Events

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.

DRC Sponsor: Phil Iversen

In February 2026 career music educators, Decorah residents, and local philanthropists Jim and Liz Fritz presented a plan to the Decorah City Council for a privately funded, solar-powered performance pavilion and market plaza in downtown Decorah. Jim will be visiting the club to provide background information on the proposal and a status report on the progress of this initiative.

The proposal includes a central green space, an outdoor performance pavilion, a canopied farmers market area, public restrooms and adjacent playground areas. The proposed location is east of River Street between Day Spring Lane and Heivly Street. The project is described as being designed to complement the surrounding downtown architecture while maximizing use of what many characterize as underutilized space. A major component of the plan involves solar generation. Using waterproof solar arrays as canopy, the pavilion would generate up to 45,000 kilowatt-hours annually with the market canopy providing up to 250,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The energy production is envisioned as helping to offset long-term maintenance and management costs. Initial estimates of planning and construction costs range from $1.5 to $1.75 million.

The Decorah City Council and local committees have reviewed the proposal and discussed timelines, operational frameworks, and legal details. As of August 2026 the project remains in the planning and discussion phases.

Following retirement from their illustrious education careers, Jim and Liz founded Mission Green LLC, a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the local community’s transition to sustainable energy. More information about the pavilion proposal is available on the Mission Green website at https://missiongreen.llc/decorah-performance-pavilion/.

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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. 

Our annual Fall Roadside Cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday, October 17.  Please meet at Putnam Law Office at 8am to pick up bags and safety vests.  We will take a group photo prior to heading out to the cleanup sections.

DRC Sponsor: Jon Lund

To help realize the dream of the Natopiwo Eluwai Women's Center in northern Tanzania, the Burnsville Rotary Club in Burnsville, MN and the Arusha Clocktower Rotary Club in Tanzania have been working jointly on a Rotary International District/Global Grant to support the initiative. Building on the 25-year Luther College and Decorah partnership in Eluwai, it seems natural that the Decorah Rotary Club would want to consider partnering in this effort. This presentation will introduce the project and context and begin a local Rotary Club conversation about a global partnership. We will also explore the possibility of a "service in action" (i.e., sweat equity) trip to Eluwai, organized through Luther College, for Rotarians participating in the project from partner Rotary chapters.

Our presenters include Lori Stanley, retired professor of anthropology who began Luther's partnership in Eluwai, co-leader of 18 January (J) -Term courses in Tanzania, and currently serving as the Natopiwo Partners president; Jon Jensen, professor of philosophy and environmental studies, co-leader of several Luther J-Term courses in Tanzania, and Natopiwo Partners treasurer; Decorah Rotarian John Moeller, retired professor of political science, co-leader of two Luther J-Term courses in Tanzania; and Decorah Rotarian Jon Lund, retired director of Luther's Center for Global Learning, frequent traveler to Tanzania, and Natopiwo Partners board member.

Luther College has been deeply involved in the life and work of the Maasai community of Eluwai in Northern Tanzania. Since Luther’s first J-Term Program in Eluwai in 2002, 253 Luther students, 11 different faculty members, and a handful of staff members have experienced community life in Eluwai.

In 2017, Natopiwo (Lifted Up), a registered non-profit, non-governmental organization was founded in the Monduli region of Northern Tanzania where Eluwai is located. Since its founding, Natopiwo has focused on supporting Maasai families through education, community-based environmental work, the empowerment of women and girls, and the distribution of basic provisions during times of crisis.

In 2024, Natopiwo Partners was founded in Decorah as a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to collaborate with and support the important, ongoing work of Natopiwo. Both Natopiwo and Natopiwo Partners operate on the principle that the most impactful community development work involves projects that emanate from the expressed needs and wishes of community members themselves and that directly address one or more community priorities. The Natopiwo Eluwai Women’s Center is a project that emanates from and directly meets the needs of the community.

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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. 

Help Rotary International's continued efforts to end polio and support us on World Polio Day. The Rotary Club of Decorah has partnered with local establishments who will be donating $1/pint purchased on October 24. Options vary per location so please ask server for additional details.

For more information on the fight to end polio, please visit endpolionow.org.

Pints for Polio Locations:

DIXIE'S BIERGARTEN

KING PIN BOWLING ALLEY

PULPIT ROCK BREWING COMPANY

RUBAIYAT

T-BOCKS SPORTS BAR & GRILL

TOPPLING GOLIATH BREWING COMPANY

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Questions may be directed to Shannon Duncan via email at sdunc11@gmail.com.

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Decorah Rotarian and past District 5970 Governor Ward Budweg and his spouse, Decorah Rotarian Jacky Budweg, traveled to Taiwan in June in conjunction with the annual Rotary International Convention being hosted in Taipei. As part of that journey, they represented our club and district in the End Polio Now Taiwan Cycling Tour. Ward and Jacky will reflect on and share their many amazing adventures and experiences while traveling in Taiwan.

The End Polio Now Taiwan Cycling Tour started from Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan and finished at the Taipei Music Center. The tour spaned seven days and six nights along the scenic east coast, visiting some of the most beautiful sites of Taiwan. Participants raised funds and awareness to help Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.

