southwest of Kampala. Betty Mwesigwa, the club’s immediate past president, says Kikajjo has densely populated, lower-income areas.
Monday the 21st, our last meeting of the year, we will celebrate the season with a holiday performance and presentation by the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony!
Please join us virtually and invite some guests! This is a perfect prelude to the holiday season. We will also spend some time reminiscing about our favorite holiday traditions, recipes, and past times.
Please wear your festive holiday hats and attire. There will be prizes!
On Monday, December 11th, Wade Itzen delivered the Glen "Doc" Miller trophy to our 2020 MVP Alex Feldmann and Columbus Football Head Coach Brad Schmit (2004 MVP).
Our "virtual" award ceremonies in November for student athletes did not allow us to present the trophies to each MVP, so Rotarians delivered them to the schools afterwards. Here is the link to see our Volleyball MVP Jenna Brown from Don Bosco.
Major Shannon Thies of the Salvation Army is talking about the fundraising they are doing this year.
Every year The Salvation Army is able to assist local people in need throughout the Holiday Season by providing a wide range of both broad & specific assistance services/programs. By giving your support through volunteering, fundraising, donating or sharing the word about our mission - those in need around your community can continue to have access to these life changing services & programs.
Below are two links to donate to the Salvation Army. All money stays local!
ROME, Italy (December 4, 2020)— In the face of surging infections in Italy, Rotary and the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are taking action to support the country’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
As part of an 18-month partnership, USAID will provide US$5 million to The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s philanthropic arm, to support Italy’s pandemic response, prepare communities for future outbreaks and address the long-term social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
Given all the political guests and athletic awards - we did not find time at a regular meeting to honor our November birthdays. So we'll have a double-header and list our November and December birthdays at our December 7th meeting:
I'd like to share an update on the Global Grant you helped to fund here in Iowa.
All equipment has been purchased and installed at the four health care centers. One of the sites, Eastern Iowa Health Care Center has seen a huge increase in patients since the August 10 Derecho that came through Cedar Rapids. Our grant was nearly completed at that time.
Please know that the Rotarians and residents of Iowa thank you for believing in this project and for helping our residents living in poverty gain a basic human right: healthcare.
I personally thank you all for an unprecedented Global Grant collaboration in the US with contributions from India and Brazil and Minnesota.
Yours in service,
Michelle Bell Assistant Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator District 5650, 5970 and 6000 2019-2022
Zone 29 International Convention Promotion Chair 2021 Taipei, Taiwan
Mike Hoffman from Cedar Valley Makers will share information about providing free workshop space, access to tools, and expertise for those working on projects in the pursuit of education.
Stories of service from around the world with Rotarians...
By Brenda Cressey, Trustee and Rotary Member of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
Several years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to take part in a multi-project mission with more than 100 Rotarians, spouses, Rotaractors and even a few new Rotarians from Rotary District 5280. We flew to Panama to visit project sites, perform cataract surgeries, and deliver wheelchairs.
There were several “Rotary moments” on that trip, but the truly unforgettable moment for me was when a grandfather, having no legs, was presented with the gift of mobility in the form of a bright red wheelchair.
Seeing his grandson in tears reminded me that we not only changed that grandfather’s life, but the life of that young boy who had been lovingly carrying his grandfather everywhere since he became big enough to do so. Moments like that one are why I never miss an opportunity to promote the World Fund and encourage others to support it with their generous giving.
Our very own Deborah D. Pullin-Van Auken will give us a foundation update on Monday!
What’s new with YOUR The Rotary Foundation? What’s The Rotary Foundation doing to help with the global pandemic? With the global pandemic drawing away everyone’s attention, what’s going on with Rotary’s long-running polio fight? I hear about all the international activities The Rotary Foundation is involved with, but what do they do for us in our district and our local community? Is there any way I can help with The Rotary Foundation’s local and international initiatives?
World Children’s Day is a special moment for bright young minds to speak up, demand their rights and show the world their boundless potential.
World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children.
This year, the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in a child rights crisis. The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate and, if unaddressed, may last a lifetime.
It’s time for generations to come together to reimagine the type of world we want to create.
Kids are reimagining a better world. What will you do?
Longtime Waterloo Rotarian Ron Johnson passed away October 30th at age 93, and we hope to have his son Barry and other family members join us for an upcoming meeting.
Our dad, Ron Johnson, took great pride in being a member of the Waterloo Rotary from when he joined in 1969 until he resigned his membership in 2015 due to "increasing age". We all have wonderful memories of attending the annual Rotary picnic. We also appreciate the important role that Rotary played in dad's life. He may have put it best in his letter of resignation when he said "I thank all of the members for excellent programs and lasting friendships. It truly has been a good ride."
Ted Batemon will share his amazing journey of achieving life goals after overcoming challenges!
My story is about overcoming incredible odds and being able to walk again after being told I would be paralyzed, I call it the most selfish I ever prayed.
Like so many other things this year, our normal club operations have been adjusted in response to Covid-19. Thankfully, we have technology that allows us to see and hear each other while we stay physically separated. By early summer, Art Cox stepped up to host our Rotary meetings on Zoom and we were able to break into "rooms" of 4-5 members and catch up with each other before the program - just like sitting at tables pre-pandemic.
The link to join our meeting is the same every week, so you can add it as a bookmark in your browser or create a recurring appointment in your calendar. We encourage you to share the link with people you think would like to attend and one day join our club. We have more than 110 active members in our club, but only about 30 join us for meetings each week. If you haven't joined us for a virtual meeting yet, there's PLENTY of room on the screen for you (even if you don't want to turn on your camera!).
Just click the logo below to join every Monday at noon!
Area coaches and media voted on the Most Valuable Player for 2020.
Columbus High School, Don Bosco High School, Waterloo Christian High School, Waterloo East High School and Waterloo West High School are the featured local schools. Valley Lutheran High School is typically involved but did not have a team this year.
Click here to view the player names and photos...and to see our 2020 MVP!
For true economic development, women are essential
Here’s why these organizations and their Rotary club partners are supporting local women’s entrepreneurship with financial literacy, small business loans, and one-on-one advisors.
by Anne Stein
Women’s economic empowerment contributes to a nation’s growth and to the world’s economic health overall. Studies have shown that it boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality, and supports economic resilience. And income loss associated with gender discrimination costs the world economy an estimated $12 trillion and well as a reduction of 16 percent of cost to the global GPD.
2020 volleyball team photos are shared below so our club can see the faces of the athletes that not only competed against other teams this year, but battled a global pandemic to continue playing the game they love. We'll meet virtually this year to honor the teams and award a gifted young woman the travelling MVP trophy. Our club congratulates each athlete and honors their commitment to taking extra steps this year to keep their team healthy.
I studied at the University of Kentucky where I majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in Political Science. There, I competed for the school's Division 1 gymnastics team for four years.
Although I received my education from the Bluegrass state, my roots go back to Southern California. Ever since I was five years old, I've always said I wanted to be the anchor for the TODAY Show one day. Now being here and working for KWWL, I feel like I'm getting closer to achieving my dream.
Sheriff, Iowa House, Iowa Senate and U.S. House all were invited to speak at our Rotary Club. This week, two candidates will round out our month of political candidate speakers.
After returning home, many students miss their lives abroad. Rotex helps keep the international connections going.
by Diana Schoberg Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
Riikka Muje had a fantastic time when she lived in Brittany, France, in 2011-12 as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. “At the beginning it was hard,” she recalls. “I didn’t speak the language. I didn’t know anyone. But then it’s amazing how you can form a life in another place.”
After her exchange, adjusting back to life in her hometown of Rovaniemi, Finland, was just as hard — until she joined a Rotex alumni association, Rotex for short. Rotex alumni associations are groups of Rotary Youth Exchange alumni who act as intermediaries between Rotarians and Youth Exchange students. They provide mentoring and organize events with exchange students in their home country as a way to give back and keep their international connections alive.
Ron Steele interviewed both candidates running for Iowa's First District for U.S. House of Representatives this week for his weekly show The Steele Report. You can watch the show Sunday mornings after "Meet The Press" on KWWL.
As our plane approached the ancient city of Alexandria, I peered out of my window to behold a stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea meeting the Nile river at dawn. A fitting prelude to an amazing five days in Cairo - “the city of a thousand minarets". As a student of peace studies, I have been captivated by the historic and modern struggles of the Middle East. I’m grateful to have experienced Egypt — it’s people and culture — nearly a decade after the Arab Spring revolutions swept the region. It was an invaluable opportunity that broadened my perspectives on conflict, peace and resilience.
Terrance Stevenson - Rotary Peace Fellow, MSc Economics and Finance for Development
In November, we will honor seniors from local high schools in their respective sports of volleyball and football.
On November 9th we'll honor volleyball athletes and our guest speaker will be Alaina Kwan of KWWL, former University of Kentucky gymnast.
Then, November 16 we'll honor senior football athletes and our guest speaker with be Ted Batemon of Electronic Engineering, former Wartburg College football player.
While the format will look a lot different this year due to Covid19, it is important that our club continues to recognize the hard work and dedication these athletes, coaches, and families have made to their sports. The travelling trophies will be awarded to the MVP from each sport, just as we have done for decades!
ElsaMarie D’Silva of Mumbai began her career as a flight attendant, eventually rising to become vice president of network planning for one of India’s largest airlines. Learning about the fatal 2012 gang rape of a young woman in Delhi, an unusually heinous crime that led to public outrage, led D’Silva to make a dramatic career switch.
D’Silva is the founder and CEO of the Red Dot Foundation, which works with nongovernmental organizations in India, Nepal, and Kenya to address street harassment and violence against women. In addition to community workshops, the foundation empowers women to document catcalling, groping, and other incidents through an online crowdmapping platform called Safecity. D’Silva was also a Rotary Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
Our first political candidate will join our Virtual Rotary meeting Monday, October 12th.
Sheriff Tony Thompson took office January 1, 2009(Article),was re-elected in November of 2012 with nearly 70% of the vote, and again in November of 2016 with 98.8% of the vote. His law enforcement career started much earlier however... He joined the US Army as a military police officer in 1988. He retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2009, with 21 years of service. His career with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office began in March of 1994 and he has worked in the Jail, Special Services, Patrol, and now Administrative Divisions. His prior assignments include: Drug Education Officer, Community Services Coordinator, Computer Crimes Investigator, Patrol Officer, Public Information Officer, and SWAT Team leader prior to taking command of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
The U.S. lost a remarkable leader on Sept. 18, 2020, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87 after a years-long battle with recurrent pancreatic cancer. Famously nicknamed “The Notorious RBG,” Ginsburg’s career focused on ending gender-based workplace inequities for men and women.
No matter your political affiliations, it’s tough not to notice the similarities between Ginsburg’s impactful career and the evolution of Rotary over the past few decades:
In the 1950s, she was one of just a handful of women admitted to Harvard Law School. It wasn’t until the 1980s that women were allowed to join Rotary.
In the 1990s, RBG made famous her “dissent” standings, in which she went against popular opinion to mainstream “gender blind” law, for equal rights for men and women in work and education. In Rotary, women became district governors for the first time in the mid-1990s.
As of this year, RBG is one of just four women to have served as Supreme Court Justices. The first female Rotary International presidential nominee was appointed in 2020 for the 2022-2023 election.
We’ve come a long way in Rotary and in society for raising the bar for equality standards among men and women. RBG’s work made a lasting impact that parallels our Four-Way Test: truth, fairness, goodwill, and mutual benefit.
We are getting ready to ship 40 to 50 tons to help Nicaragua. This is year 19. We started with one school with 40 kids and now we have 2,400 kids in 14 schools. In year two we focused on Casa Materna (shelter for pregnant moms). Since 2003 we have delivered 19,000 healthy babies at our shelter and given them a layette bag with everything they need for a new baby at home. We also send many school supplies and extra clothes.
Since 2001 (when we sent about 25 tons) we have now exceeded 1,000 tons of help for great kids, moms, and families who need a hand up.
We will start unloading a semi trailer Monday, October 5th at 8 AM in the "old" Food Bank building at #ast 11th St and Sycamore. Anyone who can help should call Liz and Steve Thorpe 319-830-3012, Dave Lee 319-231-2188 or Jim Seely 319-830-5988.
Tune in and see our very own Steve Carignan moderate one of the forums.
The Black Hawk/Bremer League of Women Voters will sponsor virtual candidate forums in the month of October. A forum for Black hawk County candidates will be Thursday, October 8th, 7p.m. – 8:30 p.m. via zoom. The forum for metro Legislative candidates will be Thursday, October 15th ,7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. via zoom. The Forum for Bremer County candidates will be Thursday, October 22, 7 to 8:30 pm. The public is invited and may access the forums on https://www.facebook.com/BlackHawkBremerLeague
Facebook Events will be created for each forum, and available as Facebook Live.
The public will have an opportunity to submit questions on-line.
For more information, please contact Jean Seeland, 319-493-2015.
World Polio Day is October 24—How Does Your Club Plan To Take Action?
