Join us today at noon at the Waterloo Convention Center to hear from the North East Iowa Regional Board of Realtors. Our guest speaker is incoming President of the Board of Realtors, Karmen Schwake. She will be discussing the real estate market in the Cedar Valley both residential and commercial. Karmen is a native of Waterloo, graduated from West High School and attended school in Arizona. She is currently a broker for Oakridge Realty. She has a family of 4 and resides in Waterloo.
**UPDATE** Our guest was unable to share several interesting charts and info with us on the big screen, so it has been uploaded here.
Our upcoming programs offer a wide variety of topics that you can offer to guests - maybe you could reach out and re-connect with your network and invite them to join us for lunch?
We'll begin a sign up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in July. They can take groups of 10 Monday thru Thursday mornings 8:30-11:30 the week of July 14th.
There will be no regular Rotary meeting that week. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. This is an opportunity for service to help build homes to those in need plus have some fun with your fellow Rotarians.
Training will be provided. Currently there are 6 project homes.
President-elect Larry will have more details at our next few regular meetings.
Fellow Rotarian Barb Prather is the Executive Director of Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and will bring some friends to our meeting Monday:
Ron Steele is the Capacity Campaign’s Volunteer Spokesperson. Ron has lived and worked in the Cedar Valley more than 50 years, recently retiring as Senior News Anchor for KWWL-TV. He hopes to help the NEIFB reach its goal of increased capacity to serve the tens of thousands in 16 Iowa counties who depend on daily meals provided by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.’
Dr. Michelle Swanson is a life-long resident of the Cedar Valley and a recently retired professor from the University of Northern Iowa. She continues to serve the community as a volunteer at the Northeast Iowa food bank and numerous other local charities, demonstrating her deep commitment to helping others. Michelle is married to her husband, Chad - a local attorney - and together they have raised two adult children, Elizabeth and Matthew.
UNI has provided us directions for the meeting at the UNI Dome. The meeting will be at the building connected to the NORTH Side of the UNI Dome. Jimmy John's will be served for lunch.
Below is a map of the North entrance to the UNI dome parking lot. Turn onto the North parking lot entrance and then turn into the meter parking at the Wellness Recreation Center. Enter on the West side of the building and then turn right down a long hallway... you will walk by a large weight room ... and will see a white stairway ahead go up the stairs and go to the Athletic Administration office and turn left...you go down a short hallway to room 256 which is the Team meeting Room. This will be stadium seating with comfortable seats. There will be people there to help direct you. There is also an elevator by the white stairway to the left if you would like an elevator. Parking is 25 cents per 18 minutes. Otherwise you can park in the North parking lot for free. You can also use the PEC entrance and avoid the long hallway. If anyone would like to help direct people, please contact Larry Steffens @319-415-7635. Thank you.
Today, we honor those who died while serving our country in the Armed Forces. We will not meet today so you can spend the unofficial kick off to summer with your family. Next meeting will be June 2 at the Waterloo Convention Center with a Rotary business agenda.
Inspired by the American flags placed beside headstones at military cemeteries, Rick Clark asked officials at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego if Rotary clubs could similarly pay tribute to service members interred there.
Clark, a past president of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Seabee, as members of the U.S. Navy’s construction battalions are called. He enlisted District 5340 leaders to recruit 400 volunteers to participate in the project, dubbed 2024 Operation Flags for Vets. “It was a powerful event that impacted so many people, including countless survivors who expressed their gratitude,” says another organizer, Michael Fuqua, a member of the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo and a retired naval captain. The district plans to repeat the event this Memorial Day. The initiative is supported by a new district committee formed to coordinate projects related to military members and veterans. The committee helped raise about $14,000.
Ali Parrish is the Executive Director of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, where she has worked for the past 11 years, helping to lead efforts that expand access to affordable homeownership and strengthen neighborhoods across the Cedar Valley. A Waterloo native, Ali is committed to bringing people together to create lasting change through housing and community partnerships. She and her husband Nathaniel have three grown daughters and enjoy being part of the place they’ve long called home.
When Ugandan village elders meet with Stuart Raymond Kasule about supporting people with mental health struggles, they volunteer ideas to show more empathy.
They want to know, for example, how to open a conversation with a person who is suffering. “That shows you that the people are crying out to say, we need help, we need support,” Kasule says. He travels from his adopted home of Australia to his Ugandan homeland about twice a year to share his training on mental well-being and suicide prevention, skills that are part of his job with a counseling firm in Canberra.
The Rotary District #5970 conference was held in Decorah, IA May 2-4. The meeting was attended by about 75 people, including Rotary Exchange students, members, past, present, and future District Governors, and others. We began Saturday morning with a presentation from Patricia Kennedy Davanzo, who told us how Rotary and the 4-way test changed her life. She told us how her father who was a Rotarian for many years, insisted she go off to New Zealand as an exchange student when she was in high school. That experience changed her life, and she knew she wanted to be involved with travel as a career. She went to work for Northwest Airlines, now Delta Airlines, after college. Today, 30 years later she has moved all over the county and successfully moved up the ranks at Northwest. Throughout here career she had a 4-way test plaque sitting on her desk and she tried to follow it every day, especially in difficult situations.
We then participated in a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt. We were split into about 10 teams and given $100 in cash. Our goal was to go out and spread joy and tell others about Rotary in about an hour. We started on Main Street, and we gave money to a family who was on their way to buy some hot chocolate for their two young children. We then headed down to the Farmer’s Market and met a local farmer and his young daughter, who runs a farm with everything from chickens to cows to potted plants. We treated his family to a future dinner out. It was a lot of fun to see how surprised people were when we gave them cash for a treat.
The last speaker was Tim Felton, a retired County Sheriff’s deputy from Winneshiek County. He told us of several trips to Ukraine in the last 4-5 years in which he has gone over and trained their local fire and police forces on how to deal with trauma and PTSD in the warzone. It was an interesting and inspiring talk and reminded us of how luck we are to live in a county where we take peace for granted.
The day ended with pizza from Mabe’s and family trivia.
Katie Strub is the Senior Clinic Administrator at the Allen Child Protection Center and Allen Women’s Health. She has been in her current position since 2021, and has been employed at UnityPoint Health in the Allen Child Protection Center since it opened in 2010. Katie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. Katie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She represents Allen Women’s Health and Allen Child Protection Center on numerous state, regional and national committees and coalitions.
Join us Monday to hear from Megan Franklin - she was named the University of Northern Iowa's ninth Director of Athletics in May 2024, bringing over a decade of athletic administrative experience in the Missouri Valley Conference to Cedar Falls.
Franklin earned her bachelor's degree in Community Health Education at the University of Nebraska and later received a master's degree in Educational Administration specializing in student affairs from Nebraska. She owns a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.
Glen Keith is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and is the current Executive Director of Love In the Name of Christ of the Cedar Valley, also known as Love INC. Glen spent 25 years in the military and served as logistics officer throughout the globe with multiple deployments to the Balkans in the mid-1990s and multiple deployments to Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism.
Glen is a native of Tennessee with the Army bringing him to the Cedar Valley in 2013 to lead the University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC program, where he retired from the Army in 2017. His education includes a Bachelors in Sociology from Tennessee Technological University, a Masters in Administration from Central Michigan University and Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.
Thousands set to gather in Calgary for Rotary’s international convention, one of the ‘Blue Sky City’s’ most multicultural events to date.
CALGARY (10 April 2025) - More than 15,000 Rotary members and participants from over 120 countries will gather in Calgary from June 21 to 25, 2025, for the membership service organization’s annual international convention.
“I am thrilled to welcome my fellow Rotary members from around the world to Calgary and Alberta,” said Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith. “As changemakers who recognize the needs of their communities and then take action to address them, Rotary members are fostering positive and lasting impact – and much needed inspiration at this moment in time.”
As the largest event yet to be held at the newly expanded BMO Centre, the convention is expected to account for more than 30,000 hotel room nights, inject $81 million CAD to the local economy, and drive significant business for Calgary’s hotels, restaurants, retailers, and tourism attractions.
We invite you to be a part of our annual Main Street Sweep, a community spring clean-up day dedicated to revitalizing downtown Waterloo after a long winter. This is more than just picking up trash — it’s about coming together to restore the beauty, health, and welcoming spirit in the heart of our city. When we unite with a common purpose, even the simplest actions — like sweeping a sidewalk — we create a powerful ripple of pride and connection. Volunteers will receive supplies and assignments before heading out to "sweep" downtown. After the cleanup, we’ll gather for lunch and a well-deserved celebration. Let’s work side by side to make downtown shine again — we can’t wait to see you there! Sign up here to join the movement.
Hometown: Plainfield, IA and I currently live in Cedar Falls
College: Ellsworth
Favorite Food: Anything Mexican & Ice Cream!
Fun Fact: My wife and I have been together for 11 years (we met by mutual friends in our junior year of high school) and we have now been married for 5+ years. We have a 7-month-old baby girl named Monroe and a 3.5-year-old boy named Myer! Our favorite thing to do is travel and experience other cultures. Myer has been to 3 different countries, and Monroe has been to one different country!
Why Rotary? Rotary has been a great opportunity to become more involved in the community and learn about all of the great things that the Cedar Valley has to offer. My experience so far has been very welcoming and I am excited to continue becoming more involved when able.
Since 2018, members of the Interact Club of Lotus Valley International School in Noida, India, have been manufacturing menstrual pads for girls and women, using a process they perfected at their school outside of Delhi.
Chad Hammar is the new Executive Director of NAMI Black Hawk County (National Alliance on Mental Illness). After a long career in the banking industry, Chad has spent the past 16 years in non-profit leadership. He’ll discuss NAMI’s services to people in the Cedar Valley who live with mental illness as well as those who love them, as well as the current state of the mental health epidemic.
Saddle up for an unforgettable evening at Boots ‘n Bling, benefiting Cedar Valley Hospice! Join us on Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls from 6:00–10:00 PM for a night of live country music by Flatland Ridge, thrilling whiskey and wine pulls, rodeo raffles, and more.
I am the store development manager with One Vision Thrift Services. I oversee all retail stores, sales, and operations. I’ve been working in retail management just about 10 years. One Vision is a non-profit that help adults with disabilities live their best lives with thrift services. What we do is generate revenue operating our thrift stores, and our thrift solutions businesses including large scale clothing recycling, and businesses consulting services. As an overall organization we provide services to adults with disabilities such as smart living solutions, in home care, assisted employment, and much more.
At the height of the space race in the early 1960s, thousands of aerospace engineers, scientists, contractors, and support crew members flocked to Houston, turning 1,600 acres of what was mostly cow pasture into the bustling research hub known as the Manned Spacecraft Center, now the Johnson Space Center. The transplants needed social connection. They needed an outlet to improve their rapidly growing community.
College: University of Northern Iowa - Go Panthers! 🐾
Favorite Food: Cinnamon Chip Scones - but I am a foodie and love almost everything!
Fun Fact: I was a wedding singer when I was younger, and now I get asked to sing for funerals.
Why Rotary? Honestly, I was invited. I said yes because I thought the Rotary offered a chance to meet new people and get involved to help make my community better.
Another fun fact - I went snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.
Angie Fuller has worked in the health and wellness arena since 2002. Working on the admin side of health care at UnityPoint Health from 2002-2016, she gained insight into the key that prevention plays in overall wellness, which inspired her to become the owner operator at Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping in 2016.
In the past eight+ years, she has continued her education, earning a nationally accredited health coach certification along with a sports nutrition specialty, group fitness certification, and FXB Level 3 instructor rating for both kickboxing and strength training.
She also holds a bachelor's degree from Purdue University in communication, and a master's degree from UNI in public relations.
Angie promotes balance, sustainable health habit formation and a ‘no single right way’ approach to one's health goals.
President Elect Larry Steffens has discount tickets to the Black Hawk County 4-H Omelet breakfast on Sunday March 30 serving from 8am-12:30pm at the UAW Hall in Waterloo. 4-H kids and friends of 4-H make your omelet for you, .. meal includes sausage, hash browns, cinnamon roll, and drink. Proceeds go to the Black Hawk 4-H kids for registrations and premiums. Email Larry for your tickets!
Birthdays were celebrated, Six new members were introduced to the club: Ryan Cose, Ed Gruenwald, Margaret Moye, Arp Patel, Dusty Wilson, and Suzanne Benda.
The January 2025 approved budget was shared with members. If any member wants a copy they should contact Cathy Nicholas.
New Bylaws for District #5970 were approved by the Executive Board in February. Changes included reformatting and “committee” changed to “teams” in many instances.
Reminder that when a Rotarian is ready to resign or retire from Rotary they must notify the Club president and/or Board in writing, per Rotary International rules.
RYLA Applications are being accepted now through April 1, 2025. The week-long leadership training is open to freshman, sophomore, and junior high school students. It will be held in Fairfield Iowa at Grinnell College, July 27-Aug 1, 2025.
We are looking for members to serve on the Executive Board, serve as Treasurer and Membership Chair.
On Monday the Club will volunteer at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Our address is 1605 Lafayette St. Please park in the big parking lot away from the building, on the bricks. Please arrive by 11:45 and enter the Pantry/Office entrance off of Lafayette Street. Go in the Office door and say you are with the Rotary Group.
The group will likely be repacking Oats in the repack room (same room as we did Chicken last time, except warmer). We'll get started about noon and work for about an hour.
As an fyi, there are over 40,000 food insecure people in northeast Iowa that includes over 13,000 kids. In FY 24 we distributed over 8.4 million meals throughout 16 counties.
How can we find beauty in the everyday? Journalist Linda Yu and Amy Tan discuss the everyday moments that shaped The Backyard Bird Chronicles. Tune in to our latest podcast for a glimpse into Tan’s number-one New York Times best-seller.
Mike Hendrickson is the Executive Director for Black Hawk County Conservation and will join us to review the current lease on the Rotary Reserve which expires later this year.
Mike has a B.S. Degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from Northwest Missouri State University. His career in conservation began in 1989 as a park ranger for Adams County Conservation in southwest Iowa. He moved to Black Hawk County in 1991 when he accepted a park ranger position with Black Hawk County Conservation. He enjoys spending time recreating outdoors with his family.
So many of you were good friends with Hovey Brom and have fond memories of him. I first met Hovey in my first year at the County, we needed a new roof on one of our road department buildings, so I called a local architect. I was struck by his energy and enthusiasm for our project. I soon joined Rotary and got to know Hovey for his weekly songs and enthusiasm for music. I know many of us enjoyed being led through the patriotic song, as well as the song he had composed just for our speaker that week. It was often funny and always creative.
Hovey was our longest tenured Rotarian at 61 years. He spoke to our club many times, most recently shortly after COVID when we were online, when he spoke extensively and passionately about his time in the Army during World War II.
We will miss his passion and enthusiasm for so many things, particularly music and architecture.
Check out the Grout Museum fundraiser coming up March 1!
The Grout Museum District, 503 South Street, Waterloo, will be holding a fundraiser, Night at the Museum: Mardi Gras Trivia, on March 1, 2025 at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, 503 South Street, Waterloo. Doors open at 5PM.
Join us Monday to hear from Waterloo Fire Chief Bill Beck. He'll present a brief history of fighting fires in Waterloo, as well as how the department is organized today and how they are working to meet the growing needs of our city.
Chief Beck started his fire rescue career in his hometown of Cresco as a volunteer, then was hired as a Waterloo firefighter in 2004. He began paramedic school in 2007 and in 2009 was promoted to Medical Officer. Elevated to Lieutenant in 2012, then Battalion Chief in 2020, Mayor Hart swore him in as Waterloo's 10th Fire Chief on March 14, 2023. Chief Beck is a 1996 graduate of UNI, and last year earned his Master's of Science Degree in Fire Executive Leadership and Public Administration.
THANK YOU to all who have signed up to sponsor a guest! Please arrive at the Waterloo Convention Center between 11:30 and 11:45 to meet your guest and be seated.
The Rotary Foundation is an important component of our organization. It is through The Rotary Foundation that we, individually and as a group, can make a positive impact not only across the world but also locally. When you contribute to OUR foundation, the funds are put aside for three years while the income earned off those funds is used for administrative expenses. After three years, half the funds are used for international projects and the other half comes back to our district for local projects like our shelter at George Wythe State Park. The Rotary Foundation consistently receives the highest rating possible from GuideStar.
The Rotary Foundation honors members when they contribute by awarding Paul Harris Fellows at each $1,000 level of giving. It is always an honor to celebrate when one of our members has achieved a Paul Harris Fellow level, and we were thrilled to recognize this achievement by Bryan Burton at the last meeting.
Having aspired to become a Paul Harris fellow for several years, I am delighted to have achieved this milestone within my Rotary tenure.
Fellow Rotarian and past District Governor Jim Coloff will join us Monday to discuss his other passion - broadcasting and digital media. Coloff Media owns and operates 12 radio stations in North Iowa, and Coloff Digital provides online marketing services for midwest businesses. He also co-founded Magical Mix Kids which provides an all-expense paid trip to Disney Land for chronic and terminally ill children. Jim is an ISU graduate with degrees in Marketing, Business, and and Journalism.
Iowa State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons to be Rural-Urban Day Keynote Speaker
The Waterloo Rotary Club’s 2025 Rural-Urban Day will be March 31. This annual event gives our members the opportunity to interact with our Cedar Valley agriculture community at the beginning of their busy spring season and thank them for all they do to feed, clothe and support us and our world. Rotarians can sponsor farmers or agriculture professionals for $25 per person. You are also welcome to sponsor a table (ask about this opportunity). Make plans to invite your agriculture friends, or we will also provide new friends for you to meet and connect with. Larry Steffens and his committee will be at meetings up until a week before the event, or contact Larry by email with your intentions.
Jeremy Parsons’ professional life came full circle in 2023 when he was named CEO of the world-renowned Iowa State Fair.
He was first introduced to fair management in elementary school by writing a letter to then-Iowa State Fair Manager Marion Lucas. Since that moment, his life and fairs have intersected in a variety of ways, even during his initial career as a high school teacher and coach.
There are opportunities to volunteer or participate in upcoming community events. We'll use this space in our weekly Reporter to promote upcoming events that our fellow Rotarians are involved with:
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Saturday, February 22nd, Noon-3pm - Show your Downtown soup-port! We’re cooking up something souper exciting this winter! The first annual Soup-port Local event is designed to feature our stellar downtown, locally owned restaurants making the ultimate winter comfort food: SOUP.
Mark your calendar and join us for a heartwarming (and tummy-warming) adventure. Sample a variety of delicious soups crafted by our locally owned eateries, and help crown the winner of the coveted Golden Ladle Award!
Steve Eilers of Black Hawk County Extension will join us February 3rd. He is a graduate of UNI and will provide a big picture of some of the programs Black County Extension offers. His specialty is the Master Gardner Program and helping people with their lawns and trees. He's in my ninth year at Black Hawk County Extension as the Horticulture and Natural Resource Coordinator. Primary responsibilities include coordinating the Master Gardener and Master Conservationist courses and programs, answering horticulture questions from county residents, managing volunteers, arranging and hosting educational classes for the public, and public speaking engagements.
Rotary members are making a difference for those impacted by the #LosAngelesFires. They’ve raised over $250,000 for relief efforts while offering spare bedrooms, financial support, clothing, food, and a compassionate ear to those in need.
Kidnapped in Nigeria, Julie Mulligan endured 13 harrowing days but emerged stronger. Her ordeal revealed the power of resilience, global solidarity, and Rotary's commitment to peace. Today, she continues her work to make the world a better place.
Waterloo Rotarians will NOT gather Monday at the Convention Center, but are encouraged to go out and serve our community as part of the Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service. The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley is hosting an event Monday at the Grout Museum - click the link below for details!
Our guest last week former Mayor Tim Hurley *only* had about 30 minutes to cover the extraordinary history of Waterloo's contribution to WWII efforts, so we've collected some links below if you are interested in learning more:
Kris Hansen serves as CEO of Western Home Services, a life plan community and management company which serves approximately 1,800 clients daily. In addition to growing the organization he leads; Kris has helped other Iowa organizations reposition and expand their campuses around the state and region. Kris has long been involved with public policy and advocacy, both in Iowa and Washington, D.C. He has also served on various boards and committees for organizations at both state and national levels. Currently, he serves as the board chair for the Iowa Health Care Association.
Did you know our club has a "Birthday Machine"? Several years ago, one of our esteemed members Tom Arthur bought the club a plug-in 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. This month during the birthday table recognition, Mason will encourage 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 shared this story with the club a few years ago:
Be sure to attend our first meeting of 2025 and hear from Former Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley. Waterloo has been selected as the only city in Iowa to be designated a World War II Heritage City. The program was established by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 to recognize the historic importance of the United States’ domestic involvement in World War II and ensure the continued preservation of a defining period in American history.
“Waterloo's contributions on the home front, as well as in the field, to the World War II Allied Forces victory is a perfect example for why this national designation was envisioned. I have learned so much about what our Waterloo soldiers, sailors, Marines and citizens did to help win the war. We should be very proud of our WWII history, and that we are the only city in Iowa to earn this honor from the National Park Service," said Tim Hurley, who helped lead the charge for the designation.
As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on the year’s achievements, lessons, and challenges. In the Waterloo Rotary Club we have heard from some memorable and noteworthy speakers such as our representatives running for elected offices, Mary the black lab service dog, Dr. Esbaugh with the UNI Gerontology lab, Eric Lage with Waterloo Fiber, and Sarah and Megan with Try Pie Bakery.
We honored our high school student for their academic and athletic achievements, and we volunteered our time at the NE Iowa Food Bank. Additionally, we made progress on some of the challenges with our club finances.
The New Year is a time to set intentions and look forward to the many opportunities that await us. We look forward to more insightful community speakers and hearing from more area businesses as they offer perspectives in their field; we will work harder to better our club financially and look for more service opportunities where we can make a difference.
Rotarians gathered for our annual holiday luncheon, and a delicious plated meal was served by the Waterloo Convention Center staff. We enjoyed entertainment from East High student musicians and had a holly jolly time catching up with friends.
We'll have a 2-week winter break from regular meetings - plan to meet again January 6th, 2025 when our program will be former Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley.
One Monday, December 9th, we will meet OFF SITE at I HOPE Waterloo to enjoy a Pakistani lunch. We will hear from Pastor Oliver Zia, Founder and Executive Chairman at Gospel Faith International Church, Quetta Pakistan. Pastor Oliver and his wife Ruby and two sons recently moved to Waterloo under a religious worker visa. They have been missionaries in different countries and planted 17 churches in different parts of Pakistan. Pastor Oliver began his journey many years ago as an affluent athlete for the country of Pakistan. He has been a bold witness for Christ in the midst of a culture that is frequently hostile to Christianity. God has used Oliver to lead many people to experience salvation and healing in Jesus.
We are fortunate to be at the table with Pastor Oliver and his wife Ruby. She is a wonderful cook, enjoys cooking for and entertaining large groups, She is also a massage therapist.
Oliver is assisting Michael Peters in the One with Jesus discipleship program (formerly International House of Prayer (I HOPE)). Together they are helping Christian pastors, leaders and believers multiply their ministry through Kingdom Discipleship and Healing.
The International House of Prayer is located at 722 S Hackett Rd, Waterloo, IA. Near U-Haul and Young Plumbing and Heating off of University Avenue.
Since 1946 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. Football coaching staffs at each school in the city nominate a senior MVP from their team. In a secret ballot, area sportswriters make the citywide selection. The winner receives the Glen "Doc" Miller traveling trophy as top player in his sport. The winner is entitled to display the trophy at his school for the next twelve months.
You can see the list of all the 2024 MVPs and photos of the ceremony on our website, www.WaterlooRotary.com
The Waterloo Rotary Club will take a Thanksgiving break and not hold a regular meeting Monday, November 25th. We will reconvene Monday, December 2nd to celebrate birthdays and conduct some club business.
Congratulations to the West High volleyball team and their MVP Jada Smith!
Since 1946 the Waterloo Rotary Club has enjoyed the honor each year to celebrate outstanding performance by high school athletes in the city of Waterloo. For the 32nd year, area volleyball coaches choose their team's MVP, then by ballot of all the coaches, award the trophy for overall Most Valuable volleyball player who is entitled to display the trophy at her school for the next twelve months.
You can see the list of all the 2024 MVPs and photos of the ceremony on our website, www.WaterlooRotary.com
Jada Smith of West High is our 2024 Volleyball MVP
First-grader Tyshon Harris has help from David Buck Nov 21 2011 MATTHEW PUTNEY Courier Photo Editor
Our club is so close to raising all the funds needed to provide warm coats for kids in 6 Waterloo elementary schools - can you help us over the finish line? If you haven’t already donated please consider donating now to our Operation Warm project. Or if you have donated please consider making an additional donation. Donations can be brought to the club meeting today (November 11), or made through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s website.
Reminder...please come early Monday as we will be honoring area high school volleyball seniors and announcing who is selected as the MVP this year! We will start promptly at 12:10!
We'd like to thank our PREMIER SPONSOR of the event, OMJC Signal...
We also would like to thank our Presenting Sponsors...
Friends of Rotary Sponsors
Amy Rousselow, Barb Prather, Beth and Kevin McCrindle, Bonnie Smith-Davis, Brandon Marks, Bryan Burton, Dave Buck, Dave Lee, E.J. Gallagher, Frank Seng, Gene Leonhardt, Jaclyne Heller, Jay Crisp, Jim Schaffer, Jim Seely, Joan Rice, John Beecher, John Bunge, Kathy Braun, Lindy Lindenberg, Phil Nash, Ryan Cose, Tom Arthur
Our Keynote Speaker for the Annual Volleyball Awards Banquet is David Warrington from KWWL!
Born and raised in Eastern Iowa, David is thrilled to continue calling it home and telling its stories.
He was raised in Central City, Iowa, a town of 1,200 people near Cedar Rapids. A graduate of Central City High School, he got his media start in sports broadcasting, announcing sporting events for the Central City Wildcats.
Next Monday, we are hosting the Annual Rotary Volleyball Banquet that honors local high school athletes. Please arrive early, as we will start promptly at Noon!
We have a birthday group this month led by everyone's all-time favorite song leader Hovey Brom! Hovey will celebrate his 99th birthday and we'll gather to send him good vibes in absentia.
By Jeffrey Walsh, Rotary Club of Bloomington-Normal Sunrise, Illinois, USA
I am a former Army medic and a returned Peace Corps volunteer. I joined Rotary recently, and I am excited to be part of an organization that is working to eradicate polio. I would love nothing more than to help achieve our top priority by entering combat zones and going to distant countries.
Led by Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick, the 2025 Rotary Presidential Peace Conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, 20-22 February 2025, will be an opportunity for the Rotary community and our partners to build on Rotary’s contributions to promoting peace by exploring:
Join us Monday to see Congresswoman Ashley Hinson speak and answer questions.
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson proudly represents Iowa’s 2nd district in Congress.
An Iowa native, Ashley is an award-winning journalist and a proud wife and mother of two. Ashley previously served in the Iowa state House and represented Iowa’s 67th House district, serving Hiawatha, Robins, Cedar Rapids, and Marion, where she currently resides. As a state Representative, she worked successfully to balance the budget, cut taxes, and protect the most vulnerable in her community.
In Congress, she continues to be a common-sense leader and pursue pro-growth policies. She has introduced and supported bipartisan legislation to improve child care access for working families in Iowa, root out corruption in Washington through federal lobbying bans, and create opportunities for workers in the community. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, where she oversees the government funding process and fights to ensure every taxpayer dollar is accounted for and spent responsibly. As a mother of two, she also has a keen interest in protecting the safety and security of Iowa families.
Prior to serving Iowans in public office, Ashley was a reporter for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids. For more than a decade, she had the opportunity to connect with Iowa’s small business owners and community leaders. Ashley’s extensive reporting on rising healthcare costs, devastating flooding, and other critical issues impacting Eastern Iowa drove her to seek opportunities to better serve her community and take action to solve the problems she had covered for years.
We'll celebrate Rotarians born in October at our September 30 meeting - this group has over 300 years in combined service to our club and includes FIVE past presidents.
Iowa State Senate District 38 Candidate Dave Sires will be speaking at our club on Monday!
Dave Sires is a businessman from Cedar Falls. He and his wife own and operate Cedar Village a manufactured housing community and a self storage facility. The manufactured housing business also includes new and used manufactured home sales.
Dave was born at Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls in 1960. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Holmes Junior High, and graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1979. He attended UNI in the early 1980’s studying economics.
Dave Sires has always been a hard worker. When he was 10 years old he started selling sweet corn to make money and then bought his own tractor at the age of 13. He farmed 15 acres to start with and then as a junior and senior in high school farmed 75 acres. After graduation from high school he purchased an excavator and had his own excavating business which included building terraces, ponds and tiling. While operating the excavation business Dave had always worked along side his father in the manufactured housing business. Dave and his wife bought out his parents in 1991 and have been operating the community ever since. In 2003, Dave decided that a self storage facility would be a good complement to his business and he built Added Self Storage.
Kevin McCrindle will be moderating a forum of our Black Hawk County Supervisors able to attend our meeting. If you have suggested questions, please send to Kevin prior to 11 am: kevin.mccrindle@mccrindlelaw.com.
We will hear from Iowa Senator Eric Giddens today!
He serves: Cedar Falls, Hudson, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, Washburn, La Porte City, Traer, Dysart, Mount Auburn, and parts of Waterloo.
In Cedar Falls, Eric was previously a math teacher at Peet Junior High School, a former member of the Cedar Falls Board of Education, and has worked at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy and Environmental Education where he led a program to help Iowa communities increase the adoption of sustainability practices.
Sophie Bamwoyeraki’s love for education began as a child, when she would read to other children in her neighborhood.
As Rotary Club president in 2016, she helped transform Makukuba, a village where a child tragically lost their life walking 6 kilometers to school. Today, as a school principal, Sophie continues to inspire change by starting Interact clubs and empowering students through hands-on learning.
The Rotary Zone 25b-29 Institute was a gathering of Club and District Leaders to share to learn and become better equipped as Leaders. Our own Waterloo Rotarian and future District Governor Jeff Halverson traveled to San Antonio, Texas with his wife Mary Margaret. Jeff returned to Iowa energized to lead our District!
Jeff Halverson is pictured here with Rotary International President Elect Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo
District 5970 Governor Elect Nominee Jeff Halverson and his wife Mary Margaret with Rotary International Director Salvador Rizzo.
We will NOT meet Monday, September 2nd - enjoy a safe long weekend and join us September 9th when we'll hear from Black Hawk County Auditor Grant Veeder.
With transplant changes afoot, Rotary members push to end global organ shortages
Anil Srivatsa drives an SUV plastered with stickers and slogans across India on a quixotic mission: to teach as many of the country’s 1.4 billion people as he can about the importance of organ donation.
He’s one man in his truck, often accompanied by his wife, driving from town to town for several weeks each year to try to increase India’s organ donation rate, because it ranks among the world’s worst. “There is a deep cultural bias against organ donation in India,” says Srivatsa, a media entrepreneur who helped found the Rotary Club of Organ Donation in 2022. “There is much work to be done in this space, to counter misinformation and fear.”
For Srivatsa, the mission is intensely personal. Ten years ago, he donated his left kidney to his brother, Arjun Srivatsa, a neurosurgeon and a member of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, who had chronic renal failure. On his driving tours, Srivatsa sleeps in a rooftop pop-up tent on his SUV. One of its decals says “Kidney donors are sexy!” He speaks to a Rotary club if there is one in town — there are more than 4,000 in the country — or he assembles what residents he can when there’s not.
We will hear a presentation on mental health from Sheriff Tony Thompson today!
Sheriff Tony Thompson took office on January 1, 2009, and was re-elected in November 2012 with nearly 70% of the vote, and again in November 2016 with 98.8% of the vote. However, his law enforcement career started much earlier when 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.
Whether you are a NEW member or a seasoned member who wants to get involved; consider one of our many committees! Also, we will be looking for a fundraising committee so reach out to President Cathy if interested...cnicholas@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov
More than half of Rotarians worldwide receive a regional magazine instead of the flagship Rotary magazine. These publications are produced independently by Rotarians, distributed in more than 130 countries, and published in 26 languages. They have a combined circulation of 764,896. Each magazine has a regional point of view but also includes articles and photographs of international interest from Rotary magazine. Click the link below to see all the various publications Rotary uses to keep members engaged and informed:
David Lee is organizing volunteers to raise money for Operation Warm through volunteering at the LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON Saturday night (July 27th)! If you have interest in learning more, please e-mail davidlee@cfu.net!
We will hear from the Winnebego Council of the Boy Scouts of America on Monday!
District Executive Laura Hayes has worked with Scouting America in some capacity for much of her adult life. She started in Scouting in the early 1990s as a District Executive in Northwest Indiana. After three years, a move resulted in a career change, and over the years she has worked as a Veterinary Technician, Music Teacher, Insurance Agent, and Stay-at-home-Mom and caregiver.
Sign up for the Rotary Family Picnic from 5-7pm at the Rotary Reserve - $8 for adults $5 for Children under 12. Pot-Luck sides and desserts, and Rotary will furnish meat, buns, condiments, Marcella’s baked beans, bottled water and lemonade. Meats will be hamburgers, brats, hotdogs, chicken breast - please email Larry to specify your choice for each person attending. Activities will be provided for the kids.
Email Larry if you can help volunteer with set up/cooking/kids activities/clean up - remember the Rotary moto Service Above Self and our goal to make this a fun event for families!
We look forward to having you join us...you're welcome to bring guests as well as prospective members.
Waterloo Rotarians will re-convene Monday, July 8th at the Waterloo Convention Center to celebrate July birthdays and a brand new Rotary year led by our 2024-25 President Catherine Nicholas!
June 24th - Passing the gavel to President Nicholas is Past President Jaclyne Heller, joined by President-Elect Larry Steffens.
At our last meeting of the Rotary calendar year we officially confirmed our club executives for the 2024-2025 fiscal year!
2024-2025 Executive Slate
Cathy Nicholas, President Jaclyne Heller, Past President Larry Steffens, President Elect Steve Schmitt, Secretary Treasurer TBD EJ Gallagher, Sergeant-at-Arms Amy Rousselow, Member/Membership Chair Bonnie Smith-Davis, Member Lauren Finke, Member Jordan Bancroft Member: New member Allison Beach Member: New member Rochelle Kane Member: New member Deb Pullen-Van Auken, Foundation Chair* Dave Lee, Warm Coats Chair* Kelli McCarthy, Business Secretary*
**JUNE 17 OFF SITE MEETING AT THE WATERLOO PUBLIC LIBRARY**
Hear from fellow Rotarians Steve Carignan (Executive Director of the Gallagher Bluedorn) and Jordan Bancroft (Executive Director of the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony) on ways their organizations are reaching people in the "digital" age.
We are more connected (digitally) than ever before. And also more lonely than ever before. Loneliness has an enormous impact on our health, our relationships and our civic lives. The Symphony and Gallagher are working to help people reconnect offline and share experiences that bring them closer. Come, learn the scope of the challenge and what we as a community can do to make things better. (Hint - Rotarians are better at this than some)
We will close out our Rotary fiscal year at the June 24 meeting. We will vote on the final ballot of board members for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. If you have interest in being on the board, please e-mail Cathy at cnicholas@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov.
A fellow Rotarian does painting to raise money for children who need cleft lip and palate surgeries!
By George Lewis, Rotary Club of Venice-Nokomis, Florida, USA
Extraordinary. Amazing. Spectacular.
This is how I feel about Rotary. I’ll be 90 years old in June and joined Rotary at a relatively late age. I went on my first volunteer trip to Guatemala in 2006 to help install stoves for Mayan families. Those stoves changed their lives, and the experience changed mine.
As we installed stoves, I enjoyed talking with the families and asked them what other assistance would be helpful. Most often, someone would reply that clean drinking water would be the most significant improvement. I promised them I would help, and that became my purpose in Rotary.
Our June 10th meeting is at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa @ 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls.
Jessica Rucker, fellow Rotarian and Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo will be our guest speaker!
A lifelong resident of the area, Rucker has deep roots in the community and the downtown district, which holds a special place in her personal history.
Leading Main Street Waterloo since 2018, she plays many roles and wears every hat imaginable to make sure the job gets done. In partnership with dedicated volunteers, Rucker works to revitalize downtown Waterloo through historic preservation, economic development, and community engagement.
Passionate about the community she lives and works in, Rucker will share news about downtown Waterloo and all it has to offer. Jessica is embracing the opportunity to create a positive change in her community - reminding us all that downtown Waterloo is YOUR downtown!
