Events

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. 

This year marks the 22st anniversary of Holiday Lights for Helping Services and Decorah Rotary is excited to participate, not only by providing volunteers for the event, but also by displaying the lighted Rotary wheel again this year.

Every night, visitors come from near and far to see the wonder of the holiday displays. These bigger than life depictions of Santa, elves, snowmen, and reindeer can range in size from 5 to 25 feet tall.

They fill the night with blinking lights and charming animations, capturing the wonder of the couples, friends, and family that travel through.

Every event of this type needs a feature display, and for Holiday Lights, it is the Tunnel of Lights. Consisting of eight rings, the lights are synchronized to light in order from first ring to last, making an exciting drive-through experience.

Decorah Rotary is proud to once again partner with local groups in support of the Decorah Community Meal. Our assigned day is April 3, 2025. The event takes place in the Fellowship Hall (lower level) at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago Street.  The sign up includes spots for salads, desserts and workers.  Food items can be dropped off as early as 4:15 in the church kitchen the day of the event.  If you have a container that you need returned, please make sure it is marked with your name.  The event coordinators have requested that children under the age of 14 be accompanied by an adult.

For those of you signing up to work, you may be assigned to any of the following jobs:

Cut and serve desserts, refill dessert table

Mix and pour drinks, refill drinks

Floater/Runner; Keep main table stocked with dishes, silverware, napkins, entrées, salads

Serve coffee and greet guests.

Bus dishes and help in kitchen after meal

Dry washed pots, pans, bowls, etc.

Unload dishwasher and put dishes away

Wipe tables and chairs

Vacuum/mop and help with take-down

Assistance to any of the DCM committee members as needed

DRC Sponsor: Jon Lund

**This presentation provides the After Hours group an opportunity for insight into a previous talk on this topic delivered at the 10/20 noon meeting.**

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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DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Chris Lindell serves as chair of Rotary District 5970’s District International Service Committee (DISC), a team of experienced Rotarians who help clubs expand and strengthen their international service. The DISC connects clubs with Rotary resources, expertise, potential partners and other clubs while encouraging greater collaboration throughout the district. Chris will provide an overview of the state of international service in District 5970 and highlight the many ways clubs and individual Rotarians can make global connections—from youth and cultural exchanges to international projects and Global Grants.

Expanding Rotary international service opportunities not only extends Rotary’s impact around the world, but also gives members more ways to become meaningfully engaged. Strong international connections can help clubs attract new members, retain existing members and provide the kinds of experiences that make Rotary membership rewarding.

A second-generation Rotarian, Chris has been a Rotarian for 38 years and has belonged to four Rotary clubs, including four years with the Rotary Club of Auckland, New Zealand. He is a past president of Cedar Rapids West Rotary and has held numerous club and district leadership positions, including serving as the District Global and Peace Scholarship Chair.

Chris is a native of Le Mars, Iowa, and married his high school sweetheart. They have two adult children. Following careers in jewelry, utilities, banking and engineering, Chris fully retired in 2024. He is an avid bicyclist and musician—and a self-described computer geek.

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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.