We have much to celebrate! Africa has now been declared free of the wild poliovirus. Rotarians continue to move closer to the goal of total eradication. Plan an activity in your club. Ask your club leadership about what is being planned for World Polio Day to promote polio eradication.
Dedicate a club meeting to polio eradication awareness. Invite a guest speaker who is a polio survivor. Invited your local media to the meeting. Have a discussion aimed at increasing awareness of Rotary’s fight against polio.
Host a virtual viewing party for friends and club members to watch the official Rotary International Online Global Update on October 24.
Show the “5 Ways to End Polio” video at your club meeting. You can find it at this link:
A really great End Polio Now toolkit is available to help you plan and celebrate. This toolkit has press releases, banners, posters, social media messages, infographics and educational materials. Visit this link to view those materials:
Our club is now seeking donations to support the Operation Warm project. Coats are $20 each and the club will MATCH 100% of all donations up to $2,500.
Be sure to purchase your coat (or coats) by Wednesday!
There will be no meeting today since we hosted the Family Picnic last Thursday. Please plan to join us October 5th when we meet virtually and celebrate October birthdays!
Our very own Nick Rossman will be reviewing the latest happenings at Waterloo Public Library, as they are doing things in a new way with the COVID-19 environment we are currently experience.
John Hewko and CEOs across industries share their best advice with Adam Mendler in his Lessons in Leadership series.
Over the years I have interviewed hundreds of America’s top leaders and a question I love asking is: “What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?” Here are the answers I received to that question from ten CEOs of successful organizations - across of a wide of industries - who I interviewed in my Lessons in Leadership series:
John Hewko, CEO of Rotary International: In addition to stressing that all leaders reflect on their personal and organizational core values, I would simply suggest that those in the for-profit sector take a critical look at how social value is part of their firm’s mission. Broadly, if the 19th century for-profit sector valued “reward,” and the 20th century benchmark was risk and reward, then the 21st century will be defined by risk, reward and impact. For many years, it was difficult to answer the inevitable question: How do you blend and measure social and financial returns? This is no longer the case, but it requires some bold collaboration between the private sector and non-profits to act on this insight. Finally, I firmly believe that trailblazing leaders are made, not born. Rotary’s founder Paul Harris wasn’t blessed with once-in-a-lifetime talents, but he was able to articulate a vision that inspired others. He was able to act on his vision to form a new social network well before anyone ever heard of Facebook or LinkedIn.
Hear from our own Rich Frevert - Executive Director of Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony - and Jason Weinberger - Artistic Director - and learn the latest and greatest from their organization.
Sixty-five years ago, in 1955, I was diagnosed with polio. I was two years old, so I was unaware of what it meant to have been infected with the poliovirus, but I became more aware of it in subtle ways as I got older. And at some point, I understood what my mother meant when she said I was “one of the lucky ones.”
Among my childhood memories, getting the oral polio vaccine is as vivid as the classroom drills that taught us to seek safety under our desks in case of a nuclear attack. While I can now joke about how sturdy school desks must have been back then, there’s no amusement in my recollection of lining up outside the local firehouse for the Sabin sugar cube — that was serious, important business. I knew it then, and I know it now.
We'd like to hear what our members are up to with helping other in the community. Have a non-profit fundraiser coming up? Or did your organization donate to a non-profit or group in need? Send me a note and some photos and we will put in the Reporter! E-mail Jaclyne @ jheller@kwwl.com
Make change and make time for your health this fall.
Rotary Transcends Embracing Change - We are Change Makers!
The year 2020 has shown us that we are more resilient than we ever imagined - as individuals, teams, and Rotarians. Rather than shrinking from change, we have embraced it and made this Rotary year one for the record books:
We’ve adapted to virtual meetings - including the Rotary International Conference.
We’ve donned our masks - some Clubs have even ordered specialized Rotary masks for members who choose to wear them.
And really, we’ve done the same things we’ve always done...a little differently.
Through it all, we’ve gained a new appreciation for what it means when we do get to come together. As Rotarians, we know we are better together, even if we are physically apart. We take on challenges as a unit - none of us is an island. By embracing these challenges as a team, we can go about our work with a spirit of service and a renewed perspective.
Ten clubs in Ontario, Canada hosted virtual events in 2018 and 2019. Find out their tips on creating your own event.
After many years of celebrating World Polio Day with proclamations, updates from Rotary and health leaders, and flag-raising ceremonies, the 10 Rotary clubs in District 7070 (Ontario, Canada) took a different course in 2018. An in-person event held in a new global classroom and simultaneously streamed live is now serving as a great model as we approach holding our first World Polio Day live event in a COVID-19 world.
Just three years ago, Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology, a post-secondary school in Oshawa, Ontario, constructed a new Centre for Collaborative Education, which included a Global Classroom. The center allows students to learn from, and share with, students and experts from around the world in real-time. The class brings cultures from around the world together to share information about each other’s culture and countries. The clubs of the Durham region all helped provide funds for the creation of the center and global classroom.
You are invited to join us at this year’s "socially distanced-style" Waterloo Rotary Club family picnic! Please RSVP by Friday, September 10 so we can plan accordingly.
The details:
Cost: $25/family
When: Thursday, September 24
What time: Doors open at 5, food 5:30-7:30 pm *Program @ 6:30
Where: Rotary Reserve on North Union Road in rural Black Hawk County
Rotary and its GPEI partners celebrate a monumental achievement, say global eradication of wild polio is possible with the continued dedication and persistence of Rotarians.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on 25 August announced that transmission of the wild poliovirus has officially been stopped in all 47 countries of its African region. This is a historic and vital step toward global eradication of polio, which is Rotary’s top priority.
After decades of hard won gains in the region, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance — are proclaiming the milestone an achievement in public health. They offer it as proof that strong commitment, coordination, and perseverance can rid the world of polio.
This year’s Waterloo Rotary Club family picnic will be on Thursday September 24 at the Rotary Reserve on North Union Road in rural Black Hawk County.
We will open at 5 p.m., plan to start serving at 5:30 p.m., have a program at 6:30 p.m. and finish at 7:30 p.m. The menu this year will include a meat choice of 12-ounce rib-eye or chicken breast plus sides of baked beans, baked potato with butter and sour cream, coleslaw and drink. Mac and cheese will be available for children. Beverages include milk, lemonade, coffee and water. Ice cream with toppings will be served for dessert. Meals will be served, and social distancing and masking requirements will be followed.
Our own Deb Pullin-Vanauken and staff from National Cattle Congress are speaking about the latest happenings at this historic event center.
For over 90 years, people have been coming to the Dairy Cattle Congress in Waterloo to be entertained. Many of them find this entertainment by walking through the barns or experiencing the nostalgia and adventure when viewing farm machinery. There continues to be much incidental entertainment for the Cattle Congress visitor and large name acts to attract people to the event. Whatever the entertainment may be, the Board of Directors remains dedicated to education. An old poster advertising the National Dairy Cattle Congress is merely making a play on words when it declares that “Congress entertainment is educational; its education is entertaining; it is ALL inspirational.”
Not a 'Natural Leader'? These 5 Tips May Come in Handy
Some people seem to be born with the propensity to lead – they're congenial, people admire them, and they're intelligent. But the most successful Rotary leaders aren't always the smartest or most talented club members. The best leaders are those with the drive to do what needs to be done – and the skill to help others rise with them.
If you don't feel like you are a natural leader, consider these 5 tips to help you excel and guide your club to success.
Show Up and Do the Work: Delegation is important, but good leaders also get their hands dirty. Show up at volunteer opportunities. Help set up club events. Your hard work will be noticed.
Be Positive: Your attitude can be contagious, so look for opportunities to uplift and encourage fellow club members.
Emit Gratitude: Everyone enjoys being appreciated. Let others know you appreciate their contributions and encourage them to do the same with others.
Seek Solutions: Try not to dwell on problems or challenges. Roll up your sleeves and start seeking solutions. Your club will follow suit.
Be Coachable: Leaders don't know everything. They're constant learners with a desire to stay ahead of the next need. All of us, from District Governors to new members, always have something to learn.
Ignore the little voice that makes you feel like less than a leader. Turn your negative thoughts into positivity. You can achieve great things – and you are a Rotary leader for a reason.
Quick Poll: I’d love to know whether articles like this are of interest to you as a Rotarian. Could you please send me a note with your feedback? My goal is to deliver the right type of content to help you thrive personally, professionally, and in Rotary.
IOWA (KWWL) - Many different organizations are asking for help, donations and volunteers as Iowa continues to recover from the devastating derecho August 10th.
There are many volunteers and crews working throughout hard-hit areas, but more resources are needed.
Our August 17th meeting was our first in-person meeting since March and it was great to see familiar faces again (even if it was only the top half above their mask!)
As part of our District Grant from the 2019 / 2020 Rotary year, we had a work day out at the Rotary Shelter. The committee consisting of Katelyn Tungland, Steve Finegan, Dave Lee, Annie Vander Werff, Mark Kuiper, Gene Leonhardt and James Madison developed a plan to improve the Rotary Shelter out at George Wyth State Park. Improvements included a new grill, lighting, electrical outlets, counter top and painting.
A message from Lowell Stoolman, District Governor:
Due the devastating storm on Monday, the Cedar Rapids area needs help. If you don't have your own issues from the storm and are willing to assist, please call Past District Governor Michelle Bell at 319-431-2755 for instructions on how you can help.
Thank you for all you can do for the Cedar Rapids area and our fellow Rotarians!
Greetings, fellow Rotarians. Thank you to everyone who made it to my July installment as District Governor for District 5970.
A month into my term, I am eager to start meeting with your clubs, whether in person or virtually. Club visits this term will certainly be unique, but I am looking forward to the challenge.
Even during the pandemic, we can be thankful for so many things. We have our families, our friends. Many of us are still working and volunteering. And we can be grateful for technology like email and video calls to keep us all connected.
I am not one to dwell on negativity, and I hope that rings true for you and your club, too. This year, we will all be asked to do more with less, and to stretch our patience and flexibility, perhaps like never before. We will rise together in Rotary through the end of 2020, and enter 2021 with the boldness to get things done.
Thank you for your continued dedication. Rotary would be nothing without our club members’ hard work and compassion.
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
James is Scout Executive/CEO, Winnebago Council, Boy Scouts of America. He is a graduate of Missouri State University and was in Alabama prior to coming to the Cedar Valley.
As part of our District Grant from the 2019 / 2020 Rotary year, we will have a work day out at the Rotary Shelter on August 17!
The committee consisting of Katelyn Tungland, Steve Finegan, Dave Lee, Annie Vander Werff, Mark Kuiper, Gene Leonhardt and James Madison have developed a plan to improve the Rotary Shelter out at George Wyth State Park. Improvements include a new grill, lighting, electrical outlets, counter top and painting. We will have a catered event out at the Rotary Shelter on Monday, August 17th with Lori Eberhard, Park Ranger making a brief presentation. The work day will be split in to sessions. 8 – 10 Rotarians will be needed from 10:00 – 12:00 to complete the scraping, sweeping, cleaning and arranging of picnic tables. All Rotarians are welcome for the program which will be from 12:00 – 1:00 and include socializing with face mask and proper distancing, catered lunch and presentation. 8 – 10 Rotarians are needed from 1:00 to 2:00 to complete the painting, clean up and moving tables back. Look for an email to sign up for this first in-person meeting for our Rotary Club since March. As an added bonus, Rotarians that sign up for one of the work sessions will receive a free Rotary Face Mask!
The Waterloo Rotary Club just made another $1,000 presentation to the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley (VCCV).
Past Waterloo Club President and VCCV Executive Director Lauren Fink accepted the check from past president Mark Durbahn in front of the Volunteer Center on Kimball Avenue. This check will help the center to provide additional resources to recruit new volunteers due to changing volunteer pools caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Hilary and Kate became best friends when they met through #Rotary. Over the course of a decade, their friendship took them to Brazil, South East Asia and Japan as they worked on projects for peace.
I am constantly in awe of the power of connection. This is what Rotary is all about. We unite in friendship to realize truthful, fair, good-willed, and beneficial outcomes in our communities and the world. For Rotary members and people like me, our lives are forever transformed by this powerful network.
I was 17 years old when Rotary became a guiding force in my life. I was a young woman hungry to see the world outside my own country. Thanks to Rotary, I was granted the opportunity to live in Brazil as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student for a year. The experience was transformative for many reasons, the foremost being the people I met along the way who continue to be central figures in my life.
Monday, August 3rd we'll get to hear Robin Summers with the Girls Scouts (after technical problems delayed her program a couple weeks ago).
I have lived in Waterloo almost my entire life. I went through the Waterloo School system from Kindergarten through high school, graduating from West High. I have a BA in Sociology and a MA in Women’s and Gender Studies, both from the University of Northern Iowa. I have been at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois since August of 2015 starting out as a community outreach manager and now as the director of community outreach and development. Through my role as the director of community outreach, I oversee our council outreach programming. I started working in development less than a year ago and serve as a major gifts officer.
