Events

The Decorah Rotary Club is honored and excited to host our friend Musa Kamaika Lengidari at our After-Hours meeting during his fundraising swing through the U.S. and his two-week Decorah stay in early November. Please plan to join us for this fascinating and engaging speaker.

Luther College has a long and fruitful connection to Tanzania and the Maasai culture through a continuing January Term (J-Term) Paideia course offering. Almost eight years ago (February 2017, to be exact) Decorah Rotarian and Luther Professor John Moeller spoke to our club about the course and its examination of the tension between the African national parks movement and pastoralist societies; and how wildlife conservation efforts and ecotourism have impacted the relationship of the Maasai people and their environment. Two months later, our longer tenured Decorah Rotarians may recall a visit by "The Maasai Guys" (<- link) at our previous meeting location in the upstairs room at T-Bock's. Leboy Oltimbau and Musa Kamaika joined us in full Maasai regalia and shared their personal stories of the Maasai culture, their lifestyle and traditions, their friendship and association with Luther College, and their efforts to balance traditional practices with new ideas and technologies.

Later in 2017 Musa founded the non-profit Natopiwo Organization, a non-governmental organization operating in rural Maasailand in northern Tanzania. Their work supports Maasai families in the Arusha Region through the education of youth, the economic empowerment of women, and the distribution of basic provisions such as food, water, and health insurance cards. They are presently raising funds to renovate a 40-years old water reservoir/dam that provides water to approximately 10,000 people and millions of domestic and wild animals in Monduli District.

Musa has dedicated his life to serving his community, promoting Maasai culture, and providing basic needs to people. The Natopiwo Organization is the realization of a life-long dream. He works to form partnerships and design sustainable development initiatives that meet the needs of the community now and envision a more resourced future for all. He also serves as an elected chairperson of Eluwai Village government. He works as a translator, tour program coordinator and guide, and research assistant for international researchers, university courses, and tourists. His family has lived in the community for generations, and he resides there with his wife and two children.

For more information about the Natopiwo Organization please visit https://natopiwo.org.

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DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity (WCHFH) Executive Director Gus Johnson will be joining us to talk about the history of Habitat projects in Winneshiek County, ongoing and future projects and collaborations, and opportunities for organizational and individual involvement.

Mr. Johnson grew up in Holmen Wisconsin, went to college in Nebraska and worked as a high school teacher for 35 years -- 31 of those years at South Winnneshiek High School in Calmar. He retired from teaching in 2000 and started volunteering for WCHFH in 2001. He lives in Spillville with his wife Jan, who was also a career teacher at South Winneshiek.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states and in more than 70 countries around the world. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward this vision by building and improving homes in partnership with individuals and families in need of a decent and affordable place to live. Partner families must have employment, demonstrate that they currently have an inadequate housing situation, and be willing to invest at least 150 hours of labor ­or "sweat equity" ­into building their home and the homes of others. WCHFH houses are sold to low-income working partner families at no profit and with no interest charged.

WCHFH  is a locally operated affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical housing organization. Since its inception WCHFH has completed over 30 projects in the local area. With the recent build in Fort Atkinson, WCHFH has a presence in every single town in Winneshiek County.

For more information on WCHFH please visit their website at https://www.habitat.org/ia/decorah/winneshiek-county-hfh. 

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Quinton Liebl, owner and operator of Liebl Habitat Solutions in Decorah, will be introducing his business with our members and providing information on the cross-section of services his company provides to the community.

Quinton moved to Decorah in 2019 for a job opportunity. Relying on his background in Natural Resources, he started Liebl Habitat Solutions in 2022 as a side business, transitioning it to a full-time, full service business in March of 2024. Liebl Habitat Solutions focuses on assisting private landowners maintain, enhance, and restore their property and reach their habitat and land goals. They provide services such as tree cutting and timber stand improvement, invasive species removal; fenceline, yard, and storm damage clean up; prairie management including prescribed fire burns; and targeted pesticide applications. They prioritize customer service and performing work in a matter that is efficient for the landowner and low impact to the landscape.

