Recap from the Oct. 19, 2026, meeting.
Thought of the Day: Adrianne Towe- Recognition of World Polio Day
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News donations support Rotary scholarships.
- Hashem Jaber- Great weekend celebrating his kids. His oldest is visiting college, and his youngest went undefeated playing soccer in the State Cup.
- Lucas Gantner- It is great to be back. The bell-ringing schedule is now open. There is a new registration platform. Contact Lucas to sign up early.
- Megan Francis- A shout-out to Adrianne for helping her daughter with a school assignment over the weekend.
Voluntell: Volunteer Hours & Opportunities
Volunteer Hours Reported:
- Mike Wedell- 2 hours of genealogy
- Lindsey Phillips- 3 hours welcoming visitors to a clinic at the Musco Dome.
- Seed Collection- 14 hours for the club. Due to rain and the wind, the project changed to harvesting and then planting seeds.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
- Highway Cleanup –Rescheduled to Friday, November 13, 1–3 p.m. Meet at Crossroads at 1 pm.
- Rotary Readers- The Tuesday Rotary Readers slot at Franklin has been filled! We're waiting for the schools to identify additional opportunities.
- 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.
Rotary Social Gathering: You're Invited!
📅 Thursday, November 5, 2026
⏰ 5–7 pm
📍 The Creek: Ardon Creek Tasting Room, 411 W Mississippi Dr., Suite 2, Muscatine
⏰ 5–7 pm
📍 The Creek: Ardon Creek Tasting Room, 411 W Mississippi Dr., Suite 2, Muscatine
Join us for a relaxed evening of wine, charcuterie, and conversation! This is a great opportunity to introduce friends, colleagues, and prospective members to Rotary and the impact we make in our community. Please share the event and invite someone to join you!
Presentation:
Megan Francis | World Polio Walk Committee Member & Walk to End ALZ Event Chair
Why Walk? Two Causes. One Powerful Purpose.
Megan Francis shared a presentation highlighting the impact of Rotary's End Polio Now and the Walk to End Alzheimer's, both holding walks on Saturday, October 24.
In 1988, there were an estimated 350,000 polio cases worldwide each year. Since then, Rotary and its global partners have helped reduce cases by more than 99.9%. Today, wild poliovirus remains endemic in just two countries: 11 in Afghanistan and 6 in Pakistan. Rotary has contributed more than $2.9 billion toward global polio eradication efforts, helping support vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance, and outbreak response. Through Rotary's partnership with the Gates Foundation, eligible donations are matched 2-to-1, tripling their impact. The Purple Pinkie Project also highlights the importance of vaccination, with children's fingers marked after receiving the polio vaccine.
The presentation also highlighted the impact of Alzheimer's, which affects more than 62,000 Iowans, along with thousands of family caregivers. Megan shared the meaning behind the colorful Promise Garden flowers, including the white flower representing hope for the first survivor of Alzheimer's.
Both walks remind us of the power of community involvement, raising awareness, supporting families, and working toward a healthier future. A purple pinkie represents a child protected. A white flower represents a future we're working toward. That's why we walk.
Missed Monday’s meeting? Use the link to enjoy the recording.
Passcode: aR476g9$
Upcoming Meetings:
October 26 – NAMI
November 2 – Salvation Army
November 9 – National Direct Support Professional Ambassador