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Sep 27, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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Strategies for Electrification
Sep 27, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet Converting our buildings to run on electricity instead of fossil fuels is the most straightforward path to reducing carbon emissions. Paul Cutting from Winneshiek Energy District will present strategies for building electrification, and how these changes can save money and make buildings more liveable and enjoyable. Paul will also present on current happenings at Winneshiek Energy District and share how you can become an active participant in the local energy transition. Paul has an extensive and unique background in teaching and carpentry. He was formerly a high school industrial tech teacher in Lanesboro, MN where he taught carpentry, cabinetmaking, electricity, engineering design, graphic design, computer aided desigbn, entrepreneurship, and more generally, enjoyed helping youngsters grow into capable and confident young adults. Prior to his teaching experience, he spent several years as a carpenter disassembling and reconstructing 19th century Norwegian-built log buildings for clients. His restoration artistry caught the eye of New York City photographer Angela Cappetta who subsequently published an extensive online interview (<- link) about his work. He also worked several seasons for HistoriCorps, a non-profit that pairs volunteers with hands-on historic preservation projects throughout the mountain west. In addition to his service for the Winneshiek Energy District, he formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Porter House Museum. In his free time Paul enjoys making furniture, trail running with his dog Bobo, hunting for mushrooms, scheming backpacking trips out west, camping in his homemade teardrop camper, and rehabbing his 170 year old brick house. For more information on the Winneshiek Energy District vist their website at https://energydistrict.org. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Oct 04, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Reflections on Queen Elizabeth II and Great Britain
Oct 04, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow Luther College Professor Emerita Rachel Faldet will join our group to speak about the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Family in general, and to reflect on her considerable experiences in Great Britain. Elizabeth II was was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death on 8 September 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch, the longest recorded of any female head of state in history, and the second-longest verified reign of any sovereign in history. An alum of Luther College, Rachel Faldet grew up in small town Wisconsin and holds a degree in what is now the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. An active essayist, she is editor of the anthology Our Stories of Miscarriage, which helped break the media taboo surrounding the emotional aspects of pregnancy loss and landed her on NBC’s Today show. In one of her favorite freelance projects she worked with Decorah’s Spectrum Network, developing and editing From My Perspective, a collection of essays written by people with disabilities, celebrating their stories, their voices. A three-time co-director of Luther’s year-long Nottingham Program in England and frequent January-term co-leader to the United Kingdom, she has a harmless obsession with the British royals. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Oct 11, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Tenkara in the Iowa Driftless
Oct 11, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow During the recent pandemic, DRC member Gary Mineart developed an affinity and became a student of tenkara, a form of fly fishing originating from Japan. This affinity blossomed into a passion as a result of the superb match between the local trout waters in the Driftless Region and this special fishing technique. Gary will explain the concepts of tenkara, contrast it with traditional western fly fishing, and display some of the associated equipment. Tenkara (テンカラ釣り, literally: "fishing from heaven", "sky fishing", or "empty sky fishing") is a type of simple rod angling traditionally practiced in Japan since the 1600s. It originated with professional anglers who found it an effective method of catching the local mountain stream fish, yamame, iwana, and amago. Primarily used for mountain stream trout fishing, tenkara is still a fairly rare method even among freshwater anglers in Japan, and little was known about it outside of the country until after 2009. The appeal of tenkara is its elegant simplicity. There are advantages of using tenkara rods when fishing in small streams, primarily the lightness of the line and delicate presentation. The rod allows for precise placement of the kebari (i.e., artificial fly) on small pools and for holding the kebari in place on the other side of a current. The other main advantage is precise control for manipulation of the kebari. Tenkara fishing can be seen as a streamlined counterpart to western fly-fishing. The equipment is designed to focus on the actual process of fishing and avoid preoccupation with managing the equipment. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Community Engagement at Helping Services
Oct 13, 2022 5:30 PM
