Recap from the Dec. 19, 2022 Meeting.
Meeting Run by: President Naomi DeWinter
Invocation: Megan Francis
Guests: Bill Kelner (West Liberty Rotary), Margaret Hulbert (Discover Muscatine)
Online Participation: We continue to offer a hybrid meeting each week. Members are invited to attend via zoom or watch the recorded presentation anytime. Lt. Lucas Gantner joined the meeting virtually from day one in the Big Red Kettle. And thank you, Dawn Sturms Dodds and Marc Hines, with special guest baby Ira Hines for attending via zoom.
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Naomi DeWinter- Over the weekend, Naomi went caroling and visited the home of Rotarian Harvey Albee. Frank Iliff- Yesterday, Frank and his wife Deb celebrated 46 years of marriage. Frank’s advice for a happy marriage is, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” John Kuhl- Donated $2, one for each of his daughters. Gwen will be returning home for the holidays, and Rosemary turned 13. Mark Roberts- Mark and his wife celebrated their 39th Anniversary. He remembers his wedding day with a high of -10 degrees. Mike Wedell- Mike’s kids will not be returning home for the holidays, but it is due to starting a new job, so the absence is bittersweet. Megan Francis- Megan is excited to be on vacation for the next 2 weeks. Senior Resources Meals on Wheels is part of the Subaru Share the Love holiday promotion. If you or anyone you know is looking to purchase or lease a car, consider Subaru and mention Meals on Wheels. $250 from each purchase and lease will be donated to Meals on Wheels across America, and our local Meals on Wheels program is one of the participating charity programs.
Club News:
- We have two board positions available. Please see Naomi for more information.
- IBAT- Businesses Against Human Trafficking- https://ibat.iowa.gov/ibat-businesses/ Thank you to the businesses that have committed to “Learn Something and Do Something” to help combat human trafficking.
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
Presentation:
Cindy RT Klebe- US Army Corps of Engineers
Cindy has been a Natural Specialist Park Ranger with the US Army Corps of Engineers for 28 years. She graduated from the University of Steven’s Point with a Resources Management degree in Environmental Communications.
There are 29 Lock and Dams on the Upper Mississippi River. Locks and Dam 15 was the first project completed on the Upper Mississippi River as part of an overall project to create a nine-foot navigation channel. It was built to control water levels through the Rock Island Rapids from Rock Island, Illinois, to LeClaire, Iowa, and provide consistent river depths. Between 1878 and 1930, the Channel was extended from 4 ft to 4.5 ft to 6 ft, and finally, the 9 ft channel we know. The Lock and dam system saves wear and tear on the highways and railways. Muscatine is popular for Eagle watching. The Muscatine County Conservation holds an Eagle watching event at the end of January in conjunction with the annual Eagles and Ivory event.
Dewatering allows maintenance to the underwater components every 25 years and adds another 10 years of reliable service to the dam structure. Dewatering takes place in the winter due to the decrease in river traffic.
Missed Monday’s Meeting? Use the link below to enjoy the presentation recording.
Passcode: Rotary#1
Upcoming Meetings: Dec. 26- No Meeting, Jan. 2- No Meeting. Jan. 9- Muscatine USDA, Jan. 16- Rotary and Veteran Support, Jan. 23- Ed Morse Automotive Group
It’s Week 1 of RI’s Month of Disease Prevention & Treatment
The news this week is about a Rotary Foundation Global Grant aimed at improving sanitation in Ghana. This story was reported in an online source by Anita Serwaa Adzoga (myjoyonline.com). The Rotary Club of Kumasi is constructing 152 micro flush toilets and 29 boreholes (wells) for selected communities in three districts in the Ashanti Region.
The Kumasi Metropolis, Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Tafo Municipality are the communities to benefit from the project. The project, according to Nana Effah Mensah, the International Service chairman for the Rotary Club of Kumasi, is part of the Global Grants projects approved by The Rotary Foundation. He added that they are partnering with Rotary E-Club Premier 7040, in Montreal, Canada, to undertake the project estimated at $160,000.
The Rotary Club of Kumasi, as a humanitarian institution, is committed to help improve sanitation and access to potable (drinkable) water which features prominently in the seven (7) areas of focus. According to Nana Effah Mensah, “the group will continue to help the less privileged in the society. That is why, we want to construct an additional 206 micro flush toilets and 30 boreholes by mid-April 2023 at Afram Plains and Bosomtwe district.”
Meanwhile, Dr Emmanuel Obeng, President of Rotary Club of Kumai, said “the decision to construct a borehole for the Adventist SHS, Bantama stems from an appeal by some old students who were concerned about the difficulties the students face in accessing potable water.”
The Rotary Club of Kumasi, in fulfilment of its vision to promote goodwill and prevent water borne diseases, has decided to construct toilets across the country.