Thursday, December 26, 2013

You make a difference - VOTE! and donate some United miles

A message from Rotary International... To VOTE, you don't have to provide an e-mail address or anything, just click. They won't add you to a e-mail list or anything, so VOTE daily through the end of the year!

Currently (Dec. 26th), R.I. is in 2nd place!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

May Saint Nicholas hold your Tiller

We covered a number of topics at today's meeting.
  • We are waiting for a confirmation on the possible daffodils fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and to raise funds for Rotary.
  • On January 23rd, we will have a planning meeting for the spring blood drive.
  • Michelle Redlinger said that Junior Achievement is asking for volunteers to lead some middle-school classes, and passed around an info and sign-up sheet.
  • Becky Patterson announced that the club would be covering the cost of Hannah Purner's outfit so that she could participate in Show Choir. (Apparently, Hannah wanted to be in Show Choir and they're not forcing her.) Hannah said "Thanks!" by handing around some Austrian cookies!
Susan Wellington conferred membership papers to John Thorne. This came a few weeks early because sponsor John Moenck and RI Foundation rep Kent Dallmeyer are bailing out of Iowa for warmer weather. Dallmeyer said that as Thorne was going to become a sustaining RI Foundation member, the club was still at 100% participation!

John Moenck pins John Thorne (photo missing)

YMCA Director, Becky Harkema thanked the club for its sponsorship of the Y's annual sustaining drive. This banner will hang in the gym.

Harkema also thanked the club's Christmas Committee for adopting 11 YMCA families in need. The Committee shopped for gifts and wrapped them.

The Historic Saint Nicholas 

Pastor Bob Wollenberg gave a very interesting program about the historical figure of Saint Nicolas. Our modern idea of St. Nic as Santa Clause was shaped by 1920's Coca Cola advertisements.
The historical Saint Nicholas was born in 262 A.D. in what is now Turkey. He grew us as a Christian in the Roman empire, when being Christian wasn't an easy thing. As an adult, he became the bishop of Myra.
looks a little like Bob with a beard?
During his life, Constantine became the Roman Emperor and sanctioned Christianity. Nicholas participated in the Nicene Council and signed the Nicene Creed. That was big.
Some of the stories about his point to his modern persona as a mysterious gift deliverer. [from Wikipedia:]
In his most famous exploit, a poor man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment, would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the girls' plight, Nicholas decided to help them, but being too modest to help the family in public (or to save them the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to the house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the house.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

December 26: Rob Negrete - Lyle Moen & Nancy Rash travel log pics from Alaska!
January 2:  Becky Harkema
January 9:  Dennis Hunger
January 16: Club Forum!
January 23:  Paul Horak - Blood Drive planning
January 30:  Jim Gorham


Ho Ho Ho


Merry Christmas everyone.


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Stories of Christmas Past

Thanks to Craig Davis for arranging a program of stories from Rotarians about their Christmas experiences as a child. We heard stories from across the generations, from the very very old down to those new to the slippery downward backslope.


HARVEY HOLDEN



Harvey shared his memories from the 1920s. There were no lights on the Christmas tree as they had no electricity... As for presents, each kid could ask for one thing they wanted. Often they got utilitarian things like clothes and games.

GARY MURPHY

Gary said that he remembered the Christmas program at school and every one came. He said they got a tree out of the pasture and that in his early days they had no electricity. They decorated the tree with popcorn and paper chains-which he says were ugly. Dad always left to check hogs and while he was gone Santa came and Dad always missed Santa. Gary's favorite gift? A Red Rider bb gun.

NANCY RASH


Nancy related on how her family used many ornaments each year to decorate their tree, most of them simple and homemade. They always had a red candle that was lit every year only on Christmas. She remembered their Christmas Eve program and before would go to City Hall/Jail to see Santa... She got a bag of fruit  and nuts from Santa. They used Dad's big socks for stockings. They opened gifts on Christmas day and then went to her grandparents home for a big dinner. 

