October 4, 2010 Program

Curbside Recycling Program 

September 27th Guests

·         Colleen Welsch, wife of District 6000 Governor

·         JoAnn Ruby, guest of Mike Ruby

·         Jack May, visiting Rotarian from Roseville, CA (longtime past Muscatine Rotarian)

·         Sheri Schmalz, Monsanto, guest of Tom Ward

·         Jeremy Heinesch, Rotary Exchange Student from Belgium

·         Hunter Berry, MHS guest

·         Katelyn Bunn, MHS guest

·         Edward Bruns, MHS guest

·         Jake Mueller, MHS guidance counselor

 

September 27th Happy News

·         Diana Gradert's granddaughter was elected Wilton's Homecoming Queen!

·         Kip Fisher was happy Iowa State won their game.

·         Judi Holdorf mentioned that one of the Community Foundations' grant recipients was a guest - Ed Bruns received a grant to encourage volunteerism in the community.

·         Steve Ahmann's kids are all now in college and the Vikings won yesterday.

·         Jeremy Heinesh enjoyed his first homecoming and also had an exchange student meeting in Iowa City and met other exchange students.

 

September 27th Announcements

·         The invocation was given by Diana Gradert and the songs were led by Denny Taylor.

·         Rotary Informational Moment:  Tom talked about the District Governor position.  From the beginning of the first Rotary Club until 1915 there were no districts.  In 1915, ten geographical districts were created.  It was agreed at this time that the leader of the district would be the District Governor.  District Governors have been a unifying force in Rotary since this time.

·         The Ballet in the Park went very well and the Rotary Ushers were a visible presence in their emblem shirts!

·         The fall picnic will be Tuesday October 5th at 6:15 PM at the Weed Park Tennis Court Shelter.  Tim Nelson needed your reservation no later than October 1st.

·         After the meeting on the 27th, the Foundation Committee and the Special Events committee met. 

·         The Vocational Awareness Committee will meet today, October 4th.

·         Kristin McHugh-Johnston talked about the Dictionary project - the committee has a number of ideas for proposals.  The dictionaries will be arriving in early December and as we get closer the committee will be looking for teams of volunteers to help hand out dictionaries to classes. 

 

September 27th Program

The District 6000, Governor, Gary Welch and his wife Colleen were visiting.  We celebrated Colleen's birthday with a cake and Gary talked about District 6000 plans and goals.  

 

Gary has been a Rotarian for 30 years.  He holds his Masters of Social Work from the University of Nebraska.  Gary was a school counselor for many years then retired to go into private practice and continue his volunteer work.   Gary and Colleen have two sons, Eric and Jason.

 

Gary spoke passionately about SWAP (Serving with a Purpose).  One of the first Rotary International president's was Ray Klinginsmith of the Rotary Club of Unionville, MO.    Ray's goals were to be:

·         Bigger

·         Better

·         Bolder

 

The Muscatine Rotary club has been around for 90 years - to have a sense of the importance of Rotary, Gary asked us to think of what Muscatine would be like without the Muscatine Rotary Club and all the projects that have been done to make our community better over these last 90 years.

 

Rotary International's Value Base is:  Diversity, Service, Fellowship, Integrity, and Leadership.  Rotary is about building communities and bridging continents - the more things you do, help to make our communities a better place for our children and grandchildren.

 

The trend now is a declining membership in the United States.  The six areas to work towards for sustainable activities are:

·         Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

·         Disease prevention and treatment

·         Water and sanitation

·         Maternal and child health

·         Basic education and literacy

·         Economic and community development

 

In order to refocus what we do to be sustainable, District 6000 has set the following goals:

·         Foundation - every club member contribute to the foundation by 6/30/11.

·         Membership - "One for One" - at least every Rotarian will induct at least one new member each by 6/30/11.

·         Public image - Tell your club story!  Each club will provide six public image events to local media.  And, each club will provide at least one article for district newsletter. (Marilyn has already had two Muscatine articles published this year!!).

·         Polio Plus - club support.

 

You determine the future of your club.  Right now there is an opportunity to try something new and different.  Gary challenged us to throw the box away and try something new.  His questions to us "What will you choose?  What difference do you want to make?" 

 

In thanks for their visit, Colleen was presented with an Ann Moody handmade original.  And, a children's book will be donated to the Musser Public Library with Gary's name inscribed in the front.