DRC After Hours Sponsor: Brecka Putnam Our club is excited to welcome Ben Krouse-Gagne, the Director of Community Engagement at Helping Services for Youth and Families, to this week’s Rotary After Hours meeting. He is responsible for fundraising, communications, and community partnerships. Helping Services’ major fundraising event is Holiday Lights. Holiday Lights is entering its 18th season and sees over 6,000 visitors each year. It takes over 400 volunteers to make this event run smoothly. Founded in 1973, Helping Services provides children, teens, and adults with the skills and knowledge to bring about positive changes in their lives and in their community. Their programs include domestic abuse resources, family education and support, substance and drug abuse prevention, and youth mentoring. You can learn more about this organization at Helping Services for Youth and Families. --- |
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Oct 13, 2022 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Oct 15, 2022 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Fall Roadside Cleanup is Saturday, October 15, at 8:00, AM starting from Whalen Cabin. This is a great time to work alongside Rotarians who attend both meeting times, as well as other service minded community members. We will be partnering with at least one other service group! Ward Budweg, who is currently out of the country, will be organizing the event again this year. Please help me surprise Ward by having a completely full sign up waiting for him when he returns. Here is the link to sign up and select your road section: https://www.signupgenius.com/
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Oct 18, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Northeast Iowa Community College - President's Update
Oct 18, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow On July 1, 2022, Dr. Herbert Riedel assumed duties as President of Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). He will be on hand to introduce himself to our membership and provide an update on progress and recent initiatives at the College. Dr. Riedel previously served at President of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Alabama, where he introduced program offerings in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and short-term skills training, as well as an honor's program and the College's first student housing complex. Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Instruction and Student Development for Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Dr. Riedel is internationally educated, having attended six schools on four continents. He earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Pretoria, in Pretoria, South Africa. He is knowledgeable in six languages, being fluent in German and conversational in Spanish. Dr. Riedel and his spouse Lisa have two grown children. NICC serves eight counties in northeast Iowa and surrounding areas. Offering academic programs of study in a variety of disciplines, in addition to online and blended learning, customized business and industry training, short-term certification options and adult education and literacy, the College is committed to affordable, high-quality education and training to ensure the growth and vitality of northeast Iowa. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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An Update from the New Seed Savers Exchange Executive Director
Oct 25, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow Mike Bollinger was recently named as the new Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange. Decorah Rotarians may be familiar with Mike, his River Root Farm certified organic family farm business, and co-owner Katie Prochaska from their visit to our club in September 2018. Mike will join us to provide unique insights into the Seed Savers Exchange organization and operations. Seed Savers Exchange conserves biodiversity by maintaining a collection of over 20,000 different varieties of heirloom and open-pollinated plants, varieties with the ability to regenerate themselves year after year. These seeds (and tissue cultures or other plant materials, depending on how a plant reproduces) have the power to withstand unforeseen pestilence and plant disease, climate change, and limited habitat, and to stop dinnertime boredom forever. The Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm, located near Decorah, serves as the headquarters of Seed Savers Exchange. This facility includes the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center and Gift and Garden Store, miles of hiking trails, a trout stream, display gardens and a historic orchard. The Heritage Farm serves as the principal location for housing the extensive seed collection and for hosting special events. The entire Seed Savers Exchange team (including preservation and education staff, donor and member services, the garden crew, and order fulfillment team) is also based at their Decorah location. For more information on Seed Savers Exchange visit https://www.seedsavers.org/. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Oct 25, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Oct 27, 2022 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Please join us for our annual Rotary Halloween Party on October 27, 2022 from 5:30-7:30. We will be meeting at Pulpit Rock again however instead of meeting in their event room on the right, we will be to the left of the bar/main area where they used to have the brewing equipment. Our exchange student, Fran, will be joining us, as will her host families. This is a great opportunity to meet them.
