Recap from the January 8, 2024 Meeting.
The meeting run by: President- Megan Francis
Thought of the day: Carolyn Levine
Welcome guests: Nadine Brockert and Kathy Kurriger from the Lions Club
Online Participation: We continue to offer a hybrid meeting each week. Members are invited to attend via Zoom or watch the recorded presentation anytime.
Joining us online: Erika Cox, Daun Sturms Dodds, Melanie Alexander, Barth Donald
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Carol Webb: Her family traveled to Memphis to watch the ISU game and visited the Civil Rights Museum. Muscatine was on the map for integrating schools. Rob Yant: Happy to be back. Happy for the new year. He added a new family member, an 18-year-old Norwegian Wood Cat. John Kuhl: His family traveled over the holidays. His oldest daughter was studying in France and used it to travel to France, Sweden, and Germany. Marc Hines: The last couple of weeks of December were pretty hectic. Crossroads had a client lose the battle to pancreatic cancer. Christmas Eve, his son walked for the first time! On Christmas Day, extension cords were stolen from their light display. The story turned into a story of resilience and raised $35,000. Naomi DeWinter: Visitors from the Lion’s Club. Nadine Brockert joined Naomi to discuss the human trafficking project we worked on together. Lions Club is a worldwide service organization. A significant focus of the Lions Club is vision. They do screenings for youth at no cost and other projects focused on community and youth.
Club News:
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
- ACH forms are available for easy dues payment.
- January is Human Trafficking awareness and prevention month. This Thursday, wear blue day! January 11, take a selfie and send it to Megan at mfrancis@crossroadsmuscatine.org. We challenged the West Liberty club to do the same. #wearblueday
The city recognized this month as #Human Trafficking Month - April 13: Trivia Night for Sleep In Heavenly Peace.
- There will be no food pantry tomorrow due to impending weather.
Presentation-
Brandy Olson- Master Gardeners
Brandy is the Chairperson of the Muscatine County Master Gardeners. She works at Muscatine Power and Water as General Counsel and Director of Legal, Regulatory, and People Services. She has served in leadership roles on many boards and committees in the community. In addition to Master Gardeners, she currently chairs the Board of Health and the City Civil Service Commission. She serves on the Muscatine Health Support Fund Committee at the Community Foundation and on the Lutheran Homes board.
What is Master Gardeners? Iowa MGs are part of Iowa State Extension and Outreach. County Master Gardener groups are affiliated with local County Extension offices. Programs use research-based science. Master Gardeners of Muscatine is looking for members interested in gardening and horticulture, volunteering, and curious and wanting to learn.
Master Gardener projects include the Art of Gardening conference, donation gardens, bucket brigade at the County Fair, public education, school programs, arboretum, and the Zoo Garden.
Upcoming Meetings- January 15- United Way Reading Mentors, January 22- Alzheimer’s Association Resources and Updates