Events

DRC Sponsor: Don Arendt

Sean Snyder, Winneshiek County Emergency Management Coordinator, will be on hand to provide our members with an interesting inside look into the operations and challenges of emergency and disaster mitigation, planning, response and recovery efforts in our area.

The Winneshiek County Emergency Managment Commission members, per Iowa Code, is defined as each Mayor from within the county, one member of the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff. The Commission provides coordination of all response and recovery agencies serving in the county, assists in agency development and training, and develops and maintains strategies to sustain local communities and a viable economic system that is safe from natural, technological, or human-caused threats or hazards.

Sean assumed duties as the first full-time Emergency Management Coordinator for Winneshiek County in 2015. The Coordinator, or his designee, is required to be available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to facilitate communications with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, local public safety personnel and key local officials.

DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski

Join us as fellow DRC member Dacia Monson shares about the Pony of America (POA) breed of horse that actually originated in Iowa. She will share her insight about growing up with horses and about this unique breed of horse.

In 1954 Les Boomhower, a Mason City attorney, saw a need for a “using type” pony for youth. His vision was to create a child’s size mount that was calm, intelligent, versatile, and sturdy enough to last all day. Les thought the Appaloosa type color would make them really stand out, and thus the POA breed was born. Now numbering over 55,000 registrations, POAs no longer have the “pony” look or movement. With an infusion of some of the finest bloodlines that the Quarter Horse and Appaloosa breeds have to offer, the modern POA looks and moves like their larger counterparts. Measuring up to 14 hands, they are the complete package for any horse lover.

DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski

The Winneshiek Idea House is a project coordinated by volunteers in collaboration with Winneshiek County Development, Inc. (WDCI) and supported by the Iowa Small Business Development Center. Kristin Eggen will be on hand to provide information to our members about the second annual event, Winneshiek Idea House 2019, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 23 at the Decorah Elks Lodge.

Winneshiek Idea House is a space for local entrepreneurs to share their needs with a supportive community, with crowdfunding happening at the event in real time. The participants "invest" the resilience and sustainability of our local economy and community and show support for local entrepreneurs by valuing sustainable business ideas upon which communities thrive. The inaugural 2018 Winneshiek Idea House identified over $7,000 in direct and in-kind support for local entrepreneurs.

For more information on Winneshiek Idea House 2019 and to learn how to register for this unique event, please see the associated WCDI website using the following link: Winneshiek Idea House 2019

DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski

Nancy Sojka, Oneota Film Festival Board President, and Peter Scholl, Submitted Film Judge, will be on hand to inform our members of the details of this year's Oneota Film Festival scheduled for March 7 - 9, 2019.

The Oneota Film Festival was founded and is run by a group of representatives from Luther College and local film lovers who have formed a non-profit corporation to host the festival. The mission of the festival is to "build and sustain a community of film lovers through screenings and discussions." This will be the tenth year that the Oneota Film Festival has been held in Decorah. Inspired by Luther alumnus Walter Ordway, a world traveler and filmmaker, the Oneota Film Festival board has arranged a weekend of eclectic, artistic, and thoughtful films intended to delight a diverse audience.

More information and a full schedule of events is available using this link: Oneota Film Festival 2019

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Luther College Senior Wyatt Anians will be on hand to share his experiences in Luther's Malta and the Mediterranean study abroad program. Students meeting the criteria for participation in the this program live, work, and study across southern Europe.

Luther’s Malta and the Mediterranean Program, currently in its 27th year, offers students the opportunity to spend a semester exploring Malta's rich history and traveling to other countries in the Mediterranean region. Coursework includes Paideia II: Ethical Issues in the Mediterranean, a Service Learning class, where program participants teach English to recent immigrants to Malta, Maltese History and Culture and additional classes taken at the University of Malta.

DRC Sponsor: John Anderson

Our club will be joined by Kristina Wiltgen, Executive Director of the Decorah Chamber of Commerce (DACC). She plans to provide our members with an update on the local Chamber and and associated events and initiatives around Decorah.

Kristina has been part of the DACC team for fifteen years. She earned an Associate of Arts from Northeast Iowa Community College in Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Upper Iowa University. She achieved her Institute for Organizational Management certification through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as the Executive Director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Kristina is a native of Winneshiek County with an appreciation for all that the local area has to offer. She is active in several local organizations and has a passion for local business.

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Joel Zook, a member of the Winneshiek Energy District, will join us to discuss some of the financial aspects of renewable energy. The current Calendar Year 2019 is the last year for homeowners to take advantage of the full 30% Federal tax credit for solar energy systems, which means anyone thinking about installing a solar system should be considering a near-term installation. Also, it appears the investor-owned utilities are seeking to eliminate net-metering policies meaning there is an opportunity for customers who install new systems can be grandfathered into existing rates.

The mission of the Winneshiek Energy District is to lead, implement, and accelerate a locally-owned, inclusive, clean energy transition in Winneshiek County. Their strategies include energy planning, market transformation, public engagement, policy advocacy, and readiness. They seek to demonstrate the viability of the energy district model and the growth of an energy district network throughout Iowa and beyond.

For more information feel free to visit their website: Winneshiek Energy District

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Nina Taylor is the President of a relatively new local non-profit organization called Women Empowered (WE). As our guest speaker at this meeting, she will offer our members additional information and insight into WE.