For more information please visit their website at https://www.lieblhabitatsolutions.com.

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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 advace to all members by email.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Holiday Lights for Helping Services and Decorah Rotary is excited to participate again this year, not only by providing volunteers for the event but also by creating a Rotary wheel display that will be part of the event going forward.

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.

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Vesterheim President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chris Johnson will talk about the Vesterheim Museum's plans for the upcoming year, including commemoration of the 200th anniversary of organized Norwegian immigration to the United States.

In 2025, Norwegians and Norwegian Americans will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the voyage of the Sloopers. On July 4, 1825, 52 Norwegian's departed Stavanger, Norway on the sloop Restauration taking three months to sail to New York in what would become the first in successive waves of immigration from Norway to the North American continent. Between 1825 and 1925, roughly one-third of Norway's population left their home country to start new lives in North America. Chris will talk about Vesterheim's plans to commemorate this important event as well as share exciting opportunities that folks here in the Decorah area have to take classes in Vesterheim's nationally recognized folk-art school.

Chris Johnson is in his tenth year serving as President / CEO of Vesterheim, the National Norwegian American Museum & Folk Art School. His ancestors emigrated from farms near Norway's Sognefjord in the 1860s and settled in parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota. Born and raised in New Hampton, Iowa, he remembers visiting Vesterheim as a child on school field trips. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Luther College, and a master's degree in museum studies from the University of Nebraska. He has worked in the museum field for more than 35 years, holding positions at places such as Living History Farms, Arbor Lodge State Historic Site, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Decorah Rotarians may also recognize Chris as the father of Hallie Johnson, the club's Rotary Global Scholar who is presently in Scotland for graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx will visit our club to discuss the topic of scams, including the most common and recent trends. He will give examples of real-world, local encounters with scam artists and the ways they use to exploit their victims, often with veiled threats and promises of wealth or romance. 

Dan Marx’s family moved to the Decorah area when he was preschool age. His calling to service began early, as he became certified as an Emergeny Medical Technician prior to graduating from high school. As Sheriff, Marx serves as the chief law enforcement officer in Winneshiek County. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, his functions include patrols, investigations, jail operations, civil processes, court orders, court functions and community/public relations. Sheriff Marx has been involved with county law enforcement for the past 26 years. He was appointed to the position of Sheriff in 2015, was elected to that position in 2016, and was recently reelected to a third term. He holds a degree in police science and criminal justice and is a member of Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association.

Decorah Rotarian Roger Huinker will be distributing "Fraud Fighter" pamphlets at the meeting.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Students from the Decorah Middle School Climate Change Action Group (CCAG) and their sponsor Scott Boylen will visit the After Hours group to share their vision for an innovative, future elementary school. Their purpose is to engage area adults and engender their support for a new, energy-efficient, renewable energy-powered infrastructure designed for the students – and climate – of the future.

The students are comprised of 6th - 8th graders who volunteer their time and energy to the CCAG before and after school, as well as during weekends and vacation time. These young climate advocates illustrate the benefits of solar and geothermal energy, school gardens, electrochromic glass, insulation and more, while explaining how it would benefit learning conditions and a stable climate for their children’s generation.

They will be offering a slide presentation, other visuals, and a question-and-answer session.

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DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Ann Bushman and Sheila Reicks had never met before. It took two phone calls and a six-hour, one-on-one conversation for them to agree to purchase a long-standing business in Saint Lucas, IA, the former White House Supper Club. Both having experience in customer service and in the food industry, they took possession in November 2022 and did three weeks of soft open before officially opening the new Sips & Savors on December 28, 2022. Ann and Sheila will talk about the experiences and challenges of their new business along with plans for celebrating the restaurant's upcoming two-year anniversary.

Sheila manages the front/bar area of Sips & Savors while Ann manages the back/kitchen. Their first year of business offered many difficult tasks, led by identfying and effectively marketing to their target clientele followed by maintaining a full staff. They place a priority on creating new and fresh items for their customers and strive give people a place to meet up with friends or celebrate family events and to talk, relax and enjoy great food, drinks and dessert.

