Home Page | Rotary Club of Decorah

Welcome to Our Rotary Club of Decorah!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

VFW

104 State St
Decorah, IA 52101
United States of America

In addition to Tuesday noon meetings, the Decorah Rotary After-Hours group meets at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company, 207 College Drive, every-other Thursday at 5:30 pm. See the drop-down menu items above for event dates and speakers.

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Luther College President Visits Decorah Rotary

President Ward speaking to Decorah Rotarians and guests

The Decorah Rotary Club had the honor of welcoming Luther College President Dr. Jenifer K. Ward at the club's regular meeting on Tuesday, September 19. Dr. Ward presented a summary of the strategic framework guiding the next two years at Luther College with emphasis on its guiding principles of "Expand, Align, and Strengthen." She was joined at the meeting by Luther's Vice President of Development Mary Duvall, who briefly discussed the college self-assessment taking place during the current academic year as preparation for the next capital campaign. At the conclusion of the meeting the club renewed its commitment to seek further partnership opportunities with the college.

Photo credit: Gary Mineart

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2023 Decorah Rotary Trout Run Trail Tour Day

Volunteer driver Paul Nichols prepares for a circuit of the Trout Run Trail with happy passengers (L-R) Shirley Johnson, Walt Langland, and Betty Schuman during the 2023 Trout Run Trail Tour Day

The Decorah Rotary Club hosted its Trout Run Trail (TRT) Tour Day this year on Tuesday, August 15th. This is an annual event allowing an opportunity for local senior citizens, those with physical limitations, and anyone with limited access to the TRT to experience the beauty of the entire 12-mile circuit. Nearly one hundred local community members came out and filled the available seats for each of multiple scheduled trail loops. The weather was absolutely glorious making for comfortable touring and great scenery for the participants. Participants enjoyed the continental breakfast and tasty barbecue luncheon hosted at the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery pavilion.

Our club extends its sincere thanks for the leadership provided by these members: Mike Huinker (overall coordination, machine and driver coordinator, and TRT 28-E Committee liaison); Dacia Monson (breakfast and lunch coordination); Bill Courtney (appointments and reservations coordination); and Shannon Duncan (volunteer coordination).

Our club also thanks all of our member volunteers who supported this event: Cal Anderson, John Anderson, Don Arendt, Lorraine Borowski, Ward Budweg, Darrel Branhagen, Chad Evans, Joe Grimstad, Don Holmertz, Cindy Hoyme, Alan Lerstrom, Gary Mineart, John Moeller, Uwe Rudolf, Ron Snell, Samantha Spilde, Michael Wilker, and Liang Chee Wee.

A special thanks to the following individuals who donated the use of their off-road vehicles and the time to drive: Tom Kuennen, John Kerndt, Paul Nichols, Tade Kerndt, Greg Rude, Randy Imoehl, Les Askelson, Dave Meyer, and Chris Redenius.

A photo album of this year's event is available and may be viewed using this link: 2023 Trout Run Trail Tour Day

Photo credit: Gary Mineart

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Decorah Rotary's 2023 Nordic Fest Float

Decorah Rotarian Uwe Rudolph waves to the enthusiastic crowd during the 2023 Decorah Nordic Fest Parade

The Decorah Rotary Club (DRC) thanks all of its members who worked on the design, construction, and operation of the superb 2023 Nordic Fest float! Special acknowledgement goes to DRC member Alan Lerstrom who once again conceived of a wonderful design matching the Nordic Fest theme for this year.

For more float photos including pictures of all of the wonderful volunteers contributing to this year's float, please see the companion photo album at Nordic Fest 2023 Float and Parade.
Photo credits: various
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2023 Decorah Rotary Pork Chop Fundraiser

(L-R) Decorah Rotarians Tina Hall and Brecka Putnam enjoying their shift in the Rotary pork chop booth during Nordic Fest 2023

For the second consecutive year the Decorah Rotary Club (DRC) hosted its Pork Chop Fundraiser at both the 2023 Winneshiek County Fair on July 11-15 and again during Decorah's 2023 Nordic Fest on July 27-29 July. Despite ordering even more pork chops this year by the end of the final day of Nordic Fest every single chop had been sold to a happy customer. The two combined events met and exceeded expectations based on the 2022 effort for quantities served, funds raised, good fellowship shared, and satisfied customers. The club extends its heartfelt thanks to the DRC leadership who planned, coordinated, organized, and purchased, along with the multitude of Rotary volunteers manning the booths and the generous support of partner organization volunteers assisting with the grilling, providing cooler space, etc. The list of names is far too long to enumerate but our club thanks each and every one!

For a variety of candid photos of our volunteers in action, check out the companion photo album: Rotary Pork Chop Booth 2023 - County Fair and Nordic Fest.

