Rotary hears from Community Foundation of Washington County

An excellent Rotary program from Bob Freeman and Millie Youngquist on the Community Foundation of Washington County. Bob is the Board President (and Wellman Rotarian, and owner of Freeman Foods grocery in downtown Wellman).

Bob Freeman

The Community Foundation of Washington County was formed in 2006 as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend based in the Quad Cities. Washington Rotarian, Steve Olson helped to start the group and was the Board President for several years.

In fact, three of the seven current CFWC Board Members are Rotarians, including Ed Raber (Washington), Bob Freeman (Wellman), and Steve Reif (Kalona).

Millie Youngquist

Executive Director, Millie Youngquist gave an overview of why families and individuals should consider donating to create permanent endowments to help the organizations and causes that they love into the future. One of the best donation options for creating permanent endowment is through the Endow Iowa 25% state tax credits.

With Endow Iowa, donations to community foundations cost donors less.
For example, a $5,000 gift could cost just $2,000.

$5,000  Gift
$1,250  25% Iowa "Endow Iowa" Tax Credit
$1,750  Federal Deduction (based on 35% marginal tax rate)
$3,000  Total Tax Savings
$2,000 TOTAL COST OF GIFT

BLOOD DRIVE - THURSDAY FEB 21, 12:30-5:30pm

Hey, don't forget to donate blood on Thursday afternoon after Rotary.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

February 21: Denise Erpelding - Carol Tebockhorst on Make-A-Wish Foundation

February 29: Craig Davis - Rick Fulton on his mission trip to Guatemala

March 7: Cheryl Kurtz - Brent Hinson talking about City stuff

March 14: Jim Mostek - TBA

March 21: Don Vittetoe - AG APPRECIATION DAY with Green Share Organics CSA

Planning for the Feb. 21st Blood Drive

One of the best things about Rotary is getting to sing a little after lunch. Thanks, Chris Marshall (and Cheryl Kurtz) for the new songbook and tickling the ivories.

Chris Marshall

Thanks to Paul Horak for spearheading the annual Blood Drive for Rotary. This years Blood Drive is on Thursday, February 21st at the UP Church's Fellowship Hall. Horak reminded us that it is important that we work to get a good turnout for the blood drive because the Kiwanis event last month got canceled due to weather. 

Volunteer callers need to get their calls done in the next few days.

The Rotary Blood Drive begins a little earlier than usual at 12:30 and ends at 5:30.

Paul Horak - friendly blood drive coordinator

It is also great to hear every year from Chris Ciasto from the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. 

Chris Ciasto - Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center

Ciasto gave us some info about how we work with the Blood Center.

• The Washington community annually collects about 1,000 units of blood each year. Our Rotary blood drive is an important part of that effort.
• The Washington County Hospital uses about 145 units each year.
• The University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics gets about 11,000 units each year from the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, which is about half of its annual usage.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

February 14: Gary Murphy - Brent Hinson on What's Up at the City

February 21: Denise Erpelding - Carol TeBockhorst on Make A Wish Foundation

February 28: Craig Davis - TBA

March 7: Cheryl Kurtz - TBA

March 14: Don Vittetoe - AGRICULTURE APPRECIATION DAY

REGISTER FOR THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE! - and bring some shoes

Remember that District 6000 Governor Terry Geiger is encouraging all Rotarians to donate a good pair of shoes for the District Conference from April 11-13 at Honey Creek Resort. Registration is open now!

Kennedy's trip to Ireland: An Unexpected Journey

It was great to hear about Bob Kennedy's trip this past September to his home County Down in Northern Ireland at Rotary this week.

Bob's Great, Great, Grandfather came to America in 1852. Of course, Bob was just a boy then. 

Bob and his siblings, John Kennedy, Dick Kennedy, and Martha Hahn, plus a friend, Maryann Brindley, spent 13 days on the Emerald Isle visiting County Down and other locations of interest.

Speaking of Irish gnomes, Phil Ropp of Kalona Rotary scored a program from Dr. Tom Davis this week. Not as cool as Bob's travelogue, but fairly interesting nonetheles.

With all of Bob's talk about the lush countryside of Ireland, it brings The Hobbit to mind. Great flick.

REGISTER FOR THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE! - and bring some shoes

Remember that District 6000 Governor Terry Geiger is encouraging all Rotarians to donate a good pair of shoes for the District Conference from April 11-13 at Honey Creek Resort. Registration is open now!

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

February 7: Paul Horak - planning for upcoming Blood Drive

February 14: Gary Murphy - Brent Hinson on What's Up at the City

February 21: Denise Erpelding - Carol TeBockhorst on Make A Wish Foundation

February 28: Craig Davis - TBA