On their two-year anniversary date (12/28) they will be offering prime rib as their food feature, loaded Bloody Marys, and soft serve ice cream served by Harley Baumler, the Iowa Alternate Dairy Princess. Ann and Sheila remind everyone that their gift certificates make wonderful stocking stuffers.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg

Dave Smutzler, founder of the paranormal investigative group P.I.G.s (Police Investigating Ghosts), will be sharing his group's techniques used in paranormal investigations (which differ from what most people are used to seeing on TV shows) and will share some spooky stories!

Dave's interest in the paranormal began in college. He didn't have any actual experiences at that time but the fascination continued into his career as a Decorah police officer, which began in 1991. He has a desire to help people even when a logical or obvious explanation isn't available, and that desire makes Smutzler and his team passionate about investigating perceived paranormal occurrences. Smutzler claims he’s participated in more than 100 investigations, including some of Iowa’s more famous haunted sites — like the Cresco movie theater, Edinburgh Manor in Scotch Grove, and many others.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Fellow Rotarians Jim Morrow and Phil Iversen will bring the After Hours group up-to-date on Rotary International (RI) progress toward worldwide eradication of polio through its PolioPlus program. The topics to be discussed include the history of RI involvement in the polio eradication effort; the current global state of affairs; and how our club and its members can continue to support this important initiative.

Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985 and was a founding member of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Through decades of commitment and work by Rotary and its partners, more than 2.5 billion children across the globe have received the oral polio vaccine. The world has made huge strides against polio with cases down 99.9% over the last four decades. With renewed global attention and commitment, the ulitmate goal of eliminating polio is within reach.

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DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg

Stephanie Fromm and Maddie Putnam-Keck from Winneshiek County Development and Tourism (WCDT) will visit the club to share an overview of their organization, its puposes, and will highlight several noteworthy accomplishments.

WCDT has enjoyed serving Winneshiek County in Northeast Iowa for over 20 years. Since their creation in 1992, WCDT formerly (Winneshiek County Development, Inc.) has been involved with several new business developments, business expansions, and small start-ups, bringing jobs to the Northeast Iowa Region. Another focus for WCDT is writing and administering projects on behalf of Winneshiek County. In recent years, WCDT has brought in capital for several community development projects, from water/sewer to new roads, and most recently the new Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center. WCDT has a variety of programs for area entrepreneurs and established businesses, ranging from grant and funding opportunities to providing business planning.
 
Stephanie Fromm serves as the Director of WCDT. She joined the organization in 2015. She also represents Decorah Jobs, a local economic development organization for the city of Decorah, which owns the 180-acre business park. Maddie Putnam-Keck, WCDT Project Coordinator, is a Decorah native with a communications background primarily focusing on the southern part of Winneshiek County. Putnam-Keck has been developing the work-based learning program at Decorah High School and spending time on county-wide projects.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg

Cheryl Johnson, President of Iowa Grotto, member of the Cave Research Foundation - Eastern Operations, and member of the National Speleological Society will present a short program on the current exploration, restoration and conservation of caves in Iowa and Minnesota.

Ms. Johnson's interest in the science of speleology began as a child. She could hear water running through the ground near sinkholes on her family farm and was fascinated about what might lay underneath. A grade school field trip to Niagara Cave in Harmony, MN opened her eyes to the world below the karst topography of the Driftless. Due to a lack of available scholarships in the field she was unable to pursue a career in Geology; however, now that her children are grown she has the opportunity to pursue her passion for caves as a leisure interest. Her interest has grown into her involvement in cartography projects at both the local and national level.

Born and raised in rural Decorah, Ms. Johnson graduated from Decorah High School in 1999 and studied accounting at Luther College. For the past 10 years she has served as the office manager for the Chiropractic Offices of fellow Rotarian Kelly Reagan.

For more about the Iowa Grotto and the National Speleological Society please visit https://caves.org/grotto/iowa-grotto/.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Sherrie Keating is the Community Outreach Representative for DuTrac Community Credit Union and a member of the Dubuque Rotary Club. She will be presenting information on how Decorah was chosen by DuTrac as the site for their next location, the basics of credit union operations and the services they offer, and how they differentiate themselves from banks and other credit unions.

