Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Johannah Vittetoe reaches for Miss Iowa

Emory VanGerpen had todays program, and we learned a little bit more about him. In addition to being a career missionary in Africa with his wife Phylis, Emory met Miss Idaho at an African hospital while his wife was giving birth to their first child. They have been friends ever since.
Emory VanGerpen
Thanks to Melanie Roth of L.J. Roth for bringing daughter Josie to Rotary this week! Welcome Josie!
Melanie & Josie Roth

Johannah Vittetoe

We were pleased to hear from Johannah Vittetoe of Washington, the reigning Miss Southeast Iowa.
Johannah Vittetoe - Miss Southeast Iowa
We learned a lot about the Miss America organization, which is the largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women in the US. The path to "Miss America" begins with local competitions. In order to compete in local competitions, there are several requirements.

Contestants must raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network - Johannah has raised $6,000!

You also must have a "platform" - Johannah's platform is to raise awareness of eating disorders. At Washington High School, Johannah was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, and battled back from that to physical and mental health.

You can read or subscribe to Johannah's website blog Find The Beauty, about her ongoing confrontation with the eating disorder disease.

Johannah is a Resource Person volunteer for the online Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders (ANAD), assisting people that are reaching out for help.

She has also was a part of the college chapter of Proud2BME, which is an organization that promotes positive body image and encourages healthy attitudes about food and weight. She is working to get new chapters started around the country.

Lastly, Johannah is an active volunteer for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) where she is a "social media watchdog," and a co-coordinator for the NEDA Walk in Iowa.

The local competitions leading up to Miss America include several components
  • 10 minute interview - explain your platform and why you are competing, discuss social issues and current events
  • Respond on-stage to a question - which could be anything, so quick thinking and knowledge of current events/issues is critical
  • Lifestyle and Fitness
  • Talent - Johannah's is "clog dancing" which she did not demonstrate...
  • Evening Gown and walking (which is hard)


Johannah Vittetoe
Best wishes to Johannah as she looks forward to the Miss Iowa competition in Davenport starting on June 22nd, and hopefully on to the Miss American competition this fall!

You can follow her on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/MissSoutheastIowa/

Or you might also catch her portraying Elsa from the movie "Frozen," although she won't be singing "Let It Go." That's what YouTube is for.

Johannah Vittetoe as Elsa


CALENDAR

June 22:  Susan Wellington
June 28:  WEDNESDAY, Rotary Awards Dinner - Marr Park
June 29:  No Club Meeting
July 6:  Michelle Redlinger - Hotel Motel Tax w/ Charla Howard
July 13:  Steve Olson, TBA
July 20:  Sue Basten, TBA

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Dr. Jorgensen talks about Highland Schools

Welcome and thanks to our visitors this week at Washington Rotary. 

Thanks to Rotarian, Kurt Sorensen for inviting new colleague Angela Langstraat at Hills Bank and Trust. Welcome Angela!
Angela Langstraat and Rotarian, Kurt Sorensen 
Rotarian, Craig Davis will take credit for inviting former Rotarian, Kiersten Peck back for one more week before Kiersten, Nic and Anders head back to Minnesota where she will be a career counselor for a private college. Washington and Kirkwood Washington Regional Center will all miss Kiersten.
Rotarian, Craig Davis and former Rotarian, Kiersten Peck

Dr. Mike Jorgensen

Dr. J was the Washington School superintendent for 8 years, and was a valued Rotarian. He slid into semi-retirement two years ago, and did some teaching at Kirkwood.

He came back to Rotary to talk about his upcoming return to work. Dr. J will be the interim superintendent at Highland School District in nearby Riverside. He said that he had previously been superintendent in western Iowa at a district that was about the same size with many of the same issues as Highland, so he believes he is a good fit and has the background to help the school and community.

Dr. J also noted that he has lost about 60 pounds after discovering that he was pre-diabetic. He has changed his diet and started running again. Thankfully, his body is now eligible to be donated to science.

Dr. Mike Jorgensen

Calendar

June 15 - Emory Van Gerpen
June 22 - Susan Wellington
June 28 - WEDNESDAY Rotary Annual Dinner at Marr Park
June 29 - NO Club meeting