KIERSTAN PECK

Kierstan said her family always went to the late Christmas Eve church service. She remembered they always drove by same house that was so well lit. Her family opened one gift on Christmas Eve. In the morning, kids could look at their Christmas stockings and then wake up parents. To make it more challenging, stockings were always hidden.   Another game was "hide the pickle" in the tree and whoever found it got a special gift.  They always took a "horrible" family picture on Christmas morning (perhaps a future Rotary program?).  Now it is very difficult to get the whole family together for Christmas.  They still do the Christmas picture and "Skype" in anyone who is not there.

THANKS TO ROTARY GIFT WRAPPERS!


(L to R) Denise Erpelding, Becky Patterson (front), Kierstan Peck (back), Don Patterson, DG Jacque Andrew, Gary Murphy, Becky Harkema, Michelle Redlinger

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

December 19: Bob Wollenberg - some kind of Christmas program
December 26: Rob Negrete - Lyle Moen & Nancy Rash travel log pics from Alaska!
January 2:  Becky Harkema
January 9:  Dennis Hunger
January 16: Club Forum!
January 23:  Paul Horak - Blood Drive planning
January 30:  Jim Gorham

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Hannah is a Palindrone

It was wonderful to hear from Austrian, Rotary exchange student, Hannah Purner.
Hannah is a natural public speaker
Hannah gave us a great presentation about Austria, its regions and culture, and about her life back home.


If you would like to see her presentation again, you can click here or on the picture below from Hannah's presentation. You can view the presentation in a web browser or download the pdf.


Hannah also has a blog where she discusses the ups and downs of being a foreign exchange student. Check it out here.

It has been a pleasure to have Hannah in our community, school, and Rotary Club.

Hannah Purner at home in Austria

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

December 12: Craig Davis - Stories of Christmas Past
December 19: Bob Wollenberg - Stories of Christmas Future
December 26: Rob Negrete - TBA
January 2: Becky Harkema - TBA

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Fun times at Club Forum!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

There were a lot of things to celebrate at our Club Forum last week. This gives you a snapshot of what our Club does and how we are a vital part of Washington, Southeast iowa, and even the global community.

Thanks to Club President Becky Patterson for leading us through this discussion.
  • Hosted the annual Turkey Dinner in September with about 100% participation. This is our biggest fundraiser with about $4,170 profit. Scholarships from the club, and many other donations are possible because of this fundraiser.
  • Manned the County Fair gates in August. The Club received $1000 from the Fair Board for our services.
  • Fundraiser at Unc & Nephs
  • Sponsoring a Rotary Exchange student from Austria - Hannah Purner!
  • Received a matching grant from RI ( $2500 from the club and $2500 from RI ) to place a "Waterfall" in the garden at Washington High School (in the former Jr. High)
  • Sent a student to RYLA - Kyle Basten
  • Our club has a 100% participation in the Rotary International Foundation!
  • Our club donates a children's book to our Library each month. We invite our weekly speakers to sign that months book.
  • Donated $500 to Polio Plus
  • Donated $100 to the District Youth Fund
  • Four Club members attended Fall Training in West Liberty
  • Two Club members attended the Zone 28-29 meeting held in Pittsburgh
  • Donated $500 to the YMCA for its Annual Sustaining Campaign toward their $75k goal. (see the banner in the gym)
  • Have voted to give the proposed Washington High School auditorium $10,000 over 4 years, contingent upon a District 6000 grant. Their goal is $7 million!
  • Contributed (with other service clubs) for the replacement computer projector in the YMCA Y's Men Room
  • Helped pay for a Blood Drive poster, and sponsored a successful annual Blood Drive
  • Donated $480 to FAMSCO/MOST (Miles Of Smiles)


We also are working on a new fundraiser to sell Daffodils in the Spring with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society drive and to our Club.

Also, the Christmas Committee is meeting this week to decide on a Club project for Christmas.