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Nov 01, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The Around-the-World Flight to End Polio
Nov 01, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz **Please note the special meeting location for this day will be the Decorah Municipal Airport** In late Spring of 2023, Rotarian pilots Peter Teahen from Cedar Rapids and John Ockenfels from Shueyville will climb into Teahan's 1978 PA-32RT-300 Piper Lance. They will depart Cedar Rapids and head east on an amazing, seven week, 20,000 mile around-the-world flight to raise awareness for Rotary International's polio eradication campaign. Our club is fortunate to host these action minded, courageous, and philanthropic Rotarians in order to learn more about the details and plans for this incredible journey. As members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, Teahen and Ockenfels hatched the idea of using the global flight as a fundraiser for Rotary's three-decade quest to finally eradicate polio. The two pilots set a goal to raise $1 million with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Rotary International’s “Polio Plus” program. All flight expenses will be paid by Teahen and Ockenfels. When the two-man crew takes off from Cedar Rapids, it will become the “Flight to End Polio.” At each of the 29 stops in 17 countries, the pilots will raise awareness by meeting with other Rotary members, humanitarian workers, and government officials to discuss the progress of polio eradication and the ongoing need for assistance for families still affected by the devastating disease. Peter Teahen is president of Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, an author, and a mental health professional. He serves on the faculty at the University of Iowa and is the founder of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. He has served in leadership roles on 67 major disasters throughout the world. He is recognized for his work on aviation disasters and is internationally known for his work in critical incident stress management and the psycho-social impact of disasters. He has served for 19 years as a national media spokesperson for the American Red Cross. John Ockenfels maintains World War II aircraft, including his own North American Aviation T-6, a Boeing Stearman, and a Cessna 182 Skylane. Prior to his retirement, he served as the chief executive officer of City Carton Recycling, based in Iowa City, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa and served in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976. For two of his four years in the Air Force, he was a crewmember onboard an AC-130 Hercules in Thailand. To learn more about this epic journey, visit their website at https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/home. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Nov 03, 2022 4:15 PM - 7:00 PM
Decorah Rotary is proud to once again partner with local groups in support of the Decorah Community Meal. Our assigned day is November 3rd. The event takes place in the Fellowship Hall at Decorah Lutheran Church. The sign up includes spots for volunteer workers as well spots to sign up for salads or desserts. Food items can be dropped off as early as 4:15 in the church kitchen. If you have a container that you need returned, please make sure it is marked with your name. |
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Nov 08, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The Flashback of COVID-19: A Story from a Vietnamese Mother to Her COVID Baby
Nov 08, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet Two Luther College students, Linh Do '22 and Sloan Clemens '24, created the winning production for ASIANetwork's 2022 Student Video Challenge. The film, The Flashback of Covid-19: A Story from a Vietnamese Mother to Her COVID Baby, follows a Vietnamese mother telling her child the story of how he was born during pandemic times and her wishes for his future. Do and Clemens worked alongside Vietnamese students Minh Nguyen, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology and Ha Tran, Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. The challenge theme of ASIANetwork 2022: "Draw on the challenges and successes of your countries’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and prepare a video presentation to the World Health Organization (WHO) with a recommendation for future pandemic preparedness." Thomas C. Johnson, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, served as faculty advisor for the project. Linh Do and Professor Johnson will offer our club their insights into the inspiration for, and production of, this award winning short film. It was subsequently published on YouTube in April 2022 and can be viewed using this link: https://youtu.be/KqIq6YBXfXA. Professor Johnson teaches courses in Paideia, critical media studies, and media production. His research interests include pedagogy, sport media, television studies, gender studies, and documentary film. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Nov 10, 2022 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Decorah Community Food Pantry representatives attended Rotary After Hours this August and shared many ways we could help the pantry and their customers. One idea was to help create birthday baskets that customers could take when their family needs to celebrate a special day.
