Sunday, December 16, 2012

UI Provost updates Rotarians

Rotary was pleased to host UI Provost, Barry Butler on Thursday. Butler gave a presentation about how the University of Iowa is reaching out to Iowa, and Washington County.


 
Some of the factoids that Butler related about Washington County and the University of Iowa.
  • 171 students from Washington County
  • 1026 UI alumni live in Washington County (almost 5% of the total population)
  • $46 Million in payroll to Washington County residents
  • Washington County residents also made 36,000 clinic visits to the UI Hospital & Clinics last year (including to the new clinic in Riverside)

Christmas Shopping

It was great to hear that Lil Perry, Ann Harris and the rest of the crew had completed their shopping for 5 families that Rotary adopted through HACAP. Kudo's go out to Rotarian and WalMart Store manager, Dennis Purcell, for all of his help making shopping enjoyable and focused.
Dennis: "Shucks"

NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Welcome new Rotary Associate Member, Grace Hunger!

She has a little apprehension about a 2 month commitment to explore Rotary, but I think that is mostly because her total life experience so far is, like 3 weeks. 

Grace Hunger

ALIVE AFTER 5 - TUESDAY JANUARY 15

Thanks to Don and Becky Patterson for hosting a planning meeting for the upcoming Rotary Alive After 5 event on Tuesday, January 15 at Cafe Dodici. Its great to see all the hard work from Don and Becky, Kiersten Peck, Michelle Peiffer, Shawn Redlinger, and (photographer) Denise Erpelding.

It should be a great event. Apparently, several more planning meetings are being scheduled.


UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Don't forgot that we still have a club meeting on December 20 and on the 27th.

December 20 - Matt Miller: Amy Martin from the WCHC
December 27 - Ed LinsSamantha Ellingson on the WWII Vets recent Honor Flight to D.C.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Rotary hears about WHS Dance Marathon

Thanks to Katy Wellington and Holly Vittetoe from Washington High School talking about the upcoming Dance Marathon this Saturday at the High School. They still have some tickets to their dinner Saturday. The proceeds from the Dance Marathon go toward emotional and financial support of pediatric cancer patients the University of Iowa.

Last year, Washington High School came in third in Iowa for raising about $6,600 through their Dance Marathon. Maquoketa High School won with $9,000 which is Washington's goal for this year!  Thanks to everyone for making a contribution!
Katy & Holly - "Don't take our picture!"

It was great to have some time at the end for Brent Hinson to give us an update on whats going on with the City of Washington.
Brent gave an update on several priorities and initiatives, including:

  • A Housing Task Force to study and make recommendations back to the City Council on strategies on improving the community's housing stock and stabilizing neighborhoods.
  • Developing a new Industrial Park on City-owned land next to the new Waste Water Treatment Plant on the Southwest side
  • Developing a new street corridor on the southwest side connecting Hwy 1 with Iowa Ave. through Buchanan St. and the new Industrial Park.
  • Assist in development of a new Wellness Park on about 70 acres of land that it owns or traded for north of West 5th St.
  • Maybe a new Water Tower on the north end.

A New Song Book!

Cheryl Kurtz told the club that they'd be pulling some new tunes and old favorites together for a new song book.

Make sure that songs you love to sing like "The Happy Wanderer" make it in to the new song book by calling Cheryl every week. Check out the Muppets version here! For that matter, here is the Muppets doing Bohemian Rapsody, which would only work on club meetings where the program doesn't show up because its so long, but that would be awesome.

It was great to sing to the December born Rotarians - Dr. Mike Jorgensen, Steve Olson, Steve Slaubaugh, Eric Turner, & Emory VanGerpen

New Rotarian Jon Thompson!

Hey, welcome Jon Thompson from Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy. Another couple years and the beard could look like Bob Kennedy's. Really.

Upcoming Programs

December 13 - Jim Gorham: UI Provost Barry Butler. Don't forget to bring a food item for HACAP!
December 20 - Matt Miller: Amy Martin from the WCHC

Great job Becky Patterson for filling in for President Terry Engelken in running today's club meeting. Thanks.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

POW!

