Events

Our annual Spring Roadside Cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday, April 11. Please meet at Putnam Law Office at 8AM to pick up safety vests and bags.  We will also take a photo of volunteers present at that time.

If you would like to assist with the project but are unable to participate on the 11th, please reach out to Ward Budweg to make alternative arrangements.

DRC Sponsor: Jon Lund

Victoria Christman, Director of the Center for Global Learning at Luther College and Stacy Soderstrom, Director of International and Transfer Admissions at Luther, will be speaking about Luther's recent award of the prestigeous 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.

For its long-standing commitment to making global learning opportunities accessible and impactful to students, Luther College was awarded the 2026 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Named after the late Senator Paul Simon of Illinois, the award recognizes excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of a college campus. Luther College is the first private college in the state of Iowa to receive the Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. The presentation will provide an overview of Luther’s work in terms of study-away opportunities for Luther students and Luther’s international admissions efforts.

Victoria Christman has served as Director of the Center for Global Learning since 2022. She joined the faculty in 2005 as a professor of history, and also teaches courses in international studies. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in early modern European History from the University of Arizona, and a B.A. in modern European History and the Comparative Study of Religion from Harvard University.

Stacy Soderstrom joined Luther in November 2023. Prior to joining Luther, she served as the Director of International Student and Scholar Services at Central Washington University. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University of East London and a B.A in German Studies and Global Studies from the University of Minnesota.

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**Please complete your noon meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx will once again visit our club to update our members on recent county law enforcement actions and priorities.

Sheriff Marx has resided in Decorah since he was of preschool age. His calling to public service began as an Emergeny Medical Technician prior to graduating from high school. In his role as Sheriff, he serves as the chief law enforcement officer in Winneshiek County. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, his functions include patrols, investigations, jail operations, civil processes, court orders, court functions and community/public relations. Sheriff Marx has been involved with county law enforcement for the past 27 years. He was appointed to the position of Sheriff in 2015, was elected to that position in 2016, and has been reelected to three subsequent consecutive terms. He holds a degree in police science and criminal justice and is a member of Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association.

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**Please complete your noon meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

**Please note the meeting place for this After Hours presentation is the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery.**

Brian Malaise, Fisheries Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, will give an on-site presentation about the stocking process, trout varieties, affects of runoff in the local streams, the economic impact to the region and other items of interest. The group will start in the shop building and then move outside to raceways to observe and feed the fish.

Rainbow trout are raised in 24 raceways and three rubber lined earthen ponds at the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery. About 130,000 catchable-size rainbow trout are raised each year. Hatchery personnel are responsible for stocking 15 put-and-take streams in Allamakee, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties. The hatchery also stocks five seasonal urban lakes in Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, Ames and Ankeny or Bondurant.

There is a article featuring Brian in the April 21 edition of The Driftless with the complete version featured in the April 16 edition of Decorah Leader.

Feel free to come early or stay late to explore Siewers Spring, watch the eagles or walk/bike the trail. You may want to bring a chair for the presentation being hosted in the shop area as well as a container or bag for trout food.

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DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Decorah City Manager Travis Goedken will be revisiting our club to share information on the various projects and plans being undertaken by the City of Decorah during the 2026 calendar year.

Mr. Goedken assumed the duties as Decorah City Manager in September, 2021. He previously served as City Administrator of Humboldt, where he served for nearly six years. Prior to that, he served in diverse roles as a Deputy City Clerk, underground utilities heavy equipment operator, and firefighter/EMT. He is a two-time graduate of the University of Iowa in Political Science and Economics and obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He was born and raised in the Dyersville area. While in Humboldt, he oversaw several major projects including a five block downtown streetscape project, construction of a community daycare facility (of which he served as President), and the construction and donation of a 71,000 square foot recreation center.

Travis and his spouse Tara have four children. In his limited spare time he enjoys fly fishing or ice fishing depending on the season.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Jaime Trezona is a nurse with the UCS Healthcare Clinic in Decorah. She will be discussing the many addiction treatment services offered by the clinic, including  Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT).  MAT is the use of medications along with counseling and behavioral therapies. Combined, this method is effective in the treatment of opioid use disorders and assists people in sustaining their recoveries.