Time for another socially-distanced birthday greeting to all our members celebrating this month! Please reach out to these fellow Rotarians and wish them a warm and healthy birthday!
Harrison Cass
Aug 09
Michael Larson
Aug 09
Shelia Baird
Aug 10
Katelyn Tungland
Aug 15
Kathleen Braun
Aug 16
Norman Ussery
Aug 16
Gil Irey
Aug 17
David Lee
Aug 18
Jack Dusenberry
Aug 21
Michelle Weidner '03
Aug 23
Beth McCrindle
Aug 24
Mindy Hendricksen
Aug 28
Jim Seeley
Aug 30
Also - the Rotary Birthday Machine is available for check-out - just email Mason for details!
Waterloo Rotary presents $1,000 to Pathways Behavioral Services.
Mark Durbahn presented the $1,000 check to Kimberly Costarella and Dave Becker with Pathways Behavioral Services. They will use the check to assist them as they provide mental health and addiction services for the Cedar Valley. Their services are more in demand due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Rotarian Karen Kendrick-Hands answers five questions about Environmental projects with Rotary! She is the communications director for Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)
1. How does the environment fit into Rotary’s areas of focus?
Any project in any area of focus will benefit from having environmental sustainability as one of its watchwords. It’s a lot harder to supply clean water to people if your watershed is compromised— if your river is full of industrial, human, and animal waste.
2. Why did ESRAG publish a handbook with environmental project ideas? A lot of people say they’d like to do an environmental project, but they don’t know where to start.
3. Can you describe some of the project suggestions? We looked to address topics that we thought were important, topics that fit well with existing areas of focus, and topics that expanded Rotary clubs’ reach into the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
4. What inspired ESRAG’s collaboration with UNEP? Rotary and UNEP decided to work together to create a handbook for Rotary clubs that want to participate in World Environment Day, which is 5 June.
5. Are Rotarians getting more involved in environmental projects? People interested in environmental solutions could go out and work with other groups, and many Rotarians do. But what we’re seeing is a real desire to do their environmental work within the Rotary framework.
A small but mighty group of Rotarians got together to discuss doing Rotary Shelter project in near future. Annie, Dave, Katelyn, Mark and Steve had a great time chatting with Lori of Iowa DNR.
Mateo Armando “M.A.T.” T. Caparas served as RI president in 1986-87 with the Rotary theme, “Rotary Brings Hope.” He was the first and only Filipino to become president of Rotary International, he was 97.
Caparas launched the worldwide anti-polio drive aimed at eradicating the deadly disease that has killed and paralyzed tens of thousands of people. The campaign has become a huge success and has drawn the strong support of Microsoft’s founder and philanthropist Bill Gates.
The Filipino socio-civic leader was instrumental in the acquisition of the One Rotary Center in Evanston, Illinois. He led the two-year fund raising campaign for the project and was able to raise $130 million, surpassing the target by $70 million. It was also during Caparas’ term that the RI board allowed membership of women in Rotary.
A recent virtual town hall discussion educated people in our community regarding business protection. Given the recent changes in the Iowa law regarding business protection from COVID-19 liability and the current increase in reported cases of the virus, Black Hawk County Health Department team presented and responded to questions from Cedar Valley businesses.
Scientists think the need to connect across generations may be baked into humans’ DNA — that grandparents, in particular grandmothers, played a critical role in our evolution. The reason women live so long beyond reproductive age, some anthropologists theorize, is that the care they provide for their daughters’ children frees up their daughters to produce more children sooner. “You can argue that older people connecting with younger people is something that goes back to the beginning of humanity,” says Marc Freedman, author of How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting Generations.
A survey by Generations United and the Eisner Foundation — a nonprofit focused on intergenerational programs —found that 53 percent of American adults regularly spend time with few people who are much older or younger than they are, aside from family members. The figure is even higher for people ages 18 to 34, with 61 percent reporting few younger or older acquaintances. Grandparents often live hundreds of miles away from their grandchildren, and there aren’t many places to go to meet people across the age spectrum.
Coronavirus can keep us from meeting in-person, but it can't take away our celebration of these fine Rotarians that have traveled around the sun AGAIN!
Rick Morris
Jul 02
Jerry Maifield
Jul 07
Jay Ginther
Jul 10
James Madison
Jul 10
Lauren Finke
Jul 17
Milton Dakovich
Jul 20
David Holm
Jul 23
Mike Broshar
Jul 26
Heather LaBonte
Jul 27
Bob Manning
Jul 30
The Rotary Birthday Machine should be available to borrow next week, email Mason if you'd like to reserve it to check the Radon levels in your house.
I hope you enjoyed a fun, cool and safe holiday weekend. In observance of the holiday, we will take today off from meeting and will resume our regular meetings on Monday, July 13. Through discussion with the board, we will continue meeting online via Zoom conferencing.
Please reach out to one of your fellow Rotarians whom you have not seen at a meeting recently and invite them to join an upcoming meeting - it's easy and ... FUN!
Contact President Annie Vander Werff if you are interested in being an RI Director!
1 July 2020
Dear Rotarians:
At the 2021 RI (Taipei) Convention, an RI director is to be elected by club members in your zone. This director will serve on the RI Board in 2022–24.
If your club wishes to submit a qualified Rotarian for consideration by the Nominating Committee for Director in your zone, the club must follow these guidelines:
This Official Suggestion Form must reach the nominating committee convener no later than 1 September 2020 (the address is provided on the form).
The form must also be accompanied by a written statement from a physician certifying that the suggested candidate is in good health and physically able to carry out the duties of an RI director.
The form must be signed by the candidate, indicating that he or she agrees to abide by RI's provisions against campaigning for elective position, and that he or she accepts the attached "RI Board of Directors Job Description."
RI Bylaws section 13.010. states, in part, as follows:
“Rotarians shall not campaign, canvass, or electioneer for elective position in RI, or allow any such activity, for either themselves or others.”
Get to know the soon-to-be President-Elect of our Rotary Club. A retired attorney and active Rotarian; Mr. Gallagher has worn many hats in the Cedar Valley community and beyond!
E.J. Gallagher III was born in Washington D.C. and came back with his Iowan parents to Waterloo in June of 1950. He graduated from Columbus High School after kindergarten at Kingsley and grades one to 8 at St. Edward’s. He got an undergraduate degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul followed by a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He was admitted to practice law in Iowa in 1974 and spent a year back in Washington D.C. working for a special Federal commission studying wiretapping law.
Lowell is the former police chief of Rockwell City and a former member of the city’s maintenance department. He served more than 30 years on the city’s fire department and is an active member of the Rockwell City Rotary Club.
Lowell's installation celebration is scheduled for June 28, 2020, at the Twin Lakes Golf Club in Rockwell City. Register to attend.
A Message from Outgoing District Governor, Michelle Bell...
As Rotarians, we know this phrase is true: Rotary Opens Opportunities. Chosen as the 2020-2021 Rotary theme, these are words to live by for all clubs. But what does “opening opportunities” mean for individual Rotarians?
I’ve collected a few ideas I’ve observed throughout my tenure as 5970 District Governor:
Rotary clubs in districts across Italy worked together to procure state-of-the-art equipment needed to combat the deadly coronavirus disease for 26 hospitals around the country.
Join us for the last meeting of our Rotary year...and what a memorable year it ended up being! Our president-elect Annie Vander Werff is expected to ceremoniously accept the gavel from 2019-2020 president Mark Durbahn. As the world grapples with COVID-19 and finds ways to keep our businesses operating, personal connections intact, and traditions alive, Annie will need each member to support our efforts and come out of this as a stronger club. We've shown that we won't let a global pandemic stop us from fellowship, and service to our community has come in the form of weekly financial support to organizations directly impacted. Look for the good work of our club to continue as we transition to new club leaders!
Dr. Kime is the author of "Cancer is Kicking my Butt, but I have a really Big Butt."
She was raised in Taiwan under the Traditional Chinese Medicine environment. Dr. Kime received her Masters from Southern Illinois University in 1994. She then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic, after raising her 5 child family, graduating in 2010. While studying at Palmer, Dr. Kime traveled to Chicago to obtain her Acupuncture certification from National University of Health Sciences.
Congratulations to Executive Director, Barb Prather, for this well-deserved Ovation Award, courtesy of theIowa Women's Foundation, that celebrates hard-working Iowa women in leadership.
The Hail Mary Project is a sports-based youth development after school program that combines athletics, dialogue, and mentoring all into one fun activity that promotes resilience, brotherhood, respect, and accountability. The mission and purpose is to reduce recidivism by preventing juvenile delinquency, by providing opportunities to young people who otherwise may not experiencesuch things. The foundation of this is based on positive, caring relationships.
The #Rotary Club of Panaji Riviera worked with the India Red Cross Society to fund and distribute boxes of food for nearly five thousand homeless and impoverished members of their community during the #COVID19 pandemic.
Here is a beautiful video curated and executed by our young talent at the Interact Club Sharada Mandir of the Rotary Club of Panaji Riviera aimed at building awareness around the Corona Pandemic plauging the world over.
The Fair Chance Ordinance was passed to remove barriers to employment, reduce recidivism, and give a second chance to deserving Iowans. Waterloo business owners and HR professionals are encouraged to register for a webinar Wednesday, June 17th at 8:30 am. Participants will learn about why the City of Waterloo enacted the ordinance and how hiring processes for Waterloo businesses may be impacted because of it. This presentation will provide actionable steps and resources to comply with the ordinance that goes into effect July 1, 2020.
Did you know our club has a "Birthday Machine"? Several years ago, one of our esteemed members Tom Arthur bought the club an electronic Radon detector to be shared among our members. Tom was moved by one of our presentations about Radon and the prevalence of the radioactive gas in many midwestern homes. Radon increases the risk of lung cancer and is the second leading cause of lung cancer next to smoking. The original Radon detector needed to be re-calibrated after many years of use, so Steve and Liz Thorpe stepped up to purchase a new and easier-to-use battery-powered detector for our club. Each month during the birthday table, Mason encourages members to check out the detector to take home and collect some readings, then use that information to buy a chemical test or seek a professional mitigation company. Think of it as a machine that helps your family have MORE BIRTHDAYS...it's a birthday machine!
Fellow Rotarian Phil Nash recently returned the unit and had this to share with the club:
Today's speaker is Norah Schlax, an AmeriCorps Member with Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity. She works in marketing and volunteer outreach. She graduated in May of 2019 with a degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Clarkson University and moved to Iowa for a summer AmeriCorps position with Green Iowa where she worked weekly with Iowa Heartland. She fell in love with the mission of Iowa Heartland and took a year long AmeriCorps position here. Norah will be coming on as their Marketing Outreach Manager after her AmeriCorps term finishes up in August!
Our presentation gives a brief overview about the history of Habitat and then moves into what the Iowa Heartland Affiliate has done/is doing in the Cedar Valley and surrounding communities.
The #Rotary Virtual Convention allows you to enjoy inspiring general sessions and educational breakout sessions while connecting with other members, all from your own home.
WATERLOO, Iowa (KWWL) - With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, now more than ever is a time when kids need extra meals during the summer when school is out.
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank's summer feeding program is getting help from eastern Iowa communities to assist children at risk of going hungry.
The traditional VGM Heartland Conference scheduled for next week has been cancelled but will be back next year bigger and better than ever. Our club has been invited to assist again next year. For several years, our club has provided volunteers to serve as "room monitors" for the breakout sessions. VGM has been kind in return for our services by supporting our club's major initiatives. Thanks to all who signed up to volunteer this year, but the revised "virtual" 2020 conference will not require our club members to volunteer in-person. Any questions? Email Katelyn Tungland!
June is the final month of our Rotary year, and it’s also one of the best months in giving to The Rotary Foundation, second only to December.
Have you made your gift to the Foundation?
Our 2019-20 District Annual Fund goal is $236,630. To date we’ve raised $194,202 (82%).
Our 2019-20 District PolioPlus goal is $381,706. To date we’ve raised $376,109 (98%).
For those of you who can, and want to, please make your gift by June 30. Not because I’m asking, but because of the life-changing impact your gift will have on children needing polio vaccine, healthcare workers needing equipment and support to fight Covid-19, schoolkids needing safe and clean water to stay in school, families needing access to affordable medical clinics. And the list goes on. All supported by your gifts to the Rotary Foundation.
Remember that the Rotary Rush is still on until June 10. If you give enough to the Annual Fund that will get you halfway to your first or multiple Paul Harris Fellow level, you will receive matching points for the other half, to allow you to reach the PHF level. Please email John Wasta, District Fundraising Chair, at john.wasta@gmail.com for details. To qualify for Rotary Rush, please remember to designate your gift for the Annual Fund.
How do you make your gift?
The easiest way is make your gift online at www.rotary.org/donate . Be sure to sign in to your myRotary account when you give online. Then let your Club Foundation Chair know you made the gift.
You may also pay by check, payable to The Rotary Foundation, and get it to your Club Foundation Chair and they will send it in.