It was great to hear from Pasoari Widiastuti, a foreign exchange student at WHS from Indonesia. She gave a great presentation about her homeland. Fortunately, she goes by "Pow" because pronouncing her real name is "challenging."

Pow is active in the community and is earning a lot of Silver Cord hours. Recently, she was an elf in the Main Street Washington lighted parade...

Pow is staying with Lori and Roger Adams in Washington. Thanks for setting up this program, Sue Basten.
Lori Adams and Pasoari Widiastuti (Pow)

Upcoming Programs

December 6Brent Hinson, program will be WHS students talking the annual Dance Marathon.
December 13Jim Gorham, program will be UI Provost Barry Butler
December 27 - Ed Lins, program will be Samantha Ellingson talking about the recent honor flight for area WWII veterans
January 15 (Tuesday) - Rotary Alive After 5! Chamber event at Tsalika Drown's Cafe Dodici. 5-7pm
January 17 (Thursday) - No Rotary Club meeting (Alive After 5 this week)

New Members!

It was great to have these new Rotarians attending our club meeting this week!

Michelle Peiffer, new Associate Rotary Member and Chamber of Commerce Director, announced that she is engaged to Shawn Redlinger! What a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Ryan Walker, new Associate Rotary Member, was introduced glowingly by his grandfather, Rotarian Harvey Holden. Ryan walks on water and is starting a new Syngenta Seed sales company in Washington.

Caleb Wilson, new Corporate Rotary Member from Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy. Caleb, a CPA, is the Accounting & Finance Dir. at Reliant. He used to work for several really big companies. 

Bring Food Items for HACAP

Thanks for all the food donations this week!  Don't forget to bring a non-perishable food item(s) to Rotary on Dec 6 and Dec 13. The food items will be donated to the  HACAP Food Reservoir which supplies emergency food boxes directly and through a number of food pantries around the county.

Tour of Homes

Hey, don't forget to attend the Chamber's Tour of Homes this Saturday and Sunday (Dec 1-2) from 4:30-8:00pm. All the proceeds go to maintaining the great silhouette holiday lights around the buildings downtown. Ed & Ericka Raber's house is on the tour this year.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Rotarians! Bring some food on Thursday!

Upcoming Rotary Programs

November 29—Sue Basten, speaker will be Pasoari Widiastuti speaking about her native Indonesia. She a current foreign exchange student at WHS.

December 6 - Brent Hinson, program will be Brent talking about what's up with the City. Bring your awkward questions.


Bring Food Items for HACAP

Don't forget to bring a non-perishable food item(s) to Rotary on Nov. 29, Dec 6 and Dec 13. The food items will be donated to the  HACAP Food Reservoir which supplies emergency food boxes directly and through a number of food pantries around the county.


Here is a list of HACAP's most needed food items. Pick a few and bring them to our club meeting on Thursday.

Protein Items:
  • Tuna
  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned Meat
  • Chili
  • Beef Stew
  • Chunky Soups
Grains and Cereals: (whole grain items)
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Cake Mix
  • Cereal
Fruits and Vegetables:
  • Applesauce
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Pineapple
  • Juices (100% fruit juice or fruit in their own juice)
  • Peas
  • Green Beans
  • Instant Potatoes
  • Corn
Paper Products:
  • Toilet Paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Kleenex
Personal Care:
  • Hand Soap
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
Miscellaneous Items:
  • Can openers
  • Boxes
  • Laundry detergent
  • 1/2 pint containers
NO GLASS CONTAINERS OR PERISHABLES! 
For more information about the HACAP Food Reservoir, contact Amanda Pieper at the HACAP corporate office, 319-393-7811

Monday, November 19, 2012

Consumer & Market Profile of Washington

It was great to have Jim Thompson from Main Street Iowa (part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority) talk to us about the Consumer Profile and Retail Sales trends around Washington.

Jim Thompson & unidentified vegan Rotarian head
The data Jim presented were centered on downtown Washington, and five, ten and twenty minute drive times from downtown. The data painted a picture of a growing community that is a hub for retail, commercial and services. The state purchases these data sets from ESRI, a GIS company that marries data with geospatial maps.