We are back at the Waterloo Convention Center on Monday and we will kick off June with Annie's Cultural Conversations and Mason doing birthdays!
50 Ways Culture Influences: A FUN social engagement opportunity inspired by the 50 Ways Culture Influences each of us! No way is right or wrong. It just is. You will engage in a guided conversation with your favorite Rotarians (choose your seat wisely). Answering 3 primary questions, learn how "the way you do it" is similar or different from your table mates. It's one of the tools we use during the cultural conversations hosted throughout the District.
"We increase our ability to adapt when we don’t turn a blind eye to a growing global mental health crisis but confront it directly & use our grassroots service model to find solutions tailored to immediate needs." - Rotary International President Gordon R. McInally
Here's another hands-on volunteer opportunity that has a direct impact on our amazing downtown: Main Street Waterloo is hosting their annual clean-up Saturday, May 18th and is looking for a handful of volunteers! Main Street Sweep is an opportunity to ensure our downtown is a beautiful, healthy, inviting space as we gear up to host thousands of visitors this summer.
As we look to harness the power of people in our community to achieve great things by joining together. Bringing the beauty of downtown back lies in the cooperation and collaboration of our community. The simple act of cleaning can become a force that binds together people and groups working towards the same goal.
At the link above you'll also find volunteer opportunities for future Main Street Waterloo projects like setting US flags and watering the beautiful flowers lining 4th St. Click through and lend your time and talent to growing and supporting our downtown district!
We will hear the latest from Dr. Jared Smith on the plans for a new school in the near future in Waterloo.
Dr. Jared Smith is the Superintendent of the Waterloo Community School District. With more than 10,000 students and 1,700 employees, Waterloo is among the 10 largest school districts in Iowa.
Jared has taught and coached at both the middle school and high school levels. Prior to becoming a superintendent, Jared worked as an assistant principal and principal for ten years.
Jared holds a BA in Elementary and Middle Level Education from the University of Northern Iowa, an MS in Educational Leadership from National Louis University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University.
Jared is an award-winning blogger, professional speaker, and author of two books, including the Amazon Best Seller Turning Points: More Lessons Learned on Leadership, Education, and Personal Growth.
Claire Chiang is speaking at #Rotary24 in Singapore! From humble beginnings to impactful leadership, she embodies our theme: Sharing Hope with the World
Our thoughts are with our Brazil community after the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul. We are proud to see Rotary and Rotaract clubs spring into action, providing relief and support to the region. The Brazil Flood Response Fund will launch later next week.
Karla Altenbaumer - Community Engagement Officer - is speaking Monday!
Karla has been with the Sheriff's Office for 10 years. Prior to that, she worked at the Cedar Falls Police Department for 5 ½ years. She is currently assigned as the Community Engagement Officer as well as First Shift Patrol. She is the newest K-9 Handler with her pup Mary. Mary is for Officer Wellness, Community Engagement, and Crisis Response. She is involved with many different activities at the Sheriff's Office including Peer Support Team Coordinator, Defensive Tactics Instructor, CPR Instructor, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, member of Honor Guard, and various other activities.
Black Hawk County Sheriff Office K-9 Presenting May 13
What do Jack Sim, Alexandra Rose, and Dr. Obinna Onyekwana have in common? They all believe in breaking down barriers & supporting communities around the world. And did we mention they'll take the stage at #Rotary24?
A heads up we have our May 6 meeting OFF SITE at M & J Caribbean Restaurant at 926 La Porte Road in Waterloo.
We will hear from the owners about their journey to Waterloo and their business in Waterloo. Since 2022, more than 1,000 Haitians and their families have made their homes in Waterloo and the surrounding communities. Jean and his wife, The Chef, know the value of offering a home-cooked meal, inclusive of all the familiar tastes of home. That is why, they decided to put their entrepreneurial and culinary skills to work by opening a Caribbean cuisine restaurant and bar right here in Waterloo. The menu boasts delicious rice and beans, chicken, fresh vegetables (with a kick), bullion soups, pattees, fried plantains, and the fixings that make for a beautiful, mouth-watering meal. Of course, no Haitian meal would be complete without an ice-cold Haitian Prestige beer.
From reducing school drop out rates to conducting free breast cancer screenings, Rotarians are working to create lasting change and have fun along the way!
United States
OysterFest has been a calendar highlight of the Pacific Northwest’s fishing industry for more than four decades. The two-day festival is hosted by the Rotary Club of Shelton Skookum, Washington. Last year’s event, held in October, attracted 13,000 seafood enthusiasts and raised $170,000 for community organizations.
Suriname
Passing rates on secondary school entrance exams that have dipped as low as 50 percent have vexed officials in Suriname. The Rotary Club of Paramaribo Residence, whose members include several teachers or retired educators, is aiming to improve those results and reduce dropout rates. In October, the club instituted a mathematics training project for around two dozen teachers at schools serving older children.
Macao
The Rotary Club of Macau’s meeting place — one of the world’s most profitable casinos — has turned out to be an ace in the hole for the club. Sands China, the operator of The Venetian Macao, sponsors the club’s signature project, a Christmas party for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the world’s highest breast cancer mortality rates, a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by the Rotary Club of Ikoyi. “With an incredibly scary rise of the incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria, the club became saddled with the huge responsibility of combating this scourge with every resource available,” says club member Winifred Ebiye Imbasi.
Australia
A stroll inspired Rod Morrison to suggest that his Rotary club in southeast Australia offer public tours of a structure that has long loomed beside the Barwon River: the 1878 Fyansford Paper Mill. Though listed by Australia as a heritage site, the mill and its legacy hadn’t received their due, says Morrison, a member of the Rotary Club of Highton.
To read more details about these projects, click this link:
The Iowa Woo are a professional arena football team based in Waterloo, Iowa. Owners Jeff Holmes and Julia Stone will be presenting!
The Iowa Woo will begin playing professional indoor football in May 2024. A total of five games will be played at the Hippodrome.
Last summer, the team name and logos were announced. Woo was selected for multiple reasons as it pertains to trains and wrestler Ric Flair's legendary "Wooooooo!".Waterloo is home to the Dan Gable Museum, a wrestling museum operated by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Waterloo also has a historical tie to the railroad industry. "Woo" is a callback to blaring train whistles.
Our keynote speaker was Elizabeth Klinge, Evening News Anchor at KWWL-TV.
Elizabeth Klinge came back to Iowa after spending the last three years as an Anchor/Reporter at KOVR-TV in Sacramento, California. She anchors the KWWL News at 5, 6, & 10 pm.
Klinge grew up on a farm near Elkader, Iowa. She attended the University of Iowa where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and graduated with honors and high distinction.
After college, Klinge was a Reporter/Anchor at WHO-TV in Des Moines for nearly seven years. After that, she was an Anchor/Reporter at KCCI-TV in Des Moines for almost five years.
She has been honored with an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Best Morning Newscast and nominated for News Anchoring.
Happy Birthday to our Rotary founder Paul Harris! Learn more about our Rotary founder...
Harris was born on 19 April 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. At age 3, he moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents. He attended the University of Vermont and Princeton University and received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1891.
In 1896, Harris settled in Chicago and opened a law practice. Four years later, he met fellow attorney Bob Frank for dinner on Chicago’s North Side. They walked around the area, stopping at shops along the way. Harris was impressed that Frank was friendly with many of the shopkeepers. He had not seen this kind of camaraderie among businessmen since moving to Chicago and wondered if there was a way to channel it, because it reminded him of growing up in Wallingford.
“The thought persisted that I was experiencing only what had happened to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others in the great city. I was sure that there must be many other young men who had come from farms and small villages to establish themselves in Chicago...Why not bring them together? If others were longing for fellowship as I was, something would come of it.”
Mike Hendrickson - Executive Director Black Hawk County Conservation - will be speaking Monday.
He began his career in the conservation field with Adams County Conservation as a Park Ranger in 1989 and moved to Black Hawk County Conservation in 1991.
Photo from Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier - Brandon Pollock
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Ratchaburi province, Thailand - Known as one of Thailand's most popular floating market, traders on wooden boats sell fruits, flowers, and street food. If you ever find yourself here, be sure to meet with the Rotary Club of Ban Phaeo.
@RFHarvest is a nonprofit founded by Rotary members in Washington, U.S.A that addresses both food waste and hunger by rescuing surplus produce from farms by gleaning and connecting it with those in need. Read the full story at the link below:
Friendship Village will be presenting on Monday to talk about their "Lifecare" services.
Friendship Village, a true continuum of care retirement community, can accommodate any need no matter your health condition or level of activity. We focus on physical, spiritual, social and mental health. From independent living to needing a little help now and again (assisted living) to dementia or memory-care services to rehabilitative care after surgery to skilled (palliative) care. We individualize to your needs including short-term stays. The Friendship Village campus is the only senior living community in the Cedar Valley offering Lifecare. Our trained and caring staff is ready to serve. Residents come from Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, Dunkerton, Independence, Evansdale, LaPorte City, Vinton, Hudson, Janesville, Grundy Center, and all around the Cedar Valley.
The #Rotaract Club of Amsterdam Nachtwacht International hosts festive fundraisers, with members from all over the globe. Through cozy gatherings, they support global causes, raising funds for childhood immunizations, disaster recovery, and more.
This Rotaract club isn’t characterized only by its friendly vibe. Its members have developed something of a specialty in hosting festive fundraisers to support causes around the world from South Africa to Lebanon to the Pacific. The small club’s international reach is a product of its diversity: Most of the roughly dozen members are expatriates whose careers or studies have brought them to the Netherlands.
Dr. Elaine Eshbaugh will join us and share information on dementia at our meeting Monday.
Dr. Elaine Eshbaugh is a professor of Gerontology and Family Studies and has coordinated UNI’s Gerontology program since 2007. She has a master’s and PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University, and has been published in research journals such as the Journal of Poverty, Journal of Community Health Nursing, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, and the Journal of Community Psychology. Dr. Eshbaugh has more than 30 research publications in empirical journals. She teaches courses such as Research Methods, Family Relationships, Psychology of Aging, and Families, Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias. She has collaborated with various continuing care communities, adult day services, and hospices.
In her free time, she enjoys doing semi-adventurous things with her husband (Bill), running, documentaries, hanging out with dogs of all sizes, and students who bring cookies to her office.
U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson joined us downtown for our annual Rural Urban Day luncheon, and treated us to a violin solo! Many area farmers also joined us and had great agricultural-related questions for Representative Hinson. The event was live streamed and is archived on our Facebook page.
KWWL had a camera crew at the event and provided a re-cap on the evening news - click here to watch
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson proudly represents Iowa’s 2nd district in Congress.
During her years as a reporter, Ashley shared the stories of countless Iowans on the local news. As their Congresswoman, she is bringing those stories to Washington to help shape federal policy and improve the lives of workers, farmers, seniors, veterans, and families in Iowa.
An Iowa native, Ashley is an award-winning journalist and a proud wife and mother of two. Ashley previously served in the Iowa state House and represented Iowa’s 67th House district, serving Hiawatha, Robins, Cedar Rapids, and Marion, where she currently resides. As a state Representative, she worked successfully to balance the budget, cut taxes, and protect the most vulnerable in her community.
Making an impact since 1907. That year the Rotary Club of Chicago hosted a forum on public restrooms, known as "comfort stations." As a result, public toilets for men and women were included at the new Chicago City Hall building in 1911.
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
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.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary’s people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change.
At the last board meeting, the Waterloo Rotary Club voted to donate $1,000 to the Cedar Falls Rotary Club's project. The Rotary Plaza Memorial in Cedar Falls, Iowa, honors these Essential Workers and provides lasting teaching about our communities during the turmoil of the pandemic.
You may also go directly to the Cedar Falls Rotary Club website to donate online at cedarfallsrotary.org. Donations to this 501C3 charitable foundation are tax deductible.
"Hej!" from Copenhagen, Denmark! Did you know there are 244 Rotary clubs and 8,000+ members in Denmark? The Rotary Club of Copenhagen was the country's inaugural club, chartered in 1922!
Karen Showalter is the Black Hawk County Elections Manager. She has been in this position for nearly 8 years. She is state and nationally certified in Election Administration. In addition to her county work, Karen travels the state training other election administrators and precinct workers.
Join us to hear from the Courier's Editor, Doug Hines!
Douglas Hines - Chris Zoeller Courier Staff Photographer
Douglas Hines, is editor of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, where he began working as front page editor in 1996. He worked as a reporter and an editor at newspapers in Cascade, Fort Dodge and Mason City before his stint at The Courier. A Forest City native and lifelong Iowan, he attended Iowa State University.
Rotaract club in Bangladesh rocks on, raises profile.
It started with a bit of small talk. Several members of the Rotaract Club of Dhaka Orchid in Bangladesh’s capital city were telling fellow members about a rock concert they had attended a few days earlier. They were especially struck by the energy and enthusiasm of the younger music fans. As the excitement spilled into that conversation back in January 2023, the club’s charter president, Saddam Hossain Roni, got an idea. Not a fan of rock himself, he nevertheless saw the potential in having the club organize a concert of some of the top rock and metal bands in the country to boost Rotaract’s profile, attract members, and raise funds for projects.
Today Annie is interviewing "Domestic Dad" Nick Barnett about overcoming a challenge to become the best dad and husband possible!
Whether you know it or not, we’ve ALL met someone at some point that has struggled, who's had too much weight on their shoulders, and didn’t know how to talk about it. They probably didn't think there was a real issue until it was too late. So often we default to ignoring, drinking, or medicating through it. Those are difficult trends to break without help.
You may have wanted to help someone else and just didn’t know where to point them, point them here. In the beginning of that journey, Dads are hard wired to suck it up and handle it ourselves.
Also, while highly effective for those trying to get sober, Alcoholics Anonymous, rehab, detox facilities or state funded programs can be uncomfortable places to start.
We built this brand as an ongoing project to provide a comfortable and encouraging place to start while helping people come together, drive success and save lives in the process.
This interview is part of the Cultural Conversations series!
Amid the bustling streets of Korea, where space is a luxury, a #Rotary club turned their attention to our larger-than-life furry companions. Because when it comes to shelter, every paw deserves a place to call home.
Central Rivers AEA provides many programs and services for children, families, schools, and communities, all of which fall under nine state-required standards for service. All of Iowa’s AEAs adhere to these standards for service and are evaluated to ensure quality by the Iowa Department of Education on a regular cycle.
Chief Administrator Joel Pedersen and Regional Administrator Brena Huber will join us to present The Value of Iowa AEAs. This session will give an overview of what Area Education Agencies do and why they are essential. They will highlight partnerships with Waterloo CSD and other rural schools in the Cedar Valley. There will also be time for questions regarding current legislation and how that legislation could impact children, families, and communities.
Scenes from Singapore #Rotary24 is where friendship and inspiration meet. In Singapore, you'll connect with #PeopleOfAction from around the globe at our biggest event of the year.
Singapore awaits
The Rotary International Convention is where friendship and learning come together to inspire you. In Singapore you’ll connect with people of action from around the globe at Rotary’s biggest event of the year.
We’ll share fresh perspectives, inspiration, and hope – with each other and the world! The convention features world-class dining and cultural attractions, distinguished speakers, energizing breakout sessions, and much more.
On Monday, February 19 we will have TryPie as our program at our weekly Rotary meeting. TryPie is willing to bring their famous "mini-pies" to the meeting for members who wish to enjoy dessert. The Convention Center will have ice cream to go along with. The flavors available to order are apple, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, peach blackberry, apple pear cranberry, and triple berry.
Mini-pies will be served to members who order and prepay at the Monday, February 12th meeting. Please bring $5 to purchase one mini-pie and sign up for the flavor you would like. We will have a special sign up table at the February 12th meeting.
No invoicing - please bring cash or check payable to TryPie to place your order on February 12.
Danneile Davis is devoted to helping police and people from marginalized communities find common ground. From her participation in the #Rotary Youth Leadership Awards as a teen to her post graduate studies, service above self inspires Davis' career.
As a 15-year-old sophomore at Suncoast High School in southeastern Florida, Danneile Davis was the definition of a high-achieving go-getter. “I was that kid in high school,” Davis recalls with a laugh. Clubs, classes like Volunteer Public Service, an internship at The Palm Beach Post — “anything I could do, especially leadership-type stuff, I joined.”
So it made sense that Davis would jump at the chance to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards in Port St. Lucie in 2008, though the experience turned out far different than she expected.
Eric Lage of Waterloo Fiber will be presenting Monday!
Eric Lage will share all the latest and greatest on Waterloo Fiber! Below are some facts about Eric...
Love to be outdoors (run, hike, camp, hunt, golf), travel, cook, and spend time with family
General Manager of Telecommunications - July 24, 2023
Having worked in local and municipal broadband in the past, I know firsthand the huge positive impact it can have on a community. I want to be a part of bringing that to Waterloo.
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers.
Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
Since the program began in 2002, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,700 fellows who now work in over 140 countries. Many serve as leaders in governments; NGOs; education and research institutions; peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies; and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.
Our fellowships
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Our fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 for certificate studies at premier universities.
The Waterloo Convention Center is having water issues and can not legally (or safely) host our meeting at noon - so we WILL MEET AT THE GROUT MUSEUM at Noon.
Please use the main entrance in the upper parking lot via South Street.
A movement creating space to “get comfortable being uncomfortable” as we navigate the conversation on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
The Rotary District 5970' Human Connections Team will partner with several clubs and community colleges across the district to host a series of Cultural Immersion Workshops throughout January - June.
Local Cultural Informants to Present at Cultural Immersion Workshop and Simulation
The District's Human Connections Team is hosting conversations around the human experience. This includes topics around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This unique workshop series accentuates the conversation around cultural competency and human connection.
Entrepreneurs, individuals, business and nonprofit industry leaders should attend. You will learn: 1) valuable insights to stand out authentically, 2) how to uniquely expand your cultural vision in life and business, and 3) how to have an effective voice in the conversation, at the executive table, around the kitchen table, or with passionate individuals in the community. This workshop includes a cultural informant speaker panel featuring local leaders in the community where the event is being hosted. The interactive Immersion experience is unique and inspiring.
Registration includes materials, an ethnic lunch, and refreshments throughout the day - $50 for individuals; special group rates are available for 5 or more. Registration is open to the public. Register at www.District5970.org Other workshops will be held across the state of Iowa through June 2024 with a Progressive Cultural Dinner event to be held at the District Governor's conference on June 8th.
Karin Rowe - Executive Director at House of Hope - is sharing things they having coming up this year and an update on their programs!
Karin has spent over 15 years working with at-risk youth and social services throughout the Midwest. She’s a Chicago native, but she’s happy to be part of the Cedar Valley community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and twin boys.
Jenny Bowser of Grout Museum District will be speaking Monday on the latest exhibits and events happening!
Jenny Bowser is the Exhibit Coordinator for the Grout Museum District. She was born and raised in the Cedar Valley and earned her undergraduate and master’s at the University of Northern Iowa in History with an emphasis in Public History. She's been with the Grout Museum since 2019 and absolutely loves it.
Our friends at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank have the annual "Empty Bowls" fundraiser coming up March 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn!
Throughout the event attendees will join us in learning about the Food Bank, while also raising awareness and educating the community on the issue of hunger. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and bid on both silent and live auction items.
For $40, a ticket includes entry to the event, registration for auction bidding, delicious soup, a beverage and a raffle ticket!
Alan Malone is the Associate Artistic Director of the Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children’s Theatre. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in theater performance. He studied the Meisner Technique in Chicago at the Actors Center, and with Larry Silverberg in New York City, and also studied stage combat at the Actors Gymnasium in Evanston, IL, and at First Frontier in Xenia, OH.
The club’s policy for canceling meetings due to bad weather reads as follows:
“If Waterloo public schools have been closed by 8 AM on a Monday, there will be no meeting that day. If Waterloo schools have not closed by 8 AM, Rotary will proceed as scheduled.
The cancellation notice will be submitted to KWWL-TV, KCRG-TV, KGAN-TV and the following radio stations: KFMW, KOKZ, KWLO, KXEL, KCRR, KKCV, KOEL-AM and Mix 96FM.”
During a brief ceremony December 18th, four Red Badge members, Christine Hess, Jake Bates, Rochelle Kane, and Erin Tink, were presented their Blue Badges. In her address, membership chair Amy Rousselow (right) lauded their commitment to attendance and active participation, acknowledging that each Rotarian had truly surpassed the criteria, thus deserving their status as Blue Badge recipients. (not pictured, but also surpassing criteria in absentia, Allison Beach) President-elect Catherine Nicholas (left) presided.
Emily Hanson - Executive Director for Black Hawk County Gaming - will be speaking on Monday!
Black Hawk County Gaming Association (BHCGA) is the Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) for the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. As the QSO, BHCGA is the nonprofit license holder and responsible for allocating a percentage of the Isle’s revenue for community betterment in accordance with the Iowa Excursions Boat Gambling Act. State law requires BHCGA distributes at least 3% of the annual gross revenue off the tables and slots each year.
Make your plans now to attend Christmas Dinner at Rotary on December 11, complete with special dessert and live entertainment! Plus, we are taking a special collections for the Salvation Army, tips for the Convention Center staff and an opportunity to purchase ornaments to raise money for RYLA program.
Get excited to hear from a Christmas Caroling Group from LaPorte City!
In case you missed the program earlier this fall, consider donating to the Cedar Falls Rotary Club project that honors essential workers with a Rotary Plaza Memorial in Downtown Cedar Falls.
The Rotary Plaza Memorial in Cedar Falls, Iowa, honors these Essential Workers and provides lasting teaching about our communities during the turmoil of the pandemic.
The monument includes three eight feet tall by five-foot-wide granite monoliths and seven stainless steel covering bands. Four granite podiums highlight the Essential Workers and the ideals of Rotary.
The $1,000 giving level granite pavers are available for donors to have their names, the name of a friend or loved one or the name of a business engraved. A granite donor wall will be constructed featuring donors of other levels of giving.
Come volunteer at Northeast Iowa Food Bank this Monday, but eat an early lunch as NO FOOD is allowed for consumption while volunteering!
Please arrive at the Food Bank between 11:45 and 11:55. You can park in the big parking lot outside of Food Bank, but not near the building.
Come in the door that says “Food Pantry/Office Entrance,” when you get into the building, go in the office door and say you are with the Rotary Group. Please wear closed toes shoes. Address is 1605 Lafayette.
We have a pair of Rotary birthdays in December, but they will celebrate with family before we are able to recognize them at a meeting...reach out to Frank and Jim with well wishes!
Would you like to help pass out coats to help children in need in Waterloo schools? Check out the schedule and let Dave Lee know if you can stop out this week!
It's that time of the year...time to pass out coats to children in need within the Waterloo Schools system!
Dave Lee - who graciously organizes - is asking for volunteers at the following times next week....
Monday, November 27th, Lincoln Elementary—2:00 PM
Tuesday, November 28th, Highland Elementary—10:0 AM
St. Edward’s Elementary—2:00 PM
Wednesday, November 29th—Irving Elementary—10:00 AM
Cunningham Elementary—1:00PM
Friday, December 1st—Lowell Elementary—10:00 AM
Please call or e-mail Dave if you are interested in helping.
Join us Monday for Birthdays, hear from Annie on her recent Rotary Conference experience, RYLA update from Cathy and committee opportunities from Jaclyne!
Congratulations, Mason Knipp from Columbus High School, 2023 Glen "Doc" Miller MVP!
Since 1946 the Waterloo Rotary Club has enjoyed the honor each year to celebrate outstanding performance by high school athletes in the city of Waterloo. Football coaching staffs at each school in the city nominate a senior MVP from their team. In a secret ballot, area sportswriters make the citywide selection. The winner receives the Glen "Doc" Miller traveling trophy as top player in his sport.
The overall MVPs are entitled to display the trophy at his school for the next twelve months.
The 2023 MVP was announced at the November 13th Waterloo Rotary Club Football Luncheon. You can view the ceremony on Facebook LIVE and share the link with family and friends who were unable to join us at the Waterloo Convention Center.
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.
Since 1946 the Waterloo Rotary Club has enjoyed the honor each year to celebrate outstanding performance by high school athletes in the city of Waterloo. Area volleyball coaches choose their MVP's and then, by ballot of all the coaches, award the trophy for overall Most Valuable volleyball player.
Congratulations to Alexis Even of Don Bosco High School, she is entitled to display the trophy at her school for the next twelve months.
Watch the 2023 awards ceremony here: Facebook LIVE stream - click here to watch.
View photos from the ceremony here, and if you'd like to share photos to be included on our webpage, email Mason
Our Keynote speaker was Hawkeye Community College Volleyball Coach Tyann Wolfensperger.
If you are a new member who'd like to earn your blue badge or are a long-time member who just wants get more involved...consider helping EJ check in at front desk! Send EJ an email if you'd like to show up about 11:45 to help hand out badges before our meetings.
Lt. Governor Adam Gregg shared an interesting initiative with our club: Iowa United First Aid. It is a pilot program in three communities to leverage technology and volunteerism to decrease emergency response time in rural areas. His entire presentation is archived on our Facebook page.
Adam Gregg serves as Iowa’s 47th Lieutenant Governor. In his role, he is also Chair of the Governor’s FOCUS Committee on Criminal Justice Reform and Co-Chair of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative.
At the national level, he serves on the executive committee of the National Lieutenant Governors Association, and as Chair of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. He has also served as a Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellow focused on leadership in education policy and was chosen for the Aspen Institute Rodel Fellowship.
Two Iowa Rotarians Traveled the World for the "flight to end Polio."
Four years ago, Iowa Rotarian Peter Teahen was enchanted by the idea of flying around the world. He called upon Rotarian John Ockenfels to join him. Together, they planned their expedition and tied it to an apt cause: polio eradication. In this episode of Rotary magazine’s podcast, Peter and John recount their journey circumnavigating the globe to raise money and awareness in the fight against polio.
Girls break boundaries, shatter stereotypes and combat exclusion. On #InternationalDayOfTheGirl we celebrate the empowerment of girls and women, and the programs that champion them.
Learn how Rotary members are working to empower girls worldwide
Glen Keith will be here to share information about the students involved in Waterloo's Youth City Council.
The first Waterloo Youth City Council was officially sworn in at the Martin Luther King banquet on January 21, 2019. The WYCC is made up of 28 students from Columbus, East, Expo, and West High Schools along with five high school advisors and two co-directors. The WYCC empowers young people to think critically, debate civilly, and forge consensus on the most critical issues facing our city. The WYCC seeks to harness the passion and idealism of our youth today to create a better future tomorrow. Some key initiatives the WYCC has been involved in is the city's revamped recycling program in 2019, youth mental health, and volunteering throughout the Cedar Valley. The WYCC averages over 1,000 volunteer hours per year. The WYCC was recognized this past Spring with the Governor's Volunteer Service Award for their actions serving Waterloo and the greater Cedar Valley.
Tune in for a live discussion about prioritizing mental health. #Rotary President @GordonMcInally will be joined by Dr. Pallavi Gowda, a U.S. Army veteran, and other guests!
Cary Darrah and her team at Grow Cedar Valley will be updating us on the latest information on their organization!
Formerly known as the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, Grow Cedar Valley is your valued business partner. We are the leader in bringing business and community together to grow opportunities for the Cedar Valley.
Cary Willoughby Darrah is President & CEO of Grow Cedar Valley – the regional economic and community development organization. Prior to assuming the role in 2018, she was Vice-President of Community Development for Grow Cedar Valley as well as President of the TechWorks Campus – an industrial redevelopment project and subsidiary of Grow Cedar Valley.
Cary and her husband Frank have 4 children and 9 grandchildren – all living in Iowa!
Rotary clubs in Morocco and@ShelterBox are responding to the devastating earthquake alongside Moroccan authorities and other national NGOs — providing tents, thermal blankets, solar lights, and kitchen sets to those without adequate shelter in mountain villages.
Winter is coming. It threatens communities higher in the mountains who have been left without adequate shelter.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees established a new Morocco Earthquake Response Fund in September 2023 to support immediate relief efforts for people affected by the devastating earthquakes. Donors can give directly to relief efforts led by Rotary members.
You can give online, by check, or by transferring District Designated Funds:
Happy birthday to these October-born Rotarians! This is a steady group - no additions or lost members since last year's birthday table. Join us to sing and celebrate on Monday!
Black Hawk County Public Health staff will share frameworks that inform our approach to data, give an overview of data available through our department, and discuss our future vision along with other resources for data.
Presenters: Lisa Sesterhenn, Public Health Planner, Aaron Reinke and Rachael Mayer - Epidemiologists,
Lisa Sesterhenn: MBA from the University of Dubuque and undergraduate business degree from the University of Iowa. She currently works as the Public Health Planner for BHCPH.
Aaron Reinke: Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Iowa as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Iowa State University. He’s worked as an epidemiologist at BHCPH for the past 4 years.
Rachael Mayer: Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Iowa as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwest Nazarene University. She’s been with BHCPH as an epidemiologist for two years.
As epidemiologists, Rachael and Aaron work together gathering and analyzing data for the community health improvement process as well as are involved in disease surveillance and investigations.
The Rotary Foundation established a new Morocco Earthquake Response Fund to support immediate relief efforts for people affected by the devastating 8 September earthquake.
You can give online, by check, or by transferring District Designated Funds:
To give by check, make it payable to The Rotary Foundation or to an associate foundation and include a completed contribution form. In the DESIGNATION/PURPOSE section, choose Other and write the fund name (Morocco Earthquake Response Fund).
Sara Kurovski is speaking Monday about Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Sara is passionate about those that she serves. In 2013 she became the first female mayor for the city of Pleasant Hill, Iowa. That journey was a result of her career starting out at a local government agency, Metro Waste Authority, and obtaining her master’s in public administration; while serving on local boards such as the Board of Adjustment, Plan and Zoning, and Polk County Conservation. Sara’s story landed her on the Lean In website and then in the second edition of Lean In: for Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg.
Natalia Perehrestenko’s life changed forever on 16 March 2022. That’s when her home in the Ukrainian village of Moshchun was demolished by a Russian attack.
“The house was destroyed as a result of a projectile hitting the room where my daughter lived with her child,” she says. “Thank God, by the time the house caught fire, we had already been evacuated.”
Speaking today will be Annika Wall from Cedar Valley Hospice.
Annika works as a community engagement specialist, educating individuals and groups across 15 counties through presentations, informational fairs and fundraising events. Part of her role also involves running the organization's social media pages and website - be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn if you do not already. Today, she will be talking about Cedar Valley Hospice's programs and services offered in our community.
Look at this long list of September babies! We'll celebrate these Rotarians when we re-convene for our next meeting on the 11th, but Wade and John will have had their cake by then.
Our club has lost a long-time member who exemplified Service Above Self.
Beverly Hinders Trost passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charles City Iowa on Saturday, September 30 at 11:00AM with inurnment at Riverside Cemetery, Charles City following the service. Pastor Russ Leeper will preside. Friends and family are invited to gather to visit at the church for an hour prior to the service and to stay following the service for a simple luncheon.
Our very own Steve Carignan and Jordan Bancroft will be presenting Monday about their respective organizations.
Decades of dreams and three years of construction became a reality on April 6, 2000, with the dedication of the new Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Enabled by the generosity of Cedar Valley residents Ed and Cathy Gallagher and Carl and Peggy Bluedorn, as well as support from the university, the state and over 1,400 donors across Iowa, this was the first major center to open in Iowa in twenty years.
wcfsymphony is a professional orchestra based in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa. Our mission is sharing live music, championing innovation, and celebrating our common humanity. We do this with inventive, contemporary approaches to ensemble performance which engage audiences meaningfully in live music.
GBPAC and Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Presenting August 28
Love INC of Cedar Valley is one of more than a hundred Love INC locations across the United States and Kenya, who partner with over 7,800 Christian churches to serve hundreds of thousands of people in need.
Love INC fosters collaboration and organizes holistic care to help churches serve their neighbors through resources and relationships. By networking churches together, each church is able to lean into their strengths, knowing that their neighbors will be cared for by the body of Christ within their community.
We help churches help people by developing a network of local churches and connecting them with opportunities to serve their neighbors in need. Sometimes that can look like helping with food, personal needs items, furniture, transportation, or a work project. Other times, it looks like offering educational classes, providing mentorship support, and hosting community events. But it’s always about each church leaning into its strengths and working together with others—because we are better together.
Our guest August 21st will be Lucy Kerns, who grew up in the Cedar Valley and has spent much of her life in ministry. After earning her Bachelor's degree in Adolescent Ministry, Lucy returned to the Cedar Valley to work at an IT Firm, then bi-vocationally, and finally full-time in ministry at Cedar Valley Church in 2018. During this time Lucy earned her Master's degree in Ministry and Leadership and was ordained in the Wesleyan church last July. As she learned about the needs in the area, she felt compelled to join Love INC's Board of Directors because of the way Love INC prioritizes and respects the dignity of individuals, and desires to help in times of trouble, while caring for the whole person.
Tom Eachus will be presenting Monday. He is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and current Executive Director of UnityPoint Health, Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center.
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center (BHGMHC) is a private, nonprofit, community mental health center accredited by the Iowa Department of Human Services. The BHGMHC serves those with short-term and long-term needs. It has been in operations since 1949 and their primary mission is to meet the needs of the local community.
Tom obtained his Bachelors Degree in Social Work from UNI in 1980 and his Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa in 1985. Prior to joining the Mental Health Center in 1988, he worked at the Bremwood Lutheran Children's Home in Waverly and the Cromwell Children's Unit at the Mental Health Institute in Independence.
He is a leader, community coordinator, and people organizer. In this Cultural Conversations interview, Wisly Dange will talk about his recent travel experience from Haiti to the US. Sharing about his journey, the cultural nuances and realities he has learned along the way, and about his work experiences both in the US and in Haiti. His work experiences include: the Co-Founder, The Green Bridge Global Entrepreneur Training & Leadership Academy; Leader of All Things Logistics, Motivator, Philanthropist, Speaker, Change Maker, English Instructor, Director of Operations for the Community Health Initiative, Haiti.
This year's Family Picnic found scorching hot temperatures at the Reserve, so everyone appreciated the air conditioning. If you have photos to share from the evening, email them to Mason, otherwise, you can click this link to see photos snapped by President-Elect Cathy and Past-President Lauren.
(Thankfully, no injuries reported from the epic balloon-sword battle pictured above)
This week is our Annual Family Picnic at the Rotary Reserve on Thursday the 27th - see story below for details. We'll meet back at the Waterloo Convention Center Monday July 31st.
The Waterloo Community Foundation was incorporated in 2015 with the sole purpose of providing a conduit for past, present, and future Waterloo residents to invest funds specifically to enhance Waterloo and the immediate area. The first grant was awarded in 2016.
Rotarian Erin Tink will be presenting Monday about the latest with the foundation.
The opportunities in our city will continue to be as diverse as the people in it. Our commitment is to stay engaged with the work of our local nonprofits and the needs of our neighbors so we can connect donors to the causes that matter.
Every investment in our community makes a lasting impact, not only today but for generations to come. It takes all of us to inspire growth and opportunity in Waterloo. We want to help you play your part in investing in the city we love.
Sally Kleiss Timmer - Executive Director of the Cedar Falls Community Foundation - will be speaking on Monday.
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation inspires and connects individuals, families, and organizations to enhance our community, support non-profits, elevate educational opportunities, and build legacies through philanthropy.
The Cedar Falls Community Foundation funds and resources help enrich our local community with educational, art, recreational and cultural opportunities. Scholarships for students and nonprofit grants for schools, libraries and other local causes are provided each year by individuals, families and businesses inspired by their planned giving. Our mission and our purpose are focused on building lasting legacies through philanthropy to impact lives now and forever.
We hope all our members will celebrate safely this 4th of July and renew their pride and patriotism in all of our united states! Our next meeting at the Waterloo Convention Center will by July 10th and we'll celebrate July birthdays and hear from the Cedar Falls Community Foundation.
World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20th. On Monday, June 26th from Noon-1:00 pm, The Waterloo Rotary Club will celebrate, honor, and recognize World Refugee Day at our monthly “Cultural Conversations Lunch Series.” The meeting will be at the Waterloo Convention Center.
According to the United Nations, “Around the world, every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe.”
