Recap from the Oct. 5, 2026, meeting.
Thought of the Day: Clint Christopher
New Member: Today was the second reading for prospective member Heidi Fields from CBI.
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News donations support Rotary scholarships.
- Kim Warren- Kim’s son is a senior at Muscatine High School and has received early acceptance to two colleges. Kim gave a shoutout to the Muscatine Community School District for the many opportunities that helped him build a strong college application, including dual enrollment at MCC and Career Exploration through Carver Pump.
- Mike Ruby- Returned from a wonderful trip to South Carolina to visit his son and family and celebrate his 80th birthday.
- Bob Jensen- $40 in recognition of Temp Associates' 40th anniversary. Everyone is invited to celebrate the milestone at Business After Hours on Thursday, October 15, from 4-6 pm.
- Marc Hines- Another decent sports weekend, with the Braves winning and the Niners now 4-0.
Voluntell: Volunteer Hours & Opportunities
Volunteer Hours Reported:
- Mike Wedell- 2 hours genealogy
- Megan Francis- 3 hours total- 1 hour at Hair Heroes and 2 hours promoting Live Muscatine at the Muscatine Women’s Leadership Network event.
- Lindsey Phillips- 3 hours total- 1 hour at Hair Heroes and 2 hours promoting Live Muscatine at the Muscatine Women’s Leadership Network event.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
- Highway Cleanup – This Friday, October 9. Meet at Crossroads at 8am.
- Native Prairie Seed Collection –Friday, October 16, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteer Registration was sent via email. Plan to wear closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants, and bring bug spray.
- Ongoing opportunities with The Bridge, Junior Achievement, and Flickinger Center.
World Polio Day – World’s Largest Polio Walk
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 Vibrant Arena at the Mark, Moline
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 Vibrant Arena at the Mark, Moline
Registration is now open!
Register for the World’s Largest Polio Walk
Register for the World’s Largest Polio Walk
Club Business:
- OFFSITE MEETING: The October 12 meeting will be held at MidAmerican. If you RSVPed, you should have received an email confirmation with directions and additional information. To RSVP, contact Michayla Horchem at michayla@unitedwaymuscatine.org. Please remember to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes.
- Please consider supporting the Rotary Foundation, which funds both local and international service projects. Contributions may be made by ACH or check. Please contact Lindsey for more information. Thank you for your impact through Rotary membership and giving.
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine Facebook page at @MuscatineRotaryClub.
Presentation:
Mason Kopf- United Way Reading Mentors
Mason Kopf, Program Manager at the United Way of Muscatine County, shared information about the United Way Reading Mentors program, which connects volunteers with K-3 students throughout Muscatine County. Reading Mentors work with students weekly, either one-on-one or in small groups, listening to students read, reading with them, and practicing sight words while supporting the work already happening in the classroom.
The need is significant. Following the pandemic, third-grade reading proficiency in Muscatine County dropped 19%. When the Reading Mentors program was originally piloted with kindergarten students, participating students saw a 33% increase in FAST scores from fall to winter, compared with a 5% increase the previous year.
There are currently opportunities for many more mentors throughout the county. Reading Mentors are volunteers who supplement the work of teachers and school staff, providing students with additional time, encouragement, and practice to help strengthen their reading skills.
NEW SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: ROTARY READERS
Rotary Readers: The Rotary Club of Muscatine is launching Rotary Readers, a new club service opportunity supporting the United Way Reading Mentors program. We have selected four volunteer time slots each week for Rotarians to fill. There is no need to commit every week. Simply choose a date and time that works for you, show up, and spend time reading and working with local students. Volunteer registration will be available at Rotary meetings and through ClubRunner. Sign up whenever your schedule allows and help local students build their reading skills and confidence.
Missed today’s meeting? Get caught up using the link below.
Passcode: ih3C*8Pm
Upcoming Meetings:
October 12 – Off-site meeting at MidAmerican (RSVP required)
October 19 – World Polio Day/ Polio Walk Event
October 26 – NAMI