If you'd like to take a closer look at the data and information that Jim presented, download it HERE or more from the WEDG website datasource page.

It was great to hear that Jim was a longtime Rotarian too!

Jim was a guest speaker hosted by Main Street Washington's Business Improvement committee. Don't forget new Main Street director Sarah Sadrakula is a potential Rotarian!...

Bring food items for HACAP


Don't forget to bring a non-perishable food item(s) to Rotary on Nov. 29, Dec 6 and Dec 13. The food items will be donated to HACAP which supplies emergency food boxes directly and through a number of food pantries around the county.

Things that they could really use are proteins - think peanut butter or canned tuna.


Upcoming Rotary Programs


November 29—Sue Basten, speaker will be Pasoari Widiastuti speaking about her native Indonesia. She a current foreign exchange student at WHS.
December 6 - Brent Hinson, program will be Brent talking about what's up with the City. Bring your awkward questions.

Rotarians helping with Hurricane Sandy Relief


November 2012

To all District 6000 Rotarians,
Home: 641-446-6576 Cell: 641-442-5559 Email: tlgeiger@grm.net

Our friends on the east coast are suffering greatly from the effects of Hurricane Sandy and now more recently, another storm that has complicated the matter. I have been in touch with some of the District Governors in the areas affected by the Hurricane Sandy disaster and there are many things they need.

For now, we are appealing for financial help that will be distributed among about six Rotary Districts in the affected area. When Iowa suffered from our devastating floods in 2008, our Rotary friends from around the world supported us with a lot of financial assistance so let's do the same for them.

Individual and Club donations can be made to the District 6000 Humanitarian and Educational Foundation. These donations will be transferred to a special fund set up for the specific needs associated with this hurricane. Individuals who make contributions to the District 6000 Humanitarian and Educational Foundation will be eligible to receive tax credit for their donation as this is our 501 3C account.

Make checks payable to:
District 6000 H.E.F. and indicate on the subject line of the check – "Hurricane Sandy Relief"

Send to:
Sandy Pickup, Treasurer 818 Third Avenue
Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone) 319-337-9727 Email) spickup3@mchsi.com

I would like to thank you in advance for your support to help the people affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Terry Geiger
Terry L. Geiger
District Governor 2012-13 Service Above Self 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Rotary update on Middle School & Tele-Pharmacy

Curt Mayer' Presentation

Thanks to Curt Mayer, Principal at the Washington Middle School for giving a great presentation on Nov. 1st on updates this summer to the 1918 school building and its transformation into a grade 6-8 Middle School. He also had good information on new academic programs and initiatives at the Middle School.

Upcoming Programs

November 8Bob Wollenberg, speaker will be Pedro Lujano talking about his new stained glass at the Library.
November 15Dennis Hunger, speaker will be Dennis Hunger and Amy Martin speaking about health care trends.
November 22 — THANKSGIVING — no meeting.
November 29Sue Basten, speaker will be Pasoari Widiastuti speaking about her native Indonesia, she a current foreign exchange student at WHS.

Thompson's TelePharm Technology Grand Opening in Victor, IA

Our program from Business & Industry Appreciation Day was Jon Thompson and Todd Thompson (and their partners) talking about their innovative Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy, and their ground-breaking Tele-pharmacy business they were about to open in Victor, Iowa at a pharmacy that they owned. (Jon Thompson also owns Bean's Pharmacy in Washington.)

On Friday, they had their Grand Opening, and Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were the special guests. The HLV 4th and 5th grade classes attended, along with about 80 area community people, the IMS economics class, many family members, and Washington Rotarians Terry Engelken, Craig Davis, and Ed Raber.

The innovative software to make this business possible was written by Roby Miller, co-founder of TelePharmTechnologies (along with Jon and Todd Thompson), and graduate of IMS, University of Iowa, and Stanford University.

This was a neat and historic event to attend, and Victor, Iowa was very excited about keeping their local drug store open. This could be a big deal business in Washington, Iowa.



Todd Thompson & Roby Miller cut the ribbon with the Gov. 

Unidentified Person Testing the Tele-Pharmacy system

Terry Engelken Tries the Way-Back Machine in Victor, IA

Xicotepec Project Application DUE THIS WEEK!