Waterloo Mayor Hart reports, “The Cedar Valley has welcomed nearly 500 refugee families in the last year.” Edgar Ramirez, Workforce Liaison with the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services highlights that, “during the 2020 – 2021 school year in Iowa, 177 World Languages were spoken by over 30,000 students ages K to 12 grade. Nearing a 60% increase in English Language Learning (ELL) since 2010.”
Both Mayor Hart and Mr. Ramirez, along with World Grace Project’s Executive Director, Karen Everling, will be presenting at the Monday, June 26th meeting. Dignitaries, organizations, and partnerships in the Cedar Valley welcoming newcomers are encouraged to attend.
The Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM) will be coming to Waterloo on October 13-14, so we have Dr. Martin Averill, retired Waterloo dentist and IMOM Local Planning Committee Co-Chair, and Laurie Traetow, Iowa Dental Foundation Secretary/Treasurer, speaking to our club on June 19.
District Governor Don Meyer received the message below and wanted to share it with all the clubs in our district:
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As we approach the end of the 2022-2023 Rotary year, we are writing to share a tremendous opportunity for your district, by asking for your assistance in identifying those in your district, or their family members, who have served in the Peace Corps in the past. Peace Corps is a US government agency that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance and is currently in over 50 countries post-pandemic. Rotary International and the Peace Corps have been service partners since 2014, in recognition of its shared vision to promote peace and friendship through volunteer international service and successful collaborations at the local level.Partnering for Peace is the small volunteer organization working to facilitate joint RI-PC service opportunities through networking, technical support, and fellowship.
This year, we want to tap the potential to grow Rotary’s membership and engage in meaningful service opportunities worldwide. Specifically, we invite each District Governor throughout the US to ask Club Presidents in your district to help identify Rotary members with any connections to Peace Corps: an outgoing "Peace Corps Volunteer", a “Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV)”, PC family and friends.
Yolando L. Loveless is a native of Waterloo, Iowa. He attended East High School, and Northern Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) prior to joining the military in 1984. Loveless’ highest enlisted rank was Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8), and in November 2009 was commissioned to Chief Warrant Officer, and thereafter he volunteered and completed a one-year tour as Project Manager while embedded with the US Army supporting the Multi-National Forces in Iraq. Yolando Loveless is married to Chiquita Loveless a retired Navy Chief Warrant Officer (23 years) who serves as Director, for Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice at the University of Northern Iowa. He has a daughter Jazmen, and two grandchildren Amir, and Amiya. Yolando is the son of Jessie and Caroline Loveless who is both retired from John Deere.
Loveless currently serves as Executive Director and County Veteran Service Officer, where he has helped over 7,200 veterans in Black Hawk County and surrounding areas.
Don Meyer - District Governor - will be presenting on Monday!
Don Meyer is serving as District Governor of District 5970 for the 2022-23 Rotary year. He is a member of the Waverly Rotary Club where he is a Past President, and he’s also Past President of the Forest City Rotary Club where he first joined Rotary in 1985. Don served District 5970 as District Foundation Chair from 2017-2020.
Don is retired after working as an architect for 12 years, and in the fundraising profession for 35 years at Waldorf University and Wartburg College. He currently serves as Executive Director for the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School Foundation. Don has also served his community of Waverly as the Chamber of Commerce Board Chair and as a member and Past President of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Don’s wife, Kris, is also a Rotarian, and they have two grown children and one grandson. Don looks forward to meeting members and updating our club on District activities.
Over the last 20+ years Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust (CART Fund) has raised over $11.2 million for Alzheimer's research, primarily by collecting pocket change from #Rotary clubs.
Nancy Rogers seemed too young to have Alzheimer's disease. But in 1999, her husband, Norm, knew something was wrong. First, she misplaced a couple of pocketbooks. Then, she started getting lost on the 11-mile commute from her office to her home in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"I would get a call from a highway patrolman 60 miles away in Greensboro saying that your wife is here at 7-Eleven, and she's lost," remembers Rogers.
As the years passed, he had to explain to his grandchildren why Grandma didn't know them. "It's horrible," he says. "It's the longest goodbye you'll ever have in your life."
Live from the #Rotary23 stage, it's Grammy award-winner, @gabymorenomusic Gaby recently traveled to Guatemala with @JenJonesRotary. Together they visited a school involved in the Guatemala Literacy Project and led a sing-along. And she'll be joining us at convention!
Monday we will hear from Iowa Secretary of State, Paul Pate. He will be talking about anti-trafficking initiatives as well as other items going on within the state.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has dedicated his life to public service. Now entering his fourth term as Iowa’s Commissioner of Elections, Secretary Pate is guided by three core principles: service, participation and integrity.
Under Secretary Pate’s leadership, Iowa has become one of the top three states in the nation for election administration. The state has broken numerous records for voter registration and participation during his tenure. Secretary Pate successfully instituted Iowa’s online voter registration system in 2016.
He has also taken steps to protect election integrity by drafting Iowa’s Voter ID laws and defending them in court multiple times. Secretary Pate also established a post-election audit system and greatly enhanced Iowa’s election cybersecurity.
His civic education programs, voting accessibility initiatives, and election cybersecurity efforts have been recognized nationally by National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and the National/Student Parent Mock Election organization.
The Secretary of State’s Office is the small business portal for the State of Iowa. For six of the past seven years under Secretary Pate, Iowa has seen a record amount of new business filings. Secretary Pate implemented a Fast Track Filing system in 2018 that greatly enhanced the speed and efficiency of the process.
According to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General, #loneliness can increase the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. The #Rotary Club of Chichester Priory is tackling loneliness one chat at a time.
For Vera Cranmer and Sylvia Worden, two friends in their 80s, it's hard to overstate how much they look forward to their regular visits with the teenage students at a local college on England's south coast. "We savor these visits like reunions with long-lost friends," Worden says.
The women live independently in their homes in Chichester, a picturesque and vibrant cathedral city near the sea. But Worden, who once worked as a teacher there, was widowed a few years ago, and her outings in town are far less frequent. Cranmer, too, has had to cope with feelings of isolation.
Shawna Jesse and Joni Spencer of Together for Youth will be presenting on Monday. Celebrating over 30 years of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention & Parenting Partnerships Together For Youth (TFY), located in Waterloo, IA is our area's adolescent pregnancy prevention and teen parent support network. TFY strives to provide information and resources for teens, parents and professionals in the Cedar Valley. Our partnerships with community agencies have resulted in a significant decline in Black Hawk County teen birth rates in recent years. Our community team is dedicated to empowering young people to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Sing along with students in a Guatemala Literacy Project school and @GabyMorenoMusic on her song “Fronteras” live from the classroom in Chajalajyá, Guatemala!
Sing along with students in a Guatemala Literacy Project school and @GabyMorenoMusic on her song “Fronteras” live from the classroom in Chajalajyá, Guatemala! pic.twitter.com/sH7m6OCVv0
Paul Huting will be speaking on the Gates Park and Byrnes Park renovations! Our own Mark Kuiper will also be presenting.
Mark is a partner with RITLAND+KUIPER Landscape Architects and a long-time member of our Rotary Club. Mark obtained his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor and Master of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. He is a licensed landscape architect and an accredited Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional. Mark’s wife, Shonda, is a professor and chair of the statistics concentration at Grinnell College and they have two married sons.
Huting is the City of Waterloo Leisure Services Director, a graduate of Waterloo West High and Iowa State University, lifelong Waterloo resident and has been employed with the City of Waterloo 43 years.
First Monday will be held at Mersim's Kitchen! (Don't come to the Convention Center)
Keeping with our Cultural Conversations on the First Monday of each month, the Waterloo Rotary Club will experience a touch of the Bosnian cuisine at Mersim's Kitchen. We will have a buffet style-lunch prepared for us by Chef Mersim. To ensure you get the best 'taste' of the authentic cuisine, beverages beyond water will be available at individual expense. However, the meal will be covered by the club.
In addition, we will hear from the owners as they share their story of how Mersim's came to be. Doors will open at 11:55.
Mersim's is a full-service restaurant with a bar and private events room. They offer traditional Bosnian dishes in addition to modern American cuisine.
Mersim's is located at 126 E Ridgeway Ave, Suite A, Waterloo, IA 50701. Learn more on their website: https://mersims.com/
Susan Card of Cedar Falls will join us at the Waterloo Convention Center Monday and share her story of the "Reading with Jean" program she created in honor of her mother. This program is where volunteers read to residents in skilled care and with dementia at Western Home Communities.
Our very own Lauren Finke organized the 2023 Honors Student Recognition Luncheon for top seniors at area high schools. Keynote speaker was Shanlee McNally of R.J. McElroy Trust.
Shanlee McNally is Program Officer of the R.J. McElroy Trust, a graduate of Northwestern University and a graduate of Waterloo West High School.
Over 70 Rotarians and Community Members attended this new event at the Waterloo Convention Center April 13th! Money raised is going to Northeast Iowa Food Bank and Operation Warm (both voted on by our membership)! Click here to see the photos
Members of the Rotary Club of Kaka‘ako Eco, Hawaii, tossed 5,000 mud balls filled with beneficial organisms into the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki as part of a rehabilitation effort to make the waterway fishable and swimmable.
The Rotaract Club of Milano Nord Est Brera collaborated with an art publisher to produce a book of photography featuring women who have had breast cancer surgery to put a face to the fight against the disease.
When the Rotary Club of Malta constructed its second primary school in Uganda, it made sure to consider the needs of menstruating girls in the design of washroom facilities.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month so we have Miranda Kracke of The Allen Child Protection Center Speaking to our club April 10th.
The Allen Child Protection Center (ACPC) provides assistance for children or dependent adults who may be victims of abuse, or have witnessed a violent crime. The ACPC uses a multi-disciplinary team approach and works closely with the Department of Human Services and law enforcement. The center provides forensic interviews, medical examinations, family advocacy services, and mental health counseling.
@WHO and @Rotary are helping communities say goodbye to polio with the support of local polio eradication workers like Hafsat from Nigeria, who’s delivering vaccines to those that need it most to people in her community.
Hafsat Ibrahim, (right) a polio core trainer with the World Health Organization (WHO) and mother of five, is proud of the many lives she has protected from polio in her community in Kano State, Nigeria. Her role has helped shape community attitudes toward vaccination, as well as provide the salary necessary to start a small business to support her family.
“I worked with WHO to make sure every child is immunized [and] all my five children have got the vaccine … I'm very happy because their immune system [has] increased and also they are healthier,” Ibrahim told Global Citizen in August. “I have seen the transformation because now that the vaccine is accessible, [there is] no more paralysis of children in the community; no more threat of wild poliovirus.”
As a mother, resident, and experienced health care professional, Ibrahim understands the importance of protecting her community from the deadly disease, and how the journey to eradicate polio at home in Nigeria has had wider implications around the world.
Join us today for our monthly Cultural Conversations program - our guest will ALSO join us next week at our Progressive Dinner and prepare some delicious Jamaican food!
Would you like to get involved on the Waterloo Rotary Club Board in the next fiscal year? Jaclyne Heller our President-Elect is going on maternity leave soon - please reach out to her if interested in learning more! Also, looking for a President-Elect for new term and she will tell you the legwork for that position is already ready to go for first six months thanks to the Programming committee!
E-mail Jaclyne @ jheller@kwwl.com
Wanted: Board Members/Officers for July 2023-June 2024
Executive Director Katie Slade will be speaking March 20th.
Katie Callahan Slade was born in Dysart, Iowa. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from the University of Northern Iowa in 2002. Katie started with EPI in 2008. She wore many “hats” for the agency including becoming a Client Facilitator certified in The7 Habits of Highly Effective People as Organizational Development Director until she became the Executive Director on August 31, 2022.
As the Executive Director of Exceptional Persons, Inc. (EPI), Katie believes in EPI's vision of working together we will realize a future where all people are recognized and valued – encouraged and supported to live, work, and grow – in their communities.
On an ordinary day last August, people at a park in Copenhagen, Denmark, saw something extraordinary: a stream of runners all adorned with floating, bobbing pink balloons. The balloon carriers were part of Run With Rotaract, a three-year-old event organized by District 1470’s Rotaract clubs. This year, it raised money for education in Malawi.
The balloons served as tickets for the approximately 65 participants. And, says Philip Flindt, a member of the Rotaract Club of København Nord, they performed the equally important function of attracting public attention.
“It created something weird for people to look at — people running with pink balloons,” Flindt says. “It was a way to reach people in the community around the park. They were asking, ‘Is this a bachelor party, a bachelorette party? Why are you running with these balloons?’”
Flindt never seems to lack creative, eye-catching ideas. It’s clear why he’s the Rotary Public Image Coordinator (RPIC) for Zone 18, the first Rotaractor to serve as an RPIC. He’s been promoting Rotaract since he helped found his club on 13 March 2013. That date, he’s quick to note, is the anniversary of the certification of the first Rotaract club in 1968.
Two non-profit organizations will be chosen to receive funds from the "Progressive Cultural Dinner Event" fundraiser!
Nominate your favorite nonprofit organization in the link below (no more than 50 words) and then the club will vote on to select the top 2. Deadline is April 1.
Please join us in celebrating the first recipient of Rotary International's Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, Chin Mei Lu from the Rotary Club of Taipei Taimei, Taiwan
As we continue to "seek to understand rather than stay comfortable" we welcome Robert Ackerman to our First Mondays conversation. Robert Ackerman is the coordinator of the One City United "To Work" Program whose sole mission is to provide transportation to and from work for individuals with transportation barriers. Getting to work consistently and on time daily is essential to removing stress and experiencing a thriving life. To Work was developed to provide a low-cost shuttle service that people can count on, helping them stay employed and equipped to succeed. It is just one more barrier that we can overcome to bolster our community towards success. Robert will share his story as a high level military professional, living an alternative lifestyle, and his journey from addiction to recovery.
Please join us, invite guests, as we continue to generate a curiosity that emerges into compassion, empathy, and a shared perspective that breaks down barriers for you, and the people you do life with at home, work, and in your community.
We had a great turnout of guests for our annual Rural Urban Day; Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined us fresh off returning from a trip to Asia.
Click here to see photos and remember to thank not only the farmers and producers, but all the employees in related industries that bring food to our tables.
Elected as the 15th Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in November 2018, Mike is focused on expanding our markets, promoting careers in agriculture, and improving water quality and land stewardship. Mike is committed to leading efforts to expand economic opportunities for Iowans and is an advocate on behalf of the hard-working men and women who keep us fed and fueled. Mike is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with degrees in biology and political science. He and his wife Jaime have three boys.
Our 1.4 million members join community leaders, friends, and partners in a global network that is addressing challenges around the world. It started with the vision of one man—Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905 to exchange ideas and form meaningful friendships. He saw Rotary as a force for ethical leadership, civic service, and peace—ideals he would promote throughout his life.
Are you interested in getting more involved with the club with minimal extra time commitment? Join the board or one of many committees the Waterloo Rotary Club has to offer! See below for ideas...
Waterloo Rotary Board - July 2023 new fiscal year...See Annie Vander Werff or Jaclyne Heller
Academic Honors Luncheon - April 17...See Lauren Finke
Ag Rural Day Commitee...See Larry Steffens
Football Banquet...See Wade Itzen
Fundraiser - Cultural Progressive Dinner...See Annie Vander Werff
Annual Summer Picnic...See Todd Wordel or Larry Steffens
Membership Committee...See Amy Rousselow
Operation Warm...Dave Lee
Programming Commitee...See Jaclyne
Reporter/Social Media Committee...See Mason Fromm or Jaclyne Heller
Volleyball Banquet...See Barb Prather or Jaclyne Heller
From a film academy to a beehive— join Rotary President @JenJonesRotary and @Sibongile as they meet the people behind the projects that foster community and connection at Nakivale Refugee Settlement.
Hawkeye Community College President Dr. Todd Holcomb is giving us updates this Monday!
Dr. Todd Holcomb became Hawkeye Community College’s eighth president on July 1, 2019. Hawkeye is a comprehensive community college serving students in a 10-county region of northeast Iowa. Dr. Holcomb previously served as president of Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska from 2010 to 2019. Prior to becoming president in 2010, he was vice president of student services from 2009 to 2010, which followed a six-year tenure as associate vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University.
July 2023 will be here in a few a months! Please reach out to Jaclyne if you would like to serve on a committee or on the Rotary board this next fiscal year! A reminder Jaclyne will be out on maternity leave June-September (most likely) so we also need extra volunteers to help lead meetings/announce programs during that time frame!
We're beginning to hear from #Rotary clubs responding to the earthquake that has devastated areas of Turkey and Syria.
Here are some ways to get involved:
Give to The Rotary Foundation's Disaster Response Fund. Donations help clubs and districts provide aid and support rebuilding efforts where the need is greatest. The funds are distributed to affected communities through disaster response grants. The Disaster Response Fund can accept cash contributions and District Designated Funds (DDF). Donations to the Disaster Response Fund are combined and cannot be designated for a specific disaster.
Support local initiatives. As we learn about local response efforts that are being led by clubs and districts, Rotary raises awareness about how to support them. People can then support these projects by working directly with Rotary members in the region. If you want us to publicize information about local response efforts, write to relief@rotary.org.
Peter serves as president of The Partnership for A Healthy Iowa, is a former Chair of the Partnership, and succeeded Senator Grassley as Chair of the Face It Together Coalition which authored Iowa’s “Blueprint for Healthy Communities. He also founded Friends of Iowa Trails and the Iowa Trails Summit and was honored by the National Park Service as Iowa's Trails Person of the Year in 2013. He has been a member of the Cedar Valley Trails Partnership Board of Directors for over 15 years.
Nearly 800 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. Through microloans, occupational training, and partnering with local communities, #Rotary helps provide sustainable solutions to poverty around the world!
Rotarians make amazing things happen, like:
Breaking the cycle of poverty for women: Most of the women living in rural Guatemala do not have the collateral to get loans from regulated financial institutions. The Rotary Club of Guatemala de la Ermita helped 400 local women complete financial literacy courses so they could pool their money and fund their own microlending program.
Skills development, business training: In Esmeraldas, Ecuador, Rotary members helped grant more than 250 microloans and train more than 270 community members in sewing, baking, plumbing, microcredit, business management, and leadership.
Sustainable farming: In west Cameroon, soil erosion and loss of soil fertility have significantly reduced farmers’ harvests. Rotary members gave farmers the skills they needed to improve soil fertility, control soil erosion, and market their produce. The results: increased crop yields and profits.
Truth Be Told. I Am Human. Cultural Conversations Series
Your Waterloo Rotary Club President, Annie Vander Werff will be interviewing Julie Molisho, the founder of a nonprofit organization called The River ARC; an advocacy and resource center connecting members of the Congolese community to resources in our area.
Today, #WeRemember the beauty and fragility of Jewish Salonica, a thriving community all but destroyed in the Holocaust.
The beauty and fragility of a pluralistic metropolis
By Carl Gershman
I have nurtured a special interest in Thessaloniki, the northern Greek city on the edge of the Balkans, since I traveled there in 1996 to attend a conference on rebuilding democracy and civil society in the Balkan region after the breakup of Yugoslavia. While in Thessaloniki, I decided to take the opportunity to learn something about the city's rich Jewish history, particularly under the Ottomans when it was called Salonica.
I had read Balkan Ghosts by Robert Kaplan, who traced the modern history of the region, from the assassination that triggered World War I to the ethnic warfare in Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia. And the organization I headed, the National Endowment for Democracy, supported civil society groups working against such brutalities in the Balkans. But exploring Thessaloniki's Jewish past offered new perspectives on the region's history.
Bank of Jabez will be a Waterloo, IA based certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that will promote economic growth in the underserved communities. Although we will be a full-service financial services institution that addresses the banking needs of all people within the community, we will have intentional focus on servicing our community's underbanked, low-income, and minority populations.
ReShonda was born and raised in Waterloo, IA and graduated with her BA from Wartburg College. She has been an active voice on Working Family issues, advocating for pay equity for women, and many other issues that will benefit working families. ReShonda is a founding member of the Iowa Main Street Alliance, a board member of the national Main Street Alliance, and was honored in April 2015 as a White House Working Families Champion of Change. She serves on the boards of Waterloo Center for the Arts, Black Hawk Economic Development, Link Christian Community Development, and Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. ReShonda is also the founder of Popcorn Heaven, a gourmet popcorn chain that opened in Waterloo, IA in February of 2014. ReShonda licensed Popcorn Heaven locations in North Carolina, Maryland, Illinois, California, Missouri, and Iowa.
More than a dozen members of Waterloo Rotary Club participating in volunteering at "Pack the Dome" at University of Northern Iowa. The event was organized by our very own Lauren Finke of Volunteer Center and Barbara Prather of Northeast Iowa Food Bank!
Over 80,000 children will be served from the event alone!
There were two shifts of thirty assembly tables with over 10 volunteers per table.
Bonnie Smith Davis reported her table had ages 6 to over 70!
Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.
Wayne Castle - Associate Engineer of City of Waterloo Engineering Department - is joining us Monday to give us an update on projects going on in Waterloo!
Wayne Castle Biography
Graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Licensed Land Surveyor and Civil Engineer in Iowa. Employed with the City of Waterloo for the past 14 years, currently overseeing the Flood Control system, bridge inspection and repair program, storm water management program, and street overlay program, along with being the liaison with the railroads. Serve on the Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership (ISWEP) board and am the City’s representative for the Middle Cedar River Watershed Management Authority (WMA).
Engineer Wayne Castle of City of Waterloo Speaking Monday
If you have NOT been receiving your invoices for your membership dues - please reach out to Kelli McCarthy ASAP.
We are trying to make sure our finances are up-to-date with our "new" financial coordinator, and are finding many members are NOT receiving emails.
Unfortunately, there are dozens of reasons emails won’t get delivered, and each recipient may have a unique situation. ClubRunner is the company hosting our website and club emails - they have a couple different articles in the links below that might help you troubleshoot your email provider settings:
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023, the Waterloo Rotary Club would like to invite members to participate in "Pack the Dome" at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls!
WE WILL NOT HAVE A NOON MEETING JANUARY 16th so your whole day is open to volunteer at the UNI Dome or other community service.
This event is an annual initiative hosted by UNI to benefit the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and families throughout the Cedar Valley.
We'll kick off our First Mondays Cultural Conversations series January 9th; the first of 6 conversations will be with a familiar face - Chef Lumarie Soto-Rodriguez. She will talk about her life growing up in Puerto Rico and answer questions about cultural nuances important for everyone to know. There will be a time for questions and answers. Rotarians are encouraged to bring a guest!
Rotary International is collaborating with @WelcomeUS, and you can #BeAWelcomer#Rotary clubs and members in the U.S. can now sponsor a person or a family that has fled the war and help them relocate to the United States. Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/3GFNmlk
What happens when you give the gift of Rotary? - We provide polio vaccines - Hand washing stations educate students on hygiene - Hospitals have up-to-date equipment - Opportunities for local female entrepreneurs are expanded.
You can make a difference in this world by helping others in need — from supplying a vaccine to protect a child from polio to training peacebuilders in conflict resolution to help build a more peaceful future. With your help, The Rotary Foundation can make lives better in your community and around the world.
How can we even begin to list her involvement in this community?? Some highlights include the Waterloo Jayceettes, the Waterloo Downtown Council, My Waterloo Days Committee, the Alan Heart Foundation, Go Red for Women, The Ambassadors, and so much more!!
She loved to shop ... and spoil her granddaughter.
She loved to support and encourage us all.
She loved to see us all be the best versions of ourselves - like no other we may ever know!
People were her passion. This community was her passion.
WE were her passion! She loved us all!
Bette loved Christmas quite possibly the most. She had many favorite Christmas songs, but "Silent Night, Holy Night" was her favorite. She cherished the candlelight services tremendously. She believed as her father did, that Christmas isn't just a season, it's a spirit of joy, love, and kindness to share with everyone all year 'round. That's part of why Christmas was often a little difficult for her. She would talk often about how much she missed her dad (among others). Bette would want us all to cherish everyone in our life all the time - be fair to one another - forgive often - and, most importantly, don't sweat the small stuff!
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 19, 2022, at Locke at Tower Park in Waterloo. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 18, 2022, at Locke at Tower Park; also, for one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Our Rotary Christmas Celebration will be December 19! Please invite a friend, co-worker or significant other to attend. $15 for guests and we need a headcount as soon as possible. Please e-mail Annie at annie@theregenerateprocess.com. We are doing a plated meal.
President Mark Nook is joining us Monday to go over highlights of the University of Northern Iowa.
Mark A. Nook began serving as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa on February 1, 2017. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of Montana State University Billings (MSUB).
Originally from Holstein, Iowa, Nook has committed his Midwest education and values to higher education for many years and on many levels. He is dedicated to ensuring every member of the university community reaches their individual educational, professional and personal life goals.
Prior to serving as the chancellor at MSUB from 2014-2016, Nook was the senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin System from 2011-2014. He also served as provost (2007-09 and 2010-11) and interim chancellor (2009-10) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and in a variety of roles at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Sad news to share this week...Long-time Rotarian and friend to many - Bette Wubbena - passed away on Sunday. Arrangements are pending and we will share as soon as details are available. Thoughts and prayers with Bette's family.
29 November was #GivingTuesday! Thank you for supporting our Foundation. With your gifts, we will continue creating positive change in communities worldwide.
Be sure to attend Rotary this week and hear what is going on with University of Northern Iowa Athletics! David Harris will be presenting!
During his short time at UNI, Harris has built a culture of success in the field of play, in the classroom and in the community. He has also distinguished himself as a leader in the Missouri Valley Conference and the NCAA.
In the spring of 2019, Harris was appointed to the NCAA Division I Council. The 40-member council is responsible for the decision-making for NCAA Division I and is made up of athletic directors, athletic administrators, senior women administrators, faculty athletic representatives and student-athletes. As part of his responsibilities, he was appointed to act as the council rep for the Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee.
Under Harris’ leadership, in the fall of 2018 UNI Athletics announced Panthers Rising, a strategic plan to achieve unprecedented success in academics, competition and all of its endeavors.
At the age of 18, Zach Skiles enlisted in the U.S. Marines. A bright, sensitive kid with an easy smile and a quick laugh. At 22, he began to experience the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
We have a small but mighty trio of Rotarians celebrating their birthday in December...this group has collectively served our club for 82 years!
Frank Seng
Dec 02
Jim Schaefer
Dec 6
Randy Johnson
Dec 19
Since we had a jam-packed political program calendar in October and honored high school athletes at our November meetings, we'll have a super-birthday table celebration on December 5th.
Vocational training team empowers fathers in Mongolia
Jennifer Scott, a member of the Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, is a past governor of District 9685. She is a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers and works in law and mediation.
Mongolia, a country caught between two giants – China and Russia, is a long, long way from Australia and I never planned to travel there. However, like many Rotary projects, it is through networking and circumstance that you find an opportunity to make a difference. Mine came as part of a vocational training team to Mongolia to conduct workshops to empower single fathers.
In 2017, I ran into Kathyrn Johnson, a fellow mediator, who had just returned from Mongolia where her brother was making a documentary. She had met Professor Namjil from Ulaanbaatar University, who told her how he had been asked for help by a group of 150 single fathers, many of them disabled or unemployed or both. The men were from Erdenet city, a mining town about 300 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar, and were lost in a culture where the very notion of a father raising their children alone was alien.
Professor Namjil explained how it was not uncommon in Mongolia for women to be better educated than the men due to their nomadic tradition. Boys were kept behind to assist with the seasonal movement of the herds while women could be sent to gain their education as a means of assisting the welfare of the family. In recent years this was causing a societal problem. The men felt their traditional skills of horsemanship and herding were no longer useful in an urban setting, causing a feeling of disempowerment which led to depression, alcohol abuse and domestic violence, particularly in the mining towns with high unemployment.
As the women were better educated and thus more confident than the men, they would separate from their husbands, and sometimes from their children, in pursuit of better jobs. This resulted in a very high divorce rate.
Congratulations to Columbus High School senior Carson Hartz for being selected the 2022 Rotary MVP!
Since 1946 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. Football coaching staffs at each school in the city nominate a senior MVP from their team. In a secret ballot, area sportswriters make the citywide selection. The winner receives the Glen "Doc" Miller traveling trophy as top player in his sport. The winner is entitled to display the trophy at his school for the next twelve months.
Join us November 14th to honor area high school football teams and award the Glen "Doc" Miller Football MVP trophy! Our keynote speaker is Pete Moris, Director of University Relations at UNI!
Pete brings high profile media relations and marketing experience to UNI. Since 2015, Pete has served as Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg where he led marketing and communications campaigns to grow the donor base and increase the national profile of Hokies’ Athletics.
At the University of Oklahoma, Moris led a public relations and media campaign to unveil the $370 million renovation project of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. As Associate Director of Public Relations for the Kansas City Chiefs, Moris coordinated public relations and event management for four Super Bowls. Additionally, he has served on the media relations teams at the NCAA Final Four, the College Football Playoff Championship Game and multiple major collegiate bowl games.
Pete holds bachelor’s degrees in public relations and writing from Loras College, and he is a graduate of the Disney Customer Service Training Program.
We will stream the ceremony on Facebook LIVE, so if you are unable to attend, you can watch it here. Be sure to "Like" the Waterloo Rotary Facebook page to receive future notifications.
For #Rotary member Krystyna Wilczyńska-Ciemięga the decision to open her home to refugees fleeing the war in #Ukraine was simple, stating "the character of every Rotarian is based on a preference to give rather than to take." #RotaryResponds
On 24 February 2022, Russia invades Ukraine. Its 22nd Army Corps advances on the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia, the city on the Dnieper River in southeastern Ukraine that is home to the Morhun family.
On 27 February, Olena Morhun leaves Zaporizhzhia with her daughters, Alisa and Sofiia, and her son Vitalii.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone upstairs on Monday! Wade Itzen and Rick Morris have been organizing this year's football banquet and hoping for a great showing by Rotarians to support these outstanding athletes!
Congratulations to West High senior Sahara Williams - the 2022 Rotary Volleyball MVP!
Sahara accepted the travelling trophy at the Waterloo Rotary Club's annual Volleyball recognition Luncheon.
Our keynote speaker was Caitlin Opp, Assistant Director of Marketing for UNI Athletics.
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 winners are entitled to display the trophy at her school for the next twelve months.
We streamed the ceremony on Facebook LIVE, so if you were not able to attend, you can watch it here. Be sure to "Like" the Waterloo Rotary Facebook page to receive future notifications.
On November 5th, Honorary Rotarian Hovey Brom celebrated his 97th birthday and our club is so lucky to count him among our members. Hovey has served the Waterloo Rotary Club since 1963, is a veteran of World War II, and is a talented architect with a resume of several iconic Cedar Valley structures including the Waterloo Convention Center where we meet on Mondays. With Veterans Day later this week, we wanted to share Hovey's 2-part presentation from January 2021 while our club was meeting over Zoom. Click the link below to watch Hovey recount his experiences being drafted and travelling through Europe, then becoming a musician.
We have a stable group of Rotarians born in November, including Honorary Member Hovey Brom, who leads our club in both age and service!
Hovey Brom
Nov 05
Jay Crisp
Nov 06
David Allbaugh
Nov 08
Luke Jensen
Nov 08
Donna Miller
Nov 12
Shannon Thies
Nov 15
Tavis Hall
Nov 16
Since we had a jam-packed political program calendar in October and will honor high school athletes at our November meetings, we'll have a super-birthday table celebration on December 5th.
A group of Downtown Waterloo Rotarians met at the Waterloo School District warehouse October 25th and sorted the bulk delivery of Operation Warm coats (four pallets) into groups for each of six elementary schools. Distribution to students will be done in the coming weeks, so those members that could not participate will have a fun opportunity (Will it be FUN?) to serve the community and see the twinkle in the students’ eyes when they get their new coats!
Some of the Rotarians who helped this morning had to leave before the attached photo was taken, but their service is appreciated! If you would like to help support Operation Warm, click this link: https://www.cfneia.org/giving/give-today?fund=659 or email Dave Lee to volunteer to hand out the coats in November! There will be a sign-up sheet at the next few meetings.
We hosted Secretary of State Candidate - Joel Miller, a Democrat - Monday, October 31st. We invited the Republican candidate, incumbent Paul Pate, but he was not able to schedule a visit.
Joel grew up on a dairy farm outside of Independence, Iowa. After graduating high school, Joel served as a deputy sheriff and as a part-time police officer. In 1977, Joel entered the United States Army and served 3 years on active duty attaining the rank of Sergeant. Following his time in the United States Army, Joel returned home, went back to college, obtained a degree in electronics engineering technology, and worked as an IBEW electronics tech for AT&T. From 2002 to 2005, Joel served on the City Council of Robins, and served as the city's mayor from 2006 to 2007. In 2007, Joel was elected in a special election to serve as Linn County Auditor, the second largest county in the state. Since 2007, Joel has been re-elected in 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. Joel has been married to his wife, Sylvia, for 44 years and they have three adult children and nine grandchildren.
We streamed Joel Miller's remarks on Facebook LIVE, be sure to "Like" the Waterloo Rotary Facebook page to receive future notifications.
Secretary of State Candidate Joel Miller Speaking Monday
During his 52 years as a #Rotary member, Texas district judge Ronnie Yeager has never missed a meeting. How did he maintain that streak when his family took a 3-month vacation along the coast of Australia? Find out:
Ronnie Yeager, 84, joined the Rotary Club of Aransas Pass, Texas, on 1 May 1970. Over the 52 years of club meetings since, he has had perfect attendance. His extraordinary tenure in Rotary earned him a special recognition letter in September 2020 from then-Rotary International President Holger Knaack.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley was our guest speaker Monday, October 24th. Senator Grassley - a Republican - is seeking his eighth term in office.
FAST FACTS
BORN: September 17, 1933 in New Hartford, Iowa
FAMILY: Married Barbara Speicher 1954 Five children: Lee, Wendy, Robin, Michele, Jay
EDUCATION: B.A. 1955, M.A. 1956 Political Science University of Northern Iowa Ph.D. work, University of Iowa
OCCUPATION: Farmer (son, Robin, currently helps run family farm); Sheet metal shearer 1959-1961 Assembly line worker 1961-1971 Adjunct government professor 1960s & 1970s Elected to Iowa Legislature 1958 Elected to U.S. House of Representatives 1974 Elected to U.S. Senate 1980
His challenger - Admiral Michael Franken - was invited to attend and was unable to confirm a date at this time.
We streamed the senator's remarks on Facebook LIVE, so if you could not attend, visit Waterloo Rotary Facebook page to watch.
Join Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, and RI President Jennifer Jones, as they discuss the state of polio eradication and its broader relevance to global health. This conference will address not only the status of polio eradication and what’s next, but also the potential for community-based solutions to improve global health, particularly as it relates to maternal-child health.
Welcome to #WorldPolioDay 2022 and Beyond at @WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.
There have been a lot of requests for programs recently...a reminder that all programs are booked up through February 2023! Please send recommendations with that time frame in mind! E-mail Jaclyne at jheller@kwwl.com with any ideas for March 2023 and on...
Our very own Kevin McCrindle will be leading the forum of Black Hawk County Supervisor candidates Monday October 17th. Questions asked come from members of the Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club.
The following candidates are invited to the forum, as they are listed on the official ballot for Black Hawk County...
Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa's 2nd District Liz Mathis joined us for lunch, and her visit was streamed live - you can watch here.
Democratic candidate Mathis is a former journalist and nonprofit leader. In 2011, Liz was elected to the State Senate representing parts of Linn County. As Senator, Liz has spoken up for families struggling with the state’s Medicaid program and created countless measures that focused on children, Iowa’s economy and educational growth. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, Liz has worked to help Iowa family farmers and farming communities. And she’s assisted Iowa families and businesses struggling to recover from COVID-19 and during the recent derecho disaster, she helped them find a warm meal, seek resources or get back on their feet.
We had the Republican candidate, Ashley Hinson, speak to our club earlier this year.
Our first candidate forum of this election season gained some media attention from our friends at the Courier - click the link below for their story...
If you missed attending the forum, you can watch the archived video on our Facebook page.
We'll continue to share our upcoming candidate programs through Facebook LIVE, so be sure to "like" our page to receive notifications when the video starts!
Dr. Mexan Mapouka worked healing others as a young doctor in a war zone. Now, he’s pursuing a master’s in public health as a fellow at the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center learning to combine his medical knowledge with conflict resolution.
“This is a tremendous program that gives people who can’t afford to continue their graduate education a chance to do so,” Mapouka says. “It also trains the next generation of people who will take the lead in places like the Central African Republic where peacebuilding is needed.”