Rotary After Hours has received a donation of supplies to create many baskets and will be assembling them at this week’s meeting. All Rotarians and guests are welcome to join us in the front room at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company to help put them together. Want to help even more? Bring donations of non-perishable food items to the meeting and we’ll drop them off at the food pantry for you. They have a list of most needed items at https://www.decorahpantry.org/ |
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"Pop"ular Holdings, LLC
Nov 15, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz Wondering about the space where the old Radio Shack was on Winnebago? Wondering what building restoration, smudge sticks, popcorn, a pop singer and a Moroccan cooking tangine have to do with each other? We are, too! So come and find out. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Nov 15, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Nov 22, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The Luther College Lutheran Heritage Anthology Project
Nov 22, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz Dr. Brad Chamberlain is Interim Provost and Vice President for Mission and Communication at Luther College and a member of the Chemistry Department. Dr. Maren Johnson is Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic studies. They will both be speaking to our members on the Luther College Lutheran Heritage Anthology Project. Luther College has received a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges and Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education called "Reframing the Institutional Saga" to explore Luther's historical and contemporary identity. The project focuses on the Norwegian and Lutheran identities of Luther College and how they can provide frameworks for the college to be a place of welcome and belonging for all. For more about the grant and its purposes please visit https://www.luther.edu/news. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Nov 24, 2022 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Nov 25, 2022 4:45 PM - 9:00 PM
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Nov 29, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Meet the New Luther College Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer
Nov 29, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz Dr. Robert Clay currently serves as the Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer and Assistant to the President for Community Engagement at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. A native son of Chicago, Dr. Clay is a highly motivated and innovative scholar practitioner with nearly 20 years of higher education experience in diverse curricular and co-curricular leadership roles at private and public institutions (predominately white and minority serving); faith based and liberal arts; residential and commuter campuses in urban, suburban and rural environments. Dr. Clay is a member of NASPA, NADOHE, ACPA, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and various community groups and boards. **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. --- |
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Dec 06, 2022 12:00 PM
Please join fellow Rotarians for our annual Christmas lunch at Rubaiyat on December 6, 2022. Guests are welcome to join the festivities, as are our After Hour members and their guests. Noon members will be billed $20 per guest. After Hours members will be billed $20 for their meal and $20 for each guest. Fees will be added to your next dues statement. Kim and Andy Bonnet have graciously offered to host our lunch again this year. A final head count is needed by noon on November 30. Please register yourself and any guests so that we can provide Kim with an accurate headcount. |
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Dec 08, 2022 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Decorah Rotary will be hosting our next New/Prospective Member Orientation on Dec 8 at 5:30PM at the Toppling Goliath event room. This event is open to new members as well as prospective members and current members. It is a great opportunity to learn more about Rotary, the Foundation and other Rotary programs. Pizza and the first beverage will be provided to all attendees. Please join us! |
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Decorah Water Department Operations and Developments
Dec 13, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom Todd Ihde, Superintendent of the Decorah Water Department, will meet with our members to discuss operations and developments intended to ensure the satisfaction of Decorah's current and future water needs. The City of Decorah Water Department is responsible for maintenance and operations of six city wells and their servicing water main pipes. Their primary goal is to assure the citizens of Decorah they are drinking high quality water and that the city supply is always adequate for consumption, as well as for fire protection. The city presently pumps an average of approximately one million gallons of water per day. Specific responsibilities include the following: repair and maintenance of water mains; repair and maintenance of city sewer lines; maintain records of repairs of all water mains, sewer lines, and work done by contractors; maintain records at wells, booster stations, and lift stations daily; update and repair water meters; record meter readings and check for unusually high usage rates; daily testing of water quality; maintain stand-by pumps at the ready for flood control; flush, maintain and replace fire hydrants; and assiste in the development of supporting Geographic Information Systems. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Dec 13, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Dec 20, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Luther College Fundraising and External Engagement Plans
Dec 20, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom This past summer, Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward appointed Mary Duvall as the new Vice President for Development. In this capacity, Ms Duvall provides strategic direction for all aspects of the college’s fundraising and external engagement efforts and serves as a key member of the President’s cabinet. She will offer her knowledge and insights to our club on strategic development plans and goals related to these fundraising and engagement activities. Ms Duvall comes to Luther from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, Washington, where she had worked since 2015. Shel began employment at the university as Executive Director of Advancement, was promoted to Associate Vice President of Advancement in 2018, and most recently she served as Associate Vice President of University Relations. During her tenure at PLU, she managed teams that grew the institution’s annual giving, built a newly integrated alumni engagement and career development team and led the division’s annual strategic planning process. She also served on a variety of cross-campus committees, including PLU’s Diversity Committee which operationalized the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Prior to her work at PLU, from 2007 to 2015, she served in multiple capacities at Lutheran World Relief to expand their donor base, secure funding and, therefore, serve more people. The organization’s goal is to work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering. Ms Duvall holds a BA Degree in Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She earned her Master’s of Nonprofit Management Degree from Hamline University in Saint Paul and a Certificate of Advanced Leadership Studies from St. Catherine’s University. She was also a recent Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) Fellow, a program that provides a year-long leadership development experience organized around vocation and calling, sustainable leader development, and visionary organizational leadership. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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A Time of Reflection for the Decorah Rotary Club
Dec 27, 2022 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom Alan Lerstrom and Paul Scott will lead "A Time of Reflection for the Decorah Rotary Club." There will be brief reports on membership, the Thursday night meetings, and finances followed by a discussion of the things that are going well, and areas where we might grow or change. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Dec 27, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Jan 03, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Jan 10, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Jan 12, 2023 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Join us for Decorah Rotary Club's annual chili supper. The event will be held at the Decorah High School cafeteria on Thursday, January 12, 2023. Menu includes chili, hot dogs, cinnamon rolls, carrots, milk and coffee. Vegetarian option is available. Tickets are $6 each and can be purchased in advance from Rotarians or at the door.