Thanks to all who have supported the Foundation this year, and to those who will be giving in June!
Businesses allowed to reopen at 50% capacity while following social distancing measures include: casinos, amusement parks, outdoor venues can hold live performances, bowling alleys, speedway, racetracks can reopen events to spectators, pool halls, and arcades
Recreational and social sport gatherings of more than 10 people will be allowed - individuals must remain 6 feet apart and venues are limited to 50% occupation capacity
Bars, wineries, breweries, and distilleries can reopen Thursday, May 28. They must follow the same public health measures as restaurants, including limiting normal operating capacity to 50 percent and social distancing groups of 6 feet. Live bands are also now permitted at bars and restaurants following social distancing guidelines.
Businesses that remain closed will continue to be closed through June 17 and Reynolds said she will continue to monitor whether any other measures should be adjusted.
Nationally only 54% of foster youth will graduate from high school when they exit care at age 18. Only 3% will graduate from college. Although Iowa statistics may be better, most youth aging out of care lack a natural support system that will assist them in celebrating achievements or help to gather needed items as they transition from foster care to their first apartment or college dorm.
This year our club generously contributed to that urgent need. In the past a community wide open house has been held at Hawkeye Community College to celebrate these youth. Obviously this year that event was impossible. In its place a “drive-by“ open house was held. All nine of the kids received a microwave, set of pots and pans, pillow and case, laundry basket, plastic mixing bowl set, can opener, 48 piece silverware and tray, surge protector, flashlight, kitchen towel, cloths and oven mitt, measuring cups and measuring spoons, and first aid kit. Individual community members contributed cards and gift cards. Since the ever popular graduation sheet cake wouldn’t be served at an open house, each student received a small cake with his/her name! They were richly blessed and were very appreciative. Reports are that one family was so excited that they locked themselves out of the house. Ha!
All youth leaving foster care receive a suitcase filled with personal care items, even those not graduating.
Waterloo Rotary’s gift of $100 gift cards to Target were gratefully received. One comment was that leaving the security of the system seemed less scary knowing that they had community support!
Sarah Kopriva is the new Executive Director of Guiding Star Cedar Valley; leading efforts to further establish the organizational mission to empower women, embrace children, and enrich families through their unique healthcare model in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo Community. Sarah believes in a society that honors and protects the beauty of femininity and the unique attributes women bring to our families, workplaces, and communities. Because of this passion, she works to educate and enable women and families to understand and appreciate their healthy, working bodies and develop a community around them to further that support throughout life.
Sarah's talk will introduce GSCV's comprehensive approach to caring for the health of women and their families and bring light to the ways we are helping our community celebrate the dignity of our natural design.
We'll be together again soon and will properly celebrate our members' birthdays in person. Until then, we'll recognize and wish them well from a distance!
Almost 80 percent of the population in Nairobi, Kenya, lives in informal settlements where it’s not unusual for families of day laborers to live together in one house. Surviving day to day on the meager wages they typically earn as shop clerks, construction workers, or domestic employees, as many as eight people cook, do homework, eat, and sleep in these tight quarters.
In short, social distancing is a luxury that many poor Kenyans can’t afford.
“If the [COVID-19] pandemic hits here, like it has in North America and other places, it will be just catastrophic” because of the inability to social distance, says Geeta Manek, a Rotary Foundation trustee-elect and member of the Rotary Club of Muthaiga, Kenya. “We’re working very hard, through preventative measures, desperately trying to keep this thing away from us.”
Shortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, Joe Otin, governor of Rotary District 9212 (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan), formed a districtwide response team. Chaired by Nairobi-East Rotarian Joe Kamau, the team is working with clubs across the district to provide hand washing stations, deliver food to families who have lost jobs, and raise money for personal protective equipment.
“When [Kamau] asked what we wanted to do first, we said let’s go with hand washing stations,” says Manek, a member of the response team.
Kayleen Leonard with Best Western Hotel and Michelle Weidner with the City of Waterloo will give us an update on the plans for the hotel and the convention center. They will share renderings, timelines, and answer questions.
Below is a link to an article from last fall about the renovation...
Rotarian Michael Broshar organizes a project to supporter first responders in the area.
Waterloo – Michael Broshar, a Waterloo native and local architect, has designed and donated a water color that supports the First Responders Fund, established earlier this month by the Waterloo Community Foundation. This unique piece of art features a local firefighter, policeman and health care worker, the recipients of the fund’s proceeds. Signed prints are being offered for sale for $150 each. Proceeds above the cost of production will go to the Foundation.
The Waterloo Community Foundation established the First Responders Fund to assist local police, fire and health care workers keep our community and families safe during the COVID-19 crisis. During the month of May, the Foundation will match all donations up to $5,000. One hundred percent (100%) of all donations will go directly to local first responder organizations (no administrative fees will be withheld).
Michael Broshar grew up working in his father’s architecture firm, Thorson Brom Broshar Snyder Architects. Following his education in Iowa and Texas, he located in Minneapolis to begin his career. He returned to Waterloo to practice architecture in the early 1980’s and was named a partner in 1991. The firm grew under his leadership and became INVISION Architecture in the 1990’s with the addition of a Des Moines office. Broshar retired from architectural practice at the end of 2019.
Michael has always had a strong interest in the visual arts, pursuing painting in college and in his early career. In 2013, he renewed his interest in painting, particularly in watercolor. He has studied under John Lovett, Iain Stewart and Alvaro Castegnet, and has had solo shows at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, The Hearst Center and the Iowa Center for Architecture. Broshar is a signature member of the Iowa Watercolor Society.
The Waterloo Community Foundation was formed in 2015 to support Waterloo residents with the confidence that all gifts are being invested in our community efficiently and effectively. Most importantly, we are here to help. To learn more about the Waterloo Community Foundation, visit www.wloocommunityfoundation.org or contact us at 319.883.6022.
Six Rotarians reveal the secrets of balancing family and work that allowed them to take on the role of district governor before turning 50.
As an active member of the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads (Norfolk) in Virginia, Clenise Platt had been a club president and taken on some leadership roles in her district. Even so, it came as a complete surprise when Mary Landon, the club’s 2016-17 president, approached her at the end of a meeting and asked if it would be OK to nominate her for district governor.
“I thought one day I might place my name in the hat to become a district governor,” says Platt, 48. “But truth be told, I thought ‘one day’ was years away.”
Multiple Downtown Waterloo Rotarians were featured in a recent Courier article describing a new fund to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 in the Cedar Valley.
“This has been tough on all nonprofits, whether or not it’s on the frontlines, and it has affected charitable giving for all nonprofits, as well as affecting revenue streams and available resources,” said Kaye Englin, director of the Community Foundation of NE Iowa.
Sheila Baird, executive director of the Cedar Valley United Way, said each organization brings their own experiences and expertise to the table. “We each operate differently, which ultimately you hope is our strength."
Casey Reints, executive director at the Max and Helen Guernsey Foundation, said she is proud the foundation has partnered with other Cedar Valley area funders and “can see the impact that these collective efforts have had on our community. We are stronger together."
How’s the new virtual world treating you? I’m inspired by the number of clubs who have shared their stories of engaging online.
Though the pandemic has brought anxiety and grief, it has also surfaced opportunities for Rotary to evolve. Food banks, homelessness initiatives, and other community organizations are in desperate need of philanthropy, from volunteer support to monetary donations.
Rotarians in Lithuania and Chicago are using their influence to promote the use of “bubble helmets” and potentially lessen the need for mechanical ventilators for COVID-19 patients who struggle to breathe on their own.
The Rotary Club of Vilnius Lituanica International, Lithuania, participated in Hack the Crisis, an online event in March that brought together innovators in science and technology to “hack,” or develop solutions to, issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Lithuanian club, along with members of the Rotary Clubs of Chicago and Chicagoland Lithuanians (Westmont), joined a team to brainstorm ways to help COVID-19 patients breathe without using mechanical ventilators.
President-Elect Annie Vander Werff will review some 2020-2021 Downtown Waterloo Rotary Club events/opportunities. Don't miss out on the latest and the greatest of what's coming up!
I would like to take this opportunity to update everyone on some of the decisions that were made at our last board meeting regarding our meetings, dues and charitable contributions. We will not be meeting in May as the Governor’s restrictions are ongoing for Black Hawk County. During the Board meeting we decided that we will extend our charitable giving grants each week through May for a total of 8-$1000 grants through the months of April and May. This is an outstanding contribution from our Waterloo Rotary Club to organizations providing aid and assistance to those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a reminder, below is a list of the organizations that we’ve chosen to support.
At our board meeting last week we agreed that our last grant for the month of April was to Peoples Clinic. As many of you know, many of their clients are from Tyson Fresh Meats which has been particularly hard hit during this crisis. The Clinic is dealing with staff shortages, increased demand, communication barriers, and added stress of providing services to those most in need. Our grant will assist them in converting their dentistry area to provide more protection to patients and staff. Executive Director Chris Kemp pictured with $1,000 check.
People's Community Health Clinic Receives Rotary Gift
Meet Ryan Bell of Iowa City District 6000 Public Image Co-Chair
I have a message for all you young people out there who may never have heard about Rotary. Or if you have, it was from a parent or grandparent who spent more time talking about the lunch menu or how great the salad bar is. If that’s all you’ve heard about Rotary, then you’re missing a lot. And let me tell you why, in the middle of this pandemic, Rotary is more relevant than ever. It’s definitely something you want to know about.
Rotary is kind of a big deal. With over 1.2 million members worldwide, it’s the biggest service organization on the planet. If you’re a fan of the planet, that’s just what Rotary wants to preserve. Our members are working on helping save mothers and children, supporting basic education for children, and fighting diseases. Many of those members are now using their connections and resources to help combat COVID-19.
The Salvation Army wrote a thank you letter to our club as they are working hard and using the gift for us toward the impactful programs and services they provide. There is a great need right now and the Salvation Army expects the need to continue in future months.
Click on the letter above to download and read the text.
We still won't be together to honor our fellow Rotarians celebrating in May, so we'll combine the birthday tables when we reconvene. However, these Rotarians would certainly be tickled to have a note or call from you on their special day!
Ben Brustkern, Executive Director is speaking at Monday's meeting. Ben has been with Friends of the Family for more than 18 years. He is a graduate of University of Northern Iowa, resides in Waterloo with his wife Kim and has three children. Ben is well-known in the community and passionate about helping those in need.
Join the #RotaryResponds#COVID19 Livestream Telethon to hear stories of hope, inspiration and gratitude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities.
The team at Grow Cedar Valley is excited to be hosting a series of Live Webinars on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:00 AM on their Facebook Page and Youtube Channel!
The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley will continue to be thee connection between people who need help and the people who can help. shared a few ways to help in the local community through the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley. They have organized a list of immediate volunteer needs for community organizations on their website. This list will change frequently so check back often for updates or sign up to receive email alerts for new opportunities.
If you need some good news as you shelter in place, KWWL has a running feature called Iowa Strong profiling Iowans having a positive impact on their communities.
One of our largest annual meetings took a different form this year. Typically we host around 200 people as Rotarians, parents, and school administrators gather to honor high school seniors for their academic accomplishments. However, even though we didn't meet in person, and the remainder of the school year has been taken away from these students, our club still celebrated the brightest minds among our future leaders. J'Kalein Madison recorded a keynote address and Dr. Jane Lindaman submitted a letter that will be sent to all our student honorees. Congratulations and best of luck as you enter a world that has seen major change since you started your senior year.
Angie Widner joined us to review the childcare services the YMCA has been providing to businesses and families the past several weeks. She also shared her personal story of the impact of COVID-19 on her own family. You can view her comments below, using this password: 2H=^=@^j
VGM is doing a "virtual" Heartland Conference this year and canceling their traditional in-person event in Waterloo this year. Rotarians have volunteered as room monitors for many years in exchange for a donation to our club. A special thank you to Katelyn Tungland for organizing volunteers earlier this year. VGM says our club should be prepared for a big conference in Waterloo in 2021!
Job: Executive Director at the Max & Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation
Fave Food: fajitas with unlimited avocado
Fave Movie: The Green Mile
Fave quote: Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.
Fave thing about Rotary: socialization with a mission 😊
Something unique about you: I am the youngest of six siblings, with nieces and nephews very close to my own age. Most people confuse them with my cousins, which is totally understandable. But it means I get to be the young, cool aunt!
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship around the world, Rotary members and participants are innovating, caring for those affected, and showing that even at a distance, there are ways to help.
Fighting disease is one of Rotary’s main causes, so members already support efforts to promote proper hand washing techniques, teach people other ways to stay healthy, and supply training and vital medical equipment to health care providers. Now they’re helping health authorities communicate lifesaving information about COVID-19 and donating protective gear and other supplies to clinics and hospitals that are under strain because of the pandemic.
These are just some of the ways that members are supporting their communities right now:
In Italy, one of the countries that has been affected most, clubs in District 2080 are raising funds to purchase ventilators and protective gear for overstretched hospitals. And when the worst of the outbreak was raging in China, the district’s clubs raised more than $21,000 for protective masks to prevent spread of the disease there.
