Tuesday, December 22, 2015

When to use a comma, or not.

The Club was pleased to give some holiday cheer to Rotary exchange student, Andres Bravo. In addition to a winter coat, he got a gift card. We know how to do it in Rotary.
Andres Bravo and Tsalika Rich
Always good to have Barry Johnson from Wellman Rotary drop by our club meeting.
Barry Johnson

Mary Beth Harris helps us to be less Annoying

Mary Beth Harris is a Washington native currently working on her PhD in 19th Century English Literature at Purdue University (playing January 1st in the "Heart of Dallas Bowl" - tickets still available). Mary Beth was also Washington Rotary's 2005 John Prochaska Rotary Service Award winner.

As a teacher at Purdue, Mary Beth works to help those of us in the 21st Century to improve our communication skills in our e-mail, the most used writing format for many of us.
Mary Beth Harris
10 Common E-mail Errors to Avoid
  1. Missing Subject Line
  2. Missing/Inappropriate Greeting
  3. Missing Identities
  4. Overly Long E-mails
  5. Missing Signatures
  6. Overly Casual Tone
  7. Punctuation Problems
  8. Empty E-mails with no messages and a lone attachment
  9. Crazy Fonts/Colors/Formatting
  10. A Lack of Proof Reading

Yes. Mary Beth is the daughter of Rotarian Dr. Ann Harris.
Mary Beth Harris and Dr. Ann Harris

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

December 24: NO ROTARY MEETING - enjoy Christmas Eve
December 31: NO ROTARY MEETING - enjoy New Years Eve
January 7: Bob Kennedy - TBA
January 14: Lynn Koch - TBA
January 21: Amber Scott - TBA

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Harvey Holden, SIFT, Salvation Army, and YMCA Christmas


Dennis Hunger brought new WCHC Clinic Manager, Brent Antczak to Rotary again. Welcome, Brent!

Club President, Tsalika Rich welcomes Kurt Sorensen as a new Rotary member! Kurt works at Hills Bank & Trust in Washington.


Tsalika Rich also welcomed Wally Wolanin as a new Rotary member! Wally works at the Hawkeye Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.


Harvey Holden honored as a Lifetime Member

Rotary celebrated Harvey Holden by honoring him as a Lifetime Member of the Rotary Club of Washington. Harvey first joined Rotary in 1971. He also spent several terms as the Mayor of Washington in the 1990s, as well as serving on the City Council before that.

Harvey also celebrated his 98th birthday earlier this year in May at Rotary. This summer, Harvey resigned him membership in Rotary International due to other time obligations on Thursdays.

Harvey Holden tells it like it is
Thank you Harvey for your service!

Rotary rings bells for the Salvation Army

Thanks to the 10 Rotarians that volunteered to help ring bells for the Salvation Army on Sunday, December 5th at HyVee.


SUSTAINABLE IOWA LAND TRUST

Thanks to Emily Johnson for inviting Suzan Erem to speak about the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT).

(L-R) Suzan Erem, Emily Johnson, and Amy Adrian Green

Bob & Millie Youngquist
Millie Youngquist and Bob Youngquist from the Washington County Community Foundation

Thank you John Winga for reminding the club that you went to Michigan State...

John Winga

ROTARY CHRISTMAS WITH THE YMCA 

Rotary Christmas this year is $500 donated to the Mentor Kids Program through the YMCA.  We will be wrapping 12 presents for 6 boys and 6 girls on Thursday, December 10th at Hoodwink’s Bowling Alley at 5:30 pm.  Come join us for a beverage!  If you are interested, Rotary is handing out the presents on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:00 pm at the YMCA third floor in the room we meet for Rotary lunch.  You can personally hand out the presents and make a child’s Christmas bright!!  Please come join Becky Harkema and myself for a couple of fun filled evenings! 
-Denise Erpelding 

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 10: Bob Wollenberg - Renella Crawford from HACAP
December 10: 5:30pm at Hoodwink's Bowling Alley for gift wrapping
December 16: 6:00pm Christmas party for Rotary and the YMCA
December 17: Matt Miller - TBA
December 24: NO ROTARY - enjoy Christmas Eve!
December 31: NO ROTARY - enjoy New Year's Eve!



Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Rotary hears about job trends from WEDG

Thanks to Dennis Hunger for having Ed Raber of the Washington Economic Development Group provide an overview into Washington County's historical job trends. Most will remember that Raber was the Rotarian of the Year for 2013.



Raber showed that the number of jobs in Washington County had increased by about 1,500 to almost 8,300 in the 15 years from 1999 to 2014.

He also showed that there has been upward employment trends in most sectors, although manufacturing has had the most volatility.


The Rotary Clubs of Washington and Kalona teamed up with CBI Bank and Trust to raise almost $1,100 for Coats for Kids. This helped to purchase 90 coats! Our partner, HACAP will coordinate the distribution in the Washington and Mid-Prairie School Districts.


We put this card with each coat so that kids would understand where their gift came from.


UPCOMING EVENTS

December 3: Emily Johnson - Suzan Erem of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
December 10: Bob Wollenberg - HACAP
December 17: Matt Miller - TBA
December 24: NO ROTARY - enjoy Christmas Eve!
December 31: NO ROTARY - enjoy New Year's Eve!

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Iowa Public Television

Bob Kennedy joined Rotary before you were even born.

Rotarian, Bob Kennedy
Thanks to Jim Gorham for inviting Iowa Public Television's Mary Bracken for talking about the history and the future of IPTV.

Mary Bracken

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

November 19: Dennis Hunger - Ed Raber from WEDG
November 26: NO ROTARY - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
December 3: Emily Johnson - Suzan Erem of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
December 10: Bob Wollenberg - TBA

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

RYLA, Hospital Foundation, and Boy Scouts

We have had some great programs over the past few weeks.

We heard from Reid Basten and Aaron Vittetoe about their RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) experiences.


We also learned that Gene and Judy Driscoll have been married about 75 years.

Jim Mostek invited Amy Vetter speak about the Washington County Hospital Foundation.

Thanks to Dr. Ann Harris for inviting local attorney, Katie Mitchell to attend Rotary!

Thanks to Wally Wolanin for inviting Sarah Dawson to speak about the Hawkeye Area Boy Scout Council. Also, thanks to new Rotarian Lynn Koch from Federation Bank for the photobomb.


UPCOMING EVENTS

November 12: Jim Gorham - Mary Bracken from IPTV
November 19: Dennis Hunger - Ed Raber from WEDG
November 26: NO ROTARY - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
December 3: Emily Johnson - Suzan Erem of Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
December 10: Bob Wollenberg - TBA

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Sitler LED Supplies for Business & Industry Appreciation Day

FACTORY TOURS ON MONDAY & TUESDAY

ACH Foam Technology and Bazooka Farmstar are both participating in factory tours this week as a part of October as manufacturing day/month. Do something different. Take a tour of one of these interesting and fast-growing companies.

ACH Foam Technologies - Monday, October 19, from 2:00 to 4:00pm. 809 E. 15th St.

Bazooka Farmstar - Tuesday, October 20, from 10:00am to Noon. 800 E. 7th St.

**Must wear closed toe shoes on the tour. **


CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM - Monday, Oct. 19

The Washington Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Candidate Forum for City Council candidates on Monday, October 19 from 6:00-7:30pm, at the United Presbyterian Church's Fellowship Hall. Everyone in the County can vote of the Public Health Department ballot measure. Washington residents can all vote for the At-Large Council seat, and some can vote in either the Ward 1 or Ward 3 council race.