We are planning a MEGA-BIRTHDAY celebration at our December 5th meeting for all the October, November, and December birthdays. The political and athletic programs over the next several weeks will be front-and-center, but you can check the list below to reach out to these Rotarians ON their birthday!
Rotary International District 3181 organizes an International 2-Wheel/4-Wheel Ride in India - Ride for Rotary, The aim of the event is to promote International fellowship and exchange of Rotary views. The last 6 editions of the event have been an overwhelming success. More than 100 participants from 15 different countries have attended the event and have had wonderful experiences to take back home.
The funds raised through this event go to The Rotary Foundation. We have contributed close to $100,000 to TRF from the last 6 editions.
This year’s event will be held from 13th to 28th January, 2023. The 15 days event will start-off from Mahabalipuram (India) and can either be a motorcycle ride, or a four wheeler drive.
The ride will cover multiple Rotary Districts and many Rotary Clubs. Route map will be - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Thanjavur - Madurai - Coimbatore - Ooty - Mysore - Madikeri - Mangalore
All Iowa House and Senate candidates on the Black Hawk County Elections ballot were invited to attend the forum on Monday. Kevin McCrindle will moderate the forum to ensure equal time to each guest. In advance, questions will be submitted from the club.
The following candidates are invited to join us October 3rd:
Iowa House Candidate Derek Wulf, District 76
Iowa House Candidate Kate Wyatt, District 76
Iowa House Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, District 61(Incumbent)
Iowa House Candidate John Bothwell, District 61
Iowa House Rep. Bob Kressig, District 75 (Incumbent)
Iowa House Candidate Jerome Amos,Jr., District 62
Senator Bill Dotzler, District 31 (Incumbent)
See link below for official list of candidates on the ballot in Black Hawk County...
Thank you for our wonderful Programming Committee for lining up programs for the rest of 2022 and the beginning of 2023!
Ashlyn Jungwirth, Amy Rousselow, Rachael Hoffman
Political Program Committee Members
Barb Prather, Steve Schmidt
Ex-Official Programming Committee Members
Annie Vander Werff, Jaclyne Heller
These Rotarians have dedicated several hours behind the scenes to bring a full list of engaging programs and guests to our meetings. Honor their service by inviting guests to an upcoming meeting!
Noel Anderson is the Community Planning and Development Director for the City of Waterloo. He is dedicated to the betterment of the Waterloo community as a person, a planner, and lifelong resident.
Noel is responsible for the development and redevelopment for the City of Waterloo. This involves the work of many, and he works to coordinate those efforts involving the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinances for the City of Waterloo for the development of buildings and land. Coordination of efforts for the growth and revitalization of community through Historic Preservation, Engineering, Building Department, Building Maintenance, Housing Authority, and Community Development Department's management of the federal Block Grant funding program.
Noel Anderson from City of Waterloo Speaking Monday 9-26
The entire month of October will be filled with political candidate guests speakers. We have reached out to candidates at all levels and watch closely as we are still waiting to hear back from some candidates! Kevin McCrindle will be moderating the forums and make sure candidates gets equal time to speak! Check out the schedule and invite your friends!
Reminder: Invite Friends to Upcoming Political Programs
Cedar Valley Gearhead Ministries helps place donated vehicles with families in the community in need of transportation!
Cedar Valley Gearheads is organized around the principle that in the name of Jesus Christ we can serve God and others by partnering with individual Community Agencies, and businesses around the Cedar Valley to meet the basic transportation needs of those most in need. Cedar Valley Gearheads Ministry was organized in 2006 and is located at 3606 Skyview Dr. in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Vehicles are donated from members in the community and Volunteers repair them to get them road ready for families in need. Cedar Valley Gearheads rely on volunteers, with knowledge of vehicle repair, to come as they are able 2 days per week for 2 to 3 hours a night. They use a 27- point inspection as nearly every car will need some type of repair from a simple oil change to transmission work.
Our hope is that we will provide families with the opportunity for a healthier life through accessing routine medical care, gaining education opportunities and a way to maintain employment and reliable transportation to childcare facilities. In return they will be able to become more self-sufficient in supporting themselves and their family.
We're asking you to join us as we "Imagine What's Next" for Rotary. #Rotary23 is happening 27-31 of May 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. Take advantage of the discounted rate and register before 15 December.
We look forward to seeing you on Monday at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank! - We will NOT MEET AT THE CONVENTION CENTER SEPT 12th.
Reminder that if you have not already signed up to volunteer Monday Please CLICK HERE to RSVP.
Volunteer hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. with flexibility to come a little earlier or stay a little later if desired. There is always something to do there!
Please use the Office/Food Pantry entrance, wear closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves to sort food, be prepared to work and have fun! A reminder - no lunch will be provided.
Following an emergency like the flooding in Pakistan, your contribution to The Rotary Foundation ensures that we can deliver supplies, provide health care, and support rebuilding efforts.
Can you feel the change in the weather? As Iowans, we all know what's headed our way...cold, cold, and more cold. Imagine not having a proper outer layer to keep you warm this winter - for hundreds of children in our area, that is what they'll face without our help. Operation Warm is again raising funds for NEW coats for kids who would otherwise rely on hand-me-downs or simply go without a proper warm coat.
You can bring your donation of cash or check to Dave Lee at a Monday meeting, or use the link below on the Community Foundation's website:
Wow! Look at this list of *14* Rotarians celebrating a birthday in September! This is the largest group in our club and we'll give each one a proper shout out Monday!
Derek Kimball - Executive Director of Cedar Valley Angels - will be our guest speaker on Monday, August 29th!
The Cedar Valley Angels mission is to walk alongside children, youth, and families in the foster care community by offering consistent support through intentional giving, relationship building, and mentorship.
With his play, Visions, a Rotarian has turned his addiction into art and provided new roles for former addicts.
In the winter of 1989, Robert Lo Bue experienced an awakening: He wanted to join the theater.
Lo Bue was working on the assembly line at an automotive plant. Nearing 40, he had no acting experience to speak of and a long history of drug and alcohol abuse. No matter. He auditioned for a production of The Passion Play near his home in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, and landed the part of Young James the Apostle.
His Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor was not pleased. "He said, 'No way. You got a wife in recovery and you just came out of rehab and you got a baby daughter. Your son is in counseling from both of you using. Your plate is full,'" Lo Bue recalled in his booming Jersey brogue. "I said, 'What do you mean? I want this. I need this!' He just kept screaming, 'Your plate is full!'"
Join fellow Rotarians for some after hours social time at The Ragged Edge Art Bar and Gallery! It is a hidden gem near downtown Cedar Falls; 504 Bluff St is just one block east of the public library along E. 5th St.
Christine Hess will be talking to us August 22 about the upcoming "Walk to End Alzheimer's" in the Cedar Valley. The event is Saturday, September 24.
All funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer's further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
A team of #Rotary members has been working to meet medical needs for items such as surgical drills. Now their efforts focus on 24 August, when they will hold a 24-hour telethon to collect donations for #Ukraine.
By Emory Morsberger, Rotary Club of Gwinnett County, Georgia
Isn’t it a privilege to be a Rotarian who can actually serve others and make a difference in someone else’s life – and even more so if that life is on the other side of the world? I think so! I hope to rally fellow Rotarians on 24 August to join our movement, Helping Ukraine.
In 1998, I took a trip to Ukraine and have been yearning to go back since. The people there are so excited about their freedom. When the war broke out in February, I felt a strong call to do something to help these free-spirited people. I had been hearing about the massive destruction and wanted to do more than make donations.
When Chris Brand, a member of Rotary and President of Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC) in Tucker, Georgia, USA, called me one morning to tell me there was an urgent need to take Stryker Drill Sets and other medical relief supplies over to the war-torn country, it was just the call I had been waiting for. Without hesitation, I said, “I’ll go.” On 6 June, I boarded a flight to Bucharest, Romania, and began my journey to Ukraine.
Stephanie A. Urchick is selected to be the 2024-25 president of Rotary International
Stephanie A. Urchick, of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2024-25, a decision that would make her only the second woman to hold that position. She will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
With the world facing incredible challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, disasters driven by climate change, and conflict in many regions, Urchick says Rotary’s leaders can offer a vision and a plan for overcoming these challenges.
“Measures taken by Rotary leadership to survive and end critical challenges often make our organization stronger and more resilient for future events,” Urchick says. “This kind of essential leadership also creates new levels of cooperation, even among rivals, when Rotarians pull together as people of action to serve and solve a crisis.”
Katy Susong - President and CEO of Cardinal Construction - is our guest speaker on Monday!
Katy is a graduate of the University of Northern lowa and has been employed with Cardinal Construction since 2012. She was named CEO and President of Cardinal Construction last year, which makes her the first female CEO in the company's 127-year history. Katy leads the mid-sized commercial construction company that serves clients in senior living, education, industrial, and healthcare sectors. She guides the execution of the company's short and long-term strategic initiatives while providing leadership and guidance to everyone on the Cardinal team. She aims to create a strategy that everyone on our team can get behind to ensure that we are executing well on the projects that we have committed to.
Past #Rotary District Governor Magnus Elfwendahl celebrates peace studies
Some months ago, I participated in the celebration of 50 years of Peace and Conflict research at Uppsala University in Sweden. During the anniversary symposium some prominent international scholars reflected on big societal challenges and the future of peace and conflict research. Experienced practitioners shared their thoughts on how peace and conflict research can contribute to policy and practical peace work. The keynote speaker, Jamie LeSueur, head of Emergency Operations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), was a Rotary Peace Fellow during 2013-2015 when training for future peace work at Uppsala University.
Rotary Peace Fellow alum Jamie LeSueur on assignment in South Sudan. Photo by Corrie Butler IFRC
In 2020, LeSueur received the university´s prestigious Alumnus of the Year award. Today Jamie is working as a specialist in humanitarian relief and management in disaster and conflict situations, based in Turkey. He is also an excellent ambassador for Rotary´s work to increase the professional capacity in peace work. Jamie acknowledges the importance of his academic research training. This training skill is now helping him during assignments.
For Jamie, the Rotary Peace Fellowship opened a window to a better understanding of the world. He is now a resolute peacemaker and experienced professional doing good in the world – just like numerous other Rotary members. He is an excellent example of why we should keep supporting the Rotary Peace Centers program.
Everyone's reason for "Why Rotary?" is unique. That's why we strive to provide mentorship and community-building activities that tap into existing skills and build new ones. #PeopleOfAction
We know that people engage with Rotary to make connections, find opportunities for personal growth, and develop leadership skills, all while making a difference in the world.
A 2020 survey reconfirmed that our members, more specifically, value community service, friendship, and professional development. Knowing this helps us meet their needs and give them reasons to stay involved.
Our focus, then, should be offering more of these meaningful experiences. How do we do this? Two main ways are by fostering mentoring relationships and by supporting activities that let people use their skills in new ways or build new skills through membership and service.
Squeezing a teddy bear is comforting, no matter your age
With the help of sponsors, members of the Rotary Club of Estoi Palace International launched Happy Bears, a project to crochet and distribute teddy bears to a children's home and center for disabilities. pic.twitter.com/j5ElgZxVYT
Dr. Jared Smith - new Superintendent of Waterloo Community School District - is speaking to us on Monday!
Jared holds a BA in Elementary and Middle Level Education from the University of Northern Iowa, an MS in Educational Leadership from National Louis University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership from Iowa State University.
Jared has taught and coached at both the middle school and high school levels. Prior to superintendency, Jared worked as an assistant principal and principal for ten years. Jared is an award-winning blogger, the host of The Group Project Podcast, and the author of Learning Curve: Lessons Learned on Leadership, Education, and Personal Growth.
August 4, 2022 is Waterloo Rotary Club Night at the Waterloo Bucks! There are only 5 tickets left as of 9am 7/22, so reach out to Mark Durbahn to reserve yours! If you have already requested tickets, Mark and other Rotarians will have them at the front gate at Riverfront Stadium - they'll be easy to spot in their Rotary shirts!
Kelly Sullivan and Agness Kress will be speaking on 2022 Irish Fest!
Agness Kress is a Digital Media Production Assistant at the City of Waterloo and has been involved with Irish Fest since the beginning. She is in charge of Merchandising/Web site and Ticketing.
Kelly Sullivan is a third-grade teacher and granddaughter of Albert, one of the five Sullivan brothers killed in World War II. She co-chairs the Heroes area of Irish Fest.
The logo for the 2022-23 Rotary presidential theme "Imagine Rotary" was designed by Riki Salam, an Australian aboriginal artist. He also created the logo for the 2023 Rotary International Convention which will be held in Melbourne.
Meaning of the design elements
There is, of course, a deeper meaning behind each element of the design. The circle in aboriginal culture for instance, signifies our connections to one another. The dots around it represent people and there are seven because of Rotary´s areas of focus.
The circle and the dots together become a navigation star – our guiding light. The solid line underneath is what is referred to as a digging stick and it is used when doing hard work. And since Rotary members are people of action – it represents a tool for getting things done.
The colors
The colors green, purple, and white are not necessarily connected to aboriginal culture. President-elect Jennifer Jones asked the new crew of Governors to use one, two, or all three when dressing for official events instead of using a theme jacket. “As we celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion, I wanted all of us to be able to express ourselves differently in what we wear, but still have connection,” she explained.
A reminder NO meeting on Monday, July 4. Our first meeting of the new Rotary calendar year will be July 11th as EJ passes the gavel to Annie for her second stint as our club president.
The programming committee has been busy working on 2022-2023 program calendar!
Annie, Jaclyne Heller, Amy, Ashlynn and Racheal had a great luncheon to discuss...
Music, it turns out, is medicine for the mind. This realization led Rotary member Carol Rosenstein to establish Music Mends Minds, a project dedicated to helping those with memory loss.
Carol Rosenstein was watching her husband, Irwin, slip away inch by inch.
At one time he had been a brilliant lawyer, a lover of Broadway musicals, a world traveler. But after his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2006, he developed dementia, and slowly everything changed. His gait flattened to a shuffle. The sparkle in his eyes turned into a blank stare. His mood soured. Worsening matters, the medications he took caused hallucinations and extreme agitation. As communication grew more challenging, Carol felt the distance between them growing.
Then, in 2014, something happened. Irwin, who had been a gifted pianist since childhood, sat down at the piano and began to play. As his fingers floated through American classics like “Fly Me to the Moon,” “What a Wonderful World,” and “Try to Remember,” Carol saw his posture straighten. The sparkle returned to his eyes. The husband she once knew came back, bit by bit, if only briefly. “I could see this human being resurrect and start to reconnect with his environment,” she says, “just like I had given him a dose of medication.”
Mystified, she called his neurologist and asked what was happening. “He said, ‘Carol, you are watching the power of music, changing brain chemistry.’”
That statement would go on to change not only their lives but the lives of countless others.
This vibrant hub of art, sports, and cuisine will host the 2023 convention, set for 27-31 May. Rotary members, participants, and supporters are invited to Imagine What's Next and explore the possibilities for Rotary's future.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion will also be an important focus during the event, which will be packed with thought-provoking speakers and practical breakout sessions. Rotary members in the Host Organization Committee are planning activities to show visitors why their city is known for world-class sports, cultural diversity, exceptional dining, and inventive street art.
Anyone who registers by 15 December will pay a reduced price.
After discovering new perspectives and being inspired by new ideas at the 2022 Rotary International Convention, attendees and virtual participants are looking ahead to next year's gathering in Melbourne, the sparkling second city of Australia.
This vibrant hub of art, sports, and cuisine will host the 2023 convention, set for 27-31 May. Rotary members, participants, and supporters are invited to Imagine What's Next and explore the possibilities for Rotary's future.
Anyone who registers by 15 December will pay a reduced price.
The 2022 convention in Houston, Texas offered plenty of inspiring moments as Rotary's global network gathered in person for the first time since 2019, following two conventions that were held virtually because of COVID-19. The convention offered participants new horizons to discover through in-person events and a robust schedule of virtual offerings (with recordings available through 31 August).
Our very own Vicki Mueller is our speaker on Monday on behalf of Pathways Behavioral Services!
Vicki Mueller is Executive Director of Pathways and has been at the organization for more than 20 years. She was promoted to Executive Director in 2021 and previously was Provider Services and Prevention Services Supervisor. Vicki is a graduate of Wartburg College and very active in the community, including serving on several state boards as well as the the Cedar Falls Booster Club.
Guests can arrive at 5 p.m. and we would have time for visiting and socializing before the start of a short program at 6 followed by dinner. We anticipate being finished and out of the building by 8:30. Help will be needed in signing people in, setup, and clean up along with serving the food. If you can help, or if you want to register guests to attend, email Larry Steffens.
Dr. Jared Seliger of Allen College is our special speaker on Monday!
Dr. Seliger joined Allen College in 2008 to develop the Nuclear Medicine Technology program. In 2015, he was named Associate Chancellor of Allen College and in 2018 he was named third President of Allen College.
#Stress is inevitable, but finding a coping mechanism can be life-changing! #Rotary members Mercedes Harris and Dr. Edward Charlesworth discuss how volunteering positively impacts communities and reduces stress with @abc13houston.
Have a safe Memorial Day, Rotarians - as you remember those who have served, honor them through continuing to serve your community. Our next meeting will be June 6th at the Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza.
On behalf of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, I want to thank you all for joining us for our ‘Sites and Bites’ tour. It was a great honor to share with you the work that is happening in Walnut and Church Row neighborhoods.
I am attaching pictures of Kayla’s home dedication taken from Tuesday, May 17th. Her house was the house we walked through during our tour.
If you have any questions or would like to connect, please call me at (319)235-9946 or email at ddoes@webuildhabitat.org.
Sincerely,
Dylan Does”
Development Director | Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity
Nearly 1,300 global grants are awarded each year, and ~200 are dedicated to scholarships— enabling access to #networking opportunities and to graduate-level studies. We're aiming to create lasting connections.
Click here to meet four Rotary Scholars, and find out how the connections they’ve made through Rotary are helping them change the world.
Our very own Rick Petersen is telling us the latest at Tyson here in Waterloo!
Rick Petersen began his career with Tyson Foods, then IBP, in 1990 in Madison, Neb as a frontline worker. Soon after he moved into a supervisory role and eventually was promoted to a plant leadership position. He has held several leadership positions in the company’s Storm Lake, Waterloo and Logansport, Indiana pork facilities. In 2021, Rick was named Complex Manager for Tyson Foods’ Waterloo pork plant. In his role leading the Waterloo facility Rick has prioritized opening more communication channels with team members, increasing involvement with local community leaders to strengthen collaboration, and reinforcing the importance of Tyson Foods’ core values and team behaviors.
We are looking forward to hopping on the bus for a tour with Habitat for Humanity to see the sites they are building around the community.
Reminder, on Monday, May 16 at noon we will meet in the lobby of the Convention Center as usual. Box lunches will be available for you to take on the bus. No badges will be given out. The bus will return to the Convention Center prior to 1:00.
Last week, our guests from the Cedar Falls and Waterloo Libraries shared the children's reading program that Dolly Parton started in 1995. As of February 2021, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library had delivered over 155 million books at no cost to millions of kids in the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. A documentary mentioned during our program is linked below if you'd like to learn the backstory of the program from Dolly herself:
If you want to get involved with the program, reach out to either of our presenters below:
Executive Director of Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health - Tom Eachus - will be presenting Monday!
Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center is a private, nonprofit, community mental health center accredited by the Iowa Department of Human Services. Our experienced staff design treatments to meet your specific needs. The Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center serves those with short-term and long-term needs, including those with depression.
5 million+ refugees, mostly women and children, have fled the war in #Ukraine. Seeking resources to meet basic needs— food, water and shelter. #Rotary members across the globe work to provide aid to the rapidly changing humanitarian crisis. #RotaryResponds
We will be having an informal social gathering at 1850 Restaurant on Ridgeway in Waterloo (next to Golf Headquarters)!
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. stop out and have a glass of wine and mingle with fellow Rotarians! Kaye Englin and Barbara Prather along with Jaclyne Heller decided it would be a fun "after hours" activity!
During her career, Kelly Stern has been a high school English teacher, school librarian, university instructor, public library youth services manager, and now library director at the Cedar Falls Public Library. Although her family moved away from the Cedar Valley when she was in 3rd grade and her father went back into the Air Force, she moved back here 22 years ago, because the Cedar Valley is home to her. She has been a member of the Cedar Falls Rotary Club for three years.
Jillian Rutledge earned a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa and a Bachelors of Liberal Studies from the University of Northern Iowa. She currently works as the Public Services Manager at the Waterloo Public Library, which entails supervising the Circulation & Reference staff & departments. Her professional interests include Intellectual Freedom, Collection Management, Readers' Advisory, Diversity & Inclusion, Long Range Planning, and her life interests are houseplants, hockey, roller derby, and the Grateful Dead.
Library Presentation on Dolly's Reading Program Monday
Dear Rotarian, As we near the end of the Rotary year, the board is reviewing membership, balances of outstanding dues, and working to get caught up so we can move into the new year with complete records.
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris April 19, 1868-January 27, 1947
After earning is law degree from the University of Iowa and setting up his law practice in Chicago, Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. He envisioned a place where professionals of diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
On 23 February 1905, Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. This was the first Rotary club meeting.
“I was sure that there must be many other young men who had come from farms and small villages to establish themselves in Chicago ... Why not bring them together? If others were longing for fellowship as I was, something would come of it.”
In February 1907, Harris was elected the third president of the Rotary Club of Chicago, a position he held until the fall of 1908. Toward the end of his club presidency, Harris worked to expand Rotary beyond Chicago. Some club members resisted, not wanting to take on the additional financial burden. But Harris persisted and by 1910 Rotary had expanded to several other major U.S. cities.
Harris died on 27 January 1947 in Chicago at age 78 after a prolonged illness.
His death prompted an outpouring of contributions from around the world and his name continues to evoke the passion and support of Rotarians and friends of Rotary.
We were pleased to have our fellow Rotarian Dr. Todd Holcomb as our program April 18th
Dr. Todd Holcomb became Hawkeye Community College’s eighth president on July 1, 2019. Hawkeye is a comprehensive community college serving students in a 10-county region of northeast Iowa. Dr. Holcomb previously served as president of Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska from 2010 to 2019. Prior to becoming president in 2010, he was vice president of student services from 2009 to 2010, which followed a six-year tenure as associate vice president for student affairs at Iowa State University.
Cedar Valley Women United's annual fundraiser "Charity and Charcuterie" on April 28! Proceeds go toward the women-to-women mentoring partnership program at Hawkeye Community College!
Lubomyr “Lu” Hewko, father of @JohnHewko, #Rotary CEO and general secretary, fled #Ukraine during WWII. Years later he helped charter the first Rotary club in Kyiv. Members from around the region reflect on how past actions inform today's relief efforts.
The Waterloo Rotary Club annually recognizes senior honor students of the Waterloo high schools and their principals. Through this recognition, the Waterloo Rotary Club congratulates its outstanding students and schools for their accomplishments, commitment to excellence, and dedication to developing leaders of the future. We are extremely proud of each participant and salute them for their achievements.
With over 10 million people displaced by the war in #Ukraine, #Rotary and @ShelterBox work together in and around the region to provide relief.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military operation on Ukraine.
Nearly 10 million peoplehave already fled Ukraine to other countries – that’s almost a quarter of Ukraine’s entire population.
6.5 million people are now estimated to be displaced within Ukraine. In addition, more than 12 million people are thought to be cut off in places most ravaged by the conflict. Many are unable to leave because of damage to infrastructure, lack of resources, and the increased security risk.
Join us today to celebrate Rotarians born in April - including a tribute to Bill Robert who passed in January of 2021. Bill would have celebrated his 91st birthday today, and his 69th year of service to our club. If you have stories to share with the group, please feel free to do so at our meeting today.
Lia Puggioni, a physician, gynecologist, and obstetrician, recounts her experience traveling to share information with clinicians at the Momè Katihoe clinic in Togo, Africa.
It was Saturday, 30 March 2019. I was awaiting the arrival of my fellow travelers at Fiumicino International Airport in Italy and reflecting on this new Rotary adventure on which I was about to leave to reach the Momè Katihoe clinic run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Compassion in Togo. There were so many doubts in my mind. Would I be able to teach the midwives how to use the ultrasound scanner and convey the basics to be able to interpret the ultrasound images? Would I be able to help the women that came to the clinic? What problems would I have to deal with?
Last week, fellow Rotarian Bonnie Smith Davis reported our former piano player Liz Porter passed away early in the morning of March 30th. She had just celebrated her 95th birthday in February, and several members of her family were able to travel to Cedar Falls to be with her. A visitation is set for later today, Monday April 4th, and funeral services will be Tuesday, April 5th.
Liz and Hovey were photographed in 2016 working out a song before a Rotary meeting.
As we prepare to welcome students and families to our in-person Academic Scholars Luncheon, we need some friendly Rotarians to arrive a bit early April 11th. Beth McCrindle is coordinating volunteers for our meeting, and needs a handful of Rotarians to greet/check-in guests, collect money, etc. If you can arrive at 11:30, please send Beth an email. You'll help our club honor these brilliant students for their academic achievements despite the challenges they faced the last two years.
Matt Nieman - General Manager of Lost Island - will talk about the new theme park coming Monday!
Matt is a born and raised Waterloo resident with two crazy kids and one more on the way. He has been with Lost Island Waterpark for 17 years and currently holds the General Manager position at the waterpark. Lifeguarding brought him into the industry, but so much more has kept him. He has had the pleasure of being part of the design, storyline, and construction for our new Lost Island Theme Park. With the help of our community, he is excited to continue to watch as we grow into an attraction known around the world.
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson proudly represents Iowa’s 1st district in Congress.
During her years as a reporter, Ashley shared the stories of countless Iowans on the local news. As their Congresswoman, she is bringing those stories to Washington to help shape federal policy and improve the lives of workers, farmers, seniors, veterans, and families in Iowa.
An Iowa native, Ashley is an award-winning journalist and a proud wife and mother of two. Ashley previously served in the Iowa state House and represented Iowa’s 67th House district, serving Hiawatha, Robins, Cedar Rapids, and Marion, where she currently resides. As a state Representative, she worked successfully to balance the budget, cut taxes, and protect the most vulnerable in her community.
In Congress, she continues to be a common-sense leader and pursue pro-growth policies. She has introduced and supported bipartisan legislation to improve child care access for working families in Iowa, root out corruption in Washington through federal lobbying bans, and create opportunities for workers in the community. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and House Budget Committee, where she oversees the government funding process and fights to ensure every taxpayer dollar is accounted for and spent responsibly. As a mother of two, she also has a keen interest in protecting the safety and security of Iowa families.
Our own Katelyn Tungland - Regional Director of Development for Junior Achievement will be presenting Monday!
Here's a little bit about our speaker...
Hi! My name is Katelyn Tungland, but a lot of people call me KT! I was raised in Hudson, Iowa and currently reside in Cedar Falls with my husband, Alex, our daughter Joslynn and our Australian Shepard, Chex! I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. Prior to working for Junior Achievement I was a JA volunteer and quickly fell in love with the program and wanted to get more involved in the community. JA has blessed me with a career that allows me to find a healthy balance between work and life! I love how JA focuses on youth education and entrepreneurship!
Club Olsztyn (Poland) is collecting donations of essential items for refugees, primarily unaccompanied children, staying at Ostróda Camp. Donate to our designated fund to support victims of the Ukraine crisis here...
Contributions to this featured cause is eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
The annual NEIFB Empty Bowls event will be held on Friday, March 25th 2022 from 6-9pm at the Hilton Garden Inn. We are excited to welcome back all our attendees and supporters to the in person event. Throughout the event attendees will join us in learning about the Food Bank, while also raising awareness and educating the community on the issue of hunger. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and bid on both silent and live auction items. Auction items include electronics, artwork, jewelry, sports memorabilia, experiences and several gift certificates much of which is from the local cedar valley business.
In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in #Ukraine, we created an official channel for contributions to support the relief efforts underway by #Rotary districts. Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/3KiyhFt
A million people have fled Ukraine and are in dire need of emergency aid. The United Nations estimates that number could grow to as many as 5 million people displaced. Rotary clubs in Europe and around the world have stepped up their relief work, some working on the ground to help displaced families.
Contributions to Disaster Response are temporarily being prioritized for districts impacted by the Ukraine crisis. Unspent funds will be available to any Rotary districts for Disaster Response grants.
Our fellow Rotarian Milt Dakovich passed away February 24th after a battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, March 1, at St. Edward Catholic Church in Waterloo, with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. President EJ arranged for a section of pews to be reserved for Rotarians. We'll hear more about Milt's service to our club March 7th from Gene Leonhart.
Our annual Rural Ag Day is next Monday, February 28. Members are asked to arrive about 11:45 to pair up with our farmer guests. The first woman head of Iowa Department of Natural Resources - Kayla Lyon - will be our keynote speaker.
To help stimulate local mangrove populations in the Philippines, the Rotary Club of Bacolod-Marapara teamed up with the Rotary Club of Victorias, the Rotaract Club of Marapara and other organizations to plant 1,000 mangrove seedlings.
On February 12, our club received this message through our website:
Dear Mr. President, Greetings from the Rotary Club of Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom District 1200 It is our custom each week at our lunchtime meeting to greet and toast a Rotary Club selected from around the World. On Monday 7th February 2022 at our lunchtime meeting we selected your Club the Rotary Club of Waterloo, Iowa, United States of America and we toasted you all. The Rotary Club of Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom District 1200 was chartered on the 10th March 1949 and we have 49 members. We meet each Monday at 1230pm in The Rotary Hall, Station Hill, Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. From the Rotarians of Chippenham we send you our warmest greetings and wish you well in your Rotary endeavours. President Richard Terrell - Rotary Club of Chippenham.
At our February 14th meeting, we snapped a panoramic photo and replied with this message:
Roger / Richard – thank you for reaching out across the pond and connect with our club! We read your email at our noon meeting today and an official motion was made and seconded to return a toast to your club. I attached a photo of all our present members lifting our drinks in honor of your club’s service and the hope that Rotarians worldwide will continue finding ways to connect and work together. Cheers!
EJ Gallagher, III, Waterloo Rotary Club President 2021-2022
Mason Fromm, Waterloo Rotary Club Past President 2008-2009
Today we will hear from several of our club's past presidents as they share memories and reflect on their year leading the Waterloo Rotary Club.
We will meet on the second floor of the beautifully refurbished Waterloo Convention Center. Ballroom A is our previous regular meeting room, but the escalators have been removed so if you want to avoid the stairs, the elevator is on the Commercial St side of the building. The skywalk connector to the parking garage may not yet be open for pedestrian traffic, so continue using on-street parking along Park, Commerical, 4th St, or Jefferson.
Since 2012, ShelterBox and @Rotary have been official Project Partners in disaster relief. By working together, we can provide even more families with vital shelter aid.
Having somewhere dry and warm to sleep, to prepare meals and be with your family is vital for starting the long process of rebuilding your life.
ShelterBox teams work with disaster-hit families around the world, offering emergency shelter and other essential items to support them in rebuilding their lives.
Every disaster is different and so is every community, so we spend time with those affected to make sure we can offer the right support at the right time to help them recover. See how we work.
Our teams can travel by boat, helicopter or tuk-tuk to get to the families who need your support – whatever it takes to get to the people who have lost their homes to disaster. See where we are currently working.
Steve Firman is the Director of Government Affairs for Grow Cedar Valley and the organization’s lobbyist at the State Capitol in Des Moines. He is also the Administrator of the Cedar Valley Coalition. This group, made up of representatives of 17 Cedar Valley government, education, and business organizations, collectively creates a set of federal priorities for the region and presents them to our Congressional delegation every year in Washington, DC. Steve is a pharmacist by profession and is very active in pharmacy advocacy activities. He serves as chair of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area board of trustees, chair of the American Pharmacists Association PAC Board of Governors and is a board member and past chair for Iowa Public Radio, in addition to being involved with several other local and state organizations.
We are pleased to confirm that the 2022 #Rotary International Convention will be an in-person event in Houston, Texas, USA, 4-8 June. We are offering a special registration rate of US$495 through 28 February at https://on.rotary.org/3Gwu8eR.
Rural Urban Day is a program where our Downtown Waterloo Club thanks agricultural producers for their part in the food that we all enjoy. Rotarians are asked to sponsor one or more guests for one of our largest meetings of the year. The cost $15 per guest, which is the cost of your guest's meal. If you would like to sponsor a guest, our committee will be happy to provide a guest for you. The Rural Urban Day committee will be at the registration table recruiting club members to sponsor guests, but you can email Larry Steffens right now if you want to sign up!
The committee consists of Larry Steffens, Rick Morris, Deb Pullin-VanAuken, Bob Regenwether and Chuck Paulsen. Our program speaker will be Kayla Lyon who is the Director of the Iowa DNR. Her program will center around current DNR programs involving agriculture producers.
Much of Thailand relies on tourism to stimulate their economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic left many without jobs. To help those in need, the Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard helped with over 30 food drives to gather food and other items.
Come hear about the Veterans Way project! Mayor Hart will be speaking to our club about the city’s vision for Veterans Way January 31st
Veterans Way will honor veterans and inspire visitors by connecting and elevating existing downtown venues and amenities along East and West 4th Street from Sullivan Park to the Grout Museum, creating a destination and sense of place for visitors and locals. A special new feature includes the Sullivan Brothers Memorial on the newly named Sullivan Brothers Plaza.
The City has renamed the square block that the convention center sits on Sullivan Brothers Plaza, sealing this prominent city square with their name separate from the building itself. A memorial to the Sullivan Brothers will be installed on the east side of the building, providing space for gatherings, reflection and inspiration. Other features of Veterans Way include bridge and river lighting, 218 underpass lighting, a pocket park outdoor gallery and streetscaping. These enhancements will help connect existing memorials along the corridor.
Mayor Hart will be giving us an overview of Vision 2030 for the city of Waterloo!
Mayor Quentin Hart is the first African American elected to the office of Mayor for the City of Waterloo, Iowa. Preceding the election, Mr. Hart was the Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs for Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, providing leadership for multicultural initiatives and promoting awareness and appreciation for diversity on campus and the community. In the eight years preceding his mayoral election, Mayor Hart represented the citizens of Waterloo as Ward 4 Councilman and was the first African American-appointed Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Waterloo.
A once in a lifetime opportunity is waiting for you 4-8 June. The 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, USA. Click the image above for a short video featuring Rotarians inviting you to Houston!
Our very own Dave Buck is talking about long-time and devoted Rotarian Steve Thorpe and what he did for our club locally, nationally, and internationally!
Typhoon Odette made landfall in the island of Cebu on the night of December 16, 2021 and the sound of the howling wind and crashing debris during the night while we huddled inside our homes will be something that we will not be able to forget easily.
Amidst all the hardship that we are going through now in buying food & water, rebuilding homes and trying to get back to work, we have still been given a reason to smile.
As communications with the #Philippines improves, we are starting to better understand the grave impact left by #TyphoonOdette. With help from @RotaryClub Cebu, our team has been distributing aid to people who need it most, so far helping more than 5,000 people
Jessica Rucker of Main Street Waterloo is our speaker at our first meeting of 2022!
Jessica Rucker is the Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo, a volunteer driven, nonprofit dedicated to downtown Waterloo. Jessica has been a resident of the area for most of her life and has strong roots in the community, and the downtown area which serve as a backdrop for many memories. She is passionate about supporting small businesses and showcasing all that is amazing about our community.
Luke Jensen shared this article from the University of Iowa's website - you'll be so proud of our 2017 Rotary Youth Exchange student Holly Harris!
Growing up in the Midwest, Holly Harris always felt a connection with the opposite side of the world. Harris was adopted from China at just 10 months old, and she developed a passion for exploring differences between cultures. As she got older, her experiences through school and travel transformed her interest in life outside the U.S. into a dream career.
“Throughout elementary and high school, I took Spanish classes and really just fell in love with learning the language,” she says. “After high school, I went to Brazil through a youth exchange program. While I was living there, I learned Portuguese and decided I wanted to continue learning it on an academic level and make it part of my career.”
Harris will graduate this fall with a bachelor’s degree in Portuguese, a bachelor’s degree in international studies, a certificate in nonprofit leadership and philanthropy, and a minor in Spanish. Her time on campus has been highlighted by her work as a research fellow assisting Armando Duarte, a Brazilian professor in the Iowa Department of Dance, with the translation of historical interviews about samba and Carnival from Portuguese to English.
Rotarians are People of Action. Throughout the world in disaster recovery situations, our compassion and commitment to service are a significant part of relief efforts. Right here, right now, your help is needed here in our own zones.