UCS Healthcare is a nonprofit agency with 13 locations around the state providing integrated care for substance use disorders as well as primary care, psychiatry, therapy and other services. The UCS Healthcare Clinic In Decorah works with Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health to provide medication assisted treatment for opiate and alcohol use disorders.

For more information about UCS Healthcare please visit https://www.ucsonline.org/.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Abigail Lofte is the Community Relations Manager for Mosaic in Northern Iowa, whose local office is located in Waukon. She will speak about the current activities of the organization in our local area and provide a first-hand account of the impact Mosaic is having on clients in our community.

Mosaic is a nonprofit that provides services to adults with disabilities to empower and equip them to live full, meaningful lives. Having begun in Omaha by two Lutheran pastors in 1913, Mosaic has grown to provide services in 12 states, serving more than 5,000 people in over 700 communities across the country. Now in their second century of care, Mosaic is a healthcare organization providing innovative care by transitioning away from group homes and into a host-home, shared living model.

Fellow Decorah Rotarian Brecka Putnam, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), will present at the Rotary After Hours meeting on a variety of topics related to Alzheimer’s and other dementia. This presentation is appropriate for all ages, as she will share the many things we can do to keep our brain healthy at any age, reducing our risk for dementia. Early detection of Alzheimer’s leads to better outcomes, so she will also discuss the ten major signs of Alzheimer’s and what to do if you see them in yourself or a loved one. There are more reason than ever to hope for a cure or preventative measures for Alzheimer’s, so Brecka will also share exciting research news. Finally, she will share ways you can help advance research and resources.

Brecka is a hospice social worker at Regional Health Services of Howard County, where she works with patients living with dementia and their families every day and provides community education on dementia and trainings for long-term care facility staff so they have better patient outcomes when working with people living with dementia and their families. She is also a volunteer community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association. Most importantly, she is Dale’s daughter, has witnessed the struggles of being diagnosed with dementia at a young age (57), and has lived experience as one of his caregivers.

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DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Decorah native Christopher Edman will share lessons learned over four years working at a nonprofit hospital in equatorial Africa (Gabon). He will focus on features of global humanitarian aid work that has proven effective, as contrasted with features of efforts likely to fail or, potentially, to do even more harm than good.

Christopher holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Wheaton College and a Master of Science in Human Factors Psychology from Wright State University. He has held diverse professional roles across academic, military, and medical contexts, including a term as a Consortium Research Fellow with the Human Effectiveness Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory. His cross-cultural experience includes formal cross-cultural training and four months in China, eighteen months in France, and four years in Gabon.

Throughout his work, Christopher is passionate about facilitating understanding of complex domains by representing them in clear, accessible ways. He has become known for his blend of empathy and robust analytical thought in planning and problem-solving, and for his advocacy of strategically focused, mission-driven work.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

John "JR" Ogden is the former sports editor for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. He will be visiting our club to speak about state of print journalism in a digital world from the perspective of his long career in the business.

John served for 48 years on the sports staff at The Gazette. In 1977, at the age of 17, he began serving as a part-time "sports reporter" and worked his way up the ladder to full-time "sports writer," to Assistant Sports Editor and ultimately the leadership position of Sports Editor in 1999. He was able to continue working through his two years at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and his subsequent time at the University of Iowa. Among his many memorable moments he particularly recalls Dan Gable's final NCAA wrestling tournament inside the UNI-Dome, where the line of autograph-seeking well-wishers lasted late into the evening.

John departed The Gazette this past December, one of several casualties associated with The Gazette being purchased by Minneapolis-based Adams Multimedia, a move that ended employee ownership of the paper dating back to 1883. He is currently working as a freelance columnist for the Corridor Business Journal, writing three columns a month on the "business of sports." He also is enjoying time with his wife, Lisa, his three children - April, Jack and Ben - and his six grandchildren.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Fellow Decorah Rotarian Ward Budweg recently completed a year as the governor of Rotary District 5970. At this meeting he will reflect on his varied experiences as district governor.