Clubs in District 2041, also in Italy, raised funds online to buy protective gear for health workers who will care for COVID-19 patients at a 400-bed hospital being built at Milan’s fairgrounds.
Due to no in-person weekly meetings... our club has decided to donate the money that would have been used for our lunches to non-profits in the community. The most recent donation was $1,000 to the Salvation Army, and below is a letter from fellow Rotarian and Salvation Army Captain Shannon Thies:
>>
Hi Mark;
We are so very humbled by this. Thank you!
I should share that we are very busy at The Salvation Army, and due to volunteer shortages (which are understandable) Martin and I have rolled up our sleeves and are serving in areas that need extra man-power. It might be a while before I am able to tune-in to a Rotary Meeting. I miss everyone, though, so please share my well wishes and prayers to my fellow Rotarians.
Here is an update on how The Salvation Army is serving our community during COVID-19:
Food Giveaway:
We are serving a lunch to the community beginning at 11:30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This is done out of our North Parking lot drive-thru style. Prior to mid-March when the concerns of the virus began in our community, we were enjoying lunch with about 50 people every time. We are feeding 120-140 people every time, now. We are seeing families and people who have never been in need before. It is a great honor to serve our community with some good-ol’ home-cooked comfort food.
We are also giving out perishable goods at the same time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Emergency Services
We are still taking rental, utilities, food box, household goods, gas voucher, prescriptions and personal hygiene requests (yes, we do have toilet paper!!). The care management for this is done online and via phone calls. We are anticipating that this crisis will have a long-term effect on our community.
Housing Services
Our 3 shelters in town are still open. We do have a family in our Family Shelter and our men & women’s shelters are taking new people if they are not showing symptoms of the flu. We have limited our census to one person or family per room so that if someone should need to isolate, there is a comfortable place for them to do so.
Our staff are being incredible and compassionate during this crisis and we are so very thankful for them.
We are committed to serve our community in the same ways we have in the past, it just looks a little differently right now. We are blessed.
I can’t wait to see you in a socially-distanced-appropriate-interaction. 😊
No community is exempt from struggling with hunger. Since federal nutrition programs don’t reach everyone in need, food banks like ours help fill the gap for thousands of people each year. Learn more about hunger in your community by exploring an interactive County Hunger Summary map and download a County Hunger Summary here.
Fellow Rotarian and one of the busiest people in the Cedar Valley Barb Prather, Executive Director of Northeast Iowa Food Bank - joined us for a Zoom meeting. She shared the latest from the Food Bank and how her staff has risen to the challenge of providing meals to hundreds of new families that have never experienced food insecurity.
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank hosted a live conversation with Barb and members of her staff earlier this month. They discussed access to food in today's climate, how they are preparing for the months to come, and how community support helps protect the most vulnerable communities during these trying times.
Volunteers are STILL NEEDED - click here to offer your help!
April 11, 2020 - ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — The Rotary Clubs of Parole, Annapolis and Glen Burnie announced Saturday it has established a relief fund for first responders working on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic.
The project aims to support healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers and other essential personnel during the pandemic by providing them with meals prepared by local restaurants.
About 3,000 meals will be provided per-week for six weeks for the first responders.
The initiative will also help restaurants sustain their operations and employees.
A group of Rotaractors are healing wounds and bringing culture together in Ugandan refugee settlement!
It’s Monday morning in one of Uganda’s largest refugee settlements, Nakivale, and the line at Paul Mushaho’s shop is out the door.
Mushaho has lived in Nakivale since 2016, when he fled violence in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. After receiving death threats, he crossed into Uganda and joined a friend in the 184-square-kilometer settlement that serves as home to 89,000 people.
The soft-spoken 26-year-old, who has a university degree in information technology, runs a money transfer service out of a wooden storefront that doubles as his home.
The Waterloo Rotary Club hosted a "Cedar Valley Healthcare COVID-19 Update." We hosted a panel of experts about the short term and long term needs of their organizations.
We won't be together any time soon to celebrate our Rotarians with birthdays in April, so we'll honor them in person when we are able to be together again at a "real" meeting! They would still appreciate a note on social media or a phone call on their special day...so keep this list handy all month and practice PHYSICAL distancing instead of social distancing!
The Covid-19 Pandemic has certainly impacted our local community as well as the world, however, it has not impacted our ability as humans to stand up and support each other.
As we are working hard every day to continue our services to the school aged youth of the Cedar Valley and their families, our community has stepped up to support us.
Pictured here, Mark Durbhan presenting our staff with $1,000 from the Waterloo Rotary Club to support us during this time. Thank you also to R.J. McElroy Trust for their $7,500 emergency check to support our services last week.
Check out the list of restaurants still open and doing carryout or take out dining! KWWL is putting together a list of establishments where you can get a bite to go or delivered right to where you are. Click the link below to see the list and consider supporting these local restaurants and their employees during this challenging time.
Support the Northeast Iowa Foodbank's annual fundraiser without leaving home!
Due to no in-person weekly meetings... our club has decided to donate the money that would have been used for our lunches to non-profits in the community! Our club voted and the first recipient is Northeast Iowa Foodbank. Please click the photo below to view a 360 degree photo of the check presentation and a link to their annual fundraiser.
Two Rotarians - Niki Litzel and Kaye Englin -- are with Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and are doing special grants to help organizations at this time with a Disaster Response Fund. Click this link to explore different funds and ways you can help locally during this global pandemic.
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Disaster Response Fund
I would like to update everyone on a few things as the COVID-19 situation continues. I know that we are facing some changes and challenges as we navigate life while social distancing. As you know, the Governor has directed Iowans to limit social interaction and so we have canceled meetings through April 13th. As Rotarians and leaders in the community we should look to assist organizations and people in need during this crisis when we can.
On March 17th, the Rotary Board held a meeting using computer conferencing which included audio, video and screen sharing to discuss our response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to our Club not having our Monday meetings, we are not spending the approximately $1000 each week on our meal. We discussed whether to refund or credit each member the cost of the meals. It roughly relates to a little over $8 a meal for all 120 members. In the spirit of community and helping organizations most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, we as a Board decided to donate the $1000 each week to organizations most impacted by the crisis. We voted to do this for the next 4 weeks.
We regret to announce that the Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 6-10 June 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, has been canceled in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) needs to assess the impact of the pandemic in Iowa. To assist in these efforts, please complete this survey, developed by University of Northern Iowa – Institute for Decision Making, to tell us what your business is experiencing and how your business is handling the current crisis.
Black Hawk County Health Department is working around the clock with local government and community partners to respond to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation in our community.
This website is meant to help Black Hawk County residents, businesses, media, and others better understand what is happening in our community, and how best to prepare and respond as the situation evolves.
March is the month we celebrate Rotaract — and this has been quite a year for our young partners in service.
Last spring, the Council on Legislation elevated Rotaract in our constitution: Rotary International is now the association of both Rotary clubs and Rotaract clubs. Then in October, the Rotary Board of Directors eliminated the artificial Rotaract age limit and took other steps to break down barriers that were preventing Rotaract from growing in some parts of the world.
Join us Monday to hear from our district governor Michelle Bell. She'll share updates from the district and beyond and encourage all of us to attend the District Conference.
A fish habitat constructed by the Waverly Rotary Club is ready for placement on Waverly's Three Rivers Pond. A raffle predicting the time it will fall through the ice offers a grand prize of $2,500.
Tickets are now on sale for a Waverly Rotary Club raffle that offers a cash prize of $1,000.
Rotary Meltdown 2020 is based on the time a fish habitat will fall through the ice at Three Rivers Pond, a popular fishing spot adjacent to Waverly Utilities. This is the second year for the event, which raises funds for local Rotary projects.
Nearly 4,000 Rotary members from 35 countries, government officials and topic experts explored ideas and solutions around disease prevention and treatment, water sanitation and hygiene, education and other topics relevant to India
Rotary began its journey in India from the city of Kolkata, on 1st January, 1920 inspired by the organisation’s motto, “service above self”. In the last 100 years, Rotary has grown from one club to 4,000 with 1.5 lakh Rotary members in India.
In 2018-19, The Rotary Foundation in India supported projects worth $22.81 million, including: improving the education system; tackling significant public health problems throughout the country;
providing women entrepreneurs with sustainable access to microfinance; enhancing sanitation and hygiene standards, especially for women and girls; providing access to clean and safe drinking water; helping rebuild homes, schools, and businesses affected by natural disasters and much more.
Join us Monday to hear from fellow Rotarian Dr. Todd Holcomb who is in his first year as President of Hawkeye Community College.
For over 50 years, Hawkeye Community College has distinguished itself as one of Iowa’s best community colleges. Known for an environment that is academically challenging, caring faculty and staff, and for providing the latest technology, Dr. Holcomb will share insights on the impact Hawkeye is having on our community and the state of Iowa. Local employment trends and ongoing priorities for Hawkeye will also be shared with our club.
Do you work for a non-profit or serve on a non-profit board in the community? Do they have a fundraising event coming up? If so, we can feature on Facebook and on the Calendar of Events on the screen at Rotary meetings! Please send event details to jheller@kwwl.com.
When you are in Honolulu for the Rotary International Convention, 6-10 June, make sure to save room for dessert, because the Hawaiian Islands have some sweet treats in store for you.
Shave ice (calling it shaved ice or a snow cone is a quick way of revealing you’re not from around here) was introduced to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants. Inspired by a Japanese frozen treat called kakigōri, they hand-shaved blocks of ice to create mounds of delicate crystals, then flavored the ice with the juice of tropical fruits.
Rob Pruitt will join us to discuss the importance of pollinators and Cedar Valley Monarch Zones, and how the Cedar Valley Arboretum, with support from the Young Family Foundation, is working with homeowners and landowners to create special “zones” to help increase pollinator habitats and the monarch population.
Toastmasters International and Rotary International. Two organizations with a long history, global impact, and proven track record of helping people. And now they have something else in common: They are teaming up to strengthen their members’ skills and broaden their opportunities. The Toastmasters-Rotary alliance, announced in January, will leverage the strengths of both organizations to help members grow personally and professionally.
Later this year, Toastmasters will begin delivering eight educational courses tailored to members of Rotary and Rotaract (a Rotary-sponsored organization for 18-to-30-year-olds). The phased rollout of the eight courses will help Rotarians develop and hone their leadership and communication skills.
Toastmasters members, in turn, can benefit from connecting with Rotarians—1.2 million members in nearly every country in the world—and learning from the organization’s model of humanitarian service. Members can use their communication skills to impact their communities.
To learn more details about this alliance, visit the Toastmasters website and watch the video below.
Have you considered adding The Rotary Foundation to your charitable giving plan? Whether or not you have a formal plan, Rotary Direct makes it easy to set up a recurring (monthly, quarterly, or annual) donation using your credit card. Simple. Efficient. Seamless. Meaningful.
BONUS! If you set up Rotary Direct to make recurring donations, the club will put 100 points (equal to $100) into your Paul Harris account!
BONUS! If you have never given to The Rotary Foundation, the club will put an additional 100 points (equal to $100) into your Paul Harris account as soon as your donation total reaches $100!
Phil Nash and Brian Aronson were recognized at our February 3rd meeting after they signed up for Rotary Direct and received 100 points from the club. Brian stated, “Contributing to the programs of the Rotary Foundation through direct withdrawals couldn’t be easier.”
Join us Monday to hear updates on the Rotary Foundation from Deb Pullin-Van Auken and Rotary's focus on social media from Jaclyne Heller. We'll also honor February birthdays!
February 3rd Program - Rotary Foundation and Social Media
It will be one step for Donna, one giant leap for polio when Rotary Great Brittian & Ireland President Donna Wallbank takes part in a tandem skydive later this year to coincide with Volunteer Expo in Birmingham. Donna explains why she has decided to make the charity jump from the Hinton Skydiving Centre in Northamptonshire.
By Dave King
Published Date: January 27, 2020
Icould have played darts, knitted squares to make blankets for the needy, walked on the treadmill to fundraise or, if I was brave enough, challenged myself to do something memorable to make a difference.
Something so memorable that when I’m sat in my rocking chair at 80-years-old, I can say ‘I did that and I was really part of making a difference!’
All this, knowing that my little part helped give polio vaccine to a child who may go on to develop a vaccine for another disease. We never know when our little bit of help will make a more significant difference for our world.
So why a skydive?
My daughter, and some of my salon team in Brynmawr, had done a tandem skydive a few years ago. When I was talking to Steph about what I could do, she said ‘skydive Mam’.
Now, I am terrified of heights. I laughed and said ‘no way’.
But I thought long and hard over Christmas what I could do that was good enough and the skydive kept coming back into my head.
Rotary is kind of a big deal. With over 1.2 million members worldwide, it’s the second biggest service organization on the planet. And if you’re a fan of the planet … well, that’s just what Rotary wants to preserve. Through peace. Through service. Through understanding. And — get this — NOT through religious or national affiliation. We don’t care what you believe or who you voted for. The way Rotary sees it, the most important thing is that we come together to accomplish some much-needed tasks for a lil’ group we like to call humanity.