On Sunday, Dec. 1, we rang the Bells for the Salvation Army at HyVee. Participants:  Gary Murphy, Hannah Purner, Katy Wellington, Susan Wellington, Emily Johnson, John Thorn, Phillip Rabinowitz and Becky Patterson. We really lucked out with beautiful weather

Phillip Rabinowitz and John Thorn work the kettle on Sunday afternoon at HyVee


UPCOMING PROGRAMS

December 5 - Craig Davis, TBA
December 12 - Denise Erpelding, Hannah Purner!
December 19 - Bob Wollengerg, TBA
December 26 - Rob Negrete, TBA

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Have "The Conversation"

Turkey Dinner Thank Yous

Thank you to all Rotarians and their family members helping to make our annual Rotary Turkey Dinner a success.  Reports were that everyone had fun and with the exception of the baked beans we had plenty of food.  I appreciate all members assuming the same jobs as in the past and for folks stepping up and doing whatever needed to be done to prepare and deliver and clean-up after the dinner.  

Thanks to Cheryl and Craig for taking responsibility for the day and night shifts.  

At the Club Forum on November 21 the financial report from the dinner will be shared with the club.  Thank you!  

-Nancy Rash  

Hannah Purner has two dollars to donate to celebrate
1) The Washington Demons football team is headed to the State Tournament!
2) Hannah has been in Washington for 3 months!


Have "The Conversation"


Marcie Durian
Marcie Durian, Community Outreach Specialist & Regional Marketing Director for Midwest Geriatric Management, spoke about the importance of having "The Conversation" with your family and spouse about your wishes in the event of a a health crisis. 

Midwest Geriatric Management owns and operates a number of nursing homes in Iowa, including Parkview Manor in Wellman. Marcie also does a wide variety of Senior Wellness Seminars in the area.

Marcie talked about the Vial of Life Project, a charity sponsored by the American Senior Safety Agency. The Vial of Life has downloadable and printable forms for documenting your wishes in case of a medical emergency. You put the documents on your refrigerator.

Hospice of Washington County also had a documents folder, called a S.A.F.E. folder that Marcie praised as a useful and comprehensive checklist of emergency information. These folders are free and can be picked up at Hospice on East 11th St. in Washington.

Thank you Marcie for a very thought provoking program!

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

November 21:  7:00am Rotary Board Meeting, WCHC
November 21:  CLUB FORUM! - lots to discuss, please make an effort to attend!
November 28:  THANKSGIVING - no club meeting
December 5:  Craig Davis - Pictures of Craig from the 1980s

Monday, November 11, 2013

PDG Cal Litwiller talks Rotary Foundation's "Future Vision"

Thanks, Cheryl Kurtz, for lining up PDG Cal Litwiller to speak to the club today. And thanks for playing the piano. We have it so much better than the Noon Kiwanis club.
 
Cheryl Kurtz (left) and Myron Graber (right)


WHS Mini-DANCE MARATHON - SAT, NOV 16

WHS Senior, Katie Wellington gave the club an update on the upcoming Dance Marathon on Saturday, November 16 from 5:00 -7:30pm. Pulled pork dinner & variety show at the WHS Commons.

Cost is $5 for adults and kids over 5. To-go dinners are also available...

WHS is trying to raise $10,000 this year. Last year they raised $7,526 and were the 3rd best fundraising school in Iowa. The big Dance Marathon at the University of Iowa raised $1,529,650 last winter!  The money raised goes to:
  • emotional and financial support for children with cancer at the UI Hospitals
  • support for nearly 400 families that are currently or were previously affected by cancer.

Katie Wellington likes to have her picture taken

2xPDG

Not every PDG is a big singer.
Rachel and (PDG) Cal Litwiller, with (PDG) Don Patterson


Two New Rotary Associate Members!

It is wonderful to welcome two new Associate Members to Washington Rotary. Thanks to John Moenck for reeling in these big fish.

Gene Driscoll was the longtime owner of Marshall Furniture, and is now semi-retired doing  several volunteer and business things that fill his time.

Dr. John Thorne is retired from Syngenta Seeds (he would say Northup King) where he worked on plant genetics. John is a longtime City Planning & Zoning Commission member and is active in numerous other volunteer activities in town.

