Recap from the 2024 March 11, 2024 Meeting.
Meeting run by: President-Elect Mike Wedell
Thought of the day: Jessica Pfab- Borrowed from Indiana Rotary: By William Arthur Ward
Welcome Guest: Jeremy from Muscatine Community College. Thank you, Jeremy, for recording today’s presentation because we do not have a virtual presentation.
New Member Introduction: Bobby Fiedler
Bobby is the Director of Musser Public Library/HNI Community Center. He was born in Muscatine, and after time away from the area, he returned in 2006. Bobby’s wife, Amy, is a biology professor at St. Ambrose. Bobby enjoys hiking, camping, and various outdoor activities in his free time. He does a fourteener every year, attempting 4 fourteeners in one day.
Bobby also enjoys woodworking. Bobby joined Rotary to take part in “remarkable work and generosity.”
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Jess Pfab- Attended the boys 1A State Championship. Her nephew’s team lost by 1 to their season-long nemesis. Naomi DeWinter- Thanking Mike Wedell for stepping to the lectern in Megan’s place. Frank Illif- Celebrating the ability to drive again. He remains </= 35mph and does not drive after dark. Frank is anticipating VP shunt placement/surgery soon.
Paul Harris Recognition- Shane Orr
Club News:
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
- ACH forms are available for easy dues payment.
- Mobile Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunity: Thank you, Lindsey and Karen, for representing Rotary at the March Food Pantry. Use the link below to sign up for the next Mobile Food Pantry on April 2nd. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmtNfi25shfn2S1LYG0e56iVwcMj2VA9X6FB5WU_vS4/edit
- April 13th: Trivia Night for Sleep In Heavenly Peace. We are collecting silent auction items.
- Sign up for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build event on Saturday, April 20th. Shifts are 8:30-10:30 am or 10:30-12:30 pm. https://x.gldn.io/e/t4TXTFocBHb
- Mark your calendars for Frank Iliff’s Retirement Party Open House on March 22nd from 5-8 pm at the Riverview Center.
Presentation-
Wild Cat Den Park Ranger- Ben Marcus
Ben Marcus was born and raised on a family farm in Decatur County, Iowa. From a young age, he has enjoyed the outdoors by hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking. He worked seasonally for county conservation and the Iowa DNR for over five years. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Ecology & Wildlife Management in 2014. From there, he worked full-time with Story County Conservation as a Park Technician with the McFarland Unit, managing over 37 various-sized parks. In 2019, he was hired with the Iowa DNR at Big Creek State Park in Polk City, IA, a 3,500-acre complex, as a Park Manager. After two years at Big Creek, the opportunity to transfer to Wildcat Den as the new Park Ranger became available in October 2021. After becoming a Park Ranger, he attended and graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in April of 2022 as a Certified State Law Enforcement Officer.
The Iowa DNR mission statement is To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy for future generations. Only 1% of all land in Iowa is public. The rest is agricultural. Iowa is unique in that there is both State support of parks and County Conservation Boards. The Mill was built by Benjamine Nye in 1848. The land was donated to the State in 1927, and Wildcat Den held a dedication ceremony in 1935. The park has 435 acres, 4-5 miles of trails, and 20 primitive campsites. The Friends of Pine Creek Grist has ten active members who donated 10389 volunteer hours in 2023. The park welcomed 80,000 visitors in 2023, with 4131 camping days.
Questions:
Naomi- What kind of wildlife live at Wildcat?
-Typical Iowa fauna
-Only one bobcat and her cubs last year
-One black bear allegedly sighted
-Rare flora
-orchids
-ferns
Missed today’s presentation? Use the link below to watch the recording. A Recording of Monday’s presentation will be available at a later date.
Next Meetings: 18th- Muscatine Police Department 2023 review and 2024 goals, March 25th- United Way Reading Mentors.
Congratulations to the three Muscatine High School Students who completed the first annual 4-way test speech contest. Watch the meeting recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCbVhP_NXJA. One of the lucky winners will move on to represent our club in a regional competition. Thank you, Marc Hines and Naomi DeWinter, for coordinating the event.