Rotary efforts have already helped eradicate 99.9% of global cases of polio. (Never heard of polio? Thank a Rotarian for your ability to NOT know about this awful disease.) Now, armed with a massive investment and partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary is poised to take on even more ambitious global projects, including water and sanitation access, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy to name a few areas of focus. In addition to these large-scale, international projects, Rotary clubs are always working to improve their own communities, too.
The first meeting of each month, we celebrate our fellow Rotarians who have made another trip around the sun. February has one more day this year, and this group has added one more Rotarian!*
On January 2, Rotarian Laura Kurtz, her husband Nathan and big sister, Madison welcomed twins into the world. They are identical twin boys named Owen Robert and Parker Nathan! Their family is overflowing with joy!
Fellow Rotarian Bob Manning is an executive officer with the Cedar Valley Home Builders Association, and will discuss new construction housing in the Cedar Valley.
Cedar Valley Home Builders Association (CVHBA) was founded in 1955 as a trade association representing every facet of the residential building industry in northeast Iowa.
More than 70 member companies benefit from membership as the association provides services, programs, legislative representation, and membership opportunities to professionals in the building trades available only through CVHBA.
Cedar Valley Home Builders Association members are the architects, builders, remodelers, suppliers, manufacturers, developers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who provide quality homes, reliable service, and professional building expertise to thousands of families in northeast Iowa.
Bob retired in 2015 after a 32 year career in banking, and has kept busy with supporting the Cedar Trails Partnership.
This year’s race will take place at the District Conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on April 25, 2020. Here’s how it works: 1. Each club and individuals from that club will be represented by a single duck in the race. 2. The first three ducks to cross the finish line will be the winners. Once the winning three clubs have been determined a computer pick at random will occur to choose one winner of a Paul Harris Fellow designation for each of the three winning clubs. 3. Each club participating in the race will receive Foundation Paul Harris Fellow points for the full amount of dollars contributed by the club through the purchase of ducks. Ducks are $5 each and checks can be made payable to The Rotary Foundation and mailed to: John Wasta 221 Kent Court NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Inaugural 2021 class will focus on shaping peace and development in Africa
KAMPALA, Uganda (9 January 2020) — From human rights violations to the impacts of climate change, Rotary and Makerere University are offering a postgraduate certificate program to peace and development leaders who are from or who have worked in Africa to address the underlying challenges to peace in the region.
The year-long program in Peacebuilding, Conflict Transformation and Development will emphasize issues and solutions that are of particular relevance throughout the African continent and beyond. Hands-on experience will complement coursework that addresses topics including human rights, governance, and the role of the media in conflict. Other studies will focus on refugees and migration, as well as resource and identity-based conflicts.
Occupation – Real estate broker at Martin Realtors
Fave Food - Steak, medium-rare with sauteed mushrooms
Fave movie - Last Holiday
Random fact about yourself - I am an avid racquetball player.
Favorite quote - "By believing in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired." Franz Kafka
Steven McCullough with the Iowa Student Loan Program to discuss how we can help our students reduce/repay debt. Steven joined Iowa Student Loan in 1989 as the director of fiscal operations, and he became chief executive officer in 1993. In his current role, McCullough is responsible for carrying out strategic plans and policies as established by the board of directors. He became a certified public accountant in 1986 and holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Iowa. Steve helped create the Corporation's responsible borrowing tools which help families plan for their higher education, figure out how to pay for it, and learn how to create good outcomes.
District 5970 “Rotary Rush” is on again! For the months of February and March 2020, the District is offering a significant incentive to all Rotarians who give to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund.
A generous Rotarian Donor has offered their points as an incentive to help Rotarians easily reach their first or multiple Paul Harris Fellow level. The Donor is offering a 1 for 1 points to dollars match if a Rotarian contributes a minimum of $100 cash toward their first or next Paul Harris Fellow level. For example, you may have accumulated $500 in contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Then, if you add $250 in cash in February or March, our Donor will match 250 points to your giving account which allows you to receive your first or multiple PHF award. The match is up to a maximum of 500 points.
We have all seen the disastrous fires that have erupted, taking lives as well as destroying hundreds of homes and properties across Australia.
Rotary is once again taking the lead and looking to provide support for families in need. To this end several Rotary Districts and Clubs have established projects which are ready and able to accept donations from you. All of those projects can apply for funds from this appeal.
Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd. (RAWCS) was formed to enable Australian Rotarians, Rotary Districts and Rotary Clubs to assist disadvantaged communities and individuals through humanitarian aid projects.
RAWCS has a financial infrastructure system that facilitates fundraising for projects that deliver humanitarian aid and charitable support in Australia and overseas. Projects are registered through Rotary Australia Overseas Aid Fund (RAOAF), Rotary Australia Benevolent Society (RABS) incorporating Rotary Australia Compassionate Grants (RACG), Rotary Australia Relief Fund (RARF), Donations in Kind (DIK) and Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM).
We had our Annual Holiday Luncheon December 16th - and you can click here to see photos.
We collected donations for the Salvation Army.
Enjoyed music from the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra string quartet. They previewed their upcoming New Year’s Eve concert Melodies ‘Til Midnight which will be at the Gallagher Bluedorn.
This was the last Rotary meeting of 2019. Our next meeting will be January 6th, 2020.
Have you ever wondered why there is a peacock painted on the side of that building off of Hwy 218 near the Sportsplex? Our guest speaker, Heidi Fuchtman is the designer behind that artistic work. The founder of The Youth Art Team, Heidi and her team developed an actual grassroots team of artists who have grown together since 2010. The mission is to encourage youth to develop their creative potential, empowering both personal and social change through art. http://youthartteam.com/team/
We received a District Foundation Grant for the work on the Rotary Shelter at George Wyth State Park. Don Meyer presented a check to our club for $3,656 and we’ll match that for our project which will begin this spring. A committee has been formed and we’re looking for additional volunteers. If interested please contact Mark Durbahn at Mark.Durbahn@aecom.com.
It's the first meeting of the month, so we'll honor these Rotarians with birthdays in December. The Rotary Birthday Machine will also be available for someone to check out for two weeks and check their Radon levels.
2019 Glen "Doc" Miller Most Valuable Football Player
Ray Seidel, Columbus High School
Waterloo Rotarian Wade Itzen presents 2019 MVP Ray Seidel
This regulation-size gold football, mounted on a base, is a travelling trophy given each year by the Downtown Waterloo Rotary to the outstanding player in football in the Waterloo Schools. It is given in memory of an outstanding Rotarian, Glen "Doc" Miller, a great athlete and president of the Waterloo Rotary Club in 1954. "Doc" was captain of the University of Iowa football team in 1923, and a player on the great Iowa teams of 1921-22 which beat Yale.
Since 1936 the Waterloo Rotary Club has enjoyed the honor each year to celebrate outstanding performance by high school athletes in the city of Waterloo and surrounding areas. Area volleyball coaches choose their MVP's and then by ballot of all the coaches award the trophy for overall Most Valuable volleyball player. The winner is entitled to display the trophy at her school for the next twelve months.
2019 Waterloo Rotary MVP Avery Kroll, West High School
Avery is presented the travelling trophy by Barb Prather and Jaclyne Heller
News came recently of the completed sale of the downtown Ramada hotel to South Dakota-based Mekenda LLC. All the Ramada employees lost their jobs when the sale was completed and the building will close for business and undergo major renovations for the next 9 months. Our regular meeting venue in the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center will remain open and functioning during the hotel renovation, and the convention center staff are still employed. Click here to read a recent Courier article about the hotel project.
Have you considered giving to YOUR Rotary Foundation on an on-going basis to support not only Rotarians’ international activities but also those at our district and local level?
Or, maybe you have been giving regularly when you pay your quarterly dues? Would you like to help make our Treasurer’s duties a little lighter by automating those payments via your credit card directly through Rotary?
Well, we want to give you some incentives to accomplish all of that!
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is looking for some strong people to help their Thanksgiving Distribution, November 25th through 27th. Volunteers are needed to help Families carry their Thanksgiving Goodies to their car. Please sign up today using this link:
Our own Deb Pullin-Van Auken will share a behind the scenes look at what's happening with the Rotary Foundation both at a local and national level. As a paying member of an International Organization, it is great to know what your dues are going to support!
Today, October 24th - World Polio Day, Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners announced that wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) has been eradicated worldwide. WPV3 is only the third infectious human disease-causing pathogen to be eradicated in history, following smallpox and wild poliovirus type 2. This achievement means that two of the three wild polio strains have now been wiped out, an important marker of progress against the disease.
The announcement comes on the heels of recent news that Nigeria has gone three years without a case of wild poliovirus, which means that the entire African region could be certified wild poliovirus-free in sometime in 2020.
Dr. Nafissa Cisse-Egbuonye is the public health director for Black Hawk County Health Department. She earned her doctoral degree in public health education from Texas A& M University and her Master’s in Public health from San Diego State University. Dr. Cisse-Egbuonye has worked with different organizations conducting research, implementing health promotion programs, and advocating for the vulnerable populations. Furthermore, She is person coming from a diverse background and fluent in four major languages. She is accustomed to various cultures, which is necessary when developing public health programs nationally and globally.
There's a new drink in town. The Cedar Valley is seeing a new business serving the latest trends of kombucha. Verve Kombucha started as a dream from Sidecar Coffee. Verve partners Alex Hottle and Andy Fuchtman brewed it for their own consumption. Fuchtman approached Hottle to expand the drink into a new business in Waterloo. Learn more here.
October Birthdays & President-Elect Annie will interview Assistant District Governor Phil Nash
Phil is a past president and a 7 year veteran of the Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club. He is working alongside District Governor Michelle Bell to connect the local clubs in the Cedar Valley. He is the liaison between our clubs and the District Governor. Learn more about Phil, his new role, and how you can be part of the new hashtag movement...#FlatPaulHarris
The PAUL HARRIS Fellow is an award given to those who have given $1,000 dollars possibly over several years to our foundation or by a sponsor that has given the money in their name for extraordinary services rendered. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Rotary and thereby named after the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris.
A multiple Paul Harris Fellow is a Paul Harris Fellow who has contributed additional $1000 gifts to the Foundation.
Giving any sum of money to the Rotary Foundation makes you a part of the eradication of Polio, a partner in creating PEACE, a person who supports Clean Water and Sanitation where water is worth more than gold, it is measured in LIVES. It makes you someone who believes that all babies, children and moms should have good medical resources, micro-credit and equal rights. You are a person that is fighting Aids, Polio, Malaria and other diseases and doing so much more than I could ever tell you in these few short minutes.
Jeff, your contribution to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is improving living conditions and providing educational opportunities for young people all over the world. A truly selfless act.
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to present to you, on behalf of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation, this emblem of a SEVEN TIMES Paul Harris Fellow.
J. Wilson is the Minister of Iowa Beer for the Iowa Brewers Guild. He serves on the Iowa Wine & Beer Promotion Board; organizes events such as the Iowa Craft Brew Festival, i-BEST technical conference, and the Drinking Pants Pageant; and testified before a United States congressional subcommittee in 2015. A certified beer judge with more than a decade of experience in and around the brewing industry, Wilson has written about beer online and in print for outlets such as CNN, Zymurgy, and All About Beer, and has authored two books on the subject.
Jamie Siefken is the General Manager / Executive Vice President of Cedar Ridge Distillery. He will be presenting information about this unique business located near Swisher, Iowa. The business started with the Quint family which has farmed and distilled spirits for generations. In 2005, Jeff Quint founded Cedar Ridge because he believed it was time for Iowa–the number one corn-producing state in the U.S.–to share its homegrown Bourbon Whiskey with the world. Cedar Ridge was the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition. After releasing its first batch of whiskey in 2010, Cedar Ridge Distillery quickly became a nationally recognized leader in craft spirits, winning multiple awards such as American Distilling Institute’s “2017 Distiller of the Year” or “Best American Craft Whiskey” at the 2016 New York World Spirits Competition.
With many things happening this first week of September, we find ourselves thinking about those that are seeking shelter and recovery from Hurricane Dorian. It will not be enough to just think about them, there are ways Rotarians can get involved by making donations to organizations.
The Rotary Foundation provides Disaster Response Grants to the areas affected by the hurricane, which are funded through on-line donations. The quickest and easiest way to give is online on Rotary’s website at this link: https://my.rotary.org/en/donate and direct your gift to the Disaster Response Fund. (Please note that the donations will be credited toward a Rotarian’s Annual Giving, but will not apply to Share or District Designated Funds.)
You will also find a few more organizations and Rotary Districts that are raising funds for Hurricane Dorian relief on Rotary’s website. They can be found at this link: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/disaster-response . (Please be aware that gifts to these organizations may be charitable gifts, but may not count toward a Rotarian’s Annual Giving since they are not given to The Rotary Foundation.)