New Assoc. Member, Gene Driscoll (left)
Old "Senior Active" Rotarian, John Moenck (center)
New Assoc. Member, Dr. John Thorne (right)
Also, it was great to have Colin Drown back helping Tsalika to prepare, serve and eat lunch today.
Colin Drown - Tsalika's Dad and Kitchen Assistant

Recognizing Club Milestones

As we recognized the club members that have joined in Novembers past, there were three that have maybe earned some special recognition.

Bob Kennedy - Rotarian since 1966 (47 years!)

Dick Colby - Rotarian since 1965 (48 years!)

Dr. Ann Harris (left) - Rotarian since 1990 (23 years!)
FIRST WOMAN in Washington Rotary
FIRST WOMAN CLUB PRESIDENT in Washington Rotary
FIRST PREGNANT WOMAN in Washington Rotary

ROTARY FOUNDATION - FUTURE VISION

PDG Cal Litwiller from the Mt. Pleasant Noon club, gave a great presentation about how the Rotary Foundation works, and how our club and District 6000 have been contributing.

PDG Cal Litwiller croons about Rotary Foundation
There was a lot of great info about Rotary Foundation in his presentation. To view (or download) a PDF of his presentation, click here.

Some highlights:

  • 100% of RF contributions go to grants and programs, 0% goes to administration
  • Over the years, Rotary District 6000 has contributed about $15M to RF!
  • District 6000 members contributed over $535k last year
  • Washington Rotary members have contributed over $22k in the past 3 years. That much money can accomplish this through Rotary Foundation:
    • Inoculate 37,220 children against polio
    • Fund a "Global Grant" project that can sponsor $106,912 worth of "Doing Good in the World."
    • Fund FOUR Community Service Grants worth $40,000
  • Rotary Foundation's main programs include Polio PlusGlobal Grants, District/Community Service GrantsRotary Peace Fellows and others.

Click on the image below to view (or download) Cal's presentation. Great stuff.


UPCOMING PROGRAMS

November 14:  Gary Murphy - TBA
November 21:  7:00am Rotary Board Meeting @ WCHC
November 21:  CLUB FORUM !!
November 28: THANKSGIVING - NO CLUB MEETING


PDG = "Past District Governor" in case you were wondering.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Happy Septaquintaquinquecentennial !

Today's meeting fell on Halloween and Rotarians really got into the "spirit" on the holiday.


Cowgirl Michelle Redlinger reads the newspaper during Rotary.
Someone dressed as Unknown Rotarian in the foreground.


Pirate Ed Lins


Kent Dallmeyer is amused by what is probably Gary Murphy



Washington's Septaquintaquinquecentennial

The Washington Chamber is spearheading  the community planning effort for the Washington 175th Anniversary celebration on June 1-8, 2014. Millie Youngquist and Diane Gallagher are volunteer leaders of this effort. Rotarian, Kierstan Peck is also a volunteer leader.

Check out the Chamber's web site with day by day info on the big event.

Millie Youngquist talks about plans for the upcoming 
Septaquintaquinquecentennial
Millie is also the Director of the Community Foundation of Washington County, and a retired vocal music teacher at WACO.


SOFTBALL CONTROVERSY

Back in October, this newsletter reported that it could not verify the claim that Ray Poe made at Rotary that he plays on a seniors softball team that recently won a national championship or something. Poe has recently provided a link to a Naperville Sun newspaper article on his team, the Challengers 65, winning a "gold medal."

That is great, until you read the last line of the article which states the disclaimer that it was "submitted by a member of the community." Hardly the kind of journalistic integrity that goes with sports coverage of national championships.

Way to go, Ray. Congrats on the "gold medal."

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

November 7:  Cheryl Kurtz - PDG Cal Litwiller on Rotary "Future Vision"
November 14:  Gary Murphy
November 21:  Club Forum !!
November 28:  THANKSGIVING - no club meeting

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Rotary hears about Solar Energy from Tim Dwight

Thanks to Steve Olson for having Tim Dwight to speak about solar energy. Tim is a former UI football player, and played some NFL ball. Tim is now part of iPower, a solar energy company.