At-Large City Council

  • Mr. Gerald Franzen
  • Mr. Richard Gilmore
  • Ms. Millie Youngquist
Ward 1 City Council


  • Mr. Kerry Janecek
  • Mr. Bob Shepherd
Ward 2 City Council

  • Mr. Brendan DeLong

WELCOME ROTARY GUESTS! 

Emily Johnson brought her mom, Donna Johnson to Rotary. Her dad, Barry Johnson (not pictured), a visiting Rotarian from Wellman, also joined us. Welcome Donna (and Barry)!

Donna Johnson
Bob Kennedy also brought his partner at Kennedy Insurance, Nicole Peterson. Welcome, Nicole!

Bob Kennedy (left) and Nicole Peterson (right)

WASHINGTON TREE COMMITTEE

Rotarians, the Washington Tree Committee needs your help on October 21, Wednesday evening 5-7pm, and October 24, Saturday morning at 7:30am. They will be planting trees behind Paws & More in Sunset Park. If you enjoy firm but friendly supervision, feel free to just show up, or click here to drop Craig Davis an e-mail.


SITLER LED SUPPLIES

Thanks to Ren Miller, Nick Witthoft, and Crystal Cursi from Sitler's LED Supplies for speaking about both the energy savings of LED lighting, but also the physical and mental improvements from better lighting.



Renfred Miller (left) and Crystal Cursi (right)

"LED" = Light-Emitting Diode

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

October 22: Jim Mostek - Amy Vetter, WCHC Foundation
October 29: Wally Wolanin - Sarah Dawson, Hawkeye Area Boy Scout Council
November 5: Terry Engelken - Aaron Vittetoe & Reid Basten
November 12:  Jim Gorham - TBA

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Another Rotary Turkey Dinner

"Thank you members for making the 25th Annual Rotary Turkey Dinner
successful.  Your efforts to sell and give away tickets, bring your spouse
and children to help and working your shift and more is greatly appreciated!
725 dinner tickets were sold.  615 meals were eaten with 341 as carry-out
and 258 as dine-in.  We had 50 walk in diners." -Nancy Rash (2015 Rotarian of the Year)

Thanks also to the United Methodist Church, and our pie bakers, and all other people that helped to make this an annual success.

Once again, Bob Ruppert was our top ticket seller with 150 or so tickets. Bob, check with Nancy to claim your prize of either a Rotary decoder ring or sea monkeys.

Remember, the funds we raise from this dinner help us to provide scholarships for area high school scholars.


Here are some pictures to give you a sense of the fun-filled event.

So busy in the Carry-Out line there's no time to look up.

Service with a smile.

So many deserts!

Life is harder for the dishwashers in the back.

The food line.

The Carry-Out line serves over half the meals!


Andrés Bravo has great customer service.

Bob Kennedy serves up the decaf.


Gary Murphy helps out by keeping George Fulton company.


Everybody loves our pie!


One scoop of coleslaw or two?

Jim is a passable busboy.

Gene Driscoll a serves up the coffee and milk.


UPCOMING PROGRAMS

September 24:  Ed Rustioni - TBA
October 1: Becky Patterson - TBA
October 8: Wally Wolanin - TBA
October 15: Ed Raber - Business & Industry Day
October 22: Jim Mostek - TBA

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Turkey dinner planning

Nancy Rash
"Ann Harris and Paul Horak were the chairs for the first Rotary Turkey
Dinner held 25 years ago (1995).  Thanks for their leadership in this project that
has continued to be our major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Washington.
Members shared some "history" surrounding the annual dinner and had some
laughs as well.  September 3 is our "Count Day" for tickets so please bring
your money on Thursday to Rotary.  Please check your assignment for September 14th.  Thank you, Rotarians!"  -Nancy Rash

Thursday September 3
Ticket Count Day! Bring your ticket money to Rotary.