The Rotary District 6000 Xicotepec Project application form for the March 2013 project team trip to Xicotepec is now available online. The deadline to submit your application and the initial $200 deposit is Nov 9, 2012. You know you want to do this.

Trip dates are March 16 – 24, 2013.  2013 will be the 11th consecutive year in which a project team from our district has traveled to Xicotepec to support the projects of the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez.

All the information needed in order to apply will be found at the online site, which is: http://sites.google.com/site/xicoproj/

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Associate Member Pilot Program

Well, last weeks program was certainly interesting. And instead of Rotary buying a book on behalf of the Program, all the Rotarians got a book to take home!

Upcoming Programs

Nov. 1 - Dr. Mike Jorgensen's program is Curt Mayer, Principal at the Washington Middle School (the former High School).
Nov. 8 - Rev. Bob Wollenberg's program is Pedro Lujano who will give a presentation on the new stained glass window he created for the lobby of the Library.

RI Associate Member Pilot Program

At last week's Washington Rotary Board meeting, it was decided to adopt the Rotary International's Associate Member pilot program. Click on that link to download a small PDF about the program.

The reason the club is hoping to use this tool is to make it easier for prospective new members to "try out" Rotary for 2 months, without any cost. If they like it, hopefully they'll join. And we'll have longer than just 1-2 meetings to help them feel comfortable and welcome.

Get out there and ask someone to come (or come back) to Rotary. The Club will cover their lunch for a couple months, and they don't have any strings attached.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Jerry Rhoads - Never Too Old to Live

It was great to have Jerry Rhoads, owner of All-American Care in Washington, speak at Rotary today about his new book, "Never Too Old to Live: Always Too Young Too Die."

Looking for a Christmas gift for someone newly old, like Ed Lins, or just old at heart? Consider Jerry's book - the Amazon Kindle version is only $3.99!

In addition to being a software developer and elder care pioneer, Jerry has written a number of other books.

Upcoming Programs

November 1st, Dr. Mike Jorgensen has the program.
November 8th, Rev. Bob Wollenberg has the program.
November 15th, Dennis Hunger has the program.

Xicotepec Project Application!

The Rotary District 6000 Xicotepec Project application form for the March 2013 project team trip to Xicotepec is now available online. The deadline to submit your application and the initial $200 deposit is Nov 9, 2012. You know you want to do this.

Trip dates are March 16 – 24, 2013.  2013 will be the 11th consecutive year in which a project team from our district has traveled to Xicotepec to support the projects of the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez.

All the information needed in order to apply will be found at the online site, which is: http://sites.google.com/site/xicoproj/

Friday, October 19, 2012

Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy presents for Business & Industry Day



Jon Thompson explained that he and his cousin, Todd Thompson started Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy three years ago to fill a niche that they saw for nursing homes. The two men created a partnership based on their existing ownership of three pharmacies, including Bean's Pharmacy in Washington.

Jon's father-in-law and business partner, Gary said that today, they have 18 employees, and serve 18 area nursing homes and have over 1,000 patients. 

August Schrock is a software developer hired last year to help develop advanced software to help nursing home nurses dispense medicine correctly. Their advanced methods of using scannable packets of medicine, integrated with the real-time software, reduces the opportunity for error. Currently 6 nursing homes are using this technology.


Another opportunity they saw for small towns threatened with losing their local pharmacy service, was to develop an innovative and proprietary telepharmacy. Todd's son Roby Miller is the software developer and president of Telepharm Technologies that has installed its first telepharmacy in Victor, Iowa. This effort was coincidentally highlighted on the front page of the Gazette newspaper today.

They have been winning business plan competitions and raising their profile regionally at events like "Pitch & Grow" at the Innovation Expo at the Coralville Marriott last month.

Dr. Ann Harris uses her hands to explain something to Sarah Thompson
Thanks for the fantastic program. These new businesses have tremendous potential and we're glad to have you in Washington County.

Crop Walk


Dick Colby thanked the club members for contributing $250 in pledges for his Crop Walk last weekend.

