Don Patterson talks Xicotepec

Hola, Rotarians!

Thanks to Past District 6000 Governor, Don Patterson for sharing again about his return trip to Xicotepec, Mexico. Rotary District 6000 has a 10+ year relationship with the Rotary club in Xicotpec.

Terry Engelken, Don Patterson, Nancy Rash, Michelle Peiffer, Becky Harkema
w/ Unknown Rotarian in the foreground

How many Rotarians does it take to connect a laptop to the projector?

Club President, Terry Engelken tries to move the meeting along a little during continued technical difficulties.

Don Patterson talks about his trip to Xicotepec, Mexico, and eventually shows his great slide show. Here are a few choice pics.

   Our Xicotepec home 

Becky Patterson, RN does some floride varnishing

Don Patterson chats up the prettiest girl in Xicotepec

You can "like"the Rotary District 6000 joint project with Xicotepec Rotary Club in Mexico. There are currently 240 (up from 131 last summer) "likes." There are a lot of great pics and info on the ongoing project, going back to 2001!  https://www.facebook.com/xicoproj

If you'd like to look at a photo gallery that Rotarian Tom Narak collected from the team on a recent trip, check out this DropBox folder. If you find a picture you like, you can e-mail Tom and ask his for a copy.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

April 4: Kierstan Peck - Angela Freese talks about American Cancer Society Relay For Life and the "Above & Beyond Million Dollar Marathon"
April 11: Eric Turner - Dave Mitchell updates us on the Wellness Park project
April 11: Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico at Washington Community Center
April 11-13: Rotary 6000 District Conference at Honey Creek Resort

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. 

Green Share Organic CSA on Rotary Ag Day

Thanks to Don Vittetoe and his team for lining up our program for Rotary Ag Appreciation Day! It was great to hear from Green Share Organic CSA partners Laurie Roberts and Morgan Hoenig. There was a great turnout with many guests from a diverse area agriculture sector.

It was interesting to hear Laurie and Morgan's stories about how they became entrepreneurs, farmers, and scaleable business collaborators.

Laurie Robers & Morgan Hoenig

Green Share Organic CSA is a collaboration between three local farms with a shared vision: to provide our customers with organic produce of exceptional quality and variety. Mogo Organic, Long Creek Acres Organic, and Providence Organics are sharing land, equipment, and labor resources to offer a local CSA in SE Iowa. Our organic growing practices are sustainable and responsible, assuring you of produce that is free from GMOs, pesticides, or chemicals.

Morgan Hoenig is also the coordinator for the Mount Pleasant Farmers Market and has a kale agenda.

Green Share Organic CSA has weekly shares still available for purchase so that you can get fresh local produce through the summer and fall. They have weekly drop-offs at the Washington Farmers Market on Thursday evenings.

There are listings of their farms and other produce farmers on Local Harvest and on Hometown Harvest of Southeast Iowa.

Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico

Our Club has a challenge to club members to raise funds for the Students coming from  Manzanillo, Mexico. We are matching funds and the club was going to be contribute at least $250.00 and would match up to $500 from club members. So far we have raised $200 from the membership! But, they are still trying to raise funds.

Mark your calendar's to see the group on Thursday April 11, 2013 at the Washington Community Center. If you wish to donate to this cause, please bring a check to the next meeting and leave it with Terry. The check can be made payable to Washington Rotary and make sure you note the funds are for the Manzanillo Project.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

March 28: Don Patterson - Xicotepec, Mexico

April 4: Some Rotary program

April 11: Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico at Washington Community Center

April 11-13: Rotary 6000 District Conference at Honey Creek Resort

April 18: Some Rotary program

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. 

What's up at the Library?

It was a great week for Rotary! Club President, Terry Engelken called us together while standing in a gigantic (double reinforced) cup of iced tea. Thanks for doing whatever it takes, Terry.