Ms Keating is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and driving positive change within the communities DuTrac serves. With 35 years of experience as a successful small business owner, she brings her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for helping others succeed to her role. Her work focuses on innovative initiatives that emphasize community engagement and impactful outreach, contributing to DuTrac's reputation as a trusted financial partner. In addition to her role at DuTrac, she serves as the Secretary and Service Committee Chair for the Rotary Club of Dubuque. Despite her many accomplishments, her most cherished title remains "Mom."

More information about DuTrac can be found at https://www.dutrac.org/.

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DRC Sponsor: Ivan Hackman

Detra Dettmann serves as the Northeast District Supervisor for the Parks, Forests, and Preserves Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She will be sharing information about Fort Atkinson, a nationally significant military post from the 1840s, now managed by the Iowa DNR as a state preserve. The DNR recently completed a large project at the preserve that focused on repair of remaining structures to preserve them for future generations. Please join us to learn about Fort Atkinson's history and these recent preservation efforts.

U.S. Government authorities originally envisioned Fort Atkinson as a neutral territory for interactions with the Winnebago People during their forced displacement from Wisconsin into northeast Iowa. Resettlement played prominently in U.S. policy in the 1800s; Fort Atkinson is significant in understanding the historically poor treatment of native peoples.

For more informationon Fort Atkinson please visit the state preserve website at Fort Atkinson State Preserve.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski

John Reynolds presently serves as Co-Manager of the Porter House Museum in Decorah. He plans to cover some of the museum's history and will discuss some of the initiatives underway at the museum, including a major effort to open a new exhibit of butterfly displays in keeping with Bert Porter's original dream. Mr. Reynolds will be accompanied by his Co-Manager and spouse Erica.

The Porter House was built in 1867 for the merchant Dighton B. Ellsworth (1822–1896), an English immigrant who had come to Decorah from New York in 1855. In 1898, after his death, the Ellsworth family sold the house to Francis and Emma Young. In 1904, their daughter Grace married Adelbert Field Porter (known as "Bert"), who was raised in the house across the street on Broadway, the son of George Porter and Adell Field Porter. The Young residence became the home of Bert and Grace, as well as of Francis and Emma Young, until their deaths. Bert and Grace Porter had an interest in travel, and Bert developed a natural history collection on his trips through North America, South America, and Asia. His collection, which includes morpho butterflies from South America, also includes the rock wall surrounding the property (built in part by Bert Porter) and the family's personal effects, including papers, books, furniture, and china.

Mr. Reynolds is originally from Delaware where he graduated from the University of Delaware with a history degree. He moved to Decorah by way of New York City with his spouse (a northeast Iowa native) after falling in love with the area on a visit in summer 2018. He has experience in the financial services and technology industry and has a career of serving in project managed roles.

For more about the Porter House Museum please visit their website at https://www.porterhousemuseum.org.

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

We are looking forward to this year's Decorah Rotary Club Holiday Party on Tuesday, February 11, 12PM, at Rubaiyat. Rotarians and their significant others are invited to attend.  Registration is open through 5PM on Feb 8, 2025. Rotarian meals (both noon and after hours members) are covered in full.  Significant others will be billed at $22.

**Please note the venue change to Toppling Goliath for this After Hours meeting**

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Dave Smutzler, founder of the paranormal investigative group P.I.G.s (Police Investigating Ghosts), will be sharing his group's techniques used in paranormal investigations (which differ from what most people are used to seeing on TV shows) and will share some spooky stories! He previously shared a subset of this presentation at the noon Rotary meeting held on January 7th.

Dave's interest in the paranormal began in college. He didn't have any actual experiences at that time but the fascination continued into his career as a Decorah police officer, which began in 1991. He has a desire to help people even when a logical or obvious explanation isn't available, and that desire makes Smutzler and his team passionate about investigating perceived paranormal occurrences. Smutzler claims he’s participated in more than 100 investigations, including some of Iowa’s more famous haunted sites — like the Cresco movie theater, Edinburgh Manor in Scotch Grove, and many others.