Next week (10/25) - Jerry Rhoads of All-American Care

Ray Poe's guest speaker next week is Jerry Rhoads. Jerry is a published author and software developer. 
All-American Care, Inc., Jerry's long term care operating company owns two skilled restorative care facilities in Muscatine and in Washington. They are models for franchising his company's software, management policies and procedures to other locations.
This will be a very interesting and energetic program, so be sure to attend!


Xicotepec Project Application!

The Rotary District 6000 Xicotepec Project application form for the March 2013 project team trip to Xicotepec is now available online. The deadline to submit your application and the initial $200 deposit is Nov 9, 2012. You know you want to do this.

Trip dates are March 16 – 24, 2013.  2013 will be the 11th consecutive year in which a project team from our district has traveled to Xicotepec to support the projects of the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez.

All the information needed in order to apply will be found at the online site, which is: http://sites.google.com/site/xicoproj/

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Hear Larry Marek talk about Soybean stuff in Africa

You won't want to miss Dr. Rob Negret's program today at Rotary - Larry Marek will be here to talk about his recent trip to Africa's Uganda and Ghana for the Iowa Soybean Association's World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH).
The Iowa Soybean Association will continue its support of the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program launched by state soybean checkoff boards, including Iowa, and the American Soybean Association in FY 2001. The program's goal is to increase the international consumption of soy protein by humans in new markets and developing markets, thereby creating new opportunities for consumption of soybeans and providing higher economic returns to U.S. soybean farmers. Initial efforts will focus on introducing soy protein for human consumption, and will ultimately be expanded to include all derivatives of soy for food use.

Oct. 18 - Business & Industry Appreciation Day

Also, don't forget to sign up to bring a guest (ideally a prospective Rotarian) to hear Jon Thompson and his partners talk about their groundbreaking initiatives for Beans Pharmacy/Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy.  

Thanks to those of you that signed up last Thursday. You'll get another chance at Rotary today, but you could also just send me an e-mail at ed@washingtoniowa.org with your guest.

You can get a sneak peak by checking out this KCRG story on their Victor, Iowa tele-pharmacy from Oct. 3rd (last week).

Club Forum last week

Thanks to everyone for a successful Club Forum last week.

Here is the FY 2012 (and FY 2011) fiscal report that was presented.

Rotary Financial Report Fy2012

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Becky's first Meeting behind the Podium!

Becky Patterson
It was great to have Becky Patterson lead our meeting for the first time on Thursday. Thanks, Becky!

We were supposed to hear from Byron Pringle about his gaming software company, Sidewalk Games. Unfortunately, he had an emergency and could not attend. Byron hopes to come back soon to give his presentation (so let us know if you need an idea for a future program...).

Instead of a regular program, we heard updates and stories from club members.

Thanks to Gary Murphy for having just a lot to tell us about. 

Even when the program doesn't show up and we have to punt, we still didn't get out before 1pm. That's a great thing about Rotary, really.

Gary Murphy holds us spellbound
Special thanks to Ed Raber.  Raber?  Raaaber?

Upcoming Programs

October 4th  - Ray Poe
October 11th - Rob Negrete
October 18th - Ed Raber; Jon Thompson of Beans Pharmacy/Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy for Business & Industry Appreciation Day!

Send Ed an e-mail with your invited guest or sign up on Thursday!


Xicotepec Project Application!

The Rotary District 6000 Xicotepec Project application form for the March 2013 project team trip to Xicotepec is now available online. The deadline to submit your application and the initial $200 deposit is Nov 9, 2012. You know you want to do this.

Trip dates are March 16 – 24, 2013.  2013 will be the 11th consecutive year in which a project team from our district has traveled to Xicotepec to support the projects of the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez.

All the information needed in order to apply will be found at the online site, which is: http://sites.google.com/site/xicoproj/

Monday, September 24, 2012

Rotary stuff - Xicotepec app too

Sidewalk Games on Thursday

Our program on Thursday will be Byron Pringle, a young game software designer that started a company called Sidewalk Games.

Tito the Tiger
Sidewalk Games is a casual game developer specializing in PC and Mobile Games. The company was founded in November 2011 by Byron and Eric Pringle. The company is located in small town Washington, IA located 60 miles south of Cedar Rapids, IA. In March of 2012, Sidewalk Games went into a partnership with Big Fish Games as a distributor for there casual gaming software.