The tornado that touched down Kentucky has devastated communities in 18 counties in our District 6710. The loss of life in many small towns, such as Dawson Springs and Mayfield, is heartbreaking, and survivors have lost their communities, their homes and livelihoods. In many areas, there is limited electricity, resources for food, gasoline and supplies and medical services. Now more than ever is the time for us to live our hashtag, #Rotary Responds.
We see the decision to vaccinate as a civic and humanitarian imperative. Rotary is not a political or religious organization, it is a service organization and this is the lens through which we are advising you of our position.
Global vaccination is the path to ending the pandemic and the emergence of new variants. Rotary endorses and strongly encourages vaccination for all individuals including our members who are currently able to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In areas where COVID-19 is surging, communities are facing extreme challenges, health systems are overwhelmed, and contentious rhetoric is dividing us. It is critical that the virus be contained so that the world may begin to heal. To that end, the purpose of this statement is to reinforce Rotary’s position.
Misinformation has become an “infodemic” that hinders the fight against COVID-19. In line with our Four-Way Test, Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation are committed to providing our members with science-based information.
Rotary International staff at One Rotary Center were required to be vaccinated by 10 October 2021, as a criterion for employment after that date. RI’s employee vaccination rate stands at over 99 percent.
Globally, Rotary is actively engaged in assuring equity in vaccine access to all people. Our efforts have included advocacy with the G-20, and a proof-of-concept program with GAVI/COVAX to leverage our frontline experience with polio eradication to facilitate vaccine delivery in several low- and middle-income countries where Rotarians are active. While we know many clubs are already deeply involved in COVID-19 prevention, we are working on additional strategies to multiply our collective efforts. GAVI/COVAX is a partnership including WHO and UNICEF focused on global access and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.
Those children for whom vaccines are not currently available are at significant risk. Until vaccines are available for all children, the vaccination of adults is the best way to protect children who cannot be vaccinated. Pediatric admissions for COVID-19 are rising precipitously in areas of low vaccination.
Rotary salutes health care workers everywhere as they continue to provide lifesaving services. Local recognition of these heroes by each of our clubs can help to encourage them to continue their important work. Rotary abhors any harassment and attacks on healthcare workers.
Rotary and Rotaract clubs are encouraged to
set good examples by being exemplary role models;
redouble their efforts to support COVID-19 treatment, prevention, and vaccination efforts.
Vaccines have proven to be one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines save between 2 to 3 million children’s lives each year, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates the polio vaccine has saved more than 19 million children from paralysis. Vaccines are safe, effective and are responsible for eliminating or controlling many other vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox, measles, rubella, and Ebola. And now, there is the opportunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccines.
The eradication of polio remains a goal of the highest order for Rotary. We can apply the lessons we have learned in fighting polio to the efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regards,
Shekhar Mehta John Germ President, Rotary International Chair, The Rotary Foundation
CC: RI Board of Directors & Directors-elect, TRF Board of Trustees and incoming Trustees, District Governors-elect, Club Presidents-elect, Regional Leaders, COVID-19 Task Force, International PolioPlus Committee, Communications Committee
Fearing for his safety, Than Hre, a student whose activism had attracted the attention of Myanmar’s military government, fled his homeland in 2000. He made his way from Hakha, the capital of the country’s mountainous Chin State, to Guam, where he would wait two years before securing permission to immigrate to the U.S. mainland.
Get to know Jeff Hassman who was named the 2021-2022 District Governor earlier this year!
Jeff has a business degree from the University of Northern Iowa and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Jeff has nearly 20 years of professional experience in a variety of corporate, consulting and entrepreneurial environments, including working for Deere & Company, global consulting and establishing CVP Advisors. Jeff partnered with the team to form Efficient Technologies in 2014, where he is integral in strategy and finance.
S. Marathe, a young Rotary member with a vision impairment, recently authored a blog post on the characteristics of a great ally. As 3 Dec is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we want to highlight those characteristics.
As a young Rotary member who has lived with a vision impairment, I have come to understand the importance of allies. An ally is anyone that actively aspires to be inclusive and is intentional through their thoughts, actions, and words to consciously promote a respectful and inclusive culture.
Many organizations are actively attempting to address the low employee representation across minority groups of gender, culture, and disability and are adopting a range of strategies. But many times, it’s the day-to-day actions that make the most difference. For International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December, I wanted to share some of the characteristics that make a great ally.
Jeremy Sorensen of MidAmerican Energy is speaking Monday to give us updates on their organization.
MidAmerican Energy Company, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, safely meets the energy needs of more than 1.6 million customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, we have more than 3,400 dedicated employees serving our customers every day across our service territory.
Andrea Cassidy of Rotary Club of Windsor (1918), Ontario gets to empower women every day at her job as a midwife.
“The best part of my job is giving women permission to care for themselves.”
She’s able to offer free midwife care through Ontario Ministry of Health. Through this she can offer care to the most vulnerable populations. We’re proud to have a member like Andrea!
Since 1946 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. Football coaching staffs at each school in the city nominate a senior MVP from their team. In a secret ballot, area sportswriters make the citywide selection. The winner receives the Glen "Doc" Miller traveling trophy as top player in his sport. The winner is entitled to display the trophy at his school for the next twelve months.
2021 Glen "Doc" Miller Most Valuable Football Player
Megan is a 2020 graduate from the University of Northern Iowa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health and minors in Gerontology and Biology.
Megan was a part of the women’s basketball team at UNI between 2016-2021.
Megan will finish her Masters in Business Administration at the University of Northern Iowa in the spring of 2022.
Megan is from Epworth, Iowa and graduated from Western Dubuque High School in 2016. She is the daughter of Bruce and Lori Maahs and a big sister to McKenzie and Madison Maahs. She enjoys being with her family, hanging out with friends and cheering on her younger sisters.
Currently, she is the Administrative Program Coordinator at Peoples Community Health Clinic in Waterloo, Iowa. She began as an intern for Christine Kemp, CEO, during her undergraduate work in 2020. She was hired in June 2020. She loves the work that Peoples Clinic does for the community. She enjoys coming to work every day and being a part of a great team with the same goal in mind – to provide compassionate, high quality, affordable health care to all.”
Our club is honored each year to host the top volleyball athletes and award an all-around MVP trophy to one hard-working and talented senior - this year the trophy will be on display at Columbus High School thanks to Eva Christensen!
Let’s talk about one of #Rotary’s Causes: Protecting the #Environment The Rotary Foundation is committed to enabling members to take #climate action through land protection, sustainable agriculture and more.
Will climate change bring more poverty? Will we be able to stop its worst effects? Former Rotary scholars and peace fellows who studied environmental issues offer their thoughts. They discuss the struggles they face working to combat climate change, and what solutions give them hope.
On Monday, we had all the candidates running for Waterloo City Council attend our forum. - you can watch the Facebook LIVE video here. Our club extends appreciation to each candidate as well as our moderator Kevin McCrindle and time keeper Steve Schmitt. Annie Vander Werff and Jaclyne Heller are to be commended on securing all the candidates that joined us over the lunch hour.
Get excited...2021 Rotary Volleyball Banquet is November 8 and 2021 Football Banquet is November 15! A reminder this is a time to honor local high school senior athletes.
Guest speakers this year will be Megan Maahs (former UNI Basketball Player) at the Volleyball Banquet and Lance Dunn (former Minnesota State-Mankato Football player) at the Football Banquet!
This year’s Interact Awards are all about service-learning! Tell us about your service-learning experience by submitting a video, photo or essay by 1 December 2021.
Show us how your members are taking action across the globe, in your community, and in yourselves through service-learning. Start your service-learning journey by completing our service-learning course then share your experience in the 2021 Interact Awards. We are accepting videos, photos, and essays as part of the Interact Awards. Nominations will be accepted from 1 September 2021 at 00:00 Chicago Time (UTC-5) until 1 December 2021 at 23:59 Chicago Time.
North Star Community Services provides support services to some of our most vulnerable citizens, adults with disabilities living in north east, north central, and parts of central Iowa. Last year they supported around 4550 individuals. Executive Director Valerie Schwager and her team work very hard to bring in enough funding to cover basic operating costs, but it is a struggle to find extra for capital expenses.
The need for capital expenditures is now! Many of the facilities are aging and in need of important repairs. Support to those they serve comes first, so funds cannot be pulled away for capital repairs. That is why we are reaching out to you and your club!
Although services are provided from offices located in Mason City, New Hampton, Waverly, Marshalltown, Toledo and Vinton, it is the Waterloo facilities that North Star owns that have immediate needs. The cost will be approximately $168,000, but just $84,000 has been raised.
The Cedar Falls Rotary club has raised over $5,000 and received a matching district grant. This will help with a project at the University Avenue location. Please consider helping us expand this project or contact Valerie about something closer to your club. There is also a need to upgrade accessible transportation.
Fellow Rotarians, we are great at funding international projects, but this can help on the home front and is a hidden but very necessary part of our communities!
Please call Valerie Schwager (319-226-8344), Miller Roskamp (319-240-0087), or Mike Butler (319-239-6214), if you have any questions.
Look at this group led by longtime Rotarian and all-around amazing architect Hovey! With a very busy November program schedule, we saved our birthday recognition for November 22nd - all of these Rotarians have now completed their latest trip around the sun.
Brom, R. Hovey - Nov 05
Crisp, Jay - Nov 06
Allbaugh, David - Nov 08
Jenson, Luke - Nov 08
Miller, Donna - Nov 12
Thies, Shannon - Nov 15
Hall, Tavis - Nov 16
Hovey leads our club in years of service and age, and we are incredibly lucky to count him among our members. In January, he shared his World War II experiences with our club and if you were unable to join us, you can watch the program on our YouTube channel. Click this link to be directed there:
Can you help Henry Edsil track down a couple lost printed Rotary directories?
"I am trying to locate two small (approx. 3 inch X 8 inch) black leatherette ring binders of old Rotary members from the early 1960’s that a friend gave me. These contained printed bio sheets with photographs of Rotary members from that era. I brought these to Rotary sometime in 2019 (before the Covid mess) and left them for members to check out, but I don’t know who had them last. I’d like to get these back."
If you have them or know where we might find these, please email Kevin McCrindle or Mason Fromm, and we'll help reunite them with Henry!
We had a great turnout Monday, and all three candidates answered questions submitted by our members. You can watch the forum on our Facebook page by clicking here.
Meet the Candidates (bio information below is alphabetical order)...
Candidate Mayor Quentin Hart
Now serving his third term, Quentin Hart is the first African American to serve as Mayor of Waterloo, Iowa. Hart took the office in January 2016. He served three terms as Ward 4 Councilman from 2008 through 2015 including an appointment as first African American Mayor Pro-Tem for the City of Waterloo.
Previously, Mayor Hart provided leadership for multicultural initiatives and promoting awareness and appreciation for diversity on campus and the community as Associate Director of Multicultural Affairs for Hawkeye Community College. He received his MAE in Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs from the University of Northern Iowa and has a BA in Sociology from Minnesota State and a Liberal Arts Degree from Iowa Central Community College. Hart serves with the US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, Accelerator for America Advisory Board, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE), and President-elect of the Iowa League of Cities as wells as numerous regional and state organizations and appointments.
Candidate Margaret Klein
Born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, my family moved to Waterloo before I was one year old.
My father was a German immigrant and my mother was born in America. Dad worked at Rath and Mom worked at Chamberlain.
My 4 sisters and I grew up on a dirt street, called Phillips Street and then 1136 Independence Ave. I attended St. John Catholic grade school, Columbus Catholic high school, and the University of Northern Iowa.
Max, who is retired from John Deere, and I have been married for 52 years. We have 7 children, 24 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.
I supplemented the family income by working for the Catholic schools. 5 years ago, I first ran for the city council in Ward 1. I lost.
The very next year, I ran for the city council and won. I have served nearly 4 years and been amazed at the things I have seen and learned.
Candidate Sophia Mays
Sophia Mays is a United States veteran and is a resident of Waterloo, Ia. Attending school at the Waterloo community School. Elementary at Lincoln School. Went to Logan Intermediate and is graduated of Waterloo East High School. After graduating in 1999, she decided to join the Army. She was in the army for two years before she decided to leave the Army and to come home to Waterloo and has lived here in the city ever since. In trying to finding what she wanted to do she attended Hawkeye Community college where she received her certification in CNC Machining. She then switched her studies to liberal arts and has been more interested in the business aspect of Liberal Arts. she has worked construction jobs in trenching communication wiring. Working other jobs such as Tyson Foods cleaning and has also worked at Hy-Vee on Logan Ave. In 2008 she joined the campaign for Barack Obama as a volunteer an became involved in politics. Iowa was the deciding factor for whether or not Barack would win. Waterloo was very involved in that win. Sophia is considers herself as one who would do the work needed to be done.
Join us on Monday, November 1 to see many of the Waterloo candidates for City Council. Council Candidates confirmed to attend (as of 10/19): Dennis Halverson, Rob Nichols, John Chiles, Micki McCracken, Nia Wilder, Ray Feuss, and Dawn Henry. If you have questions for the candidates, please email them to Annie before Monday.
From skydiving to dyeing their hair, members have found unique ways to fundraise to #EndPolio. Check out six stories about how and why #Rotarians fight on to eliminate polio for good.
Italian food was served last week that made you think you were at Olive Garden!
If you've been missing the food and fellowship at Rotary - the good new is BOTH ARE BACK every Monday! The renovated 1st floor of the Waterloo Convention Center is beautiful and we'd love to see your face again now that' we're regularly meeting in person. Guests are also welcome, so check the upcoming programs and reach out to potential members with a lunch invitation!
Our very own Rich Frevert - Executive Director - will share the newest things happening at the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony!
Over the past 20 months, wcfsymphony produced a library of digital media in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This digital library includes performances, musician profiles and educational videos. I will be sharing examples of this library while talking about the impact of the pandemic on the world of music. I will also share information about our upcoming concerts including the Villains & Superheroes concert at Riverloop on October 30th and New Year’s Eve with Maddie Poppe on December 31st.
One City exists to create healthy environments that inspire transformation by bringing hope, love and opportunity into lives.
Dean Feltes is the Executive Director of One City United, a non-profit organization in Waterloo, IA. Dean has lived and worked in Waterloo for the past twelve years with a focus on equipping people to overcome barriers. Dean cofounded One City United in 2018 and over the past three years they have impacted nearly 100 people, through multiple programs, to overcome significant life and employment barriers. One City focuses on long term relationships as well as intense and impactful training, teaching and equipping so that individuals can thrive.
"#Rotary is committed to helping end poverty globally and to protecting the planet by pledging $97 million dollars in grant funding during 2022 for sustainable, member-led projects."
Join us October 4th - Dr. Robert Welch will be presenting on Tri-County Child and Family Development Council.
Tri County Child & Family Development Inc. is a local non-profit corporation. We have the privilege of holding the Federal grant to implement the Federal Head Start program in Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Grundy counties in Iowa.
Tri County Child & Family Development is a single purpose agency founded 30+ years ago, with hopes of keeping a viable Head Start program in our area. Our mission has been to serve the children and families in these counties.
On Monday - at the Convention Center downtown - join us to hear from Ben Brustkern of Friends of the Family!
Friends of the Family works tirelessly to help survivors and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We take pride in our advocacy efforts, which began in 1992. Over the years, we have expanded our organization to aid people in 27 Iowa counties thanks to generous donations and strong leadership from our staff and Board of Directors.
Líderes do Futuro is a girl-centered learning environment with storytelling tools for girls and allies to create social change. "Based on our girl-centered leadership approach, we launched an online and self-paced program on Canvas. It features 15 storytelling modules called “chapters” for girls to create and share stories according to their interests. The program offers guided prompts, multimedia resources, and discussion boards for them to build knowledge and act together across differences and territories. Initially in English, we hope to adapt it soon to other languages such as Portuguese and Spanish."
While our club did not meet last week we performed two volunteer projects as a group. On September 13 we helped at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in a food saving project in which 20 Rotarians participated in sorting, inspecting and repackaging produce and prepared food products so they could be distributed by the Food Bank. Click here to see us at work. We were able to save 1,000 pounds of food!
On September 14 and 15th club members again served as Room Ambassadors for the VGM Heartland Conference at educational programs held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls. Each Rotarian worked in one of six rooms and helped the program run on time. We are hoping to help out next June as well when the program will return to the Waterloo Convention Center. Between work sessions we were able to dine together outside as shown in the pictures. Members helping out also attended training sessions by VGM staff on Zoom. Click here to see photos.
JOIN US AT THE WATERLOO CONVENTION CENTER for a look at our newly renovated "home"! There is still work going on outside and on the 2nd floor, but the ground floor looks amazing!
Alan Sweeney of the Grout Museum will give an update on new projects/exhibits this fall!
Starting September 20, we will start doing lunch at the newly renovated convention center! The convention center wants to know 5 business days before each meeting how many people are anticipated to attend. Please e-mail EJ at edjoe3@gmail.com on whether or not you will be attending. Our club will need to RSVP with the convention center each week so please remember to email EJ every week if you plan to attend the following Monday.
The work Champions of Change Winner Chris Hayter has done to reduce Malaria cases in Bakau by developing and constructing new drainage systems has had a life-changing effect on the community
The Bakau Drainage project has helped reduce the incidence of Malaria in Bakau by constructing, developing and maintaining a drainage system to address poor storm water management.
It was following a holiday to The Gambia in 2006, that Chris developed strong bonds with the West African country. In particular, she connected with the Bakau community, a village on Gambia’s Atlantic coastline to the west of the capital, Banjul.
After seven trips in seven years to The Gambia, it became evident there was a need to improve the education, health and environment of Bakau, and Chris needed to galvanise the community to work towards a solution.
So the seeds were sown for the ‘Oasis Project’, a charity which began in 2007. Chris founded the Starlight School which is responsible for the education of 200 children in Bakau.
Steve Carignan - Executive Director - will have a special presentation on Gallagher's upcoming shows!
Decades of dreams and three years of construction became a reality on April 6, 2000, with the dedication of the new Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Enabled by the generosity of Cedar Valley residents Ed and Cathy Gallagher and Carl and Peggy Bluedorn, as well as support from the university, the state and over 1,400 donors across Iowa, this was the first major center to open in Iowa in twenty years. The $23 million, 100,000 square foot complex features three state-of-the-art concert halls, a soaring glass-walled lobby and dozens of teaching and rehearsal spaces. All three halls have been designed with superb acoustics and intimate sightlines. The Great Hall also has cutting-edge theatre technology, enabling the center to present artists spanning from chamber ensembles to the biggest Broadway shows. Hosting more than 300 performances each year, the GBPAC showcases the world's finest artists, ensembles of the UNI School of Music, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and many other regional events.
When disaster strikes, #Rotary members respond. Here’s a snapshot of how a Rotary Global Grant helped Beirut after the 2020 port explosion. Members made this possible. Learn more about our grant program and how you can help:
The clouds of white smoke billowing into the air over Beirut were an ominous sign that something had gone terribly wrong in a storage hangar at the city’s port. Then a fireball of orange smoke and flames erupted straight up into the sky.
The massive explosion on 4 August 2020 killed more than 200 people, displaced hundreds of thousands more from their homes, and destroyed or damaged many structures. It was caused by a dangerous mix of materials that had been stored in the hangar — including ammonium nitrate, oil, kerosene, hydrochloric acid, miles of fuse wire on spools, and 15 tons of fireworks.
Like many buildings near the site of the explosion, Beirut hospitals were left with extreme damage, often making it difficult or impossible to treat patients safely. This led to a sudden surge in demand at other hospitals not directly affected by the blast.
As the magnitude of the destruction became known, Rotary clubs in Lebanon and around the world asked themselves what they could do to respond to a disaster that was playing out amid a deadly global pandemic. They soon realized that hospitals, some of which had been severely damaged, were in dire need of help. Beirut-area clubs received donations from clubs around the world; some worked with clubs outside Lebanon to apply for global grants from The Rotary Foundation.
Pursuing membership leads can be the first step to growing a passionate, engaged #Rotary club. Read KR Parthasarathy’s advice on motivating potential and existing participants to get involved:
The Rotaract Club Of Secunderabad Medicos donates oxygen beds to Gandhi Medical Hospital.
Doing something good in the Rotary world has always been my passion. The reach and access that I was afforded as an assistant governor in my district in India made it possible for me to reach my goals.
My endeavor to grow Rotary in my region began with an idea to revive our 52-year-old community based Rotaract Club of Secunderabad. It was chartered in April of 1968 and is one of the oldest Rotaract clubs in the world. Until the last few years, the club was slumbering with not much activity and not a lot of member engagement. We started at the top, revamping the leadership and bringing in passionate and active people. We were then able to induct 30 new members and discover ways to get them involved in voluntarily community services activities that they were proud to participate in.
Deb Pullin-Van Auken will be talking about the latest with the Rotary Foundation on Monday at the Best Western Hotel in downtown Waterloo.
The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions.
Lunch will be offered by GR Kitchen and Taps Restaurant. You may pay at the restaurant where you will also place your order. Please RSVP by FRIDAY 8/20 and let us know you are coming and if you plan on eating. Open 11:30-1:30 to members.
Special presentation and updates by director and board members!
Jim Koch - National Cattle Congress Manager - will present information on the history of the NCC as well as details on this year’s fair. Board of Directors Vice-President Deb Pullin-Van Auken will then add to that presentation with info on current restoration efforts and improvement plans. Steve Schmitt - Board of Directors President - will also be available for questions and to add to the presentation as needed. The meeting will be held at the historic Electric Park Ballroom. Tours will be available after the meeting for those interested in a more in-depth look at the fairgrounds facilities.
Texas and Nicaragua, what could possibly connect the two? #Rotary of course! The Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area has partnered with a non-profit organization to build a trade school in Nicaragua!
Frank Huezo, now a member of the Rotary Club of Kingwood, Texas, introduced his former club, the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area, to the work of a local nonprofit called Fundación Chinandega 2001, which helps the children. Rotary members helped build a trade school, which trains students in practical skills such as woodworking, metalworking, welding, digital photography, and sewing. Funding from an expanding network of Rotary members in Texas and elsewhere also supported a hospital, a shelter for pregnant women, and a group home that helps blind children transition to mainstream schools.
Monday, August 23 we will meet at the BestWestern Hotel - Rotary Foundation update from Deb Pullin-VanAuken and lunch will be offered by GR Kitchen and Taps Restaurant. You may pay at the restaurant where you will also place your order. Please RSVP by FRIDAY 8/20 and let us know you are coming and if you plan on eating. Open 11:30-1:30 to members. edjoe3@gmail.com
Monday, August 30 - Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center
Monday, September 6 - NO MEETING / HAPPY LABOR DAY!
September 13 - Service Project @ Northeast Iowa Food Bank
September 13, 14, & 15 Waterloo Rotary will be supporting VGM at their conference. Will you be able to work a shift? Email EJ for more details. edjoe3@gmail.com
Amy Eaton - Director of Marketing and Strategic Development at Women Lead Change - is our program August 9. Women Lead Change is dedicated to the development, advancement and promotion of women, their organizations, and to impacting the economy and future workforce.
Occupation: 33 years with Iowa Securities Investment Corporation – Executive Vice President since 1999 Hometown: Rochester, MN College: AA degree RCC, BS degree UW La Crosse, MBA Winona State Favorite Food: Gluten Free Donuts I make from scratch Favorite Movie: Second Hand Lions Biggest Pet Peeve: People not keeping their word Unique Fact: My Family runs the SE Minnesota Bluegrass Association Hobbies: Fiddle player with Cedar Valley Bluegrass, Genealogy and Fishing Favorite Quote: “Say what you’ll do and do what you say.”
We will NOT have a regular Monday meeting August 2nd, due to the Family Picnic held July 29th. August 9th will be our next meeting through Zoom and we'll hear from Amy Eaton about Advancing Women Leaders: Women Lead Change Launches Cedar Valley Women Connect
Future programs include:
August 16th - National Cattle Congress 2021 @ Electric Park Ballroom
Ashlyn Kullen - Business Development and Marketing Specialist at Cardinal Construction -- is one of our newest Rotarians!
Occupation: Business Development and Marketing Specialist at Cardinal Construction
Hometown: Waterloo, IA
College: Studied Communications and Public Relations at the University of Northern Iowa
Favorite food: Homemade Mac and Cheese
Favorite movie: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Biggest Pet Peeve: Knowing a surprise is coming, but not knowing the details of the surprise
Unique fact about yourself: I am recently engaged, so I can add wedding planning to my already long to-do list!
Hobbies: I am extremely family oriented. I enjoy spending time with my 5 nieces and nephews and watching my fiancé play competitive hockey. I love connecting with people in my community and serving at Sent church!
Favorite quote: "Excellence in the small things leads to success in the big things." -Christine Caine
This week's Rotary meeting is at Waterloo Center for the Arts and our program is a preview of "Little Miss Sunshine."
Based on the Academy Award-winning film, Little Miss Sunshine is an outrageously funny and surprisingly touching musical. Energetic Olive, enters a regional children's beauty pageant, the family thinks that their luck could change and embarks on a cross-country trek, chasing the coveted title of "Little Miss Sunshine." The show is filled with warmth, humor and a tuneful score.
Waterloo Community Playhouse is offering 4 performances this weekend and you can purchase tickets online!
To help divide up responsibilities, Jaclyne Heller and Micki McCracken will be scheduling the remainder of the programs for 2021. There are some already lined up by EJ/Annie, but please see us at the July 19 Rotary in-person meeting or e-mail us at jheller@kwwl.com and mmccracken@teamtricounty.org!
While nearly 130 billion disposable masks are thrown out each month during the #COVID19 pandemic, a #Rotaract club in Bangladesh is turning the waste into something useful. https://on.rotary.org/3hMZ6Gt
Our speaker Representative Sandy Salmon will join us IN PERSON and offered this synopsis: I will be speaking on why we should oppose the Equal Rights Amendment. I will outline the many unintended consequences of such a change to our Constitution. I will also explain how current efforts in Congress could result in the same damaging results as the ERA.
Sandy Salmon is serving her third term in the Iowa House.
Sandy and her husband, Matt, live on an acreage between Janesville and Denver and have lived in northeast Iowa 25 years. Currently, Sandy partners with her sister to manage the family farm in northwest Iowa. You can read her full biography in the link below:
A reminder the VGM Heartland Conference is September 13-15 with volunteers needed September 14-15! Please review times and let EJ Gallagher know if interested...
How about we sing Happy Birthday TOGETHER again? We'll honor these July birthday babies with a chorus of voices in the SAME ROOM at our meeting July 19th.
Mark your calendars - VGM is asking us again to volunteer at the Heartland Conference September 13-15. More details to come soon! If you already know you want to help, email President EJ.
Waterloo Rotary Club Family Picnic on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Rotary Reserve
Dear Waterloo Rotarians:
We are returning to our family picnic at the Waterloo Rotary Reserve Lodge located at 5932 N. Union Road, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Here Are the details:
MENU: Broasted Chicken Breast (White and dark meat), Marcella’s baked beans, corn on the cob, watermelon, coleslaw, ice cream of various flavors with dressings. Bottled water, coffee, iced tea, lemonade and chocolate and white milk will be provided as well.
COSTS: $12.50 for one person, $25.00 for a couple and $30 for a family of 3 or more-payment can be made by mailing to Waterloo Rotary Club, PO Box 118, Waterloo, IA 50704-0118 or by paying at the door in cash or by check. There will be a table by the front door to check you in and take payments if you are paying at the door.
WHEN WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU: Our head cook Larry Steffens needs to know by Thursday, July 22 at 9 a.m. if you will be attending and how many people will be in your group. Please contact E.J. Gallagher by email at edjoe3@gmail.com or by phone at 319-215-7078 (cell) or 319-234-2206 (landline). If you reserve and something comes up preventing you from attending please use the previous contact information to let us know.
There's still time to nominate an outstanding individual working to empower girls! Honorees will be recognized at key #Rotary events, including Rotary Day with
Equality is a fundamental human right that’s necessary for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Still, girls and women worldwide face inequities in areas including health and education, and they experience violence and poverty at higher rates than boys and men.
In keeping with 2021-22 Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta's goal of encouraging clubs and districts to empower girls in all of the service initiatives they undertake during his Presidential year, Rotary will honor six individuals – Rotarians, Rotaractors, and/or Rotary Peace Fellow Alumni - as Rotary People of Action: Champions of Girls' Empowerment during Rotary Day with UNICEF on 29 October.
This week's virtual meeting is a full agenda of items to kick off our new Rotary year! As we turn the page on the challenging 2020-2021 Rotary year, we'll discuss upcoming projects and plans to get back to in-person meetings!
Join us for our virtual meeting at noon to learn about opportunities for service work between the Cedar Valley and Haiti. President Annie will also share a re-cap of the Cultural Immersion Workshop last week which was sponsored by our club. Click the link below to join us at noon!
VICKI MUELLER NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PATHWAYS BEHAVIORIAL SERVICES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WATERLOO, Iowa – JUNE 21, 2021 – After a nationwide search, Vicki Mueller was selected to succeed Chris Hoffman as Executive Director of Pathways Behavioral Services effective August 18.
“I am very pleased with the Board of Directors and their decision to promote Vicki to Executive Director,” said Chris Hoffman, current Executive Director. “When I retire in August, I know that Pathways will be in good hands and continue to positively impact the community for many years to come. Her years of dedication and growth make her a great fit.”
Hoffman – who has served in the position for nearly two decades -- announced his decision to retire in May and immediately a search committee was put together to begin the search process.
Mueller is no stranger to Pathways as she has just completed her 21st year with the organization and has served in multiple roles. Most recently, Mueller was Provider Services and Prevention Services Supervisor and served on the leadership team that oversees over 100 employees who help those in six counties dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues.
We will start signing in at 5 p.m. and will have a happy hour at 5:30 p.m. We will have a 10-minute program as in past years...Pledge of allegiance, officer introduction, brief history of the Reserve and invocation. Dinner will be available at 6:30 p.m. Cleanup will start at 8 p.m.
MENU: Choice of 12-ounce ribeye steak or boneless chicken breast, lettuce salad bar (baby carrots and celery, baked potato with sour cream and butter for topping. Dessert will include ice cream and strawberries. Coffee, iced tea, lemonade and milk will be provided. Our cooks state that there will be enough nonmeat items to take care of those who prefer a vegetarian meal,
BAR: Mix will be available. Please bring a bottled beverage to share. See Rotary 5 Way Test #5.
CHILDREN: This event will not have a children’s program –stay tuned for one at our July 29 family picnic. We can provide mac and cheese for children under 5 along with dessert and beverage at no cost. Children older than that can order a steak or chicken meal which will be charged at an adult price.
PRICE: $12.50 per person.
PAYMENT: By check to Waterloo Rotary, PO 118, Waterloo, IA 50704-0118 or pay at door
WE NEED TO KNOW WHETHER YOU WILL BE ATTENDING BY JUNE 18 with the number of people in your group and choice of either ribeye steak or chicken breast.
Waterloo Rotary Steak Fry—Thursday, June 24—5 to 8 P.M.
Rotary Reserve Lodge-5932 N. Union Rd., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
The program Monday is at Rotary Shelter - George Wyth. Please contact Mark Durbahn if you are able to come out early to help build picnic tables. He says they will start putting together at 10:30 - very fun and easy. Like putting together legos! mark.durbahn@aecom.com
Also to let us know if they will be joining us for lunch at Noon! We will have a program update and present an honorary member award to Marcella Ericson
Discover how #Rotary member Julie Dockrill trained medical workers in Mongolia in safer childbirth practices to save lives: https://on.rotary.org/2TczRDj
Did you know? Pollinators like bees contribute directly to food security and conserving biodiversity. #Rotary even has a fellowship dedicated to help #savethebees.
Rebecca McCarty is the Director of Mission Engagement at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley and will update us on what's happened the past year at Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley.
Main Street Sweep is TOMORROW, May 22nd, and our club needs more volunteers to register online. The more people we have, the more we can accomplish! Take a few minutes and watch the videos linked below of Dallas and let him inspire you....then sign up to volunteer :) Please share the volunteer link with your family, friends, co-workers.
We will meet at the Main Street office 212 E 4th St. for volunteer check in, coffee and donuts (sponsored by Bien Venu) and instructions. We will have some equipment available for use, but feel free to bring your own. The clean up supplies have been sponsored by Spellers True Value. Iowa Love is giving the first 30 volunteers who sign up a free shirt! Look at all of those incentives!
Former State Representative Doris Kelley and also Emerita Chair, Vice-Chair and Executive Director of the Iowa Board of Parole, will be our guest speaker. Her presentation is titled “ERA: it’s about time.”
Doris’s discussion will focus on how the Equal Rights Amendment came to be first introduced to the American public in 1923, actions since 1923 to make the ERA the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, U.S. House of Representative approval of the ERA, the U.S. Senate currently sitting on the legislation and research as to why the ERA is needed.
Rotary members may not know that women and men have the same legal rights in only six countries out of the 187 countries in the world and 94% of Americans want the ERA to become law of the land. Because the Constitution proclaims a nation’s values, we need the ERA because our nation must close the book – once and for all – on the idea that equality of rights is a debatable issue.
Representative Salmon planned to join us May 17th to talk about the Equal Rights Amendment, but the extended legislative session required a new date TBD.
May 5th Cedar Valley Career Expo- Connect with students for summer employment, internships, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, full and part time positions during the inaugural 2021 Cedar Valley Career Expo. Employers and organizations set up at 7:30 for an 8oclock start time. The event ends at 3pm and spot interviews are available. Register by completing the registration form here as booths are available on a first come first serve basis. We will provide a table and two chairs (more upon request and please let us know if electricity is required). This is a free event. We will also launch our career corner with our "Dress for Success" Closet and Career Development Kiosk (a location where I can post open positions for the students to access).
UNI-Cue & the Waterloo Career Center Summer Internship Program- The University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education and the Waterloo Career Center is excited to announce our inaugural Summer Internship Program. Students 16-19 years of age have an opportunity to work for companies in high demand careers, while receiving pay, mentorship and soft skills. We pay the students, as companies are only responsible for assigning tasks, tracking hours, and general supervisory duties. Business orientation will take place on May 10th at 3pm. For additional information please contact Megan at megan.holbach@uni.edu
WCC Sports Marketing Networking Event The Sports Marketing class is planning a golf outing as their class project. This will take place at South Hills Golf Club on May 19th at 3 pm. The objective of this assignment is to plan an event that allows for networking with the business partners of the WCC. Each hole will have a sign promoting a career path(s),and two students from each area by the sign. This is to chat with the golfers about their experience at the WCC.For more information please contact Jill Schares @scharesj2@waterlooschools.org.
We'll hear from fellow Rotarian (of Cedar Valley Club) Jessica Rucker, she's the Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo and has dozens of events coming up.
Main Street Waterloo is dedicated to enhancing the vitality of downtown Waterloo through historic preservation, economic development and community engagement. Downtown Waterloo is home to 2,100 residents and 5,500 day-time workers; $70,000,000 worth of annual commerce and averaging $8,000,000 in annual private re-investment into the district.
President-elect EJ Gallagher learned this week that former Rotarian Emile Leighty passed away last year in Florida. Emile was a member of our club for over 10 years, then moved back to Florida after Ike passed away. The link to her obituary is below and it includes a short bio with details of her long life filled with music, art, and love.
Our club is saddened to learn of Sue's passing last week. Sue learned just about a month ago that she had Stage IV Liver & Pancreatic Cancer during a series of doctor visits after a fall.
Please keep her husband Steve and their families in your thoughts and prayers, her obituary link is shared at the bottom of this story.
Just 3 short years ago, Sue was profiled in this YouTube video produced by Grow Cedar Valley.
Sue’s list of service includes:
Board Chair of Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber (now Grow Cedar Valley)
Served on the Finance Committee, Executive Committee and Board of Grow Cedar Valley
Greater Cedar Valley & Chamber’s recipient of the 2018 Fulfilling the Vision of One Award
YWCA Board Member
Cedar Valley United Way Board of Directors and Finance Committee
Waterloo Rotary member
Also was active with many other community organizations.
Sue was a cheerleader for the Cedar Valley and was an unstoppable force for the things she believed. Her goal was to make the Cedar Valley a better place to live, work and raise a family. Her honesty and integrity never waivered. Sue was a friend and mentor to all. She will be greatly missed by SO many! RIP Sue! You are now a bright and shining star in the Cedar Valley!