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Jan 17, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Water To Thrive
Jan 17, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg Water To Thrive is a faith-based non-profit that brings clean, safe water to rural African communities in need. Our speaker Ed Scharlau will be joining us to describe the program and its activities. The organization has build hundreds of wells where they were badly needed, with their projects costing less than $10 for each person who uses the well. Hundreds of thousands of people in rural Africa has clead, safe water for the first time in their lives. To learn more about the program please visit their website at watertothrive.org. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advace to all members by email. |
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Jan 24, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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The 2023 Oneota Film Festival
Jan 24, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan Elise Skellenger, Creative Director of Oneota Film Festival, will join us to talk about this year's film festival which takes place on March 2-5, 2023. Elise will discuss the highlights of this year's festival.
Decorah Rotary Club has sponsored Oneota Film Festival for the past several years through funding requests.
Please visit https://www.
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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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email.
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An Update on Mosaic
Jan 26, 2023 5:30 PM
Jackie Cooper serves as Community Relations Manager for Mosaic in the Decorah and Waukon communities. She will be joining the Decorah Rotary After Hours group to provide an update on Mosaic and its ongoing operations, services, and plans. Mosaic recognizes that people with intellectual disabilities desire and deserve greater independence and closer ties to the community. By developing and expanding community connections, they create new social, volunteer and employment opportunities. Mosaic supports people with intellectual disabilities to bring awareness to issues that affect their lives. They actively advocate for disability rights, encourage self-advocacy and promote public policy that positively impacts the people they serve. --- |
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Jan 26, 2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Jackie Cooper from Mosaic will be joining us to provide an update on their operations and activities.
Decorah Rotary After Hours meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Anyone is welcome to join and become a Rotarian or come to a meeting as a guest and find out what Rotary is all about. We would love to meet you!
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Jan 31, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Local News from Our Rotary International Exchange Student
Jan 31, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg Francisca Munoz is from Santiago, Chile and is spending the year in Decorah as our Rotary International Exchange Student. Fran will share some of her experiences here thus far as well as her life in Santiago. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Feb 07, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program
Feb 07, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski The Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program plans and coordinates the Decorah Walking School Bus (WSB) and Biking School Bus (BSB) activities. The WSB and BSB offer a safe, fun and active way for students to get to school with adult supervision. SRTS is an international movement to encourage active school travel and safe community routes. Northeast Iowa is home to the state's first rural, regional SRTS program, managed by UERPC. UERPC SRTS Coordinator April Bril will join our noon meeting to provide more information and opportunities for supporting SRTS locally. For more information on SRTS please visit the UERPC website at https://uerpc.org/safe-routes-to-school/. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Carlson Park Trail Development Project
Feb 09, 2023 5:30 PM
DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan
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Feb 09, 2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Feb 09, 2023 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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Feb 14, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Iowa Department of Natural Resources Watershed Improvement
Feb 14, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: John Moeller Steve Hopkins, Nonpoint Source Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Watershed Improvement Section, will visit our club to provide insights into historical practices, local initiatives, and recent developments in northeast Iowa watershed management. From a guest posting by Steve in the online blog Iowa Learning Farms, "Healthy watersheds are those that act like a sponge to soak in rainfall, enabling the watershed to minimize flooding and reduce runoff that carries pollutants to our lakes, rivers, and streams. Every time a single action takes place that adds more runoff in a watershed, such as adding more paved areas or converting land from soil-covering, deep-rooted perennials to tilled row crops, it reduces the watershed’s ability to act like a sponge and soak in rainfall. When this happens, a watershed “catches” less and “sheds” more. When multiple “single actions” take place in a watershed, it results in flooding and water quality problems. Our primary course of action after that point is to invest lots of time, money, and energy to fixing the flooding and water quality problems that we did not prevent in the first place. Many of us are already very well aware of the many practices that are available to soak in, trap, or store rainfall before it runs off our watersheds in Iowa. Many are also working to develop detailed watershed improvement plans to help fix flooding and water quality problems across the state." --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Feb 21, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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Humanitarian and Community Relations Training in Ukraine