2015 Rotarian Work Assignments for Monday, Sept. 14

Ann Harris *****

Groceries @ Fareway; 2-5 PM Coleslaw

Emily Johnson

Groceries at Fareway; 2-5 PM Pies

Paul Horak

7-10 AM Beans

Denise Erpelding

7-10 AM Beans; 2-5 PM Pies; 5-7 PM as needed

Cheryl Kurtz

8-11 AM BBQ Sauce and Set up as needed

Myron Graber

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle; Noon: Pies from Ione

Ray Poe

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle

John Winga

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle

Dick Colby

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle

Brent Hinson

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle

Jeff Dicks

8-11 AM Set Up: Tables, Wrap Silver, Bag Bread, Recycle

Terry Engelken

Noon: Pies from Golden Delight; 3-7 PM Grilling

Chris Marshall

2-5 PM Pies

Becky Patterson

2-5 PM Pies;  4-7 PM Dessert Manager

Becky Harkema

2-5 PM Pies

Emory Van Gerpen *

2-5 PM Coleslaw

Gary Murphy

2-5 PM Coleslaw

Michelle Redlinger

2-5 PM Coleslaw

Craig Davis ****

3 PM Coffee; 4-7 PM Shift Captain: Set Up Serving Lines

Ed Lins

3 PM Coffee; 4-7 PM Shift Captain: Set Up Serving Lines

Susan Wellington

Ticket Pre-Sales; Collect Tickets; Turkey Sales

Karen Heineman

4-7 PM Dessert Manager

Ryan Walker

3-7 PM Grilling

Amber Scott

4-7 PM Window Server Dine-In, Turkey

Sue Basten

4-7 PM Window Server Dine-In, Beans

Tsalika Rich

4-7 PM Window Server Dine-In, Coleslaw

Don Patterson

4-7 PM Window Server Dine-In, Bread

Terry Hartzler

4-7 PM Dine-In & Carry Out Window:  Refills and Rover

Larry Fishback

4-7 PM Window Server Carry-Out, Turkey

Kathy Salazar

4-7 PM Window Server Carry-Out, Beans

Kynn Koch

4-7 PM Window Server Carry-Out, Coleslaw

Meredith Raber

4-7 PM Window Server Carry-Out, Bread

Henry Raber

4-7 PM Window Server Carry-Out: Bags, Fliers, Silverware

John Moenck

4-7 PM Dining  Room Director: traffic flow, etc. 

Don Vittetoe

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Clear Tables

Ed Raber

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Clear Tables

Laura Bombei

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Wash Tables

Jim Gorham

4-7 PM Dining Room: Wash Tables

Steve Olson

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Re-Set Tables, Re-Stock Carts

Lynn Horak

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Re-Set Tables, Re-Stock Carts

Bob Kennedy

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Serve Coffee, Water, Milk

Gene Driscoll

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Serve Coffee, Water, Milk

Andre Bravo, Student

4-7 PM Dining Room:  Serve Coffee, Water, Milk

Mark Kendall

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

Jim Mostek **

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

John Thorne

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

Bob Wollenberg

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

Matt Miller

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

Wally Wolanin

5-8 PM Kitchen: Wash Silver, Glasses, Pots and Pans

Dennis Hunger

6-9 PM Final Clean-Up Dining Room, Vacuum Carpet

Eric Turner

6-9 PM Final Clean-Up Dining Room, Vacuum Carpet

Kelsey Liska

6-9 PM Final Clean-Up Dining Room, Vacuum Carpet

Nancy Rash ***

Chair:   Work Schedule, Groceries, Pies, etc.

 


* Rotarian of the Year, 2010

** Rotarian of the Year, 2014

*** Rotrarian of the Year, 2015

**** Rotarian of the Year, 2001


***** Rotarian of the Year, 1998


UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 3:  Club Forum with Tsalika!
September 10:  Michelle Redlinger - John Langhorne: Optimistic thoughts about Leading and Living
September 14:  ROTARY TURKEY DINNER
September 17:  Laura Bombei - TBA
September 24:  Ed Rustioni - TBA