Most of us know Ward Budweg in a variety of contexts. He is a long-time member of Rotary and a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa who decided as a college student to become a Rotarian. As a member of the Decorah Rotary Club he has served in a variety of capacities including president and an extended period of service as a board member. His yard and driveway have been an annually recurring construction zone where he has generously provided tools, materials, and refreshments during the construction of the Rotary float for the Nordic Fest parade. Ward and his spouse Jacky are authors and in 2020 published The World at 10 MPH, describing their global, three-year, 33,523-mile bicycle adventure across six continents.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Fellow Rotarian Alan Lerstrom will introduce and present the 23-minute film Urban Mining. The film was created by Eric Smidt and presented by the Oneota Film Festival.

Eric Smidt is a communications professional and documentary filmmaker from Ames, Iowa. Throughout his career, he has been able to take a creative approach to telling engaging stories through a variety of mediums. His film Urban Mining shows how Midwestern innovation is tackling a global challenge by transforming discarded electronics into a domestic source of rare earth elements at the Ames National Laboratory. By recovering critical materials from electronic waste, the film highlights efforts to strengthen our country's supply chain for strategically important technologies, energy systems, and national defense.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

Decorah Rotary Co-Presidents Phil Iverson and Mike Huinker will recap the 2025-2026 Rotary fiscal year, present the club status and provide an annual meeting update including election of officers.

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Details TBA

Decorah Rotary Co-Presidents Phil Iverson and Mike Huinker will recap the 2025-2026 Rotary fiscal year, present the club status and provide an annual meeting update including election of officers.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Diana Morrow

Kerry Brennan, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Coordinator for Allamakee, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Deleware, Dubuque, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties, will share information with the After Hours group about this important volunteer organization. Ms Brennan has served as the CASA Coordinator in northeast Iowa since December 2010.

The purpose of CASA is to amplfy the voices of children who have been judged as "children in need of assistance" by the state. CASA trains and supports community volunteers to advocate for a safe and permanent home for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and works collaboratively to ensure their voices are heard.

Ms Brennan holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Luther College. Since 1993 she has worked in the child welfare field, representing the majority of her career. Prior to working with the Iowa Child Advocacy Board she served in the substance abuse prevention field with several years as a family team meeting facilitator in northeast Iowa.

For more information please visit the CASA of Iowa website at https://childadvocacy.iowa.gov/basic-page/you-are-casa.

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DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Lori Rissman is a Clinical Pharmacist in Decorah. She will be presenting information on safe practices for medication use. She will be focusing on three primary areas associated with medication use: (1) being your own health advocate including straightforward tips for being an informed user of medications; (2) being safe with prescribed medications and important information about “safe medication practices for life;” and (3) knowing the risks of medication misuse incluuding facts about medication misuse in our country and what each person can do about it.

Ms Rissman is originally from West Union. She earned her Ph.D. of Pharmacy from The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2004 and subsequntly completed a primary care residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, SC. She has been working as a pharmacist in Decorah for 18 years. Her background in pharmacy includes community pharmacy, medication counseling, compounding, medication therapy management, vaccination administration, and diabetes education.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

The club will be providing soft-serve ice cream at this event.

Details TBA

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Decorah Rotary President Bill Courtney plans to re-introduce himself to the club and discuss his ideas and goals for the coming year. There will be a discussion of the purpose of the Decorah Rotary Color Groups and a dedicated time for the color groups to meet for discussion and planning.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Phil Iversen

In the summer of 2016, Larry Campbell spent seven weeks following the Missouri River (by car) from its source in Three Forks, MT to its terminus near St. Louis, MO. He wrote a book about his experiences and will encapsulate them in his presentation to our members.

Larry spent his career working in mathematics and mathematics education, mostly split between the College of the Ozarks near Branson, MO and Missouri State University in Springfield, MO. He is now officially retired and running AfterMath Enterprises, LLC, an umbrella organization for the activities in which he is now engaged. Besides doing talks, programs, and workshops for civic/community groups and schools, he also puts out a (free) weekly email newsletter that combines his photography hobby with other Monday morning "brighteners and tidbits" for the upcoming week. He has written three other books on a diverse set of subjects.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Liv Anderson will be speaking to our members about her upcoming, Decorah Rotary sponsored Rotary Youth Exchange trip encompassing the 2026-2027 academic year. Liv is currently a junior at Decorah High School and is the daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of fellow Decorah Rotarians John and Cal Anderson.