Feb 21, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Don Arendt In August of 2022, retired Decorah Police Deputy and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instructor Tim Felton completed an eight-day trip to the war-torn country of Ukraine, assisting in the conduct of humanitarian and community relations training for local police and military departments. This was the second such trip for him, having previously traveled there in 2019. He will be sharing his captivating and fascinating experiences with our club. The 2022 Ukraine training team was comprised of Felton; Greg Young, Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Head Chaplain and Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for the Germantown Police Department in Germantown, Wisconsin; Ukrainian translator Alex Gerasimov from Atlanta, Georgia; and John Sheahan, an educator for DARE America and an ordained Lutheran pastor in Roland, Iowa. Gerasimov fled Ukraine in 2014 and has been back to the country on humanitarian missions three times since the war started. The team traveled around the country and trained with police recruits, officers, civilians, and soldiers on Critical Stress and Moral Injury Debriefing. Moral Injury Debriefing is geared towards combat veterans who have emotional burdens and guilt, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing focuses on individuals like first responders who saw people get hurt or killed. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Feb 23, 2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Student Therapy for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
Feb 23, 2023 5:30 PM
DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan Decorah Rotary After Hours member Holly Reilly works for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a school-based therapist in three local Catholic schools. Holly will be sharing what her position entails, current challenges facing students in school systems, and more information on Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque is a nonprofit that supports those in need in our NE Iowa communities regardless of faith or background. Their programs range from mental health counselors, working with those recently released from incarceration, assisting those with housing challenges, disaster response services, and pregnancy assistance.
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Feb 28, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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What's New at the Decorah Public Library
Feb 28, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski Decorah Public Library Director Kristin Torresdal will join us to provide a status report on the Library and provide information on recent developments and ongoing initiatives supporting this valuable local resource. Kristin Torresdal assumed duties as the Director in July 2017. Prior to that time she had served as the Library’s administrative coordinator, a role that has allowed her to develop expertise in many different aspects of library work. She has over 25 years of experience in libraries, and has Level V library director certification through the State Library of Iowa. She has been the catalyst and has overseen many exciting developments at our library. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Mar 07, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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Maximizing Student Athlete Performance at Luther College
Mar 07, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet Jill Brown, Director of Athletic Performance at Luther College, will come and speak about how she helps student athletes maximize their potential on and off the field. The ultimate goal of the Athletic Performance staff at Luther is to build resiliency in both mind and body to guide athletes on their path to becoming the best they can be. Key principles include character development, proper technique and intent, fostering excitement and desire, and fostering positive relationships between teammates as well as between coach and athlete. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Charitable Advisor Role with the Winneshiek County Community Foundation
Mar 09, 2023 5:30 PM
DRC member Roger Huinker will be joining the Decorah Rotary After Hours meeting to present information on his new role as a Charitable Advisor for the Winneshiek County Community Foundation (WCCF). The WCCF was founded in the late 1990's and is now one of 23 regional foundations affiliated with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa (CFNEIA). Charitable, community-minded people who want to do good in their community to support the causes they care about can do so with the WCCF. Through the endowed funds held by the CFNEIA on behalf of the WCCF, the Community Foundation serves the county's needs by increasing connections between people and the organizations that serve them; and providing grants in the core program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health, and human service. Roger Huinker recently retired after having served more than 50 years in the banking industry, the last 18 years as Vice President and Trust Officer at Decorah Bank & Trust. He served for several years as a Governing Committee member for the WCCF. He has recently joined the WCCF again, this time on a part-time basis as a designated Charitable Advisor. His new role will focus on making connections with people and organizations with emphasis on the importance of the local foundation to accomplishing charitable goals. In addition, Roger is active with the local Retired Senior Volunteer Program, St. Benedict's Gift for Tomorrow Committee, and of course Decorah Rotary, and can often be found plying his skills on the local tennis courts. For more about the WCCF please check out the CFNEIA affiliate page: Winneshiek County Community Foundation ---
