Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Veterans Day & RI Foundation

Veteran's Day

Thanks to Bob Kennedy for inviting NCO Ashley Zerwas from the National Guard unit in Washington to speak to us for Veteran's Day.
Bob Kennedy (left) and Ashley Zerwas (right)
It was great to have several guests for our Veteran's Day program. Somehow the guests were all Kiwanis members.

Joe McConnell regaled those around him with his stories of navigating a bomber. Scott Lujan listens patiently, again, to Joe's stories.
Scott Lujan and Joe McConnell
Kiwanis member Lonny Milligan had his own stories of the calvary.
Lonny Milligan

It was also great to have Carol Miller, club president in Wellman, visit our club meeting. Welcome Carol!
Ashley Zerwas and Wellman's Carol Miller

Kurt Sorensen brought his office colleague, Becky Mougin to Rotary too. Welcome Becky!
Kurt Sorensen and Becky Mougin

Thanks to NCO Ashley Zerwas for your remarks about how you joined the National Guard and made it your career. Great job on your first presentation. We appreciate your service and leadership! 
National Guard's Ashley Zerwas

RI Foundation

Ray Poe invited PDG Terry Geiger to speak on Nov. 16th about the importance of the RI Foundation, and the local and global initiatives that they have undertaken to change the world. Polio eradication is one of the top priorities.
PDG Terry Geiger
PDG Terry Geiger presented club president Michelle Redlinger with 100% Member Participation in RI Foundation banner for 2016-17! Congratulations to all our Club Members!
Club Pres. Michelle Redlinger and PDG Terry Geiger

Bellringing

Thanks to everyone that has volunteered to bell ring for the Salvation Army at HyVee. This is a great way for Rotary to help serve the community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 30:  Dr. Ann Harris - Workplace Learning Connection's Judy Marshall
December 7:  Jeff Dicks - TBA
December 14: NO NOON CLUB MEETING
December 14: 5:30pm Rotary Holiday Party @ Washington Country Club!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

End Polio Now and UI Football Replays

End Polio Now

Rotarian Terry Engelken gave an update program on Rotary International's End Polio Now campaign. There are several key points about polio today:
  1. Polio mainly affects children under age 5
  2. There is no cure for polio, but it is preventable with a vaccine
  3. Only three countries remain endemic - Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria
  4. Cases of polio have been reduced worldwide by 99.9% since 1988
  5. Until we end polio forever, every child is at risk


In 1988, 350,000 polio cases were found in 125 countries around the world, including in North America. This was three years after Rotary International established PolioPlus with a fundraising target of $120 million to battle the disease.

By 2012, polio had been reduced to being endemic in just three countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. In part that is because in 2009, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $350 million, and challenged Rotary to raise another $200 million for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.



Here is a 2:41 minute video highlighting our final push to finally eradicate polio to zero cases worldwide.


Rotary International, and Rotary club members like us, are making an amazing difference around the world. Together, we are making the world a better place.

Bontrager talks UI Replay Booth

Thanks to Rotarian Jim Mostek for inviting Kalona Rotarian Dan Bontrager to speak about his work as a high school football referee through the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and as a Big 10 Replay Official for the UI Hawkeye football program

In Dan's day job, he is a CPA and owns Bontrager Tax, Accounting, and Consulting LLC in Kalona.

Kalona's Dan Bontrager

Upcoming Events

November 9:  Bob Kennedy - Veteran's Day program
November 16:  11:15am Club Board Meeting
November 16:  Ray Poe - RI Foundation
November 23:  No Club meeting - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
November 30:  Ann Harris - Workplace Learning Connection's Judy Marshall