Liv is active in the community, and participates in Nordic Dancing, church, swimming, soccer, and wrestling. Along with that, she works at the Sugar Bowl and is a lifeguard at the Decorah Community Pool. Liv is going to be a Rotary Exchange student in Denmark this coming school year. She applied to Rotary Youth Exchange because she loves to travel, wants to meet new people, and hopes to experience a new culture.

Rotary Youth Exchange is a Rotary International student exchange program for secondary school students. Since 1929, Rotary International has sent young people around the globe to experience new cultures. Around 9,000 students are sponsored by Rotary Clubs every year. Typically, students are sent to another country for a year-long stay, generally living with one or more host families and attending school in the host country. Rotary Youth Exchange inspires young leaders to serve as catalysts for peace and social justice in their local communities and throughout the world, long after their exchanges end.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Steve Vanden Brink is a critical care paramedic, Director of Ambulance for WinnMed, public information and education office volunteer with the Decorah Fire Department, and American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor. He will give a on CPR and proper use of the automated external defibrillator (AED).

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly one million lives annually. While dangerous, up to 80% of premature cardiovascular events are preventable through simple lifestyle modifications, routine screenings, and active risk management. 

Mr. Vanden Brink has over 35 years experience in fire and emergency medical services (EMS) coordination and response. He is also experienced in training emergency services staff.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Kristen Underwood will be offering her reflections on her experience directing walks at Decorah’s Phelps Cemetery in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2018, where local children and adults acted the parts of past Decorah residents while stationing themselves next to the associated gravesites. She will highlight selected histories of past residents whose names may be familiar to Decorah Rotarians.

Kristen developed scenes and monologues based on obituaries, newspaper articles, cemetery plot maps and other archived materials, and directed players to perform these in costume at the appropriate plots as groups were led from place to place through Phelps Cemetery. Last October she participated in the Porter House Museum’s After Dark lecture series where she provided a popular and theatrically inspired recapitulation of her cemetery walks.

In addition to her cemetery walks, Kristen produced walks at Luther College and along the Upper Iowa River. Her collaboration with Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum resulted in 10 original theatre pieces inspired by museum exhibits. She also produced children’s theater adaptations of works by Carroll, Kipling, Dickens, Molière and Shakespeare, as well as solo performances including Lessons from Cancer College, Women and Fiction: Virginia Woolf Speaks and Natural Shocks.

Kristen has recently retired from Luther College after serving as Director of Campus Programming, and teaching in the theatre department intermittently for over 30 years.  Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she worked as an actor in regional theatre for several years before settling in Lanesboro, MN where she co-managed the Commonweal Theatre. Upon moving to Decorah, Kristen founded Upstart Crow Theatreworks and co-founded ArtHaus with Lea Lovelace. Kristen continues to mentor speech and drama students and co-direct the fall production at Decorah High School.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Former Luther College Director of Campus Safety, National Park Service ranger, archaeologist, criminal investigator, and Luther alumnus Bob Palmer will visit our club and will discuss how a Rotary scholarship to study abroad in New Zealand was a springboard to a varied, 36-year career.

Upon graduation from Luther College in 1992 with a B.A. in Anthropology, Mr. Palmer was awarded a Rotary International scholarship to study in New Zealand. In 1994 he received his M.A. in Archaeology from the University of Auckland and from there, transitioned to employment as a Park Ranger in the Kapiti District under the Greater Wellington Regional Council. In this position he provided visitor and resource management for Battle Hill Farm Forest Park and Queen Elizabeth Park in New Zealand. In 1997 he returned to the U.S. to assume duties in Protection, Safety, Security, Interpretation & Facilities Management for the National Park Service where he became a subject matter expert in park management, safety and security, policy and law. He managed the care and preservation of nationally significant historic structures, museum collections, archaeological sites and coexistent natural resources. He led criminal and civil investigations into violations of heritage law and provided training and technical assistance to U.S. attorneys and Federal agents within the U.S. Department of Justice on heritage law and the prosecution of criminal violations.