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DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

James (Jim) Burns of the Miller Law Office, P.L.C., recently reached a milestone when he completed 50 years of practicing law. He will visit our club to share some of his unique insights and experiences over his long and distinguished law career.

Mr. Burns has practiced with the firm since 1973 as serves as a managing partner. He was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1974 and the Minnesota Bar in 1990. His professional associations include the Iowa State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Iowa Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and Winneshiek County. He has been active in the community, having served in the Decorah Jaycees (past president), Decorah Lions Club (past president), WinnMed Foundation Board, the Low Rent Housing Agency Board, and a 25-year contributing member of the Decorah Lutheran Church family as a Sunday school teacher. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1966, from Cornell College in 1970, and the University of Iowa Law School in 1973. He also served briefly in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Lorraine Borowski

Decorah Chief of Police Tricia Thein will be visiting our club to talk about the Royal Family Kids Camp of Northeast Iowa.

Royal Family KIDS (RFK) develops camps across the country and internationally, with the goal of offering weeks of camp to every 6-12 year old in foster care each summer. In addition to camp, these foster kids have the opportunity to participate in club time and 9-month mentor programs. Since 1985, RFK has been offering free week-long summer camps for children of abuse or neglect who have been placed in foster care. For many of these children a week at summer camp is a first. It is a life changing experience for the kids. RFK currently has 175 camps in operation, including 150 across the U.S. and 25 in other parts of the world. Thus far over 63,000 campers have attended a one week camp.

Chief Thein has 27 years of law enforcement experience including her present leadership role in the Decorah Police Department. She attended the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command as well as other training through the Southern Police Institute. She has served as a school resource officer, crime scene processor, crisis negotiator team leader, peer support team leader, Lieutenant of Investigations, and Lieutenant of Patrol Services. Her passion in law enforcement has always been juvenile law/family services, and she is a strong advocate for victims of crime.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Margaret "Mugs" Walter from Winneshiek County Celebration of Life will be sharing insights about the organization and the many ways they help individuals in active cancer treatment.

Winneshiek County Celebration of Life is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in Winneshiek County in an effort to raise funds for cancer support, prevention and awareness. Mugs is one of the original founders of the group. The organization started as a collection of caring individuals observing the pressing need to assist women with health information and provide free mammograms for non-insured and under-insured individuals. As time went on, their assistance expanded to include helping individuals in active treatment of cancer. Through a tireless fundraising effort and an amazing response in donations, the group expanded their services to include a fuel card program to help offset the cost of travel to out-of-area treatment, and later added food cards as well. These cards are sent out to Winneshiek County residents or individuals whose primary care physician works in Decorah. Each year they typically help over 70 of our friends, family and neighbors.  

For more information, please visit their website at www.winneshiekcol.com.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Brett Wilker, the Decorah High School (DHS) robotics coach along with several students from the DHS Robotics Club and their innovative creations will be on hand to recap the recent team successes at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics Competiton. 28 teams competed at this recent competion hosted in Cedar Falls.

Each school was provided an obstacle course-style scenario at the beginning of the school year from which they designed, built, and programmed a small robot. The objective was to to score as many points as possible within the constraints of that scenario. The 2025 competition theme "Into the Deep" required teams to retrieve sample blocks from a metal container and either lift them up to place them into suspended baskets or clip them onto hanging poles. Teams could also score points for suspending their robots from the support beams on the metal container, along with other scoring options in both autonomous and a driver-controlled segments. As a result of the competition, the junior and senior team qualified to compete at the state championships on February 28 and March 1 at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville.

Our longer tenured Rotarians may recall Brett and his robotics team visiting the club in the upstairs room at T-Bocks back in April 2019 (<-link). It was a most interesting and entertaining Rotary program!

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Jeff Wilkerson is a Professor of Physics at Luther College. In addition to his extensive research and teaching, he is an accomplished author and plans to present excerpts from his book 23 Woodcock in 22 Years: Reflections on Hunting, the Night Sky and Our Place in the Universe, highlighting the passage of time as both birds and the stars overhead come and go season after season. He will lead our members in discussing the behavior of birds, stars as the origin of the material around us, the nature of our Milky Way galaxy, the history of the universe, and what can be observed in the night sky right now.