Photo credits: various

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Decorah Rotary Supports the Kids Lunch Club

Decorah Rotarians packing and sorting snack items for Kids Lunch Club

Decorah Rotarians and friends unloaded supplies and bagged snack items for Kids Lunch Club (KLC) on Thursday, May 25. The KLC Program helps up to 150 Decorah children who do not have adequate access to meals over the summer months by providing nutritious meal options every week day. KLC offers participants a main dish, fruit, veggie, and snack, and by providing meal choices food waste is reduced. The Decorah Rotary Club (DRC) has designated a $5,000 grant toward this important program with Rotary District 5970 providing a matching grant. DRC is also committed to providing volunteers to support program operations. Decorah Rotarians will be at the KLC distribution sites on June 16.

For more photos of this service project see the companion photo album: Kids Lunch Club Meal Packing

Photo credits: Brecka Putnam

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Decorah Rotary Participates in Water to Thrive

Decorah Middle School students and staff prepare to embark on the 2023 Water Walk

Decorah Middle School (DMS) Seventh Graders walked over three miles to the Upper Iowa River on Wednesday, May 17 to carry water back to the middle school on their annual "Water Walk" for the Water to Thrive Project. Prior to the walk, the students raised over $5,000 to support construction of their fifth Water to Thrive well after reading about how women and children must walk great distances in some parts of the world to acquire potable water. The Decorah Rotary Club had earlier received a presentation from several DMS students and Global Studies teacher Carrie Reed, prompting the club to contribute financially to the cause. In addition, several Rotarians were honored to participate in the walk alongside the students. Our club thanks the DMS students and staff for their inspiration and the shared experience!

Photo credit: Decorah Middle School

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Decorah Rotary Club Spring Roadside Clean-Up Day

Saturday, April 15 marked the Spring edition of the Decorah Rotary Club Roadside Clean-Up Day. Twice per year the club polices the portion of Highway 9 running through the Decorah city limits, from Kelly Real Estate to a point west of JB Holland. This year our members were joined by members of Luther College's Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity and Health Sciences Club. the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa. Western Illinois Service Unit 616 assisted with logistics and Kwik Star donated refreshments. Our club extends its sincere thanks everyone who made this event such a resounding success!

For more photos please see the companion photo album at DRC Spring 2023 Roadside Clean-up Day.

Photo credits: Brecka Putnam

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Around-the-World Flight Pilots Visit Decorah

(L-R) Decorah Rotarian and Program Sponsor Don Holmertz, Rotarian Pilot Peter Teahen, Decorah Rotary Club President Paul Scott, and Rotarian Pilot John Ockenfels

The Decorah Rotary Club was honored to welcome Rotarian pilots Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels at the special Decorah Municipal Airport meeting location on Tuesday, November 1. Peter and John flew their newly acquired Cessna 210 Centurion from Cedar Rapids, available for public viewing for the very first time. In May 2023, these courageous and philanthropic pilots will climb into their airplane and head east on an amazing 8-10 week, 20,000 mile around-the-world flight to raise awareness for Rotary International's polio eradication campaign. Less than 700 pilots in history have successfully circumnavigated the globe in a single engine aircraft.

The two pilots have a goal to raise $1 million with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Rotary International’s “Polio Plus” program. All flight expenses are being paid by Peter and John. When the two-man crew departs Cedar Rapids, it will become the “Flight to End Polio.” At each stop around the globe, the pilots will raise awareness by meeting with other Rotary members, humanitarian workers, and government officials to discuss the progress of polio eradication and the ongoing need for assistance for families still affected by the devastating disease.

Our club extends its sincere thanks to Peter and John for flying up to Decorah to talk about their upcoming adventure and show off their airplane. We also thank the Decorah Municipal Airport and Manager Mike Connell for hosting our lunch and meeting in the airport hanger.

More information including details of the flight, sponsorship opportunities, and ways to donate directly to Rotary International's "Polio Plus" campaign, is available on the associated "Flight to End Polio" website at https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/.

Additional photos from the meeting are in the companion photo album: Flight to End Polio Visits Decorah Rotary.

Photo credits: Gary Mineart

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6th Annual Touch a Truck

Decorah Rotarians Jeff Tomlinson and Jacky Budweg serving at the Touch a Truck event

The 6th Annual Touch A Truck held on Saturday, October 15, 2022 was a huge success. The event is hosted by the Decorah Fire Department in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week. It allows kids the opportunity to explore their favorite vehicles including police, fire and emergency vehicles, farm equipment, construction equipment, aircraft, and city maintenance vehicles.Decorah Rotary members served 360 hot dogs with chips and lemonade to attendees. Our club extends its sincere thanks to Rotary After Hours member and volunteer fireman Jesse Reyerson for connecting our club with this event.

For more photos of the amazing vehicles on display and our Rotarians in action, please see: 6th Annual Touch a Truck

Photo credits: Decorah Volunteer Fire Department, Shannon Duncan

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