Recap from the May 22, 2023 Meeting.
Meeting Run by: President Naomi DeWinter
Invocation: Frank Iliff
Welcome guests: Tony Loconsole (MCSD), Jodi Royal-Goodwin (The City of Muscatine), Hilary Henke (United Way), Moriah Ellis (CFGM), Gretchen Nollman (D6000 AG)
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Frank Iliff- 53 years after leaving high school for the Vietnam War, Frank had the honor of walking during the MHS graduation on Sunday and received his diploma signed by Governor Reynolds. Congratulations, Frank, and thank you for your service. Diana Gradert- Diana enjoyed a wonderful vacation despite travel complications on the way home. Mike Ruby- Mike and Joanne attended Jess Wittman’s wedding on Saturday night. It was a wonderful event. Clint Christopher- MHS hosted graduation on Sunday. It was a special experience to hand a diploma to his daughter as Superintendent and dad. Mike Wedell- Missed the meeting last week because he was visiting his daughter. Wednesday night, Mike was honored to award the Rotary scholarships during the MHS scholarship night. Rich Dwyer- $5 for a successful event Friday, kicking off the first 3D printed house in the State of Iowa. Megan Francis- $15, $11 for the goals scored by the Muscatine Soccer Club 9U boys team during wins over the weekend, $3 for the 3-hour Momentum dance recital her daughter was in, and $1 reminder to start your day with Breakfast at Crossroads on Friday from 7-9 am to support the United Way Kid’s First Fund.
Club News:
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
- Our club committed to assisting a Ukraine family with needed supplies to settle in Muscatine. The family consists of Mom, Dad, and two boys. A list of needs will be sent separately, donations can be gently used or new.
- Local grant project- We have the opportunity every year to apply for a D6000 grant to support a local project. The last local grant project we applied for was the Heartrate Monitors for MHS. This year The Rotary Club of Muscatine requests a local grant from Rotary District 6000 in the amount of $3,625 to help establish a pocket park in downtown Muscatine with inclusive playground equipment. This park will be in the neighborhood revitalization zone identified by the Muscatine Housing Council. Motion by Carlin Lawhead, 2nd by Marc Hines- Motion carried with all ayes.
- Save the Date: the next Mobile Food Pantry distribution is Tuesday, June 13th.
- Almost Friday Fest- Rotary will have a food tent at Almost Friday Events on July 27th, August 24th, and September 28th.
Presentation-
Kristen Schlawin- Project Coordinator for Muscatine Heart and Soul
Kristen is a Muscatine native and just finished her sophomore year at the University of Iowa, where she is studying Marketing and Human Resources Management. Kristen oversees the Heart and Soul project as an intern for the City of Muscatine. Kristen was a recipient of a Rotary scholarship 2 years ago.
Muscatine Community Heart & Soul is a City-wide initiative to involve all residents in conversations to improve our community. Heart & Soul will enable our City to build on the valued strengths of our community to continually improve Muscatine in ways residents want to see.
Following a group discussion exercise, Rotarians share their favorite things about Muscatine, including collaboration across different sectors, a strong volunteer base, people are the strength, free activities, community-driven, and safe. Areas that feel inviting are the riverfront and the Y.
“Be careful what you dream in Muscatine, it might just come true.”
Completed surveys have identified many common themes, including the love of the bridge, the river, park and trail system, small business, education, and the community feel.
Over 850 pieces of data have been collected through community events and surveys. The goal is 1000 pieces of data. Please take a moment to complete the Heart and Soul Survey for your favorite things about Muscatine to be included in the data. https://www.muscatineheartandsoul.org/surveys
If you are interested in completing a personal survey or volunteering, please contact Kristen Schlawin at cdintern@muscatineiowa.gov.
Upcoming Meetings- May 29- Memorial Day/ No Meeting, June 5- Iowa Republic Caucuses- History & How they work, June 26th- Rotary Board 23/23 Recap of Accomplishments.
Welcome to Week 4 of RI’s Month of Youth Service.
The Rotary Club of Abuja (Nigeria) is embarking on a signature project in the nation’s capital city as part of its efforts to reduce the level of conflicts in Nigeria. Goddy Nnadi, DG, RID 9125, made the announcement on Saturday, May 20 at the 14th Rotary District Conference in Abuja. According to a report published in The Vanguard, the center, which will be sited in Jos, Plateau State, is the second Rotary Foundation funded Peace project in Africa. The first center is in Uganda. The Abuja Center, Rotarian Nnadi explained, would serve as a training ground for peace and conflict resolution. “It is going to be a training ground. Rotary has the peace arm. Peace and conflict resolution is a major focus of Rotary events and we have working groups with so many organizations. In the last elections, we participated and we helped to observe what happened in the election and we reported back. We train people to avoid conflicts and maintain peace in our community, neighborhood and country.” DG Nnadi said the body was able to make significant impacts on humanitarian projects during his tenure because, “despite the poor economic turn in Nigeria, Rotarians pulled their weight and we made $560,000 donations to The Rotary Foundation. We transformed the toilets and bathrooms of Government Girls Secondary School, Dutsen Alhaji in Abuja. Having girls bathe outside was not the best, so we needed to protect their dignities which cost us almost N9m (USD$20,552). In Akure, about 14 people with hernia were operated on for free of charge. We helped people carry out eye surgeries in Kaduna and we are happy.”
In Rotary,
Olabisi Gwamna, Club Secretary
Olabisi Gwamna, Club Secretary
Mount Pleasant Rotary,
Editor, Foundation Minute