Tim Dwight talks solar energy at Rotary

After his football career, Tim helped to start the Iowa Solar/Small Wind Energy Trade Association.

World Polio Day - Oct. 24

Rotary's World Polio Day was October 24th. This is an important day to remember. We still have not eradicated polio, and cases still pop up and threaten communities around the world. There was just an outbreak in Syria, which is hard to contain.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

October 31:  Michelle Redlinger - Washington's 175th Anniversary
November 7:  Cheryl Kurtz - PDG Cal Littwiller on Future Vision
November 14:  Gary Murphy

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Business & Industry Day with EBD

Welcome to a dozen guests for Rotary Business & Industry Appreciation Day. We're glad you shared our club's lunch and meeting. Get out there and join a service club! (preferably Rotary)

Before today's program, Tsalika Drown took an opportunity to finish her program from last week by listing her Top 5 Things that Bug Me About Ed Raber. Sadly, space limitations keep us from reprinting them here. Oh, snap!
Michelle Redlinger claps after Tsalika Drown ambushes
Ed Raber, 2013 Rotarian of the Year

Order new Rotary Shirts!

Denise Erpelding is coordinating our Rotary shirt orders. Orders are due by the end of October (Halloween). Thanks to those that have already placed their order. We'll all look fab at the County Fair in new Blue Sapphire colored Nike Golf shirts. They're about $45.

E-mail Denise or give her a call at Horak Insurance at 653-2116 by Halloween!

Men's Rotary Shirt info

Ladies Rotary Shirt info



Engineered Building Design

Thanks to Ed Raber for scrambling to find a replacement program for Business & Industry Appreciation Day. Its great that Sue Basten had already invited Dave Mitchell of Engineered Building Design because he was the fill-in guy. Gerald Edson and Billibob Boor of new industry BravaTile will present on another day.
Raber tries to focus while making some point about
something as he introduces Dave Mitchell.
Dave Mitchell has been the general manager at Engineered Building Design (EBD) since it opened in Washington in 1995. He has helped guide the company through several growth and contraction cycles in the past 18 years.

They started with 10 employees (including Dave) in 1995 and got as high as 75 in 2007. Today, EBD has over 55 employees (including Dave Mitchell and Rotarian Matt Miller). EBD's traditional product is roof trusses for homes in Eastern Iowa. In recent years, they have moved into other market areas after competitors have faltered and closed, including the Quad Cities and Chicago. EBD has also moved in to new product lines, including floor trusses and wall panels.
Dave Mitchell of Engineered Building Design
never took his hands out of his pockets during his talk.

Tsalika Drown a Forty Under 40 honoree

The Corridor Business Journal recently announce that Tsalika Drown was one of 40 young professionals making a difference in the Corridor as part of their Forty Under 40 class of 2013. There is a glitzy awards dinner to honor the winners on October 24th at the Riverside Casino.
Tsalika Drown is carried away after learning
the she is a 40U40 honoree in the Corridor.

Recent speaker at Rotary, Roby Miller, is also honored this year too. Roby founded TelePharm, a cool technology company that works closely with Reliant Long Term Care Pharmacy based in Washington (with Rotarians Caleb Wilson and Jon Thompson).

Washington Rotary has a long list of young members that have won the prestigious Forty Under 40 award from the Corridor Business Journal since it started in 2005.
  • Barrett Gady (2006)
  • Ed Raber (2006)
  • Sue Basten (2007)
  • Patrick Finney (2009)
  • Adam Mangold (2010)
  • Eric Turner (2011)
Congrats to Tsalika Drown for contributing so much to the Washington community and the Corridor through Cafe Dodici and your other volunteer efforts!

(Other non-Rotarian past winners from the Washington area include Wendy Gady, Dave Patterson, Amy Vetter, and Todd Patterson.)

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

October 24:  Steve Olson - Tim Dwight
October 31:  Michelle Redlinger - Washington's 175th Anniversary
November 7:  Cheryl Kurtz - PDG Cal Littwiller on Future Vision
November 14:  Gary Murphy