Mr. Palmer is also an experienced resource and land conservation manager. He has developed and managed multi-group public-private partnerships with both private foundations and local and central government agencies. He completed land management police training through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Brunswick, GA in 1998 and in 2005 was awarded an M.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Fellow Decorah Rotarian, local pastor, and marathon runner Mike Wilker will share his journey of twenty years and 23 marathons at our after-hours meeting. This October, Mike is running the Chicago Marathon to raise funds for the Danny Did Foundation, which works to prevent deaths caused by Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Mike took up this cause after fellow Decorah neighbor Jennifer Sime's Rotary presentation about her son Brendan. Come hear Mike's story and learn how running, fundraising, and community come together.

Mike moved to Decorah in January 2022 to become the senior pastor of First Lutheran Church. He grew up near Owatonna, MN and graduated from St. Olaf College (1986) and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (1995). He has served bilingual Spanish/English congregations in rural California and suburban New York. He served as the executive director of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps from 2005-2011 and the senior pastor of Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC from 2011-2021. His spouse Judy Kittleson is an English as a Second Language teacher and adult education manager. Their two adult children, Maija and Karl, reside in Minnesota.

The Danny Did Foundation envisions a future where healthcare providers proactively communicate about the risk of SUDEP and other forms of mortality associated with epilepsy. They seek to elevate awareness of, and access to, technologies that enable early intervention and added safety.

For more about the Danny Did Foundation please visit their website at https://www.dannydid.org/.

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The Trout Run Trail motorized tour day sponsored by the Decorah Rotary Club will be held on 8/18/26 with a rain date of 8/25/2026. This annual event allows folks who want to see the beauty of the trail scenery a chance to ride in a comfortable side-by-side machine driven by approved drivers. Riders from prior years are welcome again.

There will be four scheduled tours of the trail with the first one starting at 8:30am, then at 10am, 11:30am and 1:00pm. To reserve a spot on this ride call Bill Courtney at 515-802-7877 or email wrcourtney43@gmail.com . There are a limited number of spaces and reserved seating is required, so call or email soon!

A suggested donation of $20.00 per rider would be appreciated and will include breakfast roll and coffee for early sessions and a hot lunch for later sessions. This event starts at the Decorah Fish Hatchery located at 2321 Siewer Springs Rd. Decorah, Iowa. See you then!

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Iowa Representative Michael Bergan of House District 63 will speak on the results of the 2026 Iowa Legislative Session.

Representative Bergan is a resident of Winneshiek County and an alumnus of Luther College. He has served as a Republican in the Iowa House of Representatives since January 2017.

The 2026 Legislative Session convened on January 12 and adjourned on Sunday, May 3, a period of 112 days. The final days of session were dominated by tax policy, budget considerations, and long-debated structural reforms impacting both individuals and businesses across the state.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Melissa Fuhrmann

Garlic mustard, known for its distinctive garlic scent when its leaves are crushed, poses a serious risk to native plant species. Its proliferative seed production and ability to remain viable in the soil for extended periods allow it to dominate forest floors, stifling the growth of indigenous plants. Decorah resident Mary Lewis has led community efforts over the past 25 years to help control the spread of this invasive species. She will speak to the Rotary After Hours group to teach our members how to recognize garlic mustard, how to enjoy it in a stir-fry, and above all how to help keep it out of our parks.

Mary first saw garlic mustard in the in the early 2000’s when she discovered the overwintering plants while jogging in Palisades Park. In the spring she joined with Larry Berland’s high school class as they attacked a big patch on a steep slope, and after that started weeding on her own. She drew others into the effort, by leading groups into the parks to weed and learn about this persistent plant, whose seeds can last in the ground for years before sprouting. The threat to our forests is that it takes over the woodland floor, creating a monoculture where nothing else can grow, including spring flowers and seedling trees. The work that many have done, including hard working park department employees and Friends of Decorah Parks led for years by Ellen MacDonald, has made a huge difference, but it’s a fight that will need to continue to keep it from spreading. Mary seeks to increase the numbers of people involved and have Decorah Park & Rec take on a bigger role.

Mary taught in the biology department at Luther College for nearly 20 years. Before that she co-founded Badgersett Research Farm for the development of hazels as a perennial crop.

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DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Luther College President Dr. Brad Chamberlain will visit our club to speak to the current state of affairs at Luther College and share his experiences since assuming the office at the start of the Spring 2025 semester.