DON'T FORGET TO INVITE A GUEST FOR MARCH 21st's AG APPRECIATION DAY with Laurie Roberts and Morgan Hoenig of GREEN SHARE ORGANIC CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

If you haven't already signed up to bring a guest, ASK SOMEONE and contact Don Vittetoe to let him know. 653-6718 or vittins@iowatelecom.net

Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico

Our Club has a challenge to club members to raise funds for the Students coming from  Manzanillo, Mexico. We are matching funds and the club was going to be contribute at least $250.00 and would match up to $500 from club members. So far we have raised $200 from the membership! But, they are still trying to raise funds.

Mark your calendar's to see the group on Thursday April 11, 2013 at the Washington Community Center. If you wish to donate to this cause, please bring a check to the next meeting and leave it with Terry. The check can be made payable to Washington Rotary and make sure you note the funds are for the Manzanillo Project.

PROGRAM - DEBBIE STANTON

Our program was from Washington Free Public Library director, Debbie Stanton. She only had her eyes closed briefly during her presentation, such as during this picture.

Debbie talked about the Library's recent community strategic planning, which set three goals...

1. Create young readers
2. Facilitate lifelong learning
3. Encourage community engagement. 

She said that the Library is giving every newborn a book. Hopefully this will encourage new parents to start reading to their baby right away, and to encourage them to come in to use the Library.

The Library is planning some reorganization of the children's area to better utilize the area and to engage kids.. Debbie also noted that they a have laptops and a computer projector for checkout.

Another popular program is the Tech Help Desk on the 1st Monday of each month, where teens are available to (try to) assist you with your computer or gadget questions.  Its a good idea to bring your gadget with you (along with your Library card)... Colby, DO NOT bring in that VCR again. You couldn't program it in 1982, and the teens don't even know what its for.

Thanks for the update, Debbie!

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

March 21: Don Vittetoe - AGRICULTURE APPRECIATION DAY w/ Green Share Organics CSA, Laurie Roberts and Morgan Hoenig

March 28: Don Patterson - Xicotepec, Mexico

April 11: Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico at Washington Community Center

April 11-13: Rotary 6000 District Conference at Honey Creek Resort

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. 

Double Edition! Make a Wish Foundation & Guatemala Mission Trip

Our Club has a challenge to club members to raise funds for the Students coming from  Manzanillo, Mexico. We are matching funds and the club was going to be contribute at least $250.00 and would match up to $500 from club members. So far we have raised $200 from the membership! But, they are still trying to raise funds.

Mark your calendar's to see the group on Thursday April 11, 2013 at the Washington Community Center. If you wish to donate to this cause, please bring a check to the next meeting and leave it with Terry. The check can be made payable to Washington Rotary and make sure you note the funds are for the Manzanillo Ballet Forklorico Project.

DON'T FORGET TO INVITE A GUEST FOR MARCH 21st's AG APPRECIATION DAY w/ GREEN SHARE ORGANIC CSA

Make A Wish Foundation

It was great to hear from Carol Tebockhorst about the great stuff that the Make A Wish Foundation has done for almost 20 years.

A Rare Treat at Rotary (not Bob)

Paul Horak gives direction for the Blood Drive. Sadly, it got snowed out around 3pm...

Denise Erpelding

Denise Erpelding talks about her own experience with Make A Wish Foundation and introduces Carol.

Carol Tebockhorst 

Carol Tebockhorst filled us in on Make A Wish Foundation's activities in Washington County, Iowa, and the nation.

Mission trip to Guatemala

First off, it was great to have Gary Murphy back doing Rotary Justice this week. Next week he shouldn't have to rely so much on the Bulletin to remember our names...

Rick Fulton, of Crawfordsville, spoke about his recent trip to Guatemala distribute meals from Kids Against Hunger, and wheelchairs. Contact Rick if you have one to donate...

This is a woman with a specially constructed, efficient stove built by John Mitchell's On His Path ministry.

These are some of the friendly Guatemalans assisted by this ministry.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

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

March 14: Jim Mostek - TBA, maybe an update on banking regulation

March 21: Don Vittetoe - AGRICULTURE APPRECIATION DAY w/ Green Share Organics CSA, Laurie Roberts and Morgan Hoenig

March 28: Don Patterson - Xicotepec, Mexico