Dr. Wilkerson earned a B.S. in physics from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley. He has previously worked on projects searching antimatter heavy nuclei in cosmic rays and developing detector technology for studying X-rays from neutron stars and black holes. For the past 28 years he has served on the faculty at Luther where he has taught a wide range of astronomy and physics courses, supervised more than 60 undergraduate research projects involving the monitoring of stellar brightness, and has served in a variety of administrative positions. In addition to numerous research publications and presentations, he has authored two books and presents a weekly, public YouTube (<- link) video on night sky observing.

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DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

Colinne McCann and Will Kuelbs from Helping Services for Youth and Families will be visiting our club to provide information and insights on their Youth Mentoring Program. Youth mentoring provides a consistent, prosocial relationship between an adult or older peer and one or more youth. Mentoring consistently improves self-esteem, academic achievement, and peer relationships and reduces substance misuse, aggression, depressive symptoms, and delinquency. Helping Services has matched caring adults with hundreds of kids for over 20 years. Their program offers services in Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Southern Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties.

Colinne McCann has been a resident of Winneshiek County for the past 18 years. She received her AA in Human Services at Northeast Iowa Community College and then her BA in Social Work at Luther College. Colinne has been involved with youth mentoring at Helping Services since 2016. Youth mentoring and giving back to the next generation is where her passion lies. In her spare time Colinne spends time with her daughter, is a service unit director for Winneshiek County Girl Scouts and teaches 7-12 grade Sunday School.

Will Kuelbs is a Minneapolis, MN native and is a senior at Luther College majoring in Social Work. He currently serves over the summer months as a Childcare Specialist for the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, where he works in and with summer school-age programs. His long-term goal is to become a school social worker in the Twin Cities. Will is excited to join Helping Services as an intern this spring. He deeply admires the organization’s critical role in providing vital support to the Decorah community and is eager to contribute to its mission of fostering positive change.  He looks forward to working with such a dedicated team and gaining hands-on experience in the field.

For more about Helping Services for Youth and Families please visit their website at https://www.helpingservices.org.

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

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

First Lutheran Church Senior Pastor and fellow Decorah Rotarian Mike Wilker will be sharing images and stories from his recent delegation trip to Namibia. Discover the vibrant connections between Namibia and northeast Iowa through Luther College, local congregations, and regional partnerships.

This relationship continues a connection dating back to the 1970s, when educational exchanges first brought Namibian students to northeast Iowa. Mike represented northeastern Iowa Lutherans at the installation of two new Namibian Bishops in February. He witnessed firsthand how international cooperation has strengthened both communities over decades. Learn how this longstanding relationship between Namibia and Decorah continues to foster educational, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges that benefit both regions.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Brecka Putnam

Trish Johnson from Helping Services for Youth and Families will share information on the Domestic Abuse Resource Center (DRAC). DARC provides services to those who have or are experiencing IPV (intimate partner violence) including domestic abuse, dating violence, stalking & human sex trafficking. They help with obtaining civil protection orders, safety planning, limited financial assistance, navigating the criminal justice system, medical advocacy and more. They also provide community education and presentations to middle and high schools on healthy relationships. Trish will share information on the dynamics of domestic violence and how to respond when someone discloses abuse.

Trish Johnson has been a Certified Victim Advocate for twelve years and is our area’s bilingual domestic abuse advocate. She has a BA in Communications and Linguistics from Luther College. DRAC is a program of Helping Services for Youth and Families, providing services to Howard, Allamakee, Winneshiek, Clayton, Fayette, Chickasaw, and Bremer Counties.

For more on the DRAC program please visit their website at Helping Services for Youth and Families - DRAC.

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DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Luther College Professor of Biology Scott Carlson and selected Luther College students participating in the 2025 Luther January Term study abroad course offered by the Center for Global Learning entitled "Nepal: A One Health Perspective" will visit our club to share the highlights of their trip to Nepal and selected results from their investigation.