The 2026 Rotary International Convention took place in Taipei from 13-17 June. It was hosted at the Taipei - Farglory Dome and the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, with over 38,000 attendees from 140 countries and regions.

Most Decorah Rotarians know Ward and Jacky in a variety of contexts. In addition to their Rotary leadership roles, their yard and driveway were an annually recurring construction zone for the Rotary Nordic Fest float. They are co-authors of the 2020 book The World at 10 MPH. The book provides a fascinating look at their global, 1,106 day, 33,523-mile joint bicycle journey across six continents from 2007-2010.

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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

Tom Overlie is a former nightly news anchor, producer, and reporter, as well as an Emmy Award winner. Drawing on 35 years in local television news, he offers firsthand insight into the major changes that have transformed the industry. In this speaking engagement, Tom explores how local news has evolved over the decades and what its future may look like.

Mr Overlie has been a Rochester, MN native for over two decades. He was born in Minneapolis and grew up in southern North Dakota, and also spent time in Nigeria, Western Africa. He has anchored and reported news for KEYC-TV in Mankato and KMOT-TV in Minot, North Dakota. He was the primary KTTC-TV 6 pm and 10 pm co-anchor in Rochester beginning in May 2000 until his retirement in 2024. He is the recipient of nine Emmy Awards for best newscast (Upper Midwest Chapter) and has received honors from the Minnesota Broadcaster’s Association, Minnesota Associated Press, Northwest Broadcast News-Eric Sevareid Award, and the North Dakota Broadcasters Association.

Some of Mr Overlie's favorite memories during his tenure as a newcaster include a one-on-one interview with a sitting president, parachuting from an airplane at 16,000 feet while broadcasting live, and hosting the longest running, locally produced telethon in the nation, raising millions of dollars for cancer research.

Since his retirement from KTTC-TV he has turned his attention to spending time with his parents, pursuing his hobby of music and singing, spending more time writing (he is creating a series of young-adult books), and working on restoring his Civil War-era farmhouse and barn outside Rochester. The barn currently functions as a site for community concerts, weddings and fundraisers.

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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

Distinguished fellow Decorah Rotarian Dr. Liang Chee Wee will be presenting his reflections on the experiences that have shaped him during his 43-year journey in America as an immigrant.

Dr. Wee has extensive community college leadership experience, having served as President of Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) from 2011 to 2022. He also recently concluded nearly two years of service as Interim Chancellor of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and six months as Interim President of Des Moines Area Community College. His distinguished career includes significant experience in strategic planning, workforce development, student support, legislative engagement, organizational culture, and community partnerships.

During his tenure at NICC, Dr. Wee led a successful capital campaign totaling $10 million and a $39 million bond levy. He earned recognition as Iowa's Outstanding Chief Administrator by the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees in 2013. He was named the Chairman’s Institutional Leadership Award recipient by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 and received the Crescent Community Health Center Advocacy Award in 2022. Most recently, in 2025, he received the Larry Ebbers Honorary Trustee Award from Community Colleges for Iowa and was honored as an Honorary Lifetime Leadership Iowa Alumni Society Member by the Association of Business and Industry.

Dr. Wee holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona's Karl Eller Graduate School of Management, along with an MBA and undergraduate degree with distinction in Management Information Systems from the same institution.

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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

Endurance sport puts people on the same start line, regardless of where they come from or what they believe. In this talk, Carson Christen shares what 14 years of coaching, racing, and living abroad taught him about people, from a Rotary youth club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to a German language classroom filled with students from around the world, to the streets of Taichung, Taiwan, where he was the tall, blonde outsider who was welcomed like a neighbor. Along the way, he'll share how, in more than 33 countries, people were far more curious about his life than about his passport.

Carson's introduction to Rotary began long before he was old enough to join. He spent many lunch hours at Mabe's Pizza with his grandfather, Elliott Christen, a longtime Rotary International member, and later joined the Young Rotary Club at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. After swimming at Luther College and earning a Master's degree in Exercise Physiology at the University of Northern Iowa, he began a career in endurance sport that took him from Boulder, Colorado, to Germany and Taiwan. He is a professional endurance coach whose athletes include an Olympic cyclist from the 2016 Rio Games, multiple National Champions, and World Championship qualfiers. He now lives in Muskego, Wisconsin, with his wife, Katie, and their son, Noah.

Today, Carson is a dad and the lessons he picked up abroad--to show up curious, treat people fairly, and build friendships across every line--are the ones he hopes to pass on to Noah, just as his grandfather and family have passed to him. Join us to hear how a shared love of sport can build the kind of understanding Rotary was founded on, and how a few slices of pizza with Grandpa set some of it in motion.

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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

Decorah Rotarian Jeff Tomlinson will be presenting information to our members on background, recent activities, and accomplishments of the Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions.

The foundation was established in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of $26.50 to more than $1 billion in assets. It has one of the largest and most prestigious international fellowship programs in the world.

The Rotary Foundation transforms members' gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, our club taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into shared priorities such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.

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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.