Memorials can be made to UnityPoint Hospice, c/o Allen Foundation, 1825 Logan Ave., Wloo 50703 or donor’s choice of organization. Mailing address is 4120 Diana Dr., CF 50613
Executive Director Joy Briscoe and Accelerator Director ReShonda Young will be presenting on the 24/7 Black Leadership Advancement Consortium. The organization is a non partisan 501 C3 aimed at increasing personal and professional development, stimulating the creation of generational wealth and financial empowerment and building networks of influence with navigational support for Black Professionals.
In response to the unique needs for entrepreneurs to recalibrate during the COVID-19 induced recession, 24/7 Black Leadership Advancement Consortium launched the Cedar Valley Black Business & Entrepreneurship Accelerator (CCMBEA) to proactively serve the needs of the African American business community and better understand where considered action could do the most good.
By Steven Sanbo, past governor of District 6690 and Zone 30 assistant Rotary coordinator
What I recall most are the hundreds of faces. Faces of hope. Faces of relief, gratitude, fear, joy, excitement, desperation, anxiety and yes, faces with tears all hidden behind masks during my volunteer shift at a mass vaccination center in Arizona, USA, on 26 February.
The only other time I had seen hundreds of faces filled with so much emotion was leading a Rotary mission trip in Guatemala in November 2014 to open a trade school. That morning an earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude hit the San Marcos region 40 miles from where we were working. It was the largest earthquake to hit Guatemala since 1976.
That afternoon I and two other Rotarians volunteered to be first responders with Shelter Box leaving at 04:00 the following morning for San Marcos. You could see it on their faces. The villagers cried for help, support, food, water, shelter, hope for missing family members amid the destruction and crumbled houses. I was there to provide hope.
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.
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:
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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.
Kegan Bakken, General Manager of SingleSpeed joined us to share the many exciting activities at SingleSpeed. He shared the exciting growth of the craft beer industry, how SingleSpeed compares to other craft beer company’s in Iowa and new opportunities for SingleSpeed.
We'll honor Paul Harris Fellows and collect ideas for a service project our club can facilitate this year. Bring your ideas for projects that will enhance the quality of life in the Cedar Valley and could use a boost from 100+ community leaders.
Since being announced in September, fellow Rotarians Heather Labonte and Megan Kugler have been profiled in the Courier's annual 20 Under 40 series. We are proud to have these community leaders in our club, and they join a long list of previous Rotarians honored over the past 17 years. Click the photos below to read each profile:
Clinical Medical Director Dr. Adam Roise and Dr. Jim Hoehns, a Clinical Pharmacist and Research Director joined us to discuss some of the services that Northeast Iowa Family Practice provides the community and some of the unique research projects that Northeast Iowa Family Practice participates in.
Dr. Hoehns earned his B.S.Ph and Pharm.D. degree from the University of Iowa in 1992 and 1994, respectively. He then completed a specialty pharmacy residency in Family Medicine in 1995 at the University of Iowa Family Practice Center. He has been a clinical pharmacy faculty member of the Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program since 1995. He also is the Division Head for Applied Clinical Sciences at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and is a Clinical Associate Professor. He is the Program Director for a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at NEIMEF and has been the Research Director at NEIMEF since 2004.
Happy New Year to everyone! We’ve had some exciting things happening in District 5970 over the holidays, and we have lots of excitement coming up in the second half of our Rotary year:
Our annual District Conference in April 2019 at Clear Lake, Iowa
Thank you to each one of you for the service you’ve given to The Rotary Foundation in the first half of our year through your completion of grant projects, financial support of the Foundation, and promotion of the good work the Foundation is doing. Let’s keep it going in the second half!
December 17th - Jason Behrens (East High Director of Choirs) and Luke Overton (West High Director of Choirs) brought a mix of traditional and contemporary Holiday music to Rotary last Monday. The two directors showcased select choirs to sing during the Holiday luncheon and shared the many exciting things that are happening in both programs. Just a reminder, if you would like to support West High Choir, there is a can drive the second Saturday of each month in the West High Parking lot.
Keegan Birkicht shared a program that highlights the great things Retrieving Freedom is doing with assistance / service dogs for veterans, individuals with diabetes or children living with autism.
Ed Dams and fellow Rotarian Marty Stoakes presented information on Home-Start which is a coordinated program between Veteran Affairs and The Church Row Neighborhood to completely remodel a home in the neighborhood and make it available to a deserving, caring veteran family at an affordable price. Ed Dams is a community volunteer, and a retired Realtor/Developer. He is also a past president of the Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors.
Fave Movie- This time of year it is definitely “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Fave quote- Right now my favorite quote is this Chinese Proverb that reads: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
Fave thing about Rotary- I love all the people I am meeting and the passion they show for helping others.
Something unique about you- I enjoy reading, especially science fiction books.
Housed in the north end of Central Middle School, the Waterloo Career Center currently offers two career and technical education programs, but will be expanding to include ten additional career pathways over the next three years. Currently, high school students can take nursing or digital graphics at the center for part of their day. More pathways will be added: advanced manufacturing, early childhood education, and information technology. Ten more programs will follow and all pathways will be open to students by Fall 2020, as the district plans to permanently house the Waterloo Career Center at Central Middle School.
Jeff Frost is the executive director of professional education for Waterloo Community Schools and will oversee the expansion of the Waterloo Career Center. Frost, of Gilbertville, was director of teaching and learning at Linn-Mar Community Schools, and was an assistant principal and athletic director at West High School from 2001 to 2010.
Job – Grout Museum District Director of Development
Fave Food - Brownies
Fave Movie – Wizard of Oz
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 People
Something unique about you – I have a sister who was born on my 3rd birthday.
You have many choices where you donate this Giving Tuesday, 27 November. Why should Rotary be your charity of choice?
Here are five reasons to give to Rotary.
1. Accountability
Our accountability and transparency have earned The Rotary Foundation 11 straight years of four-star ratings — the highest possible — from independent evaluator Charity Navigator. Ninety-one percent of Foundation funds are spent directly on programs. No high administrative costs dilute your gift.
2. Impact
We partner with other organizations to increase our impact and make your donations work even harder. When you give to PolioPlus, for example, you have the satisfaction of knowing that every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication is matched by $2 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Thanks to this partnership, all donations to end polio (up to $50 million per year) are tripled, providing critical funding toward creating a polio-free world.
3. A record of success
Rotary unites leaders who have the skills and resources to tackle some of the world’s most difficult problems and deliver sustainable, long-lasting results. For decades, Rotary has been a leader in the battle against polio and has caused cases to plummet from 350,000 in 1988 to only a handful this year. Rotary members have also achieved notable results in other areas, like eradicating Guinea worm disease in Ghana.
4. Global reach
Our 1.2 million members span the globe, uniting people who have a common desire to serve others. From teaching children to read in Ecuador to a microcredit program in Indonesia, Rotary members identify local problems and use Rotary’s vast network and the resources of The Rotary Foundation to take action in their communities.
5. Bringing about peace
Each year, the Rotary Peace Centers train some of the world’s most dedicated professionals to resolve conflicts and promote national and international cooperation. Rotary Peace Fellows study in a two-year master’s degree program or a three-month professional certificate program at Rotary’s partner universities. Rotary members themselves also address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
2018 Waterloo Rotary MVP Kate Shannon, Columbus High School
The MVP travelling trophy will be on display at Columbus until next November. Congratulations to all the seniors and thank you parents and administrators for supporting these athletes.
Our guest speaker was Olivia Schmitt, reporter for KWWL TV 7.
Two of our recent guests were elected this week to represent us. Dave Williams Joined us October 15th and on Tuesday, he was elected to represent District 60 in the Iowa House. Then, the day before the election, Abby Finkenauer shared a slice of her very busy day to join us and field questions on her views. She went on to win 50.9% of votes in Iowa's 1st district, which made her the second youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
Congratulations to both of these Iowans who have answered the call to serve their communities.
With a very busy November program schedule, we'll honor November birthdays and December birthdays together December 3rd. You will be allowed to have a double dessert.
Hovey Brom, Nov 05
Jay Crisp, Nov 06
David Allbaugh, Nov 08
Luke Jenson, Nov 08
Donna Miller, Nov 12
Tavis Hall, Nov 16
Steve Volz, Dec 01 Frank Seng, Dec 02 Jim Schaefer, Dec 6 Steve Thorpe, Dec 06 Jacob Wittmayer, Dec 12 Randy Johnson, Dec 19 John Dodge, Dec 20
The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have allowed the use of additional District Designated Funds for District Grants in 2019-20. In addition to the formulated amount District 5970 will get for next year’s grants (approximately $75,000), we will have an additional $18,610 available.
That means our club should be thinking about, planning for, and submitting an application for a district grant for 2019-20. You have a terrific opportunity to be funded.
November is Rotary Foundation Month and we hope you’ve made plans in your club to promote the good work of the Foundation and to implement your fundraising plan to support that good work. We just celebrated World Polio Day. Our challenge is before us. Let’s keep our “Countdown To History” going and end polio now. Thank you for your gifts to the PolioPlus Fund. It remains the Foundation’s top priority!
Thank you also for your gifts to the Annual Fund of the Foundation. They promote peace, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies, and fight disease. These gifts are transformed into service projects that change lives close to home and around the world.
College: Univ. of Northern Iowa; Univ. of Iowa College of Law
Job: Attorney at Swisher & Cohrt, PLC
Fave Food: Ziti al Forno from The Sopranos Family Cookbook
Fave Movie: The Godfather Part II
Fave Quote: “We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding.” Honorable mentions to the final sentence of the Gettysburg Address and Justice Robert Jackson’s first three sentences in his opening remarks at the Nuremburg Trials.
District Governor Neil Fell visited our club last Monday. As Governor makes his rounds to local clubs in District 5970 we were honored to receive a certificate that recognizes our club for our financial contributions and advocacy for Polio.
We're getting ready for the 6th annual World Polio Day event in Philadelphia, PA, USA. We will be streaming live from the College of Physicians at 18:30 Philadelphia time, and aim to bring together more than 100,000 viewers around the world. Watch the video above, featuring global health experts and celebrities sharing our progress on the road to polio eradication.
Years in Rotary: 17 Hometown: Rochester, New York College: Dickinson College BA, University of Maine MA and ISU PhD Job: Associate Dean - Executive Director GBPAC Fave Food: Lobster Fave Movie: Star Trek Fave quote: Inspirations never go for long engagements; they demand immediate marriage to action.
-Brendan Francis
Fave thing about Rotary: Fellowship - Like minded folks
Join us as these two neighbors square off in the second of their four debates planned during the election season. Please come early as we plan to start promptly at 12:00 to insure we have sufficient time to ask questions and allow candidate remarks. There is still time to submit questions to Mark and Katelyn to the below email addresses:
Chuck Long is coming so look forward to a great program with Chuck discussing the resurgence of Iowa Hawkeye Football. He will share some stories about his time as a player and coach in college and the NFL, finishing runner-up for the Heisman, taking snaps in a record five bowl games and being selected the No. 12 overall pick in the ’86 NFL Draft. He will have books for sale for those who would like one signed and autographed; he’ll also be pleased to join in for photos.
As District Governor, it is my duty, along with District Volunteers, to support clubs and help them grow. Growth may be increasing community support, recruiting new members, increasing donations to the Foundation or End Polio Now. Any time we become more engaged in Rotary and deepen our commitment, we grow. District Executive Secretary Suellen Kolbet is available to your club anytime you need information or have questions about Rotary. She can be reached at des@district5970.org. Another great resource is our district website www.District5970.org. On the site you will find contact information for your Assistant District Governor and Team Leaders. All of us are here to support you, so do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the team.
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Upcoming Events:
One Rotary Summit-October 9th Mason City, Iowa
One Rotary Summit-October 24th-Marion, Iowa
North Central President Elect Training (NCPETS)-March 14th-March 16th-Ames, Iowa.
District Conference-a guaranteed good time-Friday April 26 to April 27, 2019, Clear Lake, Iowa.
Rotary International Conference-Hamburg Germany. June 5-9, 2019
As the temperature drops and we quickly embrace this Fall weather please be thinking of our community and those kids who may need a warm coat this season.
Operation Warm coats need to be purchased by Friday, October 5 so if you could get in your donation this week it would be much appreciated. We can only order as many coats as dollars we have so please be generous.
Checks can be made out and sent to:
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
Memo: Operation Warm
3117 Greenhill Circle Cedar Falls, IA 50613
You may also bring the check or cash to the Rotary meeting on Monday. Steve will be there to collect the money so he can order the coats on Friday.
Thank you for your continued support in Operation Warm and your service to the Rotary Club of Waterloo!
For over 50 years SCORE has provided free, confidential, face-to-face mentoring to help entrepreneurs start, grow and fix their small business. Every year, SCORE East Central Iowa volunteers help thousands of entrepreneurs start small businesses and achieve new levels of success in their existing businesses. Volunteering at SCORE ECI is a way for you to give back to your community, connect with fellow business owners, and pass on your knowledge and expertise to the next generation of entrepreneurs in your community.
Rotary exchange student Anahi Rojas and her host family travelled to Chicago over Labor Day Weekend. The trip for the Ritter family included seeing son James, visiting Brookfield Zoo, Navy Pier, Millennial Park and other downtown sights in Chicago. Plans are to return at end of October. Lots of fun had by all.
Pictured are Anahi, Alayna Ritter- her host sister, her host dad Curt, host mom Mary Donegan-Ritter, and brother James Ritter
Steve had open heart surgery on Friday, September 21 at Mayo. His surgery went well and he is recovering nicely at home - Liz is surely taking good care of him!
This is the plant that was bought for Steve by our Rotary Club. We hope it will comfort Steve and remind him how much our club is grateful for his service to our community and beyond.
If you'd like to send your well wishes to Steve you may send it to his home directly at the address below:
We had a great program on Monday with a presentation on Collections and Exhibits by Nicholas Erickson, Erin Dawson and Catreva Manning. One of the new exhibits includes Sulkies to Speedways: The Need for Speed in the Cedar Valley. The exhibit explores some of the most popular racing styles and venues in the Cedar Valley from the past 125 years.
Anahi dearly loves and misses her family and friends, but has always wanted to be an exchange student from the time she started meeting them and learning about the process. She told how beautiful our country is, how like Paraguay Iowa is in many ways, and told of the differences between the cultural landscapes. For instance, she added how the students in Paraguay are not allowed cellphones and headphones at school, much less in class. She will be getting used to indoor heating in buildings. None is needed in Paraguay, although air-conditioning sure is needed.
Join us Monday, back at the 5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, to welcome UNI President Mark Nook.
He began serving as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa on February 1, 2017. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of Montana State University Billings (MSUB). Originally from Holstein, Iowa, Nook has committed his Midwest education and values to higher education for many years and on many levels. He is dedicated to ensuring every member of the university community reaches their individual educational, professional and personal life goals. President Nook and his wife, Cheryl, reside in the UNI President's House. They have three adult children, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
It’s National Child Awareness Month, and Operation Warm is celebrating with this video submitted to the 2018 NCAM Challenge. The top ten most watched videos have the opportunity to win up to $50,000 in grants.
You can help Operation Warm keep more children warm this winter!
Please view the video here and challenge three friends to do the same. Together, we can make this happen—we can win up to $50,000 to help children in our communities get brand new coats.
With a heart as courageous as her love of life, Anahi is our new Downtown Rotary Club’s Exchange student from Paraguay.
She sat quietly beside me with her host mom Mary Donegan-Ritter and their family dog Sawyer on their beautiful outside porch. The rest of the family wasn’t home yet including host sister Alayna, a junior, out for cross country at West. Her host dad Curt wasn’t home yet either.
With a beautiful smile, Anahi focused right on me and answered questions clearly and completely as much as possible. Her caring host mom watched her carefully, listening and helping her only as needed as Anahi constructed her phrases and searched for ways to express deep feelings important to her.
This is an ALL-POINTS-BULLETIN: our shoebox commander is searching for shoeboxes that were checked out by Rotarians in our club but HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED. Every shoebox is paired with an individual student in Nicaragua so if you are holding onto a shoebox, that child will be empty-handed when our team arrives to distribute in November. It is IMPERATIVE that you return the shoeboxes you checked out - preferably filled with all the age and gender-appropriate items on the list. Bring your shoeboxes to Monday's meeting as the trucks will be loaded and depart next week!
We will NOT meet at the Sullivan Brothers Convention Center Monday - our talents will be called to the old Food Bank location to help tie a ribbon on this year's shoebox project. Steve Thorpe reports volunteers have done amazing work the last several days and the project is on track to ship on time. A big final push from our club is scheduled for Monday beginning at 10am. Jimmy Johns will be delivered about noon (for those that RSVP'd with Mark earlier this week) and Rotarians are encouraged to come see the final stages of the packing process.
Congressman Rod Blum joined us for an update from Capitol Hill as well as discussion from the upcoming campaign. You can see his comments on our Facebook Live stream recorded at our meeting.
EVANSTON, Ill. (August 15, 2018) — Rotary International announced nearly $100 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year.
The announcement comes as Nigeria marks two years without any reported cases of wild poliovirus, following four reported cases in 2016.
“The fact that no new cases of wild poliovirus have been detected in Nigeria points to the improved surveillance and rapid response protocols Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiativepartners have established, particularly in insecure and inaccessible areas,” said Michael K. McGovern, chair of Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee. “While this progress is promising, it’s time to redouble our efforts so we can continue to maintain the political and financial support necessary to end polio for good.”
Please continue supporting this excellent program that provides coats to children in the Waterloo Community School District. Last year we were able to provide 1,200 coats and this year our goal is 1,500 coats. To help in this goal and if you are a Cyclone fan, contact Steve about purchasing his 2 lower deck, 30 yard line tickets for the Akron game on Sept. 22nd , the Baylor game November 10th, or the Kansas State game on Nov. 24th. These tickets are great seats and the proceeds will go straight to Operation Warm. Each pair is offered for $200, but any additional donation would help us beat our goal of providing 1,500 coats this year!
You can help by sharing the post on our Facebook page with your friends who are Cyclone Football fans.
Let us know if you are attending Volunteer Day at the warehouse on 11th Street to pack boxes on September 10th from 11:30 to 1:30. A sign-up sheet will be at the check-in desk to enable us to order you a lunch from Jimmy Johns. Also, please help out packing boxes from 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoons of September 4th – 6th and 11th – 13th. Email Steve Thorpe for details.
Rick will join us to speak about the upcoming college football season.
Rick Coleman was born in Waterloo and grew up watching KWWL-TV. He's always been a sports "junkie," and some of Rick's early idols were Dan Rather, Bryant Gumbel, Brent Musberger, Max Robinson and KWWL's Ron Steele.
Job – After 20 years of selling signs in the Cedar Valley, I started selling signs throughout the Midwest in a new position with Nagle Signs August 6th.
Fave Food - PastaTacosBarbequePizzaSushi
Fave Movie – The Big Lebowski
Fave quote – The time is always right to do what is right. MLK
Fave thing about Rotary – Bill Robert
Photo is from 2009, when Mason was president and Bill Robert became an Honorary Rotarian.
We enjoyed a great program at the newly refurbished Hartman Reserve Nature Center located at Hartman Reserve, a 340 acre wooded isle located in Waterloo / Cedar Falls. We also enjoyed Blue Barn BBQ as Connie Svoboda shared how the new Nature Center came to be and some of the new programming that is available. Connie has been with the Nature Center for 6 years and previously worked at the UNI Museums and Iowa State Extension. Connie’s responsibilities as Development Coordinator include marketing and fundraising. After her presentation, we toured the new facilities.
The short overview video and location maps of Hartman Reserve Nature Center can be found in the links below:
Fellow Rotarian Jim Madison shared details about the Winnebago Council in general, the areas they serve and the camp property, Ingawanis Adventure Base. He also highlighted the recent programmatic changes within the Boy Scouts of America.
Joining him was Whitney Jensen, one of Jim's staff members that covers the Cedar Valley. She is also an Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 5970.
One of our club's oldest traditions is the annual family picnic at the Rotary Reserve. The weather was amazing and over 100 people attended! If you have photos to share, please email them to Mason@theSignPeople.net
The Future Leaders training will be held in conjunction with the Celebration Zone Institute in Erie, PA on September 27‐30, 2018. We have an outstanding lineup of guest speakers, zone directors and even the Rotary International President Elect ready to connect, engage and inspire you! More information is available at the link Future Leaders 2018
District 5970 is offering 4 scholarships to attend the Future Leaders Program. If you meet any of the following criteria, please apply!
Executive Director and fellow Rotarian Barb Prather was joined by Volunteer Services Manager Jessica Haring (pictured) who shared volunteer opportunities to serve the needs of hungry Iowans. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank provides nutritious food to 5,800 different people weekly through a far-reaching network of over 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches and nonprofit groups. In 2015 they distributed 7 million pounds of food to those who are hungry in northeast Iowa.
The Waterloo Community Playhouse will present "Grease" for two weekends in July, and we got a sneak peek at our meeting Monday! From "Summer Nights" to "Greased Lightning", the Pink Ladies and T-Birds will transport you back to the 50's for 7 big shows. Click this link for tickets!
(shows July 13 - 15 are SOLD OUT - seats remain for July 19 - 22 if you act fast!)
TORONTO (June 27, 2018) — In acknowledgment of his government’s efforts to achieve a polio-free world, Rotary today presented Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with its Polio Eradication Champion Award at its 109th annual international convention.
At our June 25th meeting, we celebrated another year full of service and we had some laughs while honoring two familiar faces.
President Phil Nash began his last meeting in charge with updates from John Berry on Hops & Grapes and Steve Thorpe on the Shoebox Project. John thanked Rotarians who attended the annual event June 14th and was appreciative of the volunteers who stepped up to coordinate and pull off another top-notch event. Final accounting will be completed in July, and proceeds from this year's event will benefit our club as well as Operation Threshold and Family & Children's Council. Steve reminded us of the origins and lasting impact of the Shoebox Project, which is in full box-filling mode right now. Email Steveto check out a few shoeboxes to fill for specific children in Nicaragua that desperately want to be lifted out of poverty.
Thursday evening at Mudd Advertising marked another warm evening of spirits and fundraising for local non-profits. Amazing catered food from Bryan's on 4th was paired with beer and wine for an evening of fellowship with our benefiting organizations. Family & Children's Council of Black Hawk County presented details on their infant car seat program, and Operation Threshold shared information about their program for distributing fans this summer. Special thanks to Mudd Advertising for hosting the event and to the committee and attendees!
Click the photo below to flip through the online album:
Enjoy the Holiday celebrating America's Independence. No Rotary that week, we will see you again on July 9!
Who do you know that would make a good Rotarian? Invite them to one of our upcoming meetings to experience the fellowship and service that Rotary is know for around the world. Potential members have their lunch covered by the club on their first two visits, so bringing recruits should be easy!
I remember it like it was yesterday! When Phil announced that I was the lucky winner of the 2017 March Madness bracket, I was elated! I never win ANYTHING!! During this same time (actually the first conversations began in November of 2015) I was seeking support for a Rotary Global Grant. I knew exactly where those winnings would be applied.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago (yes 3 years later!), the Global Grant: Water for Life: Haiti, was approved by The Rotary Foundation! The full project is set to begin this month. The Host partner is the Champs de Mars Rotary Club in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The International Club co-hosts are the Cedar Rapids Downtown Club paired with the Iowa City Noon Club.
Many of you have been a part of this 3 year journey - whether you realized it or not. Special thanks to Dave Buck, Julie Hayes and Phil Nash for your financial contributions as well as to our club for matching my March Madness winnings! In total our club contributed $1,250.
As for the project, my organization: Community Health Initiative, Haiti along with the local Rotary Club will work in in partnership with Haiti Outreach, an expert in water infrastructure development in Haiti. A hydrogeologic study will be conducted over the next three months in 2 regions in Haiti. Once the study is complete, 4 communities will be selected (based on the study) as a 'good fit' for a well. Each of the communities will go through community development and water management training leading up to the well installation. In addition, two sustainable businesses will be developed: the first will focus on in-home-point-of-use water treatment systems, and the second is a latrine construction business.
A more formal description of the details and special thanks to the many other Rotary Clubs and individuals who made this possible will be forthcoming.
Until then, know that I am grateful for your questions and continued interest and support for this very personal and powerful project!
The John Deere Waterloo Works 100th Anniversary Celebration will be taking over the convention center June 15-16. Dave Guetterman from John Deere joined us for a preview of the events and an overview of the history of John Deere in Waterloo. Click this link for more information on the CVB website.
Fellow Rotarian Pam Delagardelle, CEO of UnityPoint - Allen Hospital, and developer Ben Stroh joined us to share details about changes underway at the former Logan Plaza, now North Crossing.
Fellow Rotarian Henry Edsil was recently given a couple Waterloo Rotary Club membership rosters printed in the 60's and brought them to our May 21 meeting to share. If you did not get a chance to see Henry's rosters, we have two sets of photo rosters available to flip through on our website, just follow this link.
Dr. John Berry needs a "little help from his friends" in supporting our annual fundraiser Hops & Grapes. Operation Threshold’s fan program and Family & Children’s Council’s infant car-seat safety program are the non-profits selected to share the proceeds. Barbara Grant, Executive Director of Operation Threshold; and Amanda Goodman, Executive Director of Family & Children’s Council, will make brief presentations about their respective programs.
Hops & Grapes, with the theme “Woodstock Forever,” will be Thursday, June 14, at the Mudd Advertising building in Cedar Falls, from 6 to 8 p.m. Individual tickets are $25 each. Gold sponsorship cost is $250 (includes four tickets, Sliver sponsorship is $150 (includes two tickets). For more information please contact: John Berry, 319.830.5727.
Click here to see details and RSVP on our Facebook page. Or click the image below to print a flyer for your office.
With a worldwide network of meetings, Rotarians have countless opportunities to make-up for missed regular meetings at our "home club". Just provide some form of written record of your attendance at another Rotary meeting and you'll "keep it 100" (as the kids say these days).
Martina Signore’s parents will be visiting her and attending graduation. Due to a scheduling conflict, we have moved the Food Bank presentation to June 4th and Martina will be presenting this Monday.
Martina arrived in Waterloo in August and will be departing on June 9th. In that time, she’s attended Waterloo West High School, lived at three host families, traveled throughout the Midwest and Hawaii and has interacted with many in our Rotary Club. She will be sharing her many experiences she’s had throughout the year and will be saying her goodbyes to our club. Come hear Martina and wish her well on her future endeavors.
Also, Meg Durbahn will be coming to give a description of where she will be going next fall as our sponsored outbound Rotary Youth Exchange Student. She will be living in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been in contact with her host families.
Today's presentation, “The Opioid Crisis and What You Can Do”, will provide an overview of the opioid crisis including national, state and local data, and the underlying contributors to the crisis. The cycle of opioid addiction and the drugs in this category will be discussed. Participants will be able to identify relevant actions in prevention, treatment, emergency response, and safety. Each person will be able to identify something they can do to help address the issue.
Former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush, an advocate for literacy, education, and women’s rights, will speak at the 2018 Rotary Convention in Toronto this June.
For decades Mrs. Bush has fought for key national and global issues including launching groundbreaking education and healthcare programs in the U.S. and abroad. She founded both the Texas Book Festival and the National Book Festival in Washington D.C. As chair of the Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, Mrs. Bush continues her work on global healthcare innovations, empowering women in emerging democracies, education reform, and supporting men and women who have served in the U.S. military.
With the change in seasons, you might want to re-check your Radon levels in your house or business. Former Waterloo Rotarian Tom Arthur provided our club with a digital Radon detector/meter that we have been offering to members on a 2-week check-out program. This device will give you an approximate average reading over several days, and should used to determine if a more precise test is warranted. Charcoal test kits are available at hardware stores for $10-15, but thanks to Tom, Rotarians can run this electronic test at home for NO CHARGE. The "birthday machine" is so named as it will help provide MORE birthdays for your family by identifying the need for corrective measures to mitigate Radon in your home.
For more details on Radon, click here for the American Cancer Society's link.
If you would like to check out the birthday machine, email Mason - it will be available to pick up at our May 14th meeting.
Since we turned the corner on winter weather this week, our fellow Rotarians in the Cedar Valley club took full advantage and held their regular meeting outside the Hilton Garden Inn.
As Rotarians, we are welcome at over 32,000 Rotary clubs all over the world - Rotary.org has a "Club Finder" page where you can search for Rotary clubs that are meeting where you are travelling. Take advantage of your Rotary membership and connect with people across town or across the globe!
The people have spoken. With a majority of internet user votes, Rotary.org won the prestigious Webby People’s Voice Award for best association website. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences announced the winners on 24 April.
This year, internet users cast over 3 million votes worldwide. And with over 13,000 entries from nearly all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries, this year’s contest is the biggest Webby Awards ever. Winners will be recognized at the Webby Awards’ 22nd annual ceremony 14 May in New York, New York, USA.
We are excited to host Rodney Anderson and Dan Levi discussing their new development project including a grocery store and community center in the Walnut Neighborhood. Here's a link to the Courier story on the groundbreaking story a few weeks ago:
The Waterloo Rotary Club annually recognizes senior honor students of the Waterloo high schools and their principals. Through this recognition, the Waterloo Rotary Club congratulates its outstanding students and schools for their accomplishments, commitment to excellence, and dedication to developing leaders of the future. We are extremely proud of each participant and salute them for their achievements.
Many of our seasoned members will remember Arnold - he joined our club in 1967 and served for 44 years. Arnold's funeral will be Monday morning at 10:30 - just before our regular meeting. His obituary can be found on the Locke Funeral Home website.
State Auditor of Iowa Mary Mosiman is responsible for the audits of state agencies, counties, cities, and school districts. The office plays a major role in fraud investigations around the state. Mary will present "Fiscal Responsibility and State of Iowa Finances" and will highlight how audits and investigations impact Iowa taxpayers. She will also share an anti-fraud YouTube video for elected city officials.
President Phil had another big Paul Harris recognition to present this month, this time to Jeff Halverson who earned his 4th stone.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
It was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
We welcomed Chris Kemp as an official member of our club April 2nd. She is the CEO of Peoples Community Health Clinic on Franklin Street near downtown Waterloo.
At our April 2nd meeting, Steve Thorpe was presented with his 7th Paul Harris pin which puts him in a very exclusive club.
Many Waterloo Rotarians have earned their Paul Harris Fellowship for a donation of at least $1,000, but Steve has continued to contribute for many years. Steve has seen first-hand the benefit of the Rotary Foundation's work and encourages all of our members to invest in the rotary foundation through sustaining contributions. To learn more, click the link below:
Chuck Rowe and Chelsea Szczyrbak are the dynamic duo for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. Chuck has been with the Club for 8 years now, surrounding himself with a great board and staff . . . who are doing some really cool things . . . like starting new sites, creating new programs, and now . . . being part of a capital campaign. His wife Karin is also in the non profit world, and they have a set of twin boys who are very cute . . . but break everything they own.
Chelsea is the Development Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. Almost two months on the job after spending several years at UNI as an assistant swim coach and a coordinator on the Panther scholarship club. She is not a Cedar Valley native, but loves this community. Moved to Cedar Falls in 2008 and completed an undergraduate degree at UNI in Leisure, Youth and Human Services. She loves being part of her church and has also done a few triathlons (FYI – Chuck has not). She is also a new wife that is loving the beauty and challenges of marriage.
Roger White is a member of Cedar Trails Partnership Board and Chair of the Partnership’s Cedar Valley Nature Trail Committee. He is helping to organize the fund drive among trail users and supporters to replace the closed Wolf Creek Bridge on the Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Roger is also active with Cedar Valley Cyclists, Cedar Valley Bicycle Collective, Preserve Cedar Valley Nature Trail group, Chair of Cedar Falls Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee, member of MPO Pedestrian Master Plan Committee, member of Black Hawk Water Trails Master Plan Steering Committee and Chair of Black Hawk County Resource and Enhancement Program (REAP) Committee. He is an active hiker, bicyclist, gardener, nature lover and volunteer.
Kathleen Wernimont was presented an honorary membership at Monday's meeting by President Phil Nash. Kathleen's original membership was proposed by Dave Buck in 1987 shortly after the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing women to join Rotary clubs. A brief history of Women in Rotary was complied on our website a few years ago.
Today, almost a 1/3 of our membership is female, and we've elected 3 female presidents (with Katelyn Tungland set to assume the role this summer) . Our club is undeniably stronger with women members and all those in attendance Monday posed for a photo with Kathleen.
The joy of Spring is in the air and with it comes the thought of renewal. As we dust off our golf clubs and make plans for our gardens we should also think of ways in which we can renew our Rotary Clubs and our commitment of service to our respective communities.
In my speech to your Club this past Fall I emphasized that we benefit from Rotary only to the extent that we personally invest our energies in our local Clubs. I was reminded of this, in a very positive way, by my home Club this past week when I was made aware that we have inducted six new members within the last year. This reflects a commitment by a group of our local Rotarians, and in particular the women of our Club, to actively pursue our service projects, promote social activities, and improve Club administration including the development of a new and exciting Club website (check it out). These Charles City Rotarians, through the investment of their time and energy, have proven that a rural small town Iowa club can maintain a vibrant service organization that benefits its members and the community. I believe that you will experience this energy when you attend our District Conference on June 1st and 2nd.
So as you look ahead to the new Rotary Year under the leadership of District Governor-Elect Neil Fell think of how you can contribute to your local Club in a manner that allows you, your fellow Rotarians, and your community to benefit from the Rotary experience.
Steve and Liz Thorpe will present a wide-ranging presentation of our club's major projects: Polio eradication, Shoeboxes/Layettes for Nicaragua, and Operation Warm. The last 20 years have been very active for our club thanks to the hard work and dedication of our members.
Our featured speakers were from The American Cancer Society. Tammy Schoonover provided an overview of the American Cancer Society and their local community events and Kelly Angell presented information on a priority of ACS this year, HPV vaccination.
Kelly has been with the American Cancer Society for 7 years and works with the ACS Mission Programs of the Road To Recovery and Hotel Partners Programs for all of Iowa and South Dakota to help remove transportation or lodging as a barrier to a cancer patients treatment options. Kelly oversees all of the volunteers in these programs and works in various communities to share the impact of ACS programs and services. Kelly and her husband live here in waterloo with her husband and 2 children.
Tammy has been with the American Cancer Society for 6 years and serves as the community development manager for UNI, Black Hawk, Grundy and Tama Counties. Tammy is also responsible for the golf fundraising event and the daffodil sales. Tammy and her husband reside in Cedar Falls and she has two college age students attending UNI.
Thank you to Mindy Hendrickson at the Farmer’s State Bank location in downtown Waterloo. She and her co-workers have set up a table to Spotlight the Waterloo Rotary Club as their business customer of the month! There are photos from different projects, brochures, and even invitations to become members! Thank you Mindy!
David Welter recently retired from the Cedar Falls Community School District after serving forty years in education, thirty-seven of which were spent in Cedar Falls. During that time, he taught social studies, has been involved with baseball at the high school, college, and professional levels, while also serving as a Jr. High principal for the past sixteen years. Since retiring, Welter continues to scout for the Atlanta Braves, works as an education consultant, farms, and enjoys precious time with his children and granddaughters. Welter has been inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame as well as being named Iowa’s Middle Level Principal of the Year in 2013. Dave shared stories from his book “Reflections From the Home Team…Go the Distance”
Last reminder – if people are interested in purchasing the book from David Welter, “Reflections from the Home Team, Go the Distance” you can do so here: www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com/
Karen Showalter is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Political Science and a MA in Nonprofit Management and currently resides in the Cedar Valley with her husband, Mark Showalter. Karen is currently the Black Hawk County Elections Manager where she oversees all election processes for school, city, county, state, and federal elections. Karen has more than a decade of experience in working elections and engaging the community in increased voter participation.
The 2017 State Legislature made several changes to Election Law and Karen is here today to speak to those changes.
This year's Duck Race will take place June 2 at the District 5970 Conference in Charles City. Here's how it works:
Each club and individuals in that club who purchase ducks will be represented by a single duck in the race.
The first three ducks to cross the finish line will be the winners. Once the three winning clubs have been determined, a computer pick at random will choose one winner of a Paul Harris Fellow designation for each of the three winning clubs.
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 cost $5. They can be purchased online (district5970.org) at $5.42 each, which covers the district's cost for credit card fees. To save the 42 cents, send a check to:
John Wasta Tallgrass Business Resources 1239 First Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Today is your last chance to contribute to a fundraiser for our inbound exchange student, Martina, and all money collected will go toward Marti's Rotary Spring Break excursion to Hawaii.