Thank you for your support to help our Rotarians who are in dire need of help as they work to recover from this horrible disaster. Our prayers are with all who have been impacted by this storm.
I found out today at lunch that Shoebox volunteers are not needed this week. The first semi-trailer truck has been packed and is all ready to go. The next semi-truck trailer has yet to arrive. We may have a last call for volunteers coming up so please pay attention to upcoming emails.
Thank you to all of the Rotarians that were able to help last week and this weekend and thank you to the Rotarians that donated to the cause.
Mark
Previous story:
The Shoebox Project is really taking form this week as HUNDREDS of filled shoeboxes will be arriving in Waterloo. Chief Shoebox Wrangler Steve Thorpe is looking for several capable hands to demonstrate "Service Above Self" and do some light lifting and carrying. Separate events have been posted to the EVENTS page on our website, and you can register yourself as well as friends, family, co-workers, etc. for short shifts that will make all the difference in the world to the people in Nicaragua. As new tasks are identified, we'll add more events to that page with brief descriptions of the tasks.
This is our club's signature project and our club is known nationwide for our efforts to help distressed families in Nicaragua - be sure to lend your hands!
Click this link to see the available shifts and fill the suggested number of helpers needed so Steve can focus on the logistics of getting TRUCKLOADS of love on the long road down south!
A waterpark was only the beginning. Thanks to the Bertch family, Waterloo will soon be home to a one-of-a-kind theme park as well. After a ribbon cutting August 23rd, Eric Bertch joined us August 26th to share more of the details and highlights that led up to and will go into adding a $100 million theme park to the already amazing waterpark.
The owners of Bertch Cabinet, whose prior endeavors have earned local, national and global plaudits, raised the ante by announcing their intention to build a $100 million theme park with roller coasters and other thrill rides.
The park would have five “lands” and a 30-acre lake on 200 acres of farmland on Shaulis Road across the street from their nationally recognized Lost Island Waterpark and the neighboring Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.
Construction could begin in August. A summer 2022 opening is planned. Learn more by clicking here.
House of Hope and Boys and Girls Club were voted by Rotarians as the beneficiaries of the Hops and Grapes fundraiser!
House of Hope is a 2-year transitional house for single mothers with children, as well as women aging out of foster care. House of Hope walks alongside women as they overcome barriers to independence, and provides a support system for them. Through providing individualized case management and housing, their vision is to end the cycle of homelessness for single mothers and at-risk women in the Cedar Valley.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley has focused on providing program opportunities to nurture the youth of the community for more than 50 years. At their facilities children can trust that they:
· Will find adults who will respect and listen to them
· Have a safe environment to have fun and be themselves
· Experience constructive activities to channel their energy into challenging pursuits
As the challenges facing the young people of our communities change, their staff remains as dedicated as ever to provide them with constructive programming that will make them more responsible. Members tend to achieve better academic grades, miss fewer days of school and display more positive behavior.
THANK YOU! Many of you have offered a basket, gift card, cash donation, or creative auction item to support the Hops & Grapes event. If you haven't invited your employer or favorite Cedar Valley hotspot to contribute yet, please do. You can use this letter to make it an official request. Please bring your items to Rotary on September 9th. Not going to be at the meeting? No problem, contact Annie at annie.vanderwerff@chihaiti.org or (641) 780-0993 and we can arrange an exchange!
Launched in 2016, Better Angels is a bipartisan citizen’s movement to unify our divided nation. By bringing red and blue Americans together into a working alliance, they’re building new ways to talk to one another, participate together in public life, and influence the direction of the nation.
Dr. Peters is a surgeon in Coralville, the owner of Corridor Vein Center, and a member of the Iowa City Rotary. He’s also a former political candidate and now serves as the state coordinator for Better Angels. In the May issue of “The Rotarian”, there was an article titled, “Putting Civility back into Civil Discourse“, featuring Better Angels. Iowa’s “First in the Nation” status provides a great opportunity to advance the Better Angels message in leading up to the Iowa caucus. Dr. Peters believes his fellow Rotarians are particularly well suited to promote that vision, given our commitment to “The Four-Way Test”.
Hi all, let’s make the shoebox project a success again this year. We have a lot to do. To help us complete this project successfully, please review the list below and email one of the contacts with your pledge:
Shoebox Project To Do List
Please commit to filling additional shoeboxes so our club can meet our goal of 75 shoeboxes filled. If you haven’t signed up for a shoebox it’s not too late, they are due September 6th.
**Voting is now closed, winners will be announced September 25th
$25,000 Grant Opportunity for House of Hope's Boost Program
Megan Kugler presented this huge opportunity at our August 12th meeting. House of Hope has been selected as one of our beneficiary organizations for Hops & Grapes, and this is a simple way to help them win some extra money from a national grant program. You can vote 10 times per email address for House of Hope to support local single mothers in the job shadow program Boost. Click the link below and cast your 10 votes from each of your email addresses!
Single mother families are the fastest growing population of homeless in Iowa, 70% struggling for economic security. There are no other programs offering this unique opportunity to homeless mothers in the Cedar Valley. Boost is an 8 week internship program providing women at House of Hope with an opportunity to achieve employment earning a livable wage.
Submit 10 Votes for House of Hope: State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant Opportunity
As we roll along, roll along into our new Rotary year, President Mark Durbahn is proud to announce the approved slate of officers and directors for 2019-2020. Our club would also like to extend our appreciation for the service of our outgoing board members:
2018 – 2019 Board
Katelyn Tungland (President 2018-2019)
Mark Durbahn (President Elect 2019-2020)
Brian Aronson (Treasurer)
E.J. Gallagher (Secretary)
Phil Nash
Jaclyne Heller
Megan Kugler
Steve Carignan
Luke Jenson
Lauren Finke
Annie Vander Werff
Donna Miller
2019-2020 Board (10 Members)
Dave Lee 2021
E.J. Gallagher 2020 (Secretary)
Adam Schaefer 2021 (Treasurer)
Phil Nash 2020 (Membership Chair)
Katelyn Tungland 2021
Deb Pullin-Van Aucken 2021 (Foundation Chair)
Annie Vander Werff 2020 (President Elect)
Megan Kugler 2020
Jaclyne Heller 2020
Heather Labonte 2021
Programs / Committees
Hops and Grapes: Chuck Rowe and Barb Prather
Shoe Box Project: Steve Thorpe, Liz Thorpe and Dave Lee
Operation Warm: Steve Thorpe and Liz Thorpe
Football Banquet: Wade Itzen
Volleyball Banquet: Barb Prather and Jaclyne Heller
Youth Exchange Officer: Luke Jenson
Urban / Rural Luncheon: Larry Steffens, Bob Regenwether, Rick Morris
Academic Honors Luncheon: Beth McCrindle
Invocation Committee: Steve Schmitt
Meeting Guest and Sign-In Coordinator: Norman Ussery
Song Leader: Hovey Brom
Pianist: Bonnie Smith-Davis
Summer Picnic: Katelyn Tungland and Larry Steffens
Heather Marquez is a Business Coach with ActionCoach, which incorporates leadership development, customer obsession, and DISC training.
After a couple of months as a retail cashier, at 16 Heather quickly found out through trial by fire there was more to being a leader than a title and a set of keys. This experience began her lifetime quest to build her leadership skills and help others develop theirs.
Now, with more than 25 years of management, leadership, and training experience, Heather’s mission is to help others realize their purpose and passion through collaboration that will unlock their leadership potential. She supports business leaders by equipping them with the skills needed to increase employee engagement and build a positive company culture.
We had a beautiful night at the Rotary Reserve for our annual picnic July 25th. Over 130 Rotarians, family, and guests enjoyed fried chicken, Marcella’s baked beans, corn on the cob, watermelon and Hansen’s Ice Cream. Many thanks goes to Larry Steffens who was in charge of the cooking and Katelyn Tungland who organized the event. Also, thank you to the other volunteers that made this happen such as Henry Edsill, Marcella Ericson, Steve Finegan, Todd Wordel, Phil Nash, Dave Buck and John Beecher. It was a good night for fellowship and camaraderie.
Ryker Nash looking at the prizes during meal time.
On Monday, July 22nd our meeting was at the Courtyard Marriott and catered by the Blue Iguana.
On Monday, we had A Celebrity in our midst! His smile melted our hearts! He's a University of Iowa Stead Family Kid Captain!! Mason Gonzalez is the 8 year old son of Amy (Hallberg) and Jesus Gonzalez. When he was an infant, his parents started to notice he was not meeting his normal milestones, such as holding his head up and sitting up. Around 15 months old Mason was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome. Angelman Syndrome (also known as AS) is a rare nero-genetic disorder characterized by severe intellectual and developemental disability, sleep disturbance, seizures and jerky movements.
July 15th we welcomed Felicia Carter, a Certified Prevention Specialist with Pathways Behavioral Services. She presented on prevention programs used in Community Outreach with high risk youth.
Mark Oliver and Rich Eckstien from Bergan KDV presented on the “do’s and don’ts” of cybersecurity.
Mark is the Sales Leader in the Cedar Valley market. He is responsible for growing the client base in the Cedar Valley area by building relationships with potential clients and working with them to help solve pain points they are experiencing in their business operations. Mark has been with the firm’s technology team for more than ten years, helping clients find solutions for their technology needs and is known by his clients and coworkers for being easy to work with and for his friendly and light-hearted demeanor.
A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Mark holds a degree in marketing with a focus on sales and advertising. He devotes his time to the Chamber of Commerce, serving as an Ambassador since 2008. He is also a long-time volunteer for the Boy Scouts Golf Tournament Committee. When he’s not in his office, Mark enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, cycling, golfing, landscaping and brushing up on reruns of Seinfeld.
Thanks for all the interest your clubs have shown in our District Grant and Global Grant program. As Rotarians we are people of action, we are people of passion, and we are people of compassion. Through our involvement with District and Global Grants, we have fun living that out as we work to make our communities and the world a better place to live. We’re receiving new District Grant applications each day, and we have three new Global Grants in the works, including a Global Scholar application.
Just a reminder that District Grant applications are due June 15. There’s still time to submit a grant request!
OFF-SITE MEETING: Waterloo Center For The Arts, Shoitz Room
Jessica Christensen with the Cedar Bend Humane Society will have pets in need of homes as well as discussing the services that the Humane Society provide.
The Hops & Grapes committee has prepared the ballot for this years event - each member of our club may choose TWO organizations. Printed ballots will be distributed at our June 10th meeting, or you can review the candidate organizations and email your 2 choices to Barb Prather.
Join us IN CEDAR FALLS at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center June 3 for a preview of the 2019-2020 season. Fellow Rotarian Steve Carignan will be our guide.
Job: Chief Office of Human Resources & Equity, Waterloo Community School District
Fave Food: HOTDOGS!!!!
Fave Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Fave quote: I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
Fave thing about Rotary: The involvement in the community for the betterment of ALL!
Something unique about you: I love to code in my spare time!!
Chris Hofeldt with Cedar Valley Hospice will be talking about their 40 years in the Cedar Valley and how they’ve grown through the years. He will also discuss the services that Cedar Valley Hospice provides the community. Chris Hofeldt graduated from UNI in 2012 with a degree in Marketing and Public Relations. Since graduation Chris has worked at several non-profit organizations in the Cedar Valley.
Anahi’s self confident, but quietly positivity shows in her bright smile today as it always does. Her plans are made and completed one at a time. One of her first goal this year was to learn to speak English confidently . When she arrived here with her first interview, her translation app was receiving a real workout and she needed a lot of assistance from her host mom. But, not now. Anahi communicates on her own with me more clearly and understandably than some American students.
Over the 8 months of living in the Cedar Valley, she has had many adventures. In-between a full-time job as a student at West High School in Waterloo. But, she says... “ I can’t believe it is already only 28 days left here. So many friends and incredible places. So many friends. I will miss them all.”
Years in Rotary – 1 (what was I thinking two decades ago?)
Hometown – Cedar Falls (Waterloo last 24 years)
College – Pillsbury College, Owatonna, MN
Job – Director of Development, Friendship Village
Fav Food – Farm eggs with Sriracha Sauce
Fav Movie – Lord of the Rings – all
Fave Quote – “There is a God in heaven.” (Bible – Daniel 2:28)
Fave thing about Rotary – the spirit of community service
Something unique – two: 1) I married Annie Oakley, 2) Started my business career as senior in high school under James Dutton in the accounting dept. at Santa Claus Industries, WL
Congratulations to the following Clubs for earning the 2018-19 Governor’s Excellence Award:
Algona Bellevue Cedar Rapids Daybreak Cedar Rapids Downtown Cedar Rapids Metro North Cedar Rapids Sunrise Cedar Rapids West Cedar Valley Charles City Dubuque Estherville Forest City Fort Dodge Noon Garner Guttenberg Hampton Iowa Great Lakes Manchester Mason City Noon Mason City River City Sunrise Monticello Mt. Vernon-Lisbon New Hampton Rockwell City Spencer Waterloo Waverly Webster City
Be sure to check the District's Facebook page over the next 28 days to see your Club recognized. Better yet, follow District 5970 on Facebook! Also, there is still time to earn the Governor’s Excellence Award. Here is a link to the form for completion.
