Recap from the Oct. 12, 2026, meeting.
Thought of the Day: Kim Warren
New Member: Today was the third and final reading for Heidi Fields from CBI. Welcome to the club, Heidi!
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News donations support Rotary scholarships.
- Carlin Lawhead- Still celebrating the exciting Hawkeye win on Friday night.
- Kim Warren- Kim’s daughter earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
- Lindsey Phillips- Lindsey’s oldest son got his school permit and drove himself to football practice the other day.
- Marc Hines- Marc and family celebrated Gus’s first birthday on Saturday.
Voluntell: Volunteer Hours & Opportunities
Volunteer Hours Reported:
- Mike Wedell- 3 hours: 2 hours of genealogy and 1 hour at a board meeting
- Megan Francis- 9.5 hours: 6 hours at BizTown with the Mulberry 6th graders and 3.5 hours setting up for the Vintage Market on Saturday morning.
- Michayla Horchem- 1 hour setting up for the Vintage Market on Friday night.
- Kim Warren- 2 hours timing a swim meet.
- Shane Orr- 1 hour League of Women Voters board meeting.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
- Highway Cleanup – Canceled due to Friday's rain. We hope to reschedule later this year or next spring.
- Native Prairie Seed Collection –This Friday, October 16, from 1-4 p.m. Volunteer registration information was sent via email. Plan to wear closed-toe shoes, long sleeves and pants, and bring bug spray.
- Rotary Readers- We are looking for a volunteer or group to fill a Rotary Readers slot at Franklin on Tuesday from 1:10-1:40 pm. Contact Lindsey or Megan for additional information or to sign up.
- 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:
- 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:
Todd Horchem, General Manager
Mike Lange, Associate General Manager
Rotarians enjoyed an off-site meeting at MidAmerican Energy's Louisa Generating Station, where we learned more about the facility's operations, commitment to safety, and community involvement.
The 1,650-acre facility has a reported net generating capacity of 750 megawatts and employs 89 people. MidAmerican holds an 88% ownership interest in the facility, which has seven joint owners. Across its portfolio, MidAmerican operates approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity.
Safety is a top priority, with 305 days since the last lost-time injury or OSHA-recordable incident and an impressive 4,865 days since the last preventable vehicle accident.
The team also shared information about the facility's equipment, air quality efforts, and apprenticeship opportunities. Todd began his career as an apprentice, highlighting a career pathway MidAmerican continues to offer today.
Community involvement is also an important part of MidAmerican's work. In 1977, the company set aside 420 acres for what became Big Sand Mound Nature Preserve. In 1981, neighboring Monsanto (later Bayer, now operating as Ruveon) contributed an additional 90 acres, bringing the preserve to 510 acres.
Employees also give back through MidAmerican CARES, including more than $6,000 in employee contributions to United Way of Muscatine County.
Thank you to the MidAmerican Energy team for hosting our club and sharing a behind-the-scenes look at this important local facility!
No online meeting available.
Upcoming Meetings:
October 19 – World Polio Day/ Polio Walk Event
October 26 – NAMI
November 2 – Salvation Army