Dr. Chamberlain is the former Luther College Provost and was named the 12th president of the college in November 2024. As Provost, he brokered new academic programs and expanded the Office of Student Success with the addition of Advising, the Career Center, the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and the Writing Center to create an integrated student success model, the first of its kind at Luther. Prior to those duties, he was Vice President for Mission and Communication from 2019 until 2022. He led the implementation of Luther’s first integrated brand strategy, developed the college’s first strategic internal communications plan, and co-led the COVID Response Team. Joining the college in the fall of 2001 as a visiting professor, Dr. Chamberlain earned tenure in 2007 and became a full professor in 2014, serving as Chairman of the Chemistry Department from 2014 to 2018.

Graduating magna cum laude with his bachelor’s in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College, Dr. Chamberlain earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Before joining the Luther faculty, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University. He has continued his education with professional certifications in fundraising management from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy; in diversity, equity and inclusion from Cornell University’s online campus; and in strategy from the Harvard Business School.

Dr. Chamberlain is married to Luther alumnus Julie Torkelson Chamberlain ('96), they are the proud parents of Decorah High School products and Luther students Drew (’26) and Liam (’29).

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: John Anderson

Jerita Burreson will visit our club to share her many experiences over several years living as an expatriate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Jerita and her husband Matt Burreson are both graduates of Decorah High School. Jerita is co-owner of the Perfect Edge Custom Framing located on Water Street in Decorah. Jerita hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Houston. She taught elementary art in the Houston, Texas area before moving to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she and her family lived for seven years as part of Matt’s job as a geophysicist for an energy company. Jerita, Matt and their daughters Ava and Emma returned home to Decorah a few years ago.

Jerita will highlight her experiences living in the Middle East, including her thoughts on the schools, food, housing, travel, and the transition back home to Decorah.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Erik Sessions, owner of Patchwork Green Farms, will visit the After Hours group to speak about his local business and the important role of local agricultural providers, innovative sourcing options, and Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA).

Patchwork Green Farms is a certified organic 40-acre farm located north of Decorah. They follow a vigorous regimen of organic compost application, green manure cover cropping of fallow ground, crop rotation plans and organic-approved pesticides and seed stock. Erik and his family have been growing vegetables since 1997, and they are amazed at their good fortune to be able to work on the farm. A small garden crew joins their family each season to cultivate a wide range of annual vegetables and herbs. They grow over 100 varieties of annual vegetables each season, and they are always trialing new ones.

Most of the work is done by hand and they follow organic and regenerative management principles. Their priority is flavor and quality, but they also highly value crop varieties that possess beauty, hardiness, storage potential and adaptability to the specific climate of the area. Their customers always appreciate that Patchwork Green vegetables are exceptionally clean, neatly packed/bunched, appropriately chilled/cured and taste wonderful.

Patchwork Green Farms has created multiple options for community members to source their product. They have offered a CSA share program for over 25 years. Members can purchase a full or half share preseason, then the farm grows, harvests and delivers bags of fresh produce during the growing season. They also have an online store that opens each year in July. Customers can shop and have their items delivered directly to their door each week. In addition, their produce can also be found on the Iowa Food Hub marketplace year around. Much like their online ordering system, Iowa Food Hub products are ordered online and picked up or delivered in Decorah on a weekly basis.

Click here to learn more about Patchwork Green Farms products and services: https://patchworkgreen.com/.

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DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Lycia Jens, co-owner and operator of the new West Side Whisk Bakery, will visit our club to speak about the new business, what it means to be a 'cottage bakery' and other fun things associated with this unique, ground-breaking endeavor.

West Side Whisk Bakery officially launched as a business in February 2026 and held their formal grand opening on May 23. The bakery specializes in long-fermented sourdough breads, cookies, cinnamon rolls and artisan fruit scones. They are part of a growing movement of cottage food entrepreneurs heavily dependent on social media and word-of-mouth endorsements that are reshaping how communities think about local food. The bakery's limited-production model has been quite popular and weekend pop-up sales events sell out on a regular basis.

Jens is a graduate of Decorah High School and attended Northeast Iowa Community College. She and her spouse Izac have three children (four if you count Jens' sourdough starter "Lenny," which she feeds every day and considers as almost another child).