Our club welcomed US Senator Chuck Grassley, as he continued his annual tour across Iowa's 99 counties. You can watch his comments and questions from our members and guests on our Facebook page.
The only way our club can grow and continue serving our community is to bring new people to get hooked on Rotary. There are some amazing speakers lined up in the coming weeks - make it a goal to call AT LEAST ONE person and invite them to lunch. Our club provides two complimentary lunches for prospective members - who would say "no" to a free lunch!?!
May 14 – Northeast Iowa Food Bank
May 21 – Pam Delagardelle and Ben Stroh - North Crossing
May 28 – No Meeting – Memorial Day
Great Programs For Sharing With Prospective Members
We had a great turnout for our annual event, and made lots of connections. Special thanks to the Rural Urban Day committee: Rick Morris, Bob Regenwether, Chuck Paulsen, and Larry Steffens.
Our keynote speaker was Shane Wulf who works for the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District serving as Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project Coordinator. Beginning in January 2014, the Miller Creek WQI Project began focusing on approximately 42,461 acres in Black Hawk and Tama Counties. Shane works with producers and landowners in the Miller Creek Watershed to implement agricultural best management practices. These BMPs are designed to help reach the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals of a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus loading. Shane grew up in southeastern Wisconsin and received a BS in Geography with a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
This project has garnered State and National attention. Former National Secretary Tom Vilsack has visited the project and met with all stakeholders.
Mallory Petsche (center) is the program coordinator for EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center) in Waterloo.
Over 6,000 refugees from Burma have made Iowa home in the past 5 years. Countless were forced to flee from their home because of who they are and what they believe. EMBARC is a grass-roots nonprofit organization founded by and for refugees from Burma living in Iowa. Since 2011, EMBARC and our volunteers have been providing refugees the resources they need to successfully settle in their new home. Click the logo to learn more.
For those of you who were interested in more information following the FIRST Robotics program on February 5th, here is a link to their presentation slides. Bruce added the local contacts for all participating teams in the Cedar Valley on the last slide. Please reach out to Bruce if you are interested in getting involved! Bruce Newendorp: bnewendorp@firstinspires.org
FIRST® is a non-profit organization whose goal is to get students excited about STEM and pursue education and career opportunities in this field. Inspiring young people since 1992, FIRST began with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high-school gym. Today, the four FIRST programs reach over 400,000 young people annually. The fun they have, the knowledge they gain, and the friendships they make along the way help build self-confidence, nurture creativity, and inspire them to solve the world’s greatest challenges, be strong citizens, and build a brighter future.
Jan and Bruce Newendorp have been mentors for the Cedar Falls FIRST Robotics Competition team for 15 and 18 years respectively. Jan was an elementary teacher for many years and Bruce was an engineer at John Deere for 39 years retiring in 2016. He then became the FIRST Regional Director for Iowa. In that role he and Jan work together to promote FIRST in Iowa and lead the planning committee for the FIRST Robotics Competition Iowa Regional.
Past president and past district governor (and all-around super-Rotarian) Steve Thorpe crunched some numbers and found the impact of our club's two major service projects are truly amazing. Click here for a detailed list of the supplies we've sent to Nicaragua and information on our latest Operation Warm campaign.
Luann Alemao is a 30 year veteran Family and Consumer Science professional, educator and national speaker. She is the recent recipient of the National Business Entrepreneur award for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Luann performs seminars across the country as well as private coaching for the individual. Luann is an author, created “Insightful Living” a one minute quality of life radio and blog show, writes a newspaper column for several business publications and a regular special guest on television. Luann is also the host and producer of “Get Fit” a news magazine cooking show for cable access. Luann develops and uses many healthy foods for the show, develops recipes and just has fun sharing the results.
she shares her philosophy “it isthe little things that you do and chew that make the bigger difference” encouraging audiences to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Dear Rotarians, I am just finishing a book by a professor Patrick Deneen of Notre Dame University entitled “Why Liberalism Failed”. This is not an attack on progressive politics. In using the term “liberalism” Dr. Deneen is rather referring to a philosophy first articulated by Machiavelli during the Renaissance and later developed by John Locke during the enlightenment. Dr. Deneen’s thesis is that this cult of the individual born in the Renaissance, nurtured through the enlightenment, and coming to maturity in today’s Western culture is the source of present damage to our cultural institutions, inequitable divisions of wealth among our citizens, and significant destruction to our environment. He opines that the emphasis on individual freedom unconstrained by corresponding concern for a person’s place in and responsibilities to culture and society has been the source of the dysfunction which we are presently experiencing in our country.
Every week, The Reporter arrives in your inbox and is packed with information about our next meeting, photos from past events, and Rotary news from around the world. The newsletter is just one function that our nearly 10-year-old ClubRunner website provides to our club. We also use ClubRunner to organize member information and send invoices for member dues. If you would like to sponsor our website with a clickable graphic, email Mason for details!
A burst of winter weather prevented our originally scheduled guest speaker from travelling to our club Monday, so Chuck Rowe called in a favor from his friend Brady Gruhn to fill in. Brady runs the Cedar Falls office for Lighthouse Travel, and shared some insights on travelling abroad. Mexico is at the top of Brady's list for value and warmth this time of year. Thanks to Chuck and Brady for stepping in at the last minute to provide our program!
For many years our club was a leader in district 5970 in supporting The Rotary Foundation. As of June 30, 2017, members of our club had given over $300,000. But in recent years total gifts have plummeted to only $2,275. That works out to $47 per member, about one third of the average from all clubs in the district. There are several potential reasons for the drop in giving, including lack of understanding how the foundation works, how donations are spent and how highly it is regarded in the eyes of others.
Give the gift of Rotary today and be a part of the positive change Rotarians are making in your community and around the world. Every gift makes a difference.
Have you made a commitment to support our Rotary Foundation?
For nearly 40 years Rotarians and our partners have been working to rid the world of polio.
When we started in the mid 1980’s, public officials reported over 600,000 new cases every year. And there was wide belief that tens of thousands of new cases went unnoticed. We’ve adopted the tag line, “This close.”
final report for 2017 shows only 21 new cases of the wild polio virus (WPV) and another 74 circulating cases, defined as cases of person to person circulation within a community (i.e., family).
Rotarians can support our effort by making gifts to The Rotary Foundation and earmarking it for polio eradication.
Rotary members in Harvard, Illinois, USA, have teamed up with community groups to help alleviate hunger and bring the community together.
With the goals of alleviating hunger and educating the community, master gardeners from University of Illinois Extension planted the garden in 2001 on a half-acre parcel donated by the city and adjacent to the public library. Over the years, the master gardeners have enlisted the support of many businesses, organizations, and clubs, including the Rotary Club of Harvard, making the project a community-wide effort.
As many as 250 needy families benefit from the 10,000 pounds of vegetables that are grown and donated every year to the local food pantry. The fresh produce serves as a safety net for many families.
We WILL NOT MEET MONDAY, but we encourage you to venture out and serve the community in some meaningful way. Here are some suggestions for events honoring Dr. King through service:
The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is sponsoring a MLK Day Family Volunteer Day of Service on Monday, January 15 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. at the Cedar Falls Public Library, 504 Main Street in Cedar Falls. Families are invited to complete service projects that will support community agencies. Families are encouraged to volunteer together on this important day. For more information call (319) 272-2087 or email lauren_finke@vccv.org
Additionally, the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley, in partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the University of Northern Iowa, will be holding a food packaging event for the Backpack Program in Maucker Union on campus at UNI from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This opportunity is for ages 12 and above. For more information on this event, please sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlk-day-of-service-tickets-39680137359
For more than 100 years, The Rotary Foundation has been supporting Rotarians' work to create sustainable solutions to our world's most pressing needs. But there is still much to do, and we need your help.
Rotary gives in countless ways, focusing our service efforts in six areas: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies. We're also working hard to end polio once and for all.
Give the gift of Rotary today and be a part of the positive change Rotarians are making in your community and around the world. Every gift makes a difference.
We welcomed our Rotary District Foundation Chairperson Michelle Bell. She joined the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club in 2009 and is a Past President. Currently Michelle serves as District Governor Nominee (2019-2020) and has previously served as District Service Project Chair in 2010-2011, District Governor Installation Chair 2012 and co-Chair of the 2013 District Conference. She has had the opportunity to attend four Rotary International Conventions in Bangkok Thailand, Sydney Australia, San Paulo Brazil, and Atlanta Georgia in 2016. Michelle is a member of the Bequest Society, Paul Harris Society and holds Multiple Paul Harris Fellows.
We had an interesting program brought to us by Lindy Lindberg. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nakhle Ghorr, Pastor of the Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church presented "The Conflict with Fundamentalist Islam in Iraq and Syria and its Consequence."
Fr. Emmanuel Nakhle was born in Baabda Lebanon, the region Capital of Mont Lebanon in 1960 (Majority Maronite Christian Catholic city). He became a monk in the religious Maronite Order of Saint Anthony the Great and pronounced his monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on Christmas Day 1980. After five years of academic studies of Philosophy and Theology in the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome between 1981 and 1986, he was ordained priest in the Antonine Maronite Order on September 1986 in Lebanon. In Rome also he got a diploma in music theory and piano Classical performance. He achieved two years of Architecture in the University of Rome "La Sapienza", Belle Arti Faculty of architecture, between 1988 and 1990. He got a BA degree in History in York University in Toronto in 1997. He became associate pastor in Toronto in 1991, and pastor of Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Roman Catholic Church of Toronto and GTA in 2003. He was graduated at Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia with a Master Degree in Management and Leadership in August 2012. Between 2012 and 2014, he served in the Roman Catholic Mission of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, in Dubai in the Arab Emirates and in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. He was appointed Pastor of the Holy Family Maronite Church in Mendota Heights, Minnesota in September 2014. He speaks fluently Arabic, French, Italian and English, with good knowledge of the Aramaic Syriac language, the language spoken by the Lord Jesus, 20 centuries ago.
On the 99th anniversary of the end of World War I, more than 1,200 people gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for Rotary Day at the United Nations.
Representing 87 countries, they convened on Saturday, 11 November, at the Palais des Nations, originally the home of the League of Nations, and dedicated themselves to the theme introduced by Rotary President Ian H. S. Riseley: “Peace: Making a Difference.”
During a Rotary Day highlight, Hewko introduced Rotary’s 2017 People of Action: Champions of Peace. He praised them as “an embodiment of the range and impact of our organization’s work,” and saluted them for providing “a roadmap for what more peaceful, resilient societies look like.”
Ann Frisch, of the Rotary Club of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was one of 6 chosen to address the assembly. Frisch’s Civilian-Based Peace Process introduced the radical concept of “unarmed civilian protection” in war zones around the world. “Sustainable peace,” she said, “requires strong civilian engagement.”
Watch the opening session of Rotary UN Day including remarks by the 2017 People of Action: Champions of Peace.
The week before Thanksgiving, Operation Warm took place in Waterloo Elementary Schools where Rotarians and other community members handed out warm coats to local children. Brand new winter coats were provided to children in need, helping improve self-confidence, peer acceptance, school attendance and overall wellness. A special thank you to Steve and Liz Thorpe for their continued leadership with the Operation Warm initiative and Rotarians who helped by making a monetary donation to purchase the coats. Also to those who took time out of their day to hand outs coats.
Congratulations to East High's Alexis Wroe for being selected by all 6 coaches to be the 2017 Most Valuable Volleyball Player! Photos from the ceremony can be seen here:
Monday's meeting marked the 71st anniversary of this event and we awarded the Glen "Doc" Miller Award to Caleb Dodd from West High. More photos of the ceremony are available at the link below:
The Palais des Nations in Geneva, built as the headquarters for the League of Nations, remains an enduring emblem of humanity’s hope for global peace, making it an ideal setting for this year’s Rotary Day at the United Nations on 11 November.
Underscoring this year’s theme — Peace: Making a Difference — the event will include workshops devoted to sustainability and peace, as well as a workshop on education, science, and peace, designed by and for young leaders.
A variety of speakers will contribute to the discussion, including Rotary International President Ian H.S. Riseley; Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Paul A. Netzel; Walter B Gyger and Claudine Wyssa, the representatives of Rotary International to UN/Geneva; and Dr. Mohanned Arabiat, president of Generations for Peace.
Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy star in the love story “Breathe,” now playing in select U.S. theaters and scheduled for wider release over the next month. The movie tells the story of British polio survivor Robin Cavendish, who contracted the disease in Kenya in 1958.
At the age of 28, he was paralyzed from the neck down, confined to a hospital bed with a respirator, and given just months to live.
However, with the encouragement and help of his wife, Diana, Robin was able to leave the hospital and spend the rest of his life advocating for people with disabilities and popularizing a new wheelchair with a built-in respirator.
District 5970 Governor Ralph Smith visited the Waterloo Rotary Club as part of his scheduled visits of all of the District clubs and shared his vision and ideas for our Rotary district. Governor Smith is a native of Charles City and holds degrees from Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota and from the University of Iowa Law School. He and his spouse Ruth have two children, Karl and Rachel. His primary focus for the current Rotary year is on maximizing “participation” in the Rotary experience at the club level.
There's a string of high-profile meetings coming up, and rather than celebrating November birthdays in December, we celebrated them early on October 16th.
We'll host all 8 Waterloo City Council candidates and in order to hear from all of them, we ask Rotarians to arrive as early as 11:30 so we can begin the forum PROMPTLY at 12:05
Megan Yturriaga, Executive Director for Alternatives Pregnancy Center
Megan Yturriaga moved to Iowa a year ago from Hawaii. Her husband is the pastor at New Life Church in Reinbeck and they have two children (one is a sophomore in college and the other a senior in high school). She has been the executive director at Alternatives Pregnancy Center for 6 months and is really enjoying the center and the Cedar Valley! Alternatives Pregnancy Center is a non profit, pregnancy resource center in Waterloo serving more than 13,000 clients in the Cedar Valley since 1992.
Pakistan and Nigeria replace paper-based reporting with fast, accurate cellphone messaging
Mobile phones and simple text messaging may be the keys to victory in the world’s largest public health initiative: the eradication of polio.
As the disease retreats from the global stage, thriving in only a few remote areas in three countries, it’s up to health workers to deliver vaccines and share information with speed and accuracy.
City Forester Todd Derifield will join us Monday. Todd has been busy the last few years dealing with the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer and it's destructive effect on the local ash trees. Todd will have unique insight on managing thousands of trees on city property, as well as answer questions from our group.
Cedar Falls Public Safety Director/Police Chief Jeff Olson and Cedar Falls Fire Chief John Bostwick will join us Monday. 30 years ago, John was hired as a firefighter in Cedar Falls, and that same year Jeff was hired as a police officer.
We have some great programs coming up that many of your friends and associates would be interested in...reach out to them and make plans to offer a complimentary lunch and peek inside our club!
October 16: Megan Yturriaga, Executive Director - Alternatives Pregnancy
October 23: Waterloo Candidate Forum
October 30: District Governor Ralph Smith
November 6: Football Banquet
November 13: Volleyball Banquet
November 20: No Meeting – Happy Thanksgiving Week!
November 27: Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nakhle Ghorr - The Conflict with Fundamentalist Islam in Iraq and Syria and its Consequence
Tim has been in the construction business for 35 years. He has worked on projects from highways to city streets, commercial building projects, and the entire process of residential home building. He started his own company in 1998 and has remained self-employed. He also partners in a Real Estate Investing business of buying, fixing and flipping single family housing.
Because of a yearning to do more for others, he founded Americans for Independent Living in 2015. He felt veterans deserved more support than what has been available. He will advocate in the community to make others aware of how important it is to recognize, celebrate and support our veterans.
Americans for Independent Living's impact in the community will be from public awareness of the need for more accessible living areas for disabled veterans and transitional housing for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“Being an advocate for your community and volunteering are both key components in creating change within the community. We need to understand the social problem of homeless veterans, which many people face and are affected by daily. Everyday there are people in our community who are affected by the issues non-profit organizations battle for or against. Once communities realize how people oriented things like advocacy and outreach are, I believe people will realize their impact in their community and their potential to really affect change.” –Tim Combs
The road to eradicating polio has been a long and difficult one, with Rotary leading the fight since 1985. Going from nearly 350,000 cases in 1988 to just 10 so far this year has required time, money, dedication, and innovation from thousands of people who are working to end the disease.
1. Ice cream factories in Syria are helping by freezing the ice packs that health workers use to keep the polio vaccine cold during immunization campaigns.
2. Celebrities have become ambassadors in our fight to end the disease. They include WWE wrestling superstar John Cena, actress Kristen Bell, action-movie star Jackie Chan, golf legend Jack Nicklaus, Grammy Award-winning singers Angelique Kidjo and Ziggy Marley, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates, and world-renowned violinist and polio survivor Itzhak Perlman.
3. Health workers and Rotary volunteers have climbed mountains, crossed deserts, and sailed to remote islands, risking their lives to vaccinate children against this disease. Rotary has funded more than 1,500 motorbikes and 6,700 other vehicles, as well as 17 boats, to make those journeys. Vaccinators have even traveled on the backs of elephants, donkeys, and camels to immunize children in remote areas.
4. In Pakistan, the polio program emphasizes hiring local female vaccinators and monitors. More than 21,000 vaccinators, 83 percent of whom are women, are achieving the highest immunization coverage rates in the country’s history.
5. Thanks to the efforts of Rotary and its partners, more than 16 million people who otherwise might have been paralyzed are walking today. In all, more than 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated since 1988.
Get ready for the 5th annual World Polio Day event, co-hosted with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Streaming live from Gates Foundation headquarters in Seattle, the event will bring together more than 50,000 viewers around the world. Join global health experts and celebrities sharing the progress on the road to polio eradication.
Monday, Sept. 18: We will award three local students with the Fred Adams Scholarships and hear about their plans for the future. Meg Durbahn will share her experience at RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy.
We will also hear from Martina our Inbound Exchange Student from Italy and her experiences at West High. Juke Jensen has organized a potluck event September 27th in Martina's honor. Everyone in our club, and their families is invited, and we especially hope those members who are interested in being host families for Martina can make it out to this event. Click the link below to register through our website.
Yes, our foundation is a big deal—starting with $26.50 in 1913, it now has total assets of nearly $600 million. Several years ago its board of trustees decided to focus grants in six areas:
--Maternal and child health
--Water and sanitation
--Disease prevention and treatment
--Basic education and literacy
--Economic/community development, and
--Peace and conflict resolution.
If those goals sound familiar, they are very similar to those of the United Nations.
Our club's Rotary Youth Exchange student Holly Harris is keeping a blog of her adventure in Brazil. After graduating from Columbus in May, Holly left for Brazil in July and has posted a few updates to her blog so far. Use the link below to connect with her.
"This event is unprecedented & all impacts are unknown & beyond anything experienced."
~ Tweet from the National Weather Service
A ShelterBox Response Team is on the ground in Texas to assess the need for emergency shelter in Houston and other impacted areas.
ShelterBox is positioning tents, school kits, blankets, groundsheets and solar lights near the hurricane-devastated region as it communicates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agencies to determine urgent shelter and aid needs.
Tropical Storm Harvey strengthened into a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico last week and made landfall northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas on Friday. It was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 miles per hour. It then moved offshore before making landfall again, this time as a Category 3 hurricane.
Harvey brought sustained rain to some of Texas’ most populated areas. At least five people have been killed and more than a dozen injured. Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, has seen widespread destruction and devastation. The downpour has been torrential and relentless. Roads in Houston and elsewhere have been turned into raging rivers. The storm continues to saturate the region, dropping more than 50 inches of rain some areas.
ShelterBox Response Team in Texas
The Response Team includes: Bruce Heller of Allen, TX, the treasurer of the ShelterBox USA Board of Directors and a Rotary Club member; and Tim Osburn, based in Lakeway, TX, also a Rotarian and former member of the Board of Directors.
Since 2011, Heller has deployed as a Response Team member of disasters in Kenya, Peru, Iraq, Kurdistan, and the Philippines. Osburn has deployed to disaster sites in Ethiopia and Nepal and participated in the domestic deployment following the 2011 tornadoes in Arkansas.
A businessman, Heller said he’s devastated to see so much of Texas underwater. “As a Rotarian and a ShelterBox Response Team Member, I am proud to be able to respond in my home state of Texas, where so may are suffering as a result of this storm. As people of action, the best thing Rotarians can do to help in moments like these is to lend support to trusted partners, like ShelterBox, who are experienced in disaster response and who can make sure aid is being allocated appropriately, where need is greatest.”
Upon being deployed, Osburn said, “Texas is a proud state and as a native Texan it is a humble privilege to serve my fellow Texans and the countless others in 9 other countries that Shelterbox is currently conducting relief operations.”
Steve Dust joined us to talk about about trends in our area economy, in Talent, Technologies and Transformations, along with brief updates on area projects of interest.
Steve Dust is a certified economic developer who leads a team of professionals at Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber who work every day to expand and strengthen the economy of the Cedar Valley of Iowa. That team works to recruit and retain talented people in the Cedar Valley, recruit and encourage expansion of Cedar Valley businesses of all sizes, advocate for infrastructure and amenities improvements in economic area, and promote the Cedar Valley. The Alliance & Chamber also includes TechWorks Campus and Leader Valley Foundation.
With no meeting Labor Day, a service meeting September 11th and a jam-packed meeting agenda September 18th, we'll celebrate September birthdays a little early. Join us for dessert and and birthday trivia!
Hawkeye Community College launched their I-BEST Program in 2015. Community colleges in Washington State first developed the I-BEST model and now it is in use across the country. I-BEST stands for Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training. I-BEST students learn basic skills such as reading, math, and English language acquisition in an integrated manner while they complete college coursework in an identified area of local employer need. This integration increases student motivation, decreases barriers to learning, and addresses the dual needs of adult learners to obtain workplace skills and basic skills. This compresses the time traditionally needed for this instruction, which allows Hawkeye to provide better assistance in filling the region’s skilled worker shortage.
Abby Turpin is the new evening anchor at KWWL, co-anchoring the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. broadcasts with Ron Steele.
A Columbus, Ohio, native, Abby is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to KWWL, Abby was the main anchor of RFD-TV, a cable network in Nashville, Tennessee. She came to the network with experience from three local news stations in Nebraska, Ohio and Texas. She served as an anchor and producer at all three stations.
Abby's awards include anchoring awards from the Ohio Associated Press and CableFax, and being a part of the news team that received an Emmy nomination for coverage she solely produced and co-anchored of a devastating tornado in Nebraska.
Rotarian Jim Kite from Brenham, TX wrote this story for his Rotary district newsletter. It details programs in Nicaragua which our club has been supporting since 2002. Jim and another Texan, Frank Huezo, have invested major parts of their lives to what we refer to as “The shoe box project.”
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
Cedar Valley Hospice was founded four years after the first hospice in the United States was established. Since then, Cedar Valley Hospice has been offering care and services to individuals in our communities.
As a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization; Cedar Valley Hospice puts their patients and families at the forefront of every decision they make. The experienced and professional staff provide the highest quality, compassionate care while focusing on making each moment matter for the patient and family.
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. Chris is now responsible for Outreach and Communication with Cedar Valley Hospice.
Beautiful weather greeted 160 people including Rotarians from three clubs at the Annual Rotary Reserve Family Picnic. A small army of volunteers made sure the night went off without a hitch for the families in attendance.
Shout out to Larry Steffens, John Beecher, Dave Buck, Steve Finegan, Henry Edsil, Craig Ritland, and the cooking crew for starting at 11am to fry chicken!
Thanks to Steve Carignan and Laura Kann(CF Pres Elect) for helping set up!
Thank you Lori Bellinger & Ravenwood for donating the watermelons!!!
And of course Marcella Ericson for cooking her beans!
Laura Hoy is a connector and catalyst for holistic neighborhood development based out of the Walnut Neighborhood in Waterloo. She has been instrumental in the founding of Link Christian Community Development, a faith-based nonprofit that acts as a hub for a growing network of friends and organizations dedicated to cultivating a community of flourishing for all involved. Link CCD aims at being a witness to Christ's hope and healing through youth development, jobs, and neighborhood strengthening. Youth Art Team (www.youthartteam.org) and Try Pie (www.trypie.org) are two initiatives that spawned out of Link CCD. Link CCD is currently working within a Walnut Housing Coalition to create a model of mixed income housing and increased affordable home ownership to the neighborhood. You can learn more at www.linkccd.org .
Cybersecurity and fraud prevention starts with YOU! This program will provide you with basic information on how to protect your personal as well as business information and devices online and on-the-go. It will also walk you through the importance of working with your financial institution when taking a “byte” out of crime.
Renee Smith-LaBarge is a treasury management sales director and producer for the state of Iowa at MidWestOne Bank. She continuously evaluates new concepts and technologies ensuring that treasury management products and services are firmly grounded to meet a business customer’s needs.
Get ready for a wacky, zany musical that’s wholly hilarious. Several of our nuns will pay a visit to Rotary on Monday, July 10 to sing a few of the songs from the show - be sure to be on time and sit up straight!
This week there is light at the end of the tunnel for President Lauren and other members of her team. Lauren turns the gavel over to President-Elect Phil Nash.
Kayla Toale and Audrey Dodd from Eagle View Properties and Mill Race co-working space will join us to present details about the downtown Cedar Falls co-working space, and the State Street developments underway.
For the 16th year our club is leading a multi-state effort to help children in Nicaragua by providing boxes of gifts which we will be delivering next December.
Gwenne Berry is Assistant to the President of UNI and Chief Diversity Officer. She shared what her office plans to do for UNI and the community at large.
Jenni Stevenson talked about what fun and exciting things are going on at Hick's Place, awarded Tourist Attraction of the year in May 2016. What a great program to kick off the summer!!
Rotary and The Rotary Foundation (TRF) have been fighting for 35 years to eradicate polio and despite many setbacks, it appears we might meet the goal in the next Rotary year.
Next year’s RI President is John Germ. Maybe we should have elected him years ago.
For the 12th time in 13 years our club won the District Governor’s Excellence Award, given at the district conference last month
The award is given to clubs which meet specific goals in the 2016-2017 Rotary year, including membership, club and international service and donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Congratulations to President Lauren and all the members who made it happen.
The Waterloo Rotary Club annually recognizes senior honor students of the Waterloo high schools and their principals. Through this recognition, the Waterloo Rotary Club congratulates its outstanding students and schools for their accomplishments, commitment to excellence, and dedication to developing leaders of the future. We are extremely proud of each participant and salute them for their achievements.
There will be a few more opportunities for members to mingle with Rotarians from other clubs this month. Hops & Grapes (May 18th) is our biggest social event of the year and we've invited other clubs to join us. To keep the party going, there are two more planned events this month where Rotarians from the Cedar Valley clubs are encouraged to convene and converse:
May 24 – After business networking and social, 515 PM – whenever, site TBD
May 31 – Rotary night at the Bucs, presented by the Cedar Valley Rotary club, party deck space available
Carrie Gleason and Jaclyne Heller have agreed to keep tabs on the events and keep our members up to date - watch the Reporter for details!
Leslie Wilson is the dean of UNIBusiness, the College of Business Administration at the University of Northern Iowa. UNIBusiness is recognized by Princeton Review as one of the best business schools in the world and has been for nine consecutive years. The College maintains accreditation from AACSB International, a status achieved by only the top 5% of business schools in the world.
Fellow Rotarian and Executive Director of Allen Foundation Mike Lind will bring our members up to date on several upgrades at UnityPoint Health. From the new facility at Prairie Parkway, to Allen College, to changes at Allen Hospital, the Cedar Valley's busiest hospital has hundreds of people working behind the scenes to provide the best health care.
Hops & Grapes will be held on Thursday, May 18, from 6-9 PM at the Isle Casino Waterloo. We are featuring wine and beer selections from Iowa Producers, along with heavy appetizers from our Friends at the Isle. We will not have much of an auction this year, we will be requesting tax deductible donations directly to Operation Warm, the rest of the night belongs to you to network, mingle, and enjoy Rotarian fellowship! Cost is only $20 per person, so invite friends, family, prospective Rotarians, anybody that might have fun!
A Big thank you to the Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club for packing 1296 backpack bags or 9 pallets last Monday. This will help us feed 1296 kids on weekends. Special shout out to Adam Schaefer and his daughters for packing until after 2pm that day! You all rocked it! Thanks for being and Ingredient in the recipe to Close the Meal Gap.
For six years the Waterloo Rotary Club has contributed to VGM’s Heartland Conference as room ambassadors. According to VGM: “Rotarians not only enhanced the Midwestern friendliness of our event, but these volunteers also helped thousands of attendees navigate our conference and city.”
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst joined us for lunch and remarks Monday, April 10th - and she was treated to a custom re-working of the lyrics to "Daisy, Daisy" from our own Hovey Brom:
Today we heard from Rotary Exchange student Gabriel after a special presentation on agriculture from Union High School FFA students.
Keep the following Rotary dates in your head or in your planners:
April 10 – Senator Joni Ernst will join us for our regular April 10 meeting. Please let Phil or Katelyn Pedersen know if you plan to bring a guest as we would like to have an accurate head-count.
April 17 – Food Bank Volunteer Day – Phil will be sending an event registration, please register if you plan to attend as we will be ordering catering from Chick-Fil-A.
April 28 & 29 – Rotary District Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, Cedar Falls. Please register at http://www.rotaryseminars.org/
May 18 – Hops & Grapes, 6-9 PM at the Isle Casino Waterloo. More details to come!!!
Look at all these Rotarians celebrating another year on Spaceship Earth!
Linda Allen April 4 Steve Finegan April 25 Bonnie Humble April 6 Megan Kugler April 14 Jane Lindaman April 25 Jeremy Kauten April 30 Duane "Lindy" Lindberg April 16 Jack Locke April 24 Barbara Prather April 2 Bill Robert April 4 Bette Wubbena April 4
Fellow Rotarian Dr. John Berry shared details about the Tri County Head Start program, which for 50 years has served families by ensuring a successful foundation to education. They have new STEM initiatives and provide social and health services to families.
“The only brown water anyone should have to drink is coffee!” ~ Marcy Pease
In Haiti one in five children under the age of 5 will die due to lack of access to clean water. A very preventable problem!
Haiti is working to address this issue by implementing a nationwide water infrastructure development project and the Rotary Foundation is being asked to help. Through a grant application to the Rotary Global Fund, at least four additional clean water wells will be installed in the Arcahaie/Cabaret region - an area where more than 86 percent of women give birth at home and 35 percent of babies die primarily due to diarrhea or fever.
Our 2015-2016 Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange student Sephora Thompson shared her experience from living and learning in Italy. You can read and see more about her trip on her blog.
Any current Sophomore or Junior in High School who is interested in attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Conference in Grinnell from July 16-21 should contact Luke Jenson at ljenson@mrs-lawfirm.comby April 14. The Waterloo Rotary Club sponsors two students at RYLA, a conference focused on providing foundational leadership skills for teenagers, by paying for the cost of the conference. Contact Luke if you have any questions or visit www.iowaryla.org.
The City of Waterloo is sponsoring a city-wide Waterloo Spring Clean-up Month throughout April. Citizens are encouraged to organize teams of co-workers, club or church members, classmates, friends and family to collect litter and beautify areas of their choosing or a designated area assigned by the City.
Susan Backes joined us from The Job Foundation which works to ensure financial success for all children. Over the course of 10+ years, they've empowered low-income youth toward their goals of financial success. Through the program, students gain key financial tools such as savings and a positive credit rating so they can buy (as adults) a reliable car, maintain employment, further build financial assets and experience financial freedom.
Fellow Rotarian and Job Foundation volunteer Dave Allbaugh shared his insights on the middle school program, a weekly gathering of youth that includes a nutritious meal and 30+ minutes of life skills training or financial literacy development.
You can follow the Job Foundation on their Facebook page.
The 2016-17 Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International has unanimously nominated Samuel Frobisher Owori, of the Rotary Club of Kampala, Uganda, to be the president of Rotary International in 2018-19. Owori says he sees in Rotary "an incredible passion to make a difference." As president, he plans to "harness that enthusiasm and pride so that every project becomes the engine of peace and prosperity."
Today is Rural/Urban Day! Please help us welcome area Agriculture Producers and make them feel welcome. Brad Kinsinger will be our featured Speaker. Be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early to meet your guest producer and have time to chat with them before the program.
One of our largest annual events, Rural Urban Day brings area farmers and producers downtown to enjoy lunch and a presentation of shared interest. This year, we'll welcome Brad Kinsinger who will speak about highlighting global agriculture; it’s importance, and what we can learn from farmers and agriculture professionals around the world.
Iowa RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is holding its annual 6-day leadership conference in Grinnell, Iowa from Sunday, July 16 through Friday, July 21. The objectives of RYLA are:
To encourage and assist youth leaders and potential leaders in methods of responsible and effective leadership by providing them with a training experience;
To encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth; and
To publicly recognize the outstanding qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their schools and communities as leaders.
Waterloo Rotary Club is sponsoring two attendees to RYLA, one of them being our 2017-2018 outbound exchange student, Holly Harris. We are currently accepting applications and recommendations for another student. High school sophomores or juniors (classes of 2019 and 2018, respectively) may apply. Our Club pays for the entire fee for the student. To learn more information, and to obtain an application form, visit www.iowaryla.org.
Last week, our club’s foreign exchange student Gabe Voldoire moved-in with Rotarian Bonnie Smith-Davis and her husband Roger. Gabe wrestled for West High this winter and now has his sights set on a trip to Hawaii in next month. Gabe had been living with Rotarian Mark Durbahn and his wife Brenda. They were excellent hosts to Gabe and did a great job of acclimating him to our country, state, and community.
Without the generosity of our volunteer hosts like Bonnie, Roger, Mark, and Brenda, our student exchange program would not be sustainable. They are great representatives of our Rotary club! Thank you! Anyone interested in assisting with the student exchange program can contact Luke Jenson (ljenson@mrs-lawfirm.com) for more information.
Engage Iowa is a conservative, freedom-focused think tank and policy incubator. Created by Iowans for Iowa, Engage Iowa is bringing together the brightest minds and leaders from across our state.
Engage Iowa is led by former speaker of the Iowa house Ron Corbett, an innovative entrepreneur and business leader who, as mayor, led Cedar Rapids’ recovery from one of the worst natural disasters in Iowa’s history.
Plan now to enjoy an evening of great samples of wine and beer, delicious food, and friendship at the 10th Annual Hops & Grapes event on Thursday, May 18 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. This event, to be held at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, will continue to support the great work of the Waterloo Rotary Club. Questions about how to get involved in the planning process? Contact Jacob Wittmayer (jacobwittmayer@gmail.com)
I have the privilege of writing to you to share news of a significant campaign for Iowa Rotarians to benefit children born with clubfoot worldwide. As you know, our district has partnered with District 6000 to help sponsor the Rotarian Action Group for the treatment of clubfoot (RAG4Clubfoot). The late Dr. Ignacio Ponseti adopted Iowa as his home and treated children with clubfoot all his career The Ponseti Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics continues his legacy, offering the Ponseti Method treatment to children not only from our state, but across our nation and the world. Because of his work the UIHC clinic serves as a Ponseti Method training center for physicians worldwide. What is special about the Ponseti Method is that it uses gentle manipulation and casts—NO surgery. . When applied properly, the Ponseti Method is successful 95% of the time. This low-cost, low-tech treatment is especially important in low-resource countries
Associate Professor or Political Science Chris Larimer joined us to provide a recap and context for our 2016 election. He also discussed his research into the connection our long-serving governor has with Iowa residents.
Christopher W. Larimer is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Northern Iowa where his research focuses on the psychology of voting behavior and state politics. He is the author of Gubernatorial Stability in Iowa and the co-author of The Public Policy Theory Primer. Chris is also a past president of the Iowa Association of Political Scientists and a regular guest on KWWL news and Iowa Public Radio.
Fellow Rotarian Tavis Hall delivered 6 boxes of never-worn tshirts to our club's Nicaragua stash this week. Hall is the executive director for Main Street Waterloo and the tshirts were leftover from a cancelled My Waterloo Days event last summer. The fresh fabric will be cut up and sewn into cloth diapers for the new mothers in Chinandega. Our team recently returned from another successful trip south to deliver shoeboxes and layettes, and we'll hear stories and see photos from their trip at an upcoming meeting.