Overwhelming interest in WE during focus groups conducted in the summer of 2018 provided an awareness of the possibilities for women of all ages to come together and generate enthusiasm for their individual and collective goals. As a non-profit (501(c)3) corporation, WE members work in partnership for the betterment of all women, providing support in business, personal growth, family, health, and community. Their network of members provides resources, education, and support for women to become independent, confident individuals. The organization seeks to bring women together from all walks of life to share and appreciate each other, connect them through mentoring or shadowing programs, create a revolving loan fund, hold an annual conference with recognition of "Women of the Year" and other achievements, as well as other objectives designed to promote the livelihood of women in our community.

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx will be on hand to update our members on recent events and initiatives within the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office.

As Sheriff, Dan Marx serves as the chief law enforcement officer in Winneshiek County. Leading and managing the Sheriff's Office includes patrols, investigations, jail operations, civil processes, court orders, court functions and community/public relations. Sheriff Marx is a lifelong resident of Winneshiek County and has been involved with county law enforcement for the past 22 years. He was appointed to the position of Sheriff in 2015 and was elected to that position in 2016. He holds a degree in police science and criminal justice and is a member of Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association.

DRC Sponsor: Carson Eggland

Scott Searcy will be with us on behalf of Northeast Iowa Montessori School and the Driftless Discovery Trail Run. The Driftless Discovery Trail Run is an annual fundraiser Scott and his wife Kelly organize to raise funds for Northeast Iowa Montessori School, Decorah Human Powered Trails (the creators and caretakers of the trails) and the Decorah Parks and Recreation Department. Scott will discuss both the community impact of Montessori schools and the Trail Run. The Driftless Discovery Trail Run this year will be held on June 1st, and starts at Van Peenen Memorial Park.

More information on this year's Trail Run is available here: Driftless Discovery Trail Runs

DRC Sponsor: Gary Mineart

Our club will be joined at this meeting by David Lester, General Manager of the Oneota Community Cooperative (Co-op), along with Co-op Marketing Manger Nate Furler. They will be presenting information on their expansive remodeling effort already underway, including how the effort is being supported locally and the ways in which the refreshed store adds value to Decorah and the local community.

The Oneota Community Co-op started in 1972 as an informal group of people making trips to Iowa City and Minneapolis to purchase natural foods in bulk. The Co-op moved to the second floor of the Old Armory Building in 1978 and subsequently to three different Water Street locations in 1984, 1994, and 2088, ultimately landing at its present 312 West Water Street location. Today, the Co-op boasts a diverse membership of over 5,000 member/owners and annual sales in excess of $5.2 million. It features northeast Iowa's largest selection of bulk and local foods, as well as produce, nutritional supplements, organic foods, body care items, packaged and frozen foods; local, regional, and globally made fair trade items, sustainable gifts and publications, and a delicatessen.

For more information you can visit the Co-op website here: Oneota Community Cooperative, Inc.

DRC Sponsor: Kurt DeVore

Our club will be hosting students from the Decorah High School (DHS) Robotics Club. The DHS Robotics Club participates in a program called FIRST Tech Challenge. At the beginning of the year, teams comprised of 7th – 12th grade students from around the world are given an obstacle course scenario. Teams then design, build and program an 18 x 18 x 18 inch robot to compete with against other teams in an attempt to score as many points as possible within that scenario. This year’s robotics competition is called Rover Ruckus, based on the 50th anniversary of the landing on the moon. The playing field this season includes two fake moon craters, moon “minerals” and a moon lander that teams can score points with. Both of the High School's Robotics teams were extremely successful in competitions this season and both teams qualified for the first time to participate in the Super Qualifier Event in Sioux City.

DRC Sponsor: Mark Donhowe

New Director of Folk Art Education, Lea Donhowe Lovelace, will give a short history on how the Vesterheim Folk Art School came to be, discuss some of the current 2019 offerings and share some ideas related to future programming initiatives.

Learning opportunities at the Vesterheim Folk Art School reflect the diversity of Scandinavian folk art traditions with classes in fiber arts, woodworking, rosemaling, food, music, jewelry and wirework, metalworking, and knifemaking. The museum’s vast collection of historic and contemporary folk art objects inspire and inform students' creativity as they learn alongside other makers sharing a passion for folk art.

More information is available via the following link: Vesterheim Folk Art School

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

As part of the Luther College Paideia 450 January Term course of abroad study, a large group of students led by Luther faculty members James Martin-Schramm, Professor of Religion and Sören Steding, Associate Professor of German, traveled to multiple locations in Germany and England to explore the state of environmental sustainability in those regions. Professor Steding will share the experiences he enjoyed during this trip with our club.

Many European nations are significantly ahead of the U.S. in the development of renewable and low-carbon energy sources (wind, solar, biomass, and nuclear power), as well as in the education of citizens about the conservation of nature in the context of climate change. The Paideia 450 course considered long-term ethical and practical issues associated with alternative energy sources and public policies designed to increase their use. The course had a special focus on Germany, the largest economy in Europe, where strong influence by the environmental movement led to a government-mandated phaseout of nuclear power and significant investments in renewable energy sources.

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Laree Shouweiler, Founder and CEO of Reefuel, LLC in Decorah, will be on hand to share information about Reefuel and the upcoming Driftless Yoga Festival.

The first annual Driftless Yoga Festival invites everyone to solstice in Iowa's iconic Driftless area! Get restored an reinvigorated with three days of movement and flow among Northeast Iowa's unique limestone hills. You may stretch into an elevated yoga experience at Luna Valley Farm, explore the region's incredible mountain bike trails, head out on an inspiring hike, or paddle the Upper Iowa River on your own adventure. Experience optional morning meditation outdoors, explore ayrveda and pranayama, taste local flavors, sample incredible local brews, and set yourself up for a summer you won't forget.

For more information you can visit the Reefuel website using the following link: Reefuel -- Yoga - Cycling - Beyond