Thanks to all who assisted with or attended the District Conference. It was great fun and we even learned some new things and got some new ideas! Visit District 5970’s Facebook page here and click on photos to see pictures taken by District Trainer David Drewelow at the Conference.
David Deeds from JSA joined us to review the great things that JSA has done with revitalizing downtown Waterloo including the new Anton's Garden and future projects that they are planning.
Thanks to Steve and Liz Thorpe, our club has a new easier-to-use Radon detector and YOU can take it home for a week. Simply press the reset button and set it in your basement or other area where you want to test fro Radon. After about 6 hours, it will display a short term reading, and after 24 hours, you'll see a long-term reading. If your long-term average is more than 4 pCi/L you should consider steps to reduce the Radon level to a safer level. The Iowa Radon Survey has indicated that Iowa has the largest percentage (or 71.6%) of homes above the US Environmental Protection Agency action level of 4 pCi/L. It is also designated by the US EPA as an entirely zone 1 state, which means that at least 50% of the homes are above US EPA's recommended action level.
Mason will bring the new detector to the meeting today, but asks that you send him an email to RSVP your week to make more birthdays in your home!
Michelle Sweeney, Project Manager for the University Avenue project in Waterloo shared details on the phases of design and construction on this major project for the City of Waterloo.
I’ve been an “official” Rotarian for less than ten years but have been active for over forty!
Born in East St Louis, Illinois, I grew up south of Chicago in Park Forest. It’s amazing to me that I’ve lived in Waterloo over half my life!
My undergrad was at St Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. I planned on law school after that but married a lawyer instead. I was close! Ha! My MA is in public speaking from UNI after starting a curriculum endorsement at Loyola of Chicago. I love school!
I’m now retired after thirty-five years as a public educator. Teaching was the right fit for me! I enjoyed every day!!
I love to cook AND eat AND travel so not surprisingly I have many favorites. Always at THE top, however, is South India’s masala dosa! Not fancy—just delicious!
Kevin would say that I’m addicted to the Hallmark Channel which isn’t far from the truth this past winter! Actual movies would be any version of Pride and Prejudice.
My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6 which encourages us not to worry about anything while turning those cares over through prayer. My favorite quote is the Arabian proverb: “All sunshine maketh the desert.”
I like lots about Rotary! Especially having lunch with Kevin once a week! During his busy seasons that’s a blessing!
Steve Husome was our guest and presented on the Husome Strong Foundation which is committed to helping the amputee community through peer support, education, advocacy and financial assistance.
Hops and Grapes is going to be on September 26 from 6-9 PM at The Isle!
Save the date!!!! More details to follow.
The first step on our planning process will be to nominate your favorite Nonprofit to receive funding from the Event.
Once we have the nominations the Club will vote for the 2 non-profit organizations we would like to receive a portion of the proceeds from our event.
50% - will go to Rotary projects (to be determined) 50% will be split by two nonprofits the club chooses through voting.
Qualifications: A 501c3 organization that is either 1. A member of the Rotary club or 2. Has a Rotarian that is a board member.
Process: to nominate a non-profit (or your non-profit) please write a short description, not more than a paragraph, describing the organization and its impact. It’s like an elevator pitch for the organization. Please be concise, as we will likely have several to choose from.
Valerie Schwager from North Star Community Services shared the many great programs that North Star has and we were entertained with a preview of Shrek the Musical -their summer production.
Fave Food – My wife’s chicken and homemade noodles
Fave Movie – The Godfather, The Equalizer, John Wick, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street
Fave quote – President John F. Kennedy’s statement to the brightest minds in America at a dinner at the White House: “This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House, with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
Fave thing about Rotary - Contact with other community members interested in helping others.
Something unique about you – When I was a junior in law school at the University of Iowa, I was the Iowa Law School Athletic Director.
Saturday, March 30th, I and several others from our District Leadership Team attended a fundraising event held by the Cedar Falls Rotary Club. The proceeds will be used to fund a global grant to provide water wells in several Honduran villages. During the event, an eight year-old girl named Lyra Benjamin was honored for her charitable work to help people in need. To celebrate her First Communion, she chose to raise charitable funds instead of receiving personal gifts. Lyra raised nearly $1,800 to help victims of Hurricane Irma. The really impressive thing she and her family did was to research which charitable organizations she could trust to handle disbursement of the funds. What did her research tell her? Trust Rotary International!
Lyra gave the funds to the Cedar Falls Rotary Club to make sure the funds made their way to the disaster fund of The Rotary Foundation. We are honored and humbled by Lyra’s story. If you are inspired by her story, you are welcome to give to Rotary’s Disaster Response Fund at rotary.org/en/donate. Thank you, Lyra, for your inspiration!
Fellow Rotarian Rich Frevert was named director of the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony last fall, and has a goal of creating buzz about upcoming performances in an effort to get people to more concerts.
Rich returns to the WCF Symphony after serving as manager in the late 1970s. He's worked with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, and the Springfield (Mass.) Symphony Orchestra. Rich works closely with WCFSymphony Artistic Director and Conductor Jason Weinberger to develop an exciting series of concerts with a multi-media component. For example, April 13 they will present Concert: To The New World, The story of Antonín Dvořák’s journey to America and his experience living in Iowa as told by visual artist Gary Kelley.
Years in Rotary: I've been in Rotary for 25 years. Bernie McKinley encouraged me to join back in 1994 when we both worked for the Cedar Valley Partnership, which is now the Grow Cedar Valley.
Hometown: Waterloo. I've lived half my life in Waterloo and half in Cedar Falls.
College: University of Northern Iowa
Job: Black Hawk County Supervisor
Fave Food: Brownies (like potato chips, I never eat just one).
Fave Movie: Recent favorites include Green Book, the Upside, and Cold Pursuit.
Fave quote: As long as you're breathing, it's never too late to do some good." Maya Angelou
Fave thing about Rotary: Networking with new and old members who want to make our Community a better place.
Something unique about you: I enjoy participating in the Precieux Art Jewelers Treasure Hunts with my family. Last fall, we found 7 of the many hidden treasures. This picture is of one of our "finds" - a gold nugget. We also found two gift certificates ($50 and $100) , an opal, a red sapphire, a blue topaz, and a diamond. Thank you, Dave Cutler.
If you are interested in helping out the member services desk please let Norman know. He is in need of helpers for the next several weeks. This opportunity is a great way for you to get to know you fellow Rotarians and put a face to a name! We only ask you arrive early (11:30am) and work the desk by handing out badges, greeting guests, etc until noon. Fun and easy way to get involved!!!
Mark A. Grey is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Northern Iowa. Mark has conducted research on immigrants, refugee and other newcomer populations in Iowa, the United States and internationally for more than 30 years. Mark is a widely recognized scholar on mobile populations and a highly sought-after speaker, trainer and consultant. In addition to UNI, Dr. Grey is on the teaching faculty at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and he holds an adjunct professor appointment with the U.S. Army War College.
Jared Seliger, President of Allen College shared recent developments at the school and described the relationship between the healthcare industry and their evolving program.
For the last three years, President Katelyn has been proud to bring her family of farmers to the Rural Urban Day Luncheon. Her Grandparents, Jim & Lovelle Pedersen, Uncle Jeff Pedersen and Dad, John Pedersen all work on the family farm south of Hudson in the Eagle Center area. Katelyn has the fondest memories of riding on both green and red tractors and tagging along in the farm truck or four wheeler with her great grandma and grandma to deliver the boys their sack lunches while spending hours in the fields during harvest time. Katelyn recognizes the hard work farmers do and feels blessed to be part of a family who never takes this life for granted.
Years in Rotary - I've been a Rotarian for 16 years. 10 years in the Waverly Chapter, and 6 years here in Waterloo. I'm proud to be a Paul Harris Fellow.
Hometown - Audubon, Iowa
Job - President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
Fave Food - Grilled steak and fettuccine (with a glass of wine)
Fave thing about Rotary - I enjoy the fellowship with our members, and learning more about the community we all love and serve!
Something unique about you - married to John, my high school sweetheart for 37 years and counting! We love traveling together and with our family! This picture is from our recent trip to the Grand Canyon. We have two adorable grandchildren, Kaylee and Jackson who live three minutes from our home!
Tom Eachus, Executive Director of Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health made a presentation to the Club regarding the status of mental health in Iowa as well as the mental health care deficit.
Years in Rotary 24 yrs. (counting Crossroads Rotary Club)
Hometown Montrose, Iowa
College UNI
Job Commercial Loan Officer (BankIowa)
Fave Food Toasted Ravioli (St. Louis style) and spaghetti
Fave Movie Saving Private Ryan
Fave quote “People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” ~ Rogers Hornsby
Fave thing about Rotary Fellow Rotarians, the surprise of what’s for lunch and the great programs each week.
Something unique about you I’ve been to 12 Jimmy Buffett concerts.
Paul Huting Waterloo Leisure Services Director will share updates from Waterloo Leisure Services as well as present details about two projects in their pipeline: pickleball courts and the Riverside Skate Park. Both projects are near Riverfront Stadium and are candidates for our club to support financially this year.
Waterloo's skate park was first opened in 2002, but the floods of 2008 and 2016 damaged the ramps and the park has been technically closed for almost 3 years. FEMA originally planned to help but major hurricanes in 2017 redirected funding.
Waterloo Leisure Services has hired a California company, Spohn Ranch, to develop plans for a new all-concrete skate park. On January 30th, a design workshop brought skaters and city officials together to discuss and vote on specific features for the new park. The results and photos of that workshop can be seen on the group's Facebook page.
Somewhat related to the skate park project - the existing concrete slab under the damaged ramps is still in good condition and can be transformed into pickleball courts. If you've heard of pickleball but aren't familiar with how to play, it's basically a combination of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, and Leisure Services Recreation Manager Mark Gallagher says three pickleball courts could easily fit on the current skate park concrete pad.
Years in Rotary – My current official initiation date is January 18, 1994 when I joined the Rotary Club of Iowa City A.M., However, I was a Rotarian with the Waterloo Downtown Club for a few years before I moved to Iowa City. At that time, there was not a transfer system in place so there was a six-month period when I was not a Rotary member.
Hometown – Waterloo, Iowa
College – Iowa State University – GO CYCLONES!
Job – Wealth Management Banker, U.S. Bank, Waterloo
Fave Food – Anything chocolate
Fave Movie – I have many favorites … I typically go for something entertaining or fun … but that being said, I do love the Harry Potter series having gotten hooked on the books when I read the first in the series with an Iowa City elementary student I journaled through Rotary with when the book first came out in the U.S.
Fave Quote – I used to collect quotes (before computers and Pinterest), so it is hard to select just one … but one that always sorts itself to the top is “The Shepherd’s Prayer” that my mom posted by her desk in college to remind her of her late father: “Heaven won’t be so lonely if what I hope is true, if a little lamb of God is there or come old friendly ewe. In those celestial pastures beside still waters deep, my the eternal future find me with a little bunch of sheep.”
Fave Thing About Rotary – I actually have two favorites … first, I love being able to help people locally and across the globe through the many Rotary initiatives … and second, I really enjoy the social aspects provided not only through involvement in the local club but also through the many friendships I developed by being involved at the district level when I was in Iowa City.
Something Unique About Me – I spend most of my vacation time helping my family exhibit our purebred, registered Hampshire sheep at three state fairs in the summer and our national show at the North American International Livestock Exposition in the fall. My husband and I recently relocated to the area to help my parents, including assisting them with the sheep operation. Right now is lambing season (approximately January–April) so we are very busy with all the new additions and trying to keep everyone warm and healthy!
Hawkeye Community College Athletic Director of Red Tail Athletics, Dave Ball joined us to talk about the athletic programming at Hawkeye Community College.
Lori Eberhard, George Wyth Park Manager talked about the many programs George Wyth State Park has to offer, the soft trails community collaboration and touch on the many activities around the Rotary Shelter.
College: University of Iowa undergrad, Drake for law school
Job: Attorney with McCrindle Law Office
Favorite Food: Steak & Fries
Favorite Movie: “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”
Favorite Quotes: “No matter how far down the wrong road you have travelled, turn back.”—Turkish proverb; and “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”—Margaret Thatcher.
Favorite Thing About Rotary: Camaraderie in doing good stuff for others.
Something Unique About Me: Fascinated by the craft of live theatre and how a show is put on stage—all the things that go into creating what the audience sees.
Through excellent club finance management practices, our club is in a position to support a local project and possibly tap into a district matching grant. The board has narrowed down a list of projects and we'll hear about them during our February meetings.
George Wyth projects - Feb 4th
Waterloo Pickle Ball Court - Feb 18th
Riverside Skate Park - Feb 18th
Allen/Mental Heath Center landscaping project - Feb 25th
After the presentations, the board will send out a SurveyMonkey for our members to vote on the preferred project.
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