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Dr. Erik Brink is a board-certified general surgeon who provides full-time surgical and clinical care at WinnMed in Decorah. He will presenting information on the new da Vinci Surgical System® capabilities at the hospital.

da Vinci robotic surgery is a specific type of robot-assisted surgery. It enhances the dexterity and range of motion of the surgeon’s hands and adds precision in hard-to-reach areas. Three or four robotic arms hold surgical instruments and an endoscopic camera allows the surgeon to see inside your body. The instruments fit through a small incision, which eliminates the need for larger incisions like the ones in traditional “open” surgeries. In most cases, this results in fewer postoperative wound complications and a quicker recovery time. The arms only move when the surgeon is controlling them. At no point does the robot operate on its own.

The da Vinci Surgical System® got its name from Leonardo da Vinci’s study of human anatomy. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration cleared the da Vinci robot for surgical use in July 2000. It is one of the leading surgical robotic systems used in healthcare today.

Dr. Brink received his undergraduate degree from Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR and his osteopathic medicine degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, MO. He completed his general surgery internship and residency through Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in York, PA. As a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve and member of the Medical Corps, Dr. Brink provided surgical care and leadership in multiple locations throughout the world for over 16 years. He began full-time surgical and clinical care at WinnMed in June 2025. He and his spouse Kari have three adult sons.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

We are are hosting a Meet and Greet with Juan Guillermo Vinasco, our club's '26-'27 Rotary International Exchange Student, on the patio at Toppling Goliath starting at 5:30PM. This is a very informal event that will allow members to meet and converse with Juan.  The event is open to members and non members. You may purchase food and beverages on your own if you wish.

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Luther College Professor Emeritus, Decorah resident, and frequent Decorah Rotary raconteur Ed Epperly will speak to our club on the topic "World War II Through the Eyes of a Child."

Ed was six years old at the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and has vivid memories of the event. The next few years of his childhood were dominated by the war. He plans to share his memories of those unique years in American history. 

Decorah Rotarians may recall Dr. Epperly's four-part presentation to the club in September 2024 on his book Fiend Incarnate: Villisca Axe Murders of 1912 and his authoritative investigation over 60 years into one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries. He has written dozens of articles and blog entries, and appeared on CourtTV and other radio and television programs. He is a popular guest speaker at colleges, universities, historical societies, museums, libraries, and book stores.

Fiend Incarnate is a companion to the award-winning documentary feature film Villisca: Living With a Mystery.

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**Please complete your noon meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Richard Kyte is Director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is an Endowed Professor of Ethics at Viterbo and a member of the Downtown Rotary Club of La Crosse. He has published and lectured widely on topics related to justice, forgiveness, virtue, and the meaning of life. His recently released book Finding Your Third Place looks at the essential gathering spaces in our society where friendships are formed, relationships are nurtured, and the tapestry of community is woven. Dr. Kyte recently presented a well-received talk at the Iowa Falls District Conference and will be speaking to our members about his book and the importance of community and local connection.

In his book, Dr. Kyte combines storytelling, social science, and philosophy to explore what it is that makes a third place; factors that create and support vibrant communities, the role of hospitality in creating belonging and social connection, how "third places" foster friendships and bind us to others in our community, and what it takes to find and create a third place of your own.

After growing up in Frazee, a small town in northwestern Minnesota, Dr. Kyte attended Hamline University where he earned a B.A. in philosophy. He then went on to graduate school, obtaining a Ph.D. in philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University in 1994. Since then he has taught at several colleges and universities including Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. He serves on numerous boards, including the Editorial Board of the La Crosse Tribune, the La Crosse Community Foundation, and the Coulee Region Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcement, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. 

I am pleased to announce Reading With Rotarians, our 2026-2027 District Grant project.  In the past, most of our grants have fallen into the community economic development area of focus so this year's grant is special in that we are doing only our second grant that falls under the basic education and literacy area of focus.  (The first grant was The Brain Game books for the hospital.)  This grant is especially meaningful to Decorah Public Library as funds are limited for the purchase of new materials in the children's section.  Our grant is increasing their annual budget by 50%!

While the books being purchased through our club's matching grant dollars have not yet been delivered to Decorah Public Library, we have an opportunity to start reading to kids early.  There will be several other reading opportunities in the coming months as well as a meeting to put the "donated by" labels in the books purchased by our club.