Recap from the April 15, 2024 Meeting.
Meeting run by: President, Megan Francis
Thought of the day: Communication is measured at the listener’s ear, not at the speaker’s mouth.
Online Participation: We continue to offer a hybrid meeting each week. Members are invited to attend via Zoom or watch the recorded presentation anytime.
Welcome online members: Lt. Lucas Gantner
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Diana Gradert- Thankful to spend 3 months in Florida this year. She saw Tom Ward the other day and he asked her to tell his Rotary friends hello. Sarah Lande- There are a lot of things to acknowledge. Muscatine won the Emmy for the bridge lighting. The award recognizes people who have done something above the ordinary along the river in 2023. Also won the Crowne Award for a recycling program. Forty MHS students left today for China to build culture awareness and friendships. Muscatine Magazine is a beautiful publication. Please read it. Sarah is just so proud of the community and everyone working together. Ryan Streck- Has a new hobby! He recently moved, and it went well, so he has been enlisted. He has moved one kid and is moving another soon. Rich Dwyer- Levee project update! The project has started, and equipment has been brought in. 100,000 yards of sand will be moved at deep lakes to build up the levee. Brad Bark: Turned 40! Also, thankful for the weather and getting out to work in the yard. Lindsey Phillips- Appreciation for the weather and youth umpires!
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: Use the link below to sign up for the next Mobile Food Pantry on May 7. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmtNfi25shfn2S1LYG0e56iVwcMj2VA9X6FB5WU_vS4/edit
- Trivia Night for Sleep In Heavenly Peace raised over $5,000.
- 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.
- Barth has been working with the City of Muscatine to secure trees for an Arbor Day tree-planting project. Rotary will match a $2,000 grant. Donald Consulting, CBI, and Rotary have committed $500. Looking to secure the rest, please talk to Barth.
- Steve set a date for the garage sale fundraiser. All proceeds will support Rotary projects. May 11th, 8 am-3 pm. Donations can be dropped off at Crossroads the week prior and will be held there. We will have a pricing event on May 10th. Email Steve and Lindsey at lphillips@muscatiney.org to let them know how you will participate.
Presentation-.
Brad Bark- GMCCI Update
Getting Children Off the Floor!
GMCCI operates under pillars: Small Business, Events & Marketing, Economic Development, Community Development, and Tourism.
Brad highlighted many areas of growth over the past couple of years. GMCCI has 350 members, has given out over $100,000 in small business façade grants, offered 38 coaching sessions to 68 businesses, and more! Events and Marketing provided 6 event grants and increased social media following with 1.4 million impressions. They have 5 signature events including the recent annual meeting. This year, GMCCI is adding the Women’s Leadership Summit and bringing back Musca Fooda rebranded as Muscatine Chamber Day in August. Tourism is up significantly, thanks to RAGBRAI visitors and riverboat cruises. This year, we will increase tourism through the American Queen Voyages. There are an estimated 1.2 million visits to Downtown. Muscatine will be hosting the Iowa Economic Downtown Conference in 2025. Intern programs and other community groups, like the Mosaic and the Veteran’s Network, have formed to support employment in Muscatine. Muscatine is #4 in Iowa for top micropolitan communities and the top 31% in the country.
Brad highlighted many areas of growth over the past couple of years. GMCCI has 350 members, has given out over $100,000 in small business façade grants, offered 38 coaching sessions to 68 businesses, and more! Events and Marketing provided 6 event grants and increased social media following with 1.4 million impressions. They have 5 signature events including the recent annual meeting. This year, GMCCI is adding the Women’s Leadership Summit and bringing back Musca Fooda rebranded as Muscatine Chamber Day in August. Tourism is up significantly, thanks to RAGBRAI visitors and riverboat cruises. This year, we will increase tourism through the American Queen Voyages. There are an estimated 1.2 million visits to Downtown. Muscatine will be hosting the Iowa Economic Downtown Conference in 2025. Intern programs and other community groups, like the Mosaic and the Veteran’s Network, have formed to support employment in Muscatine. Muscatine is #4 in Iowa for top micropolitan communities and the top 31% in the country.
Next Meetings: April 22nd- Alzheimer’s Association; April 29th – In Meeting Literacy Service Project; May 6th- Flickinger Center, May 13th- Chemo Riders, May 20th- Xicotepec Project