The World Health Organization defines One Health as "an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems." This course focused on Nepal to study the dynamic relationship between people, animals, plants, and the environment, and how they are interconnected in contributing to the wellness of a population. This course emphasized the work of the Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal (CMDN), which is the leading public health and wildlife research organization in the country. Students participated in ongoing projects at CMDN involving disease surveillance, biomedical research, wildlife conservation, and environmental health. The itinerary also included travel to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the Chitwan National Park.

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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 advace to all members by email.

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: Jim Morrow

Luther College Professor of Social Work Britt Rhodes and selected Luther College students participating in the Luther Paideia 450 study abroad course offered by the Center for Global Learning entitled "Forging Paths to Peace (Northern Ireland)" will visit our club to share highlights of their experiences and report on selected results of their investigation.

This course examined the difficult yet inspiring Northern Ireland peace process through the lives of its participants. The participants explored the challenges and potential of political and grassroots peace building, with special attention to issues of identity, culture, and memory as challenges and the principles of compromise, forgiveness, mercy, justice, and peace as potential. An integral part of this course was the conduct of meetings with representatives of the main political parties of Northern Ireland, former members of paramilitary organizations, academic experts, police officers, members of inter-community organizations, and victims of past violence. The itinerary included trips to Derry, Belfast, and Ballycastle within Northern Ireland and Dublin in Ireland.

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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 advace to all members by email.

Please note location change to the Hovde Room in the Luther College Library.  It is the first meeting room on the right after entering the library.  Please park in the lot behind the library.

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

First Lutheran Church Senior Pastor and fellow Decorah Rotarian Mike Wilker will be sharing images and stories from his recent delegation trip to Namibia. Discover the vibrant connections between Namibia and northeast Iowa through Luther College, local congregations, and regional partnerships.

This relationship continues a connection dating back to the 1970s, when educational exchanges first brought Namibian students to northeast Iowa. Mike represented northeastern Iowa Lutherans at the installation of two new Namibian Bishops in February. He witnessed firsthand how international cooperation has strengthened both communities over decades. Learn how this longstanding relationship between Namibia and Decorah continues to foster educational, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges that benefit both regions.

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Our annual Spring Roadside Cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday, April 12. Please meet at Putnam Law Office at 8AM to pick up safety vests and bags.  We will also take a photo of volunteer present at that time.

If you would like to assist with the project but are unable to participate on the 13th, please reach out to Ward Budweg to make alternative arrangements.

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Mike Bollinger, fellow Decorah Rotarian and Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange (SSE), has offered to speak to our club about the SSE 50th Anniversary Celebration planned for August 8-9, 2025 at the SSE Heritage Farm site north of Decorah. The event will feature a variety of activities including speakers, farm and facilities tours, workshops, a seed swap, and live music.

SSE 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 SSE Heritage Farm serves as the headquarters of SSE and 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 SSE team (including preservation and education staff, donor and member services, the garden crew, and order fulfillment team) is also based at the Decorah location.

Mike has a long and fruitful connection with SSE. He originally served as a member of their garden crew and contracted as a seed producer. For more than a decade, he has collaborated as the primary producer of transplants for the SSE plant sales with his wife, Katie, through their certified organic farm, River Root Farm. As co-founder of an agricultural solutions company, Mike has also provided support to SSE on greenhouse design and organic production practices. Mike has not only gained a practical understanding of organic and sustainable growing practices but also dedicated years of service as an active member on the board of directors for organizations focusing on farmer education services and local and regional food systems.

For more information on SSE and to register for the 50th Anniversary Celebration visit https://www.seedsavers.org/.

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

DRC Sponsor: Jim Morrow

Decorah City Manager Travis Goedken will be visiting our club to share information on the various projects and plans in store for the city of Decorah during the 2025 calendar year.