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Mar 09, 2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Mar 14, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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The Oneota Valley Community Orchestra
Mar 14, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet Founded in August of 2014, the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra (OVCO) is a volunteer ensemble open to all area (and non-area) residents who wish to perform great music in an orchestral setting. From symphonies to opera, the OVCO presents orchestral music from a variety of different styles and time periods ranging from the baroque era through newly commissioned works. A typical season consists of three to four "Masterworks" concerts, which include the full orchestra, and a few small venue concerts for their chamber music series. OVCO Director Matt Cody instructs Band for the Decorah High and Middle Schools. He is a 2014 graduate of Colorado State University with a Masters Degree in Music Conducting and Music Education. While finishing his coursework at CSU, he also conducted members of Opera Fort Collins and Fort Collins Symphony in a concert production of The Secret Garden. He has studied with Wes Kenney-music director of Fort Collins Symphony, Opera Fort Collins, and Denver Youth Symphony; Jason Weinberger, music director of Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony; and Dr. Robert L. Larsen, founder and music director of Des Moines Metro Opera and professor emeritus of Simpson College. In 2016 he received the American Prize in Conducting Award, Community Orchestra Division. In addition to his instrumental music proficiency, Matt occasionally performs as an operatic vocalist (baritone). --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Mar 21, 2023 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click HERE to see information about today's Program presentation.
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Northeast Iowa RC&D Conservation and Environmental Challenges
Mar 21, 2023 12:00 PM
DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet Ross Evelsizer, Natural Resources Projects Director for Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D), was recently honored as a New Voice in Water Quality by the Conservation Learning Group, a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges. The award, inaugurated in 2022, recognizes Iowans who have shown a commitment to advancing conversations, taking action, and advocating for water quality improvements that benefit all Iowans within the past 10 years. Ross has facilitated watershed and landscape resiliency planning for the Turkey, Upper Iowa, and Wapsipinicon watersheds, leading to the installation of dozens of best management practices that have reduced the impact of flooding and improved water quality in the region. He has also been instrumental in helping Northeast Iowa farmers expand their agricultural production through multi-cropping, working with growers to implement cropping systems that project soil heath, reduce flooding, and improve water quality while expanding market opportunities by planting and harvesting multiple crops from the same field in the same growing season. Ross will speak to our group about the Northeast Iowa RC&D and his focused efforts addressing conservation and environmental stewardship. Northeast Iowa RC&D is a 501(c)(3) organization serving a seven-county region including Allamakee, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties, as well as outside the area when benefits are expected to come back to the region. --- **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 announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email. |
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Mar 23, 2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Humanitarian and Community Relations Training in Ukraine
Mar 23, 2023 5:30 PM
DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan In August of 2022, retired Decorah Police Deputy and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instructor Tim Felton completed an eight-day trip to the war-torn country of Ukraine, assisting in the conduct of humanitarian and community relations training for local police and military departments. This was the second such trip for him, having previously traveled there in 2019. He shared his captivating and fascinating experiences at our noon Rotary Club meeting in February and will re-join us at Pulpit Rock for the benefit of our After Hours membership. The 2022 Ukraine training team was comprised of Felton; Greg Young, Chaplain for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Head Chaplain and Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for the Germantown Police Department in Germantown, Wisconsin; Ukrainian translator Alex Gerasimov from Atlanta, Georgia; and John Sheahan, an educator for DARE America and an ordained Lutheran pastor in Roland, Iowa. Gerasimov fled Ukraine in 2014 and has been back to the country on humanitarian missions three times since the war started. The team traveled around the country and trained with police recruits, officers, civilians, and soldiers on Critical Stress and Moral Injury Debriefing. Moral Injury Debriefing is geared towards combat veterans who have emotional burdens and guilt, and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing focuses on individuals like first responders who saw people get hurt or killed. --- |