Be sure to come hear Byron tell his entrepreneurial story.

More Washington County, IA Factoids from FSA's Bill Bartenhagen's presentation last week

  • 1800 Farms
  • 1600 Producers
  • Total acres = about 300,000
  • Corn = 128,000 acres
  • Soybeans = 87,000 acres
  • CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) = 42,000 acres
  • Annual CRP Payments = $5.5 million
  • 2,800 CRP Contracts (entire State of NY has 2,826)
  • 232 miles of Waterways in CRP
  • 344 miles of Filter Strips in CRP
  • 1,800 acres of CRP will have expiring contracts in Sept 2012
  • 7,000 acres of CRP will have expiring contracts in Sept 2013
  • 1,700 farms (97%) participate in the FSA's Direct and Counter Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) which injects about $5 million annually into Washington County

Rotary Business & Industry Appreciation Day - Oct. 18

Start thinking of a future Rotarian guest you can invite for Oct. 18. We'll hear from Jon Thompson, owner of Beans Pharmacy, but also the very interesting startup company - Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy.

Xicotepec Project Application!

The Rotary District 6000 Xicotepec Project application form for the March 2013 project team trip to Xicotepec is now available online. The deadline to submit your application and the initial $200 deposit is Nov 9, 2012. You know you want to do this.

Trip dates are March 16 – 24, 2013.  2013 will be the 11th consecutive year in which a project team from our district has traveled to Xicotepec to support the projects of the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez.

All the information needed in order to apply will be found at the online site, which is: http://sites.google.com/site/xicoproj/


Details:


Applicants should budget +/- $1,600 (youth) to +/- $1,750 (Rotarians and adults) for total trip cost, which includes all transportation, lodging and meals (except meals "en route"). Additional costs paid by participants would include two meals in Mexico City, snacks, bottled water and souvenirs. $100-$200 in spending money is adequate for most participants.
Exact costs will be determined in early 2013 once airline, charter bus and hotel reservations have been finalized.
Past projects undertaken by Xicotepec Project Teams from our district include: numerous construction, paving, landscaping and painting projects in schools and other public places, installation of drinking water purification systems in schools, painting artistic murals in public areas, assisting U of I School of Pharmacy students in deworming school children, assisting U of I Dental School students with fluoride treatments and dental hygiene education, helping in programs to screen for diabetes and cervical cancer, enjoying recess at schools with children, playing soccer, jump rope, and basketball with the children at an orphanage plus many more . . . .
Questions or inquiries should be referred to - xicoproj@gmail.com
Jim Peterson, Project Coordinator and District Committee Co-chair
Kay Carpenter, District Committee Co-chair

Friday, September 21, 2012

Rotary hears from FSA's Bartenhagen

It was great to have Larry Fishback at Rotary this week! Maybe its the start of a trend.
Bill Bartenhagen with Terry Engelken (R) and Unnamed Rotarian Head (L)
Fishback's guest was Bill Bartenhagen, the Executive Director of the Washington County Farm Service Agency (FSA), an agency of the federal USDA.

Bartenhagen gave some great info about acres of soybeans and corn grown this year in Washington County, as well as the 40,000 acres entered into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). He noted that Washington County has as many CRP contracts as all of New York state, and more than 8 western states, combined! Takeaway --> Washington County farmers pay attention to conservation farming practices.

Bartenhagen also gave his insights into the pending reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill. Don't hold your breath for Congressional action to reauthorize this important legislation before the November election.

FSA Washington County office

It was also a treat to have visiting Wellman Rotarian, Barry Johnson, and immanent Washington Rotarian, Becky Harkema attending our club this week.

Thanks to Craig Davis for bringing Greg Holm, a brand new attorney who is joining Lloyd McConnell Davis & Lujan. Greg recently moved to Washington, where his father, Dr. Lloyd Holm, is a doctor in the Washington County Hospital's Women's Healthcare of Washington clinic.