EVANSTON, Ill. (January, 17 2017) — Rotary has announced $35 million in grants to support the global effort to end polio, bringing the humanitarian service organization’s contribution to $140 million since January 2016.
Nearly half of the funds ($16.15 million) will support the emergency response campaigns in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin (Chad, northern Cameroon, southern Niger and Central African Republic). Four cases of polio were detected in Nigeria in 2016, which had previously not seen a case since July 2014.
At our January 9th meeting, Mason floated the idea of sharing a Radon detector to help our members identify if they have poison sneaking into their houses. Since Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, detecting the problem is the first step to ensure at least a few extra birthdays will be celebrated in our houses. Tom Arthur procured a brand new detector and it is being shipped to Mason early next week. A Google Calendar has been created to start collecting names of members interested in using the detector for 2 weeks. If you would like to help offset the cost of the device, or to add your name to the calendar, email Mason.
After a few weeks off, we looked inside Medicare fraud and how to protect yourself or loved ones. The Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging told us about the Senior Medicare Patrol and how it has saved millions of dollars from scammers and criminals.
Can you imagine the fear, anger, confusion, and pure shock of having your child diagnosed with cancer? Children’s Cancer Connection exists to provide support, education, and recreation for the entire family throughout the entire journey. Many great organizations are working to find cures for the more than 13,500 children diagnosed each year in the United States. Children’s Cancer Connection strives to provide the care of a cancer diagnosis.
At our December 5th meeting, two Rotarians were honored for their continued support of the Rotary Foundation. Todd Rohlfsen was presented his second Paul Harris pin and Jeff Halverson was presented his his fourth pin. Each new pin indicates another $1,000 contribution, and the number of sapphires or rubies on each pin shows the lifetime contribution total.
ReShonda Young joined us to talk about her successful (and delicious) business - Popcorn Heaven. Here is a link to her 20 Under 40 feature in the Courier last year.
I joined Rotary as an engineer. There are almost as many classifications in the profession of engineering as there are in Rotary, but I happen to be a mechanical engineer. A mechanical engineer calculates the heating and cooling loads for a new building, makes sure the right lights are in the right places, and plans the plumbing so your hot water pipe doesn’t end in a drinking fountain.
Congratulations to 2016 Waterloo Rotary MVP Lauren McManus, senior at Columbus High School! Click the image below to see photos from the ceremony and list of MVPs from each area school.
The award honors organizations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs. Some of the boldest names in American giving — Kellogg, Komen, and MacArthur, among others —are past honorees.
Our Club's Outbound Rotary student Molly McLaughlin is enjoying her time in Argentina. She's updated her blog with some fun, new adventures: mollyrye.weebly.com
Our Club is still finalizing future placements for our exchange student, Gabriel Voldoire. Families who are willing to host Gabe, whether it be for a semester or for a shorter time, should contact Luke Jenson (ljenson@mrs-lawfirm.com) or President Lauren Finke (lauren_finke@vccv.org) to discuss living arrangements and Rotary approvals. Our club’s participation in Rotary Youth Exchange depends on the willingness of volunteers to open their homes and make a difference in a student’s life. Thank you!
President Lauren paid a visit to Rotarian Ken Allbaugh this week at his home in Friendship Village to present his third Paul Harris pin. Ken's son, fellow Rotarian Dave, was present to capture the fun moment when Lauren presented the pin. Just this month Ken has decided to step away from his membership with the Rotary Club, but still plans to provide support through his Foundation gifts.
Ken has set a fine example for all of us - more details on sustained donations can be found here:
Fellow Rotarian and Vietnam Veteran Bob Miecznikowski joined a select few honorees at Columbus High Thursday evening for a memorable and much-deserved ceremony highlighting those who have served America. Click this link to read the Courier's story.
Steve and Liz Thorpe were honored Thursday at the Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day luncheon with the Gift of the Heart: Philanthropy award for their work with the Waterloo Rotary Club's Shoebox Project and Operation Warm.
Steve and Liz Thorpe have served on numerous boards and councils improving life for many in the Cedar Valley. They’ve spent countless hours and much of their own money building service projects from the ground up through the Waterloo Rotary Club including the Shoebox Project, Operation Warm, and the Uganda Project.
At our meeting Oct 24th, we used Facebook to broadcast LIVE Senator Grassley's remarks and Q&A. The video is automatically archived on our Facebook page which enables sharing after the broadcast has concluded. In the 4 days after that meeting, our Facebook page enjoyed a 1,200% increase in page views and reached over 1,500 people. With that kind of potential impact and visibility for our club's good works, we'll plan more live broadcasts. Please be sure to "Like" our page and share our posts on your timeline...you never know if one of your connections might see a need they can help with!
Just a day after Hovey led us in song to welcome Senator Grassley, his wife of 62 years passed away. Marge had a long history in Waterloo as a public school and Sunday school teacher, served on several boards including Red Cross, Girl Scouts, and Junior League, and was an amazing fundraiser for several major local projects. Anyone that could keep up with Hovey's energy had to be a truly gifted person!
Marge was honored in 2013 with the Courier's 8 Over 80 award, here is a link to her feature. Visitation is today, Friday Oct. 28th 4:00-7:00 at Locke Funeral Home and services are tomorrow, Saturday Oct 29th 11am at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Marge & Hovey had lots of fun at the 2012 Rotary Family Picnic
As Rotarians, we enjoy a wide variety of weekly program topics, and this being an election year, we've offered our lectern to several citizens hoping to serve in public office. The Waterloo Rotary Club does not support or endorse any individual candidate, but as a group of community-involved leaders, we have a unique opportunity to hear from some of the highest levels of government. We invited Patty Judge to join us, but her schedule did not allow it.
We heard from Iowa House Representatives candidates on their vision for progress in 2017 and beyond. Incumbents Bob Kressig and Timi Powers-Brown joined us, as well as hopefuls Nick Taiber, Gary Kroeger, and Todd Obadal. The Cedar Falls Rotary Club hosted a similar legislative forum a week prior and you can read about some of the issues discussed in this Courier article.
Join us in a fight to the finish to eradicate polio, a crippling and completely preventable disease.
As a long-time member of Rotary, I'm happy to report good news in celebration of World Polio Day 2016 on October 24: If we can vaccinate children in the remote areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, we can end polio and protect all of the world's children.
Our own Annie Vander Werff is going to tell us about her trip to Israel. Annie took a disciples' journey involving religious history, leadership and mentoring. Invite a guest to hear Annie's story Monday - we'll be back at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
Today's cold snap is a stark reminder that many school children are lacking basic essentials for cold Iowa winters. Our Club, with the great leadership of Steve Thorpe, has been assisting youth in our community by providing coats through Operation Warm.
Our club is still needs host families for our inbound exchange student, Gabriel. The Rotary Youth Exchange program recommends exchange students have a variety of great experiences in their time studying in America, and to that end, more than one host family for a student is preferred.
Gabriel attended his first Iowa State Fair in August
Every month we introduce club members whose birthday falls in that month. It helps us get to know other members, we ask members to contribute $1 for each year of their life.
Jerry Nelson, District Manager of our local Social Security Office, will be here to talk about the Social Security programs and answer questions or concerns about Social Security.
Alex Hildman from Waterloo Leisure Services joined us Monday to describe the impact our club has on almost 1,000 kids each year. The birthday table contributions are added to the Fred Adams Youth Activity Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Preschool through 1st grade-aged kids are introduced to the basics of baseball each summer and our support is critical to keeping kids active and engaged while school is out. Remember to submit $1 for each year of your age when your birthday month rolls around!
Kristina is a native of Marion and a recent U of Iowa grad with degrees in political science and economics
District Scholarship Chair Harrison Cass and his committee interviewed Kristina this spring and nominated her for the scholarship. She is not related to Molly McLaughlin from Waterloo who is a youth exchange student this school year in Argentina.
Kristina will be studying for a masters degree in public history and cultural heritage at Dublin University. You can read her blog at www.petitederive.com
Kristina McLaughlin starts her year as a global scholar in Ireland
Have you seen good things happening at Rotary meetings, events, and projects lately? If so, capture an image and submit to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s Good Things Happening photo contest. The CFNEIA will be awarding ten $100 microgrants each week of the six-week contest, with individuals designating grants to organizations in Black Hawk County. Grand prizes of $2,000 and $5,000 will also be awarded in November. This would be an excellent addition to the Shoebox Project or Operation Warm.
Program chair Phil Nash has arranged some very interesting programs between now and election day. That should make it easier to invite a guest to join us.
Chris Cox, Dean & Professor of Library and Information Services, gathered our input for their 5 year Strategic Plan. Our club provided great responses and we look forward to an update in a few months.
In October 2016, North American Rotarians will travel to Port Harcourt, Nigeria, for a life changing experience. Have you ever heard a Rotarian speak about their personal experience participating in a polio eradication exercise, a cleft lip/cleft palate mission, or work on a humanitarian grant? These trips have a profound effect upon the individual. For those of you who have gone on one of these trips you know, and for those of you who have yet to enjoy this experience, you should.
Inbound Rotary youth exchange student Gabriel Voldoire, 15, will arrive Sunday from his home in Clermont Ferrand, France. He will live with Mark Durbahn and family. Gabriel will attend West High and plans to try out for its football team on his first full day here.
Waterloo Roatrians will have a very small summer break this week, and will meet again August 8. Invite a guest to hear our program: outgoing Rotary Youth Exchange scholarship recipient, Molly McLaughlin.
Perfect weather, great food, and amazing attendance. It was great to see so many kids enjoy the inflatables, balloon artist, and body tattoos! These cooks fed over 150 guests Thursday night- -the largest family picnic in over ten years.
President Lauren and Family Picnic chair Katelyn Pedersen extend a big thank you to Larry Steffens who led the cooks and servers, and Marcella Erickson who coordinated set up and clean up. Marcella's Rotary Beans were amazing as always! Their leadership and recruitment of Club volunteers made it a fun-filled event with good food, lively activities for kids, and wonderful conversation.
The Club has undergone some big changes in the recent months and as highlighted by club president Lauren Finke during last Monday’s meeting, volunteers are needed to assist with some roles to make the Club and the weekly meetings run smoothly. Here’s a rundown on the needs:
Congratulations to Rotarian Sue Armbrecht for her recent election to lead the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber board of directors. Sue joined our club in 2010 and is the market president for MidWest One Bank. You can read the full Courier article here.
Last chance to sign up online for the annual family picnic! Cost is $20 per family, If you prefer to RSVP without using the club website, or if you have questions about the family picnic, email Katelyn Pedersen.
We'll be treated to scenes from Waterloo Community Playhouse's production of Singin' In The Rain. The WCP kicks off their "Season of the Century" with this show in celebration of 100 years since the "Waterloo Community Drama Leaque" formed in a church at the corner of 5th and Jefferson. Tickets are on sale NOW for the performances running July 8-17.
You are encouraged to attend the installation of Cedar Falls Rotarian Jim Coloff as District Governor 2016-2017 on Tuesday, June 21st from 5:30 pm-8:00 pm.
The Cedar Falls Rotary Club will host a picnic at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls for the event, including brats, burgers, sides, water, pop, beer and wine. There will also be kids activities so bring the kids and grand kids. Cost is just $10 for dinner. Pre-register at www.rotaryseminars.org now. You can pay for dinner on-line when you register or at the event when you arrive.
All district Rotarians and families are invited to attend. We will have a balloon artist for the kids. And, there is a play area in the park that kids love. We are charging five dollars for kids if they are eating. If you bring very young kids there will be no charge for age five and under.
The My Waterloo Days Parade starts tonight at 6:30 and Waterloo Rotarians are encouraged to walk with our float. Join President Chris about 5:30 near the corner of Jefferson and 4th in the parade staging area. Wear your Rotary shirt and get ready to smile and wave to thousands of prospective Rotarians along the parade route!
Our meeting June 13 will be a very important roundtable discussion about club finances and membership.Please make sure to be there to lend your opinion as our club enters our 101st year of service to the Cedar Valley.
For more than a dozen years, club Secretary Kelli McCarthy and pianist Carolyn Vandeventer were fixtures at our weekly meetings. June 6th was bittersweet as we bid both of them farewell, but not before we could snap a group photo!
President elect Lauren Finke will kick off her presidency July 1st, but she'll have an extra busy June with a new set of twins at home. Samuel Matthew and Nora Emily were born 16 minutes apart late Wednesday, May 25th. Big brother Colin, dad Joe, and mom are all doing great.
Consummate public speaker Steve Carignan overcame technical issues Monday during his presentation and invites all members to click this link to hear what couldn't be heard in the videos he shared on the big screen. Tickets for new season at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center are on sale now.
Kick off summer this weekend and spend Monday celebrating Memorial Day with friends and family. Our next meeting will be June 6th and our program will be our own Steve Carignan with a preview of the Gallagher Bluedorn 2016-2017 season.
As you know, the 2017 Rotary International Convention will take place in Atlanta from June 10-14. While every Rotary Convention is an exciting event, 2017 will be extra special because we will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation. As a matter of fact, it was in Atlanta at the 1917 Rotary Convention, that Rotary President Arch Klumph announced the formation of OUR foundation with the first contribution of $26.50.
Fellow Rotarian Kaye Englin shared updates from a busy year at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. For 60 years, they have supported thousands of organizations serving tens of thousands of people in communities throughout a 20 county region. Director of Development Elizabeth Hackbarth and Program Director Tom Wickersham also joined us. Follow this link to learn more about the funds our club has set up with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
Funds raised from Hops & Grapes will help the Boys & Girls Clubs tremendously, especially as we head into summer, which is our busiest time of the year. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley operates 5 sites in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, and Dunkerton. We currently have over 800 registered Club members and serve over 250 youth per day. The youth that come to the Club at at-risk; they are primarily low-income youth being raised by a single parent. They come to the Club not only as a safe place to be during after-school and the summer months, but also to receive homework help, tutoring, character building lessons, and other opportunities such as sports, music lessons, dance classes, Lego club, arts and crafts, and much more.
Funds from Hops & Grapes will help us continue to provide programming to youth in the Cedar Valley, and will also assist us as we head into summer, where we will be open all day and will take youth on two field trips each day. As you can imagine costs add up very quickly, so we are thankful for the Waterloo Rotary Club and the Hops & Grapes event!
The 8th Annual Hops and Grapes Celebration is TONIGHT; 6-9 PM at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. We are raising money for our own Worthy Causes, along with a contribution to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. Our Vendors include selections from here in Iowa! Summerset (Indianola), Engelbrecht (Fredericksburg) and Trainwreck (Algona) wineries will be there. Millstream is back once again, also selling another awesome Brewery Tour in our Live Auction, and United Beverage is coming to sample Peace Tree (Knoxville) along with some regional selections.
Hy-Vee on Ansborough has our food, and Scratch Cupcakes donated our Cupcakes!
From a beach tote with supplies for a Fun Day in the Sun, to a Delectable Assortment of Portuguese Wines and Treats submitted by the McCrindles, there seems to be something for everybody in our silent auction! And as if that wasn’t enough, the live auction will feature some old favorites like the Brewery Tour, and 2 half hogs donated by Todd Rohlfsen; along with new items such as Jim Seeley’s Handcrafted Chess Board and Moment in Thyme (Len Swiatly) dinner for 8!!!
I am so excited I can hardly wait!! We hope to see you there!
Iowa Public Television (IPTV) is one of the state's last locally owned, locally controlled media services. Statewide IPTV provides television, educational and online services to all Iowans, regardless of where they live and what they can afford to pay. Join Mary Bracken who explains why IPTV is more important today than ever before.
Waterloo Rotarian John Mallen led volunteers who weren't afraid of a little dirt as they spruced up a couple downtown parks on Tuesday, May 10. The effort was part of Woodruff Construction's 60 year anniversary celebration which will include several more community projects in the other communities where Woodruff has offices. Based in Fort Dodge, Woodruff Construction opened an office downtown Waterloo in 2014 and John promptly joined the Waterloo Rotary Club.
Woodruff employees joined Rotarians late Tuesday afternoon to remove the old mulch and debris from the plant beds, then spread new mulch for a fresh look in time for the many downtown celebrations this summer. Lincoln Park and Soldiers Park adjacent to the Veterans Memorial Hall along the Cedar River now sport a bright new bed of mulch thanks to these volunteers:
A VGM representative is providing a volunteer training for the VGM Heartland Conference. All old and new volunteers are asked to attend. Packet of information and polos will be available for pick-up that day.
Monday, June 6th after our regular noon Rotary meeting.
Training will take roughly 20-30 minutes.
Any questions can be directed to Katelyn Pedersen:
Tonight is the night! Hops & Grapes is our largest annual fundraiser with proceeds going to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley and our own Rotary Club. Click here for details: Thursday May 12, 6-9 PM at the Waterloo Center for the Arts.
Phil Nash needs several people to step up for set up today at 12:30, then more volunteers for checking in guests, processing auction items, and tearing down. Please call (235-4897) or email him to lend a hand to our largest event of the year! Remember our efforts are rewarded when we present another BIG CHECK to the Boys & Girls Club!
Our May 9th program was one of our largest all year - we honored area high school student scholars as well as parents and administrators. You can see group photos from each school by clicking the photo:
Thursday May 12th will be a chance to see in person the new Cedar Valley Makerspace. Our February 29th program gave us a taste of what this new space is capable of, but being there for their open house will give you a chance to actually see the space in action. Click here for details.
Saturday morning at 10am (while the district conference is underway) community leaders and downtown proponents will host a walking tour down 4th Street. Discussing the past, present and future of our City and specifically the center of our downtown, the 4th Street corridor will be the main focus. You may ask who should participate? Are you someone who enjoys getting to know their city and neighbors? Do you want to participate in meaningful conversations about the social and built future of Waterloo? Are you engaged in the work of building cohesive communities and improving the walking environment?
Your help in recruiting qualified people will grow our club and the service we can share.
President elect Lauren Finke introduced Megan Kugler from University of Iowa Community Credit Union, and Adam Schaefer from US Bank at our April 25th meeting. Please introduce yourself and help make them feel at home.
The 5970 District Conference is right here in Waterloo this weekend and conference chair Wendy Knapp Bowman has lined up several great speakers Saturday, then Bill Shepard and his Big Band will bring the house down Saturday night.
Hops and Grapes is right around the corner! Thursday, May 12, at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, 6-9 PM. I hope to see you all there!!
1. Watch the KWWL News @ Noonwith Ally Crutcher clip to promote our event.
2. Here is a link to our ticket flyer. Please feel free to pass it along to anybody you feel would have a good time at this event; ESPECIALLY prospective Rotarians. There is no better way to showcase our club than at an event where 100+ Rotarians will tell them all of the amazing things we do in Rotary.
3. Thank you to Lauren Finke for updating our Facebook page with a Hops & Grapes event, please everybody like and share so that we can get the word out!
I want to thank you all for helping us get this event going for another year. It has been a great experience. I hope to see you on May 12!
Josh Balk joined us to discuss urban issues about treatment of storm water. He is the Dry Run Creek Watershed Coordinator for the Black Hawk County Soil and Water Conservation Service.
Our District celebration is quickly approaching and there is a lot to share with you! This is a special event hosted by District Governor Joe Gitta, and it will be taking place right here in Waterloo! We are hoping to have a HUGE presence at the event!
Only ten cases of polio have been reported in nearly the first four months of 2016—all of them in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But neither country has had a new case since March 22. However, three new cases of a different strain of polio were reported in Laos in January. An emergency response team has been in the country for two months working to prevent more cases. Laos had been considered to be polio free for years, but the disease “travels well.”
County Supervisors Craig White and Frank Magsamen discussed their roles in raising money for Honor Flights - flying Cedar Valley vets to Washington the last three years.
Sullivan Hartogh Davis Cedar Valley Honor Flight Variety Show is April 22nd at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo - cost is $25.00 per ticket this includes a meal with entertainment. You can get your tickets at any local Hy Vee store or reserve a table by calling 319-830-8807. http://www.shdpost730waterloohonorflight.org/
Club member Anesa Kajtazovic, who is executive director of the Family and Children's Council of Black Hawk County, explained her agency's role in Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is April.
Today we hear the exciting plans to build a white water course on the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo. Making the presentation will be Paul Huting, director of Waterloo Leisure Services, and Ty Gibson, an advocate of the rafting experience.
UnityPoint Allen Hospital executive Pam Delagardelle will explain the hospital's building project near Prairie Parkway in Cedar Falls and expansion plans at Allen College.
The Rotary Club of the Cedar Valley is collecting gently used or new board games for hospital waiting rooms and area clinics. March 28th will be the last day to bring your donation to a regular meeting.
Jayne Armstrong is the Director of the US Small Business Administration's Iowa office and a member of the Des Moines AM Rotary Club. She will be sharing information about SBA's small business resources and the state of small business in Iowa.
Our February 29th speakers John Burnett and Danny Laudick explained their burgeoning makerspace in the Cedar Valley TechWorks building, and how they are on the constant search for tools to enable a wider variety of possible projects. Maybe you have a Japanese pull saw or a couple non-mar dead blow hammers just taking up space in your garage? Check the list below and get in touch with John or Danny at Cedar Valley Makers:
This week President Elect Lauren Finke and Treasurer Julie Hayes will lead discussions about club finances and some exciting opportunities for our club. Then we'll go to table top discussions relating to their presentations.
We'll also celebrate March birthdays and enjoy dessert!
Cedar Valley Makers, Inc. is non profit with the mission to promote collaborative learning, creative design and manufacturing for people of all ages and skill levels.
Our own past president Harrison Cass was mentioned in several international news outlets thanks to an Associated Press story January 31. Harrison pledged to caucus for Jeb Bush during a campaign stop in Cedar Falls, and Bush rewarded him with a hug. Click the links below to read a few versions of the presidential love-fest:
Nigeria and the whole continent of Africa is on the cusp of being polio free,
Between 2013 and 2014, the reported cases of polio dropped from 53 to just six in Nigeria. Even more encouraging is that the last case of polio in Nigeria was reported in July, 2015 and the last case in all of Africa was reported in Somalia in August.
At the end of a viral video shared this week featuring Jeb Bush getting yanked off the stage at a Rotary meeting, the Nashua, New Hampshire Rotary Club added a 5th test...
Word has it that the Cedar Valley Rotary Club claims the Nashua club took a page out of their book on that 5th test. Maybe you should visit their club to see that 5th test in action? Their next meeting is Wednesday Feb 17th, 5pm at Tony's Pizza downtown Cedar Falls and the program is Boys & Girls Club - Youth of the Year. Contact President Mike Rehons to RSVP.
Monday, February 15th is President's Day and we will honor 24 past club presidents. Our club has benefited greatly from the leadership listed below, and they deserve our thanks and praise.
Our club's annual Rural Urban Luncheon is one of the largest events of the year and serves to connect "urban" business leaders with "rural" business leaders which strengthens the Cedar Valley as a whole.
This year's keynote speaker is Iowa Board of Regents President and entrepreneur Bruce Rastetter. His presentation, "Agricultural Opportunities – Meeting Global Challenges" will be heard by 150+ business leaders from both the city and country. Please plan to arrive a bit early - 11:45
Waterloo Community Foundation Executive Director Michelle Temeyer and board member Tim Hurley introduced our club to the newly formed organization. The WCF is dedicated to providing a lean, straightforward, and transparent conduit to those who wish contribute resources to the betterment of the greater Waterloo area. For more information or to make a donation call or email Michelle - 833-6022, info@wloocommunityfoundation.com
Even though John and Steve have already celebrated with family, we'll go ahead an honor them with the rest of the list yet to celebrate. Lori will get a special honor Monday if she chooses to enjoy dessert with us!
John Mallen Feb 1
Steve Showers Feb 2
Lori Bellinger Feb 8
Julie Hayes Feb 9
Craig Ritland Feb 20
Steve Sinnott Feb 21
These 6 Rotarians are charged with setting a fine example for the rest of the club by bringing their donation to the Fred Adams Scholarship. If all 6 make just the minimum donation, $169 will be added to the fund for 3 deserving area students toward college.
Who was Fred Adams, you ask? Fred was a member of our club for 72 years and an excellent business person who had a major impact on our community. When he died in 1987, members of the club decided to honor his memory by establishing a scholarship fund in his name at the Community Foundation. Here are photos of Fred from 1918, 1966, and 1986:
Fellow Rotarian Keith Kaspari will be our speaker and we'll hear all about the Waterloo Regional Airport. Monday is the Iowa Caucuses and a major political event is scheduled for the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center over the noon hour. We'll meet at Landmark Commons to avoid the extra security procedures and parking issues.
Thanks to superintendent Dr. Jane Lindaman and Crystal Buzza for presenting details on the Career and Technical Education Program at Waterloo Schools.
Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, February 2 to weigh in on the proposed surtax to pay for a new education center and renovations to East and West High Schools. We had several questions at the end of our meeting. The link below is provided for further reference: http://www.waterloo.k12.ia.us/21st-century-high-school-task-force/
Waterloo Rotary Club Past President Mason Fromm, Dr. Jane Lindaman, superintendent of the Waterloo Community Schools, and Crystal Buzza, Executive Director of Professional Technical Education
Since Doug doesn’t attend meetings frequently and was not here on the 11th to be recognized at the birthday table, why not send him a card? Doug will be 66 on the 29th; his address is 5101 University Avenue, Apartment 111 in Waterloo.
Jay’s support so far has totaled over $8,000 and he received a lapel pin recognizing his gifts. Last month Steve Thorpe was also honored for topping $7,000.
Jay Crisp receives yet another thank you from The Rotary Foundation
Fellow Rotarian and Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Chuck Rowe wants you to know your vote is appreciated. In a short statement, Chuck says the club's vote to include the Boys & Girls Club as a recipient of funds raised at Hops & Grapes 2016 is an honor and something they do not take for granted.
We have been blessed to live where we do and have what we have.
A few years ago the Board of our club agreed to help a bright young student go to college. This student, Raphael Amador has three years behind him but due to the financial status of our club, the Board decided they could not help him finish.
The results are in from the informal poll earlier this week and it's a tie!
Receiving the Reporter on Mondays at 10 tied with Fridays at 10. Since it's a new year, Mason has decided to change the publish schedule to Fridays at 10. This will give Rotarians a few extra business hours to contact guests and potential members to attend our Monday meeting.
Our first program of 2016 drew several visitors and coverage by the Courier. Senator Grassley embarks on his annual 99-county tour this week, something he's done every year for the past 35 years.
Before the Hawkeyes fell to Stanford in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, the city of Pasadena hosted another little gathering of people at the Annual Rose Parade. A collection of 8 California Rotary clubs gathered volunteers and private donations to build a 35' long float for the parade with a theme of peace.
Thank you for faithfully reading the Waterloo Rotary Reporter. Mason Fromm and David Buck work behind the scenes each week to write and publish our club's news and meeting photos. There is a link below to vote for WHEN you want to receive the Reporter in your inbox. Is Monday morning at 10am too late to invite a guest? Is Thursday afternoon too early and the details end up getting lost? Please click this survey link to answer ONE question with your preference.
At our December 14th meeting, 3 members were recognized for their multiple Paul Harris Awards. Each of these Rotarians has contributed ANOTHER $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.
The Courier tried something different in early December, sending one of its own on a little road trip. Armed with his camera and a notebook, Dennis Magee followed organizers and others who support the Shoebox Project to Nicaragua.
We gathered December 14th to celebrate another successful year in Rotary and enjoy music from the Washington Street Brass Quintet. The Salvation Army and our own very special elf Kelli received much appreciated donations from members. Click here to see photos!
Dennis Magee from the Courier has been sending stories and photos back from his trip to Nicaragua with our club's Shoebox Project team. From gracious blind children receiving their first shoebox, to families competing with cows and dogs for discarded food, Magee's photos give a glimpse into the desperation faced by children of the dump. Click here to follow his updates in the Courier.
CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua | Even before making their first delivery Sunday, the people traveling with Rotary Club members in Nicaragua received a warm demonstration of appreciation.
“You are in our prayers and in our hearts,” Maria Auxiliadora Moreno Rivas, 31, said through an interpreter. “Because of your efforts, we here are able to fulfill our dreams.”
Monday's regular meeting was super-sized because we hosted the Courier's 20 Under 40 selections for 2015. These 20 young community leaders were selected by committee from over 80 nominations.
Almost all of the 20 Under 40 2015 class will join us for lunch December 7th, so the December Rotarians agreed to give them more program time and instead crash the January Rotarians' party. So we'll celebrate both December and January birthdays NEXT YEAR!
Since 1946 the Waterloo Rotary Club has enjoyed the honor to celebrate outstanding performance by high school athletes in the city of Waterloo and surrounding areas. Football coaching staffs at each school nominate a senior MVP from their team. In a secret ballot, area sportswriters make the citywide MVP selection. This year, Trey Burt received the Glen "Doc" Miller traveling trophy and is entitled to display the trophy at West High for the next twelve months. See more photos from the ceremony here.
Monday's program featured two familiar faces from KWWL - a presentation about severe weather by Mark Schnackenberg and a peek into the life of an evening news anchor by Amanda Goodman. Mark and Amanda traded jabs like siblings and our group even learned Mark's sure-fire way to cure hiccups!
Beginning this week, the Courier will publish a series of stories about Nicaragua in advance of our club’s efforts to deliver shoeboxes this year. The first story outlined the history of the proposed Nicaragua canal, and includes at least two strong Iowa connections. Here is a link the story
Grade school children in seven area schools were given new, warm winter coats thru the efforts of Steve and Liz Thorpe and the many people and groups who donated more than $16,000 to make it possible.
Club completes distribution of 1,000 warm winter coats
Each November it is our club's privilege to honor the area's best high school athletes. The volleyball luncheon will be the 16th, and the football luncheon will be November 23rd.
West High's Ben Russell and Columbus senior Brooke Craig received top honors as MVPs last year.
On November 2 we will hold a forum of the five candidates for Waterloo mayor and if you have a question you would like to have answered, please submit it in writing to waterloorotary@waterloorotary.org.
Frank Magsamen, Leah Morrison, Quentin Hart, Tim Hurley, Wayne Nathem
Ian H.S. Riseley, of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2017-18.
It’s our best-kept secret, partly because we almost never talk about it.
It funds international exchanges, special projects, and, of course, polio eradication. But like a lot of things in our lives, it takes a little education to get your arms around it.
First off- - there are three funds in OUR foundation, annual programs, the permanent fund, and the designated fund. So here’s a brief explanation of each:
Fourteen years of successful partnering with the care and support of our Rotary Club and so many others who joined hands with us has changed the lives of thousands.
Last week the UNI Panthers Rotaract kickoff picnic, sponsored by the Cedar Valley and Cedar Falls Rotary Clubs, was held. I am pleased to report that it was a resounding success.
Congressman Blum won in his first bid for elective office last November. He represents Iowa’s first district which includes Dubuque, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids.
Ike joined our club in 1948..that's 67 years of service! The terms "legend" and "icon" have been attributed to Ike, and we are so proud to have counted him among our members for so long.
Our speaker last week generated lots of thought and discussion, many members asked for a copy of her presentation. You can click hereto download and review the details in depth.
A group of expectant mothers at the “Refuse Belin” in Chinandega show off the large bags of supplies to help them get their baby off to a healthy start
The Waterloo Rotary Club annually recognizes senior honor students of the Waterloo high schools and their principals. Through this recognition, the Waterloo Rotary Club congratulates its outstanding students and schools for their accomplishments, commitment to excellence, and dedication to developing leaders of the future. We are extremely proud of each participant and salute them for their achievements.
April 20, 2015 - My Waterloo Days Festival Co-Chairs Tracey Southall and Mason Fromm presented this year's lineup for Waterloo's traditional start to summer.
A special recognition ceremony was held on April 14 to honor the newest members of the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. The Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame is the most prestigious state-level honor volunteers can receive. Honorees are recognized for their contribution to transforming their community, the state, the nation, or the world with their volunteer service and action.
H.D. “Ike” Leighty was inducted in the “individual category” of the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame. The category recognizes a person who has provided outstanding volunteer service to benefit others. Mr. Leighty was nominated by Stacy Van Gorp, Executive Director of the R.J. McElroy Trust. Van Gorp nominated Leighty because of his active volunteerism at age 99, and the role he has played in developing and sustaining the Mother Moon Service Scholarship program.
At its regular meeting March 24, the club board approved changes to what had been a rather informal policy of making grants for projects from its various funds held at the Community Foundation.
The club has accumulated a fund that should be used to support projects and non-profit organizations in our community. This fund is currently titled the "Wine Tasting Account" but will now be titled the "Charitable Giving Account." This policy should serve as a basic procedure with which we can distribute these funds.
Our club is mourning the loss of 2 exceptional members, B.J. Beecher passed away March 27th, and Ed Gallagher Jr. left us on Easter Sunday.
B.J. was a long-time Waterloo Rotarian, having served our club for 57 years. He joined his father-in-law at Kies Electric Supply in 1953, where he would work until his retirement. Recently, B.J. was elevated to Honorary Member of our club.
Ed joined our club in 1988, and his service to the Cedar Valley can been seen everywhere from the Iowa Veterans Museum, to UNI Athletics, Riverfront development projects, and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Ed was just presented the Legacy Award from the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber on March 26th.
Please keep the Gallagher and Beecher families in your thoughts, especially Rotarian John Beecher, who is B.J.'s son and Ed's son-in-law.
Keith is the new Director of Aviation at the Waterloo Regional Airport. A Minnesota native and US Navy veteran, Keith has his master's degree in public administration and previously managed aviation operations in North Dakota, Michigan, Texas, and California.
Join us Monday to honor our members with April birthdays...we'll have dessert! Remember if you are on this lst, bring your donation for the Fred Adams Scholarship fund - just 50 cents per year of your age. The fund has been shrinking in recent years, so please do your part to ensure deserving students bound for UNI, Hawkeye, and Allen College continue to receive $1,000 awards.
But her election is not official until club members vote to approve the selection.
Lauren will be our club's President as we enter our 101st year of service. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in communication studies and serves as executive director of the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley where she has worked for seven years. She also serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Our club is seeking candidates to attend a one-week youth training seminar July 6-31 in Grinnell, Iowa co-hosted by our district, 5970, and our companion district in southern Iowa, 6000.
Bruce Newell helps create 3D printed hands and arms for children and adults who need them. At the March 16th meeting, he shared the history of the all-volunteer effort to provide FREE prosthetics using 3-D printing technology. Click the link below to learn more about the effort and how you can get involved.
For the last 13 years, The Courier has honored hundreds of community leaders yet to reach the magical median age of 40. At our meeting March 9th, we honored the 2014 class.
There were several past 20 Under 40 honorees in attendance, as well as two honorees from the Courier's series Eight Over 80.
Class of 2012 20 Under 40 winner Mason Fromm presented Courier Publisher David Braton and Courier Editor Nancy Newhoff with "Service Above Self" awards on behalf of the Waterloo Rotary Club. Our club extends a deep appreciation for David and Nancy's efforts to solicit, select, and honor the best and brightest Cedar Valley leaders.
There’s no better way than attending the international convention June 6-9 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
There are just over 100 days before the opening session of the 106th international convention in Brazil. It’s an outstanding event with not notch speakers and programs, an outstanding exhibit hall with project ideas from around the world and an opportunity to explore Sao Paulo, the cultural hub of Brazil.
The club’s policy for canceling meetings due to bad weather reads as follows:
“If Waterloo public schools have been closed by 8 AM on a Monday, there will be no meeting that day. If Waterloo schools have not closed by 8 AM, Rotary will proceed as scheduled.
The cancellation notice will be submitted to KWWL-TV, KCRG-TV, KGAN-TV and the following radio stations: KFMW, KOKZ, KWLO, KXEL, KCRR, KKCV, KOEL-AM and Mix 96FM.”
As a high school student in Chinandega, Nicaragua, he had the second highest grades and since then he has continued at the University of Central America in Managua, the nation’s capital.
Tuition is $1,430 and donations so far are less than $1,000. Your help with a gift of $50 or more will help him continue his studies. Make tax-deductible check payable to Hope and Relief International and give it to Steve Thorpe or Dave Buck.
And give yourself a pat on the back.
ael is entering his junior year in February and several club members have helped pay his tuition.
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank would like to thank the Waterloo Downtown Rotary for sponsoring this year's Student Food Drive. The money from Hops & Grapes assisted the Food Bank in providing the support for the students for the drive. This year seven area high schools competed and raised over 34,000 pounds of food. Your support is appreciated. Thank you!
Truth Be Told. We are Human. 
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