Mr. Goedken assumed the duties as Decorah City Manager on September 9, 2021. He previously served as City Administrator of Humboldt, where he served for nearly six years. Prior to that, he served in diverse roles as a Deputy City Clerk, underground utilities heavy equipment operator, and firefighter/EMT. He is a two-time graduate of the University of Iowa in Political Science and Economics and obtained his master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He was born and raised in the Dyersville area. While in Humboldt, he oversaw several major projects including a five block downtown streetscape project, construction of a community daycare facility (of which he served as President), and the construction and donation of a 71,000 square foot recreation center.

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

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

Please note the location change to the Hovde Room at the Luther College Library.  It is the first room on the left after you enter.  Please park in the lot behind the library.

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Cheryl Johnson, President of Iowa Grotto, member of the Cave Research Foundation - Eastern Operations, and member of the National Speleological Society will present on the discovery, exploration and preservation of Winneshiek County's Coldwater Cave, the largest cave in the Upper Midwest.

Ms. Johnson's interest in the science of speleology began as a child. She could hear water running through the ground near sinkholes on her family farm and was fascinated about what might lay underneath. A grade school field trip to Niagara Cave in Harmony, MN opened her eyes to the world below the karst topography of the Driftless. Due to a lack of available scholarships in the field she was unable to pursue a career in Geology; however, now that her children are grown she has the opportunity to pursue her passion for caves as a leisure interest. Her interest has grown into her involvement in cartography projects at both the local and national level.

Born and raised in rural Decorah, Ms. Johnson graduated from Decorah High School in 1999 and studied accounting at Luther College. For the past 10 years she has served as the office manager for the Chiropractic Offices of fellow Rotarian Kelly Reagan.

For more about the Iowa Grotto and the National Speleological Society please visit https://caves.org/grotto/iowa-grotto/.

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DRC Sponsor: Tim Cronin

Our club is pleased and honored to welcome accomplishd author, educator, and humanitarian Dr. David Markward, who will be speaking about his recent book From Dubuque to Selma and Beyond: My Journey to Understand Racism in America. In his book, Dr. Markward investigates the complex world of racism. It is a testament to his belief in humanity and the power of education to effect change. It invites readers to reflect on their own biases and work toward a more just and equitable future. From his upbringing in a predominantly white community to his lifelong pursuit of racial justice, the story is both inspiring and thought-provoking.

After graduating from Dubuque Senior High School and Augustana College, Dr. Markward earned two advanced degrees from Western Illinois University and a doctorate from Illinois State University. He started his career as a junior-high-school science teacher, then served as a coach, principal, school district superintendent (including for the Rock Island-Milan School District and Cedar Rapids Community School District), college instructor, and educational consultant.

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

Merry Makers is a scripted comedy-based club formed at Luther College in October 2023. The club creates a space for Luther students to learn more about and practice various types of comedy including sketch comedy, improv, mime, slapstick and clowning. They also explore writing, direction, and acting in comedic theater.

The Merry Makers clown troupe "Cloupe Therapy" will be on hand to share their entertaining creativity with our club. Laughter is a guarantee!

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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 advace to all members by email.

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Mike Bollinger, fellow Decorah Rotarian and Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange (SSE), has offered to speak to our Rotary After Hours group about the SSE 50th Anniversary Celebration planned for August 8-9, 2025 at the SSE Heritage Farm site north of Decorah. The event will feature a variety of activities including speakers, farm and facilities tours, workshops, a seed swap, and live music.

SSE 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 SSE Heritage Farm serves as the headquarters of SSE and 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 SSE team (including preservation and education staff, donor and member services, the garden crew, and order fulfillment team) is also based at the Decorah location.

Mike has a long and fruitful connection with SSE. He originally served as a member of their garden crew and contracted as a seed producer. For more than a decade, he has collaborated as the primary producer of transplants for the SSE plant sales with his wife, Katie, through their certified organic farm, River Root Farm. As co-founder of an agricultural solutions company, Mike has also provided support to SSE on greenhouse design and organic production practices. Mike has not only gained a practical understanding of organic and sustainable growing practices but also dedicated years of service as an active member on the board of directors for organizations focusing on farmer education services and local and regional food systems.

For more information on SSE and to register for the 50th Anniversary Celebration visit https://www.seedsavers.org/.

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