Next week, Ed Raber will probably have a program. Hopefully, Susan Wellington will present the final financial report for the Turkey Dinner also. Looking forward to seeing Fishback next week too.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Rotary learns about Sonshine Medical Equipment

It was great to hear from Ron Flora about the Sonshine medical equipment project, an outreach of First Christian Church in Washington.


Sonshine is a compassionate outreach of First Christian Church that loans clean, quality, home care medical equipment to residents of Washington County who cannot secure the equipment they need to recover from illness or injury at home through Medicare, private insurance, or other support organizations. There is no cost for borrowing the equipment for as long as it is needed.

Flora said they have assisted over 100 people since they started, and have an equipment library of over 200 quality items.

Sonshine welcomes donations of home health care equipment that is clean and in excellent to new condition. After receiving the equipment, Sonshine will send the donor a Thank You! letter acknowledging the donation of equipment with the date received and a reasonable valuation of the equipment for tax purposes if requested.

Flora, the Sonshine executive director, can be reached at (319) 591-1333 or his mobile at (641) 919-5812, or rrflora@gmail.com.

Sonshine is located at 211 South Iowa Ave., Washington IA 52353, and at general e-mail address Sonshine1333@gmail.com.


Next week's program (9/20/2012) is a real treat.  Larry Fishback's program is Bill Bartenhagen, the director of the Washington County USDA Farm Service Agency. Maybe Susan will bring that financial report on the Turkey Dinner too.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Pics from the Rotary Turkey Dinner, 2012

Just a few (22) pics to help you remember our great 2012 fundraiser unfold. Susan Wellington will have a full financial report at Thursday's Rotary Club meeting.
Don't forget that Susan's program on Thursday is Ron Slora of Sonshine Medical Supply in Washington.



Getting ready in the morning, 9:40am - great to see Bob Logan in on the action.


Opening the kitchen


A lot of pies to cut


Stacking the pies in the afternoon.


prep work in the kitchen


Piece of pie, Honey?


Backstage at the serving line


Helping with a smile


a full house


Tickets Please!


Where is the lost & found?


Eat your beans, kid.


more water?


Harvey's table


washing dishes


a little emergency coleslaw around 6pm...


the Royalty show up - Gov. Terry & Peggy Geiger, Chris Knapp & his wife are greeted by Becky Patterson and Meredith


Store Manager!  Kickin' back supervising


Celebrety table - Geiger's, Knapp's, Patterson's and Prochaska


Gov ink...


In trouble with Ann...


Finished up at 7:45pm!!


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Rotary Turkey Dinner Planning II

Thanks to Dr. Ann Harris and Nancy Rash for taking the club through the final details of next Monday's (Sept. 10) Rotary Turkey Dinner at the United Methodist Church. It will be our first year without Ione Burham's gentle but firm guidance, but things seem to be under control.

Susan Wellington reported that we've sold right around 700 tickets!  Great job, club (especially Bob Ruppert who gets to select a free toy for being our top seller)!

Dr. Ann Harris & Nancy Rash guide the club through next Monday's schedule. That's Craig Davis' head too.

We were also blessed to have a visiting Rotarian, and hopefully a new Washington Rotarian, Becky Harkema. Becky is the new Executive Director at the Washington Community Y, replacing Rotarian Greg Woller who recently moved back to Wisconsin.

Welcome Becky!   The Y and the Washington Chamber of Commerce are hosting an "Alive After 5" for Becky Harkema and new aquatic program director Kara Batt on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Y. Stop by after work and say "Hi." Gently remind her that you met her at Rotary.

New Y Director, Becky Harkema, sitting under a Kiwanis banner next to Don Vittetoe (L) and Jim Mostek (R).

Thanks to Jim Mostek for singing with gusto to the birthday Rotarians!

Money was raised by Paul Horak in pools supporting either the Hawks or the Cyclones for the big game on Saturday. It was unclear from his report how much was raised for each team, but about half the club will be gloating next Thursday.

There are some great upcoming programs that you will not want to miss.

Sept. 13 - Susan Wellington: Ron Slora of Sonshine Medical Supply
Sept. 20 - Larry Fishback: USDA Farm Service Agency director, Bill Bartenhagen