Events

DRC Sponsor: Alan Lerstrom

Oneota Film Festival Board of Directors President Nancy Sojka will join our meeting to deliver information and early insights into the 2026 Oneota Film Festival, scheduled for March 5-8. Following her presentation, Luther College Professor of Communication Studies Thomas C. Johnson will provide us with a preview his short production of The Girl's Race. 

Held annually among the rivers and bluffs of the Driftless Region, the Oneota Film Festival brings compelling, innovative, and inspiring films and filmmakers to Decorah from around the globe. Through films that illuminate the human condition, the Festival aims to engage a large and diverse audience in the critical issues of our time. Screenings and discussions take place in various venues throughout the downtown Decorah business district. The Festival series was initiated by the creative energy of Luther College alumnus Walter Ordway, a world traveler, photographer, and filmmaker; and by photographer and filmmaker Kyrl Henderson.

Professor Johnson is an award-winning filmmaker, his directorial credits including Ironhead, Marieke, and Love & Sugar. His latest film, the documentary short The Girls Race, depicts the power and authenticity of cross country through 39 schools and 242 girls as they compete at the Johnson-Olson High School Girls Varsity 5K, a race held as part of Luther College’s 50th All-American Invitational. The Girls Race is free of narration, interviews, and non-diegetic sound (sound which the audience hears but not the performers). Professor Johnson aims to present genuine moments and poignant stories, thereby drawing rightful attention to the virtues of girls sports, broadly, and girls cross country, specifically.

Nancy Sojka is a retired art teacher from the North Winneshiek School District. In addition to her tireless support of the Oneota Film Festival, she is the co-founder of the Northeast Iowa Quilters Guild and has been active in the group since its inception in 1982. She is also an avid cyclist and might be encountered during one of her many circumnavigations of the Trout Run Trail.

Details on the 2026 Festival will be coming soon to their website, accessible at https://www.oneotafilmfestival.org.

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

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Marc Holtey, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Decorah, will join Rotary's After Hours group to share detailed information about the winter activities sponsored by the department. Parks and Recreation has a long history of providing activities for both youth and adults, including arts and crafts, sports, and other outdoor activities.

Marc brings wide experience and a deep passion for outdoor recreation. His journey into this career path began early in life, influenced by a childhood filled with his own family adventures in parks and outdoor recreational settings. That foundation supports his career trajectory, which spans various roles in parks and recreation management, initially focusing on natural resource management before transitioning to city parks and recreation. Prior to joining the community of Decorah, he served in roles that included providing services for veterans with disabilities and working with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.

For more information about Decorah Parks and Recreation please visit https://parks.decorahia.org.

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Rubaiyat will be hosting this year's holiday party on Dec 16th at noon.  The meal for all Rotarians will be covered by the club.  Spouses, significant others and guests of Rotarians will be billed at $25 each on the next dues statement.  Please make sure you sign up yourself and all guests by noon on Dec 12th so that we have an accurate head count for food.

In keeping with our yearly tradition, we will be collecting donations for Helping Services.  Please bring items to Rubaiyat the day of the meal.  If you are unable to attend the event and would like to make a donation you may bring items to any noon or after hours meeting.

Priority items are larger sized diapers, household cleaning supplies, and gas/grocery cards of any denomination.

Wishing everyone a very merry holiday season.

Note from Patty Casterton at Aase regarding moving day details:

"We would need movers on the afternoon of the 16^th from 1:30 on to move boxes from about 20 residents’ rooms to their new rooms. We have trailers and can get one truck, but if someone has a truck to pull a trailer it would be great.

We have asked several other organizations, including all area churches, RSVP, posted on social media, Luther College, Decorah High School, families of residents, hospice organizations, Food Pantry volunteers, Cresco Legion, residents of our independent living apartments, and families of our staff. 😊

Most of our residents have one or two boxes of stuff and a few clothes to hang in their new closet. Everything will be numbered and labels for easy delivery to the correct rooms."

DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Hallie Johnson, Rotary Global Scholar for the 2024-2025 academic year, will be joining our club to share her unique experiences abroad while studying in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Hallie, a graduate of Luther College, continued her education at the University of Edinburgh in pursuit of her Master's of Science in Comparative Education and International Development. Her degree was possible in part with the help of Rotary International's Global Scholar Program. Hallie will share more on the program and her curriculum, her adventures throughout the United Kingdom, and her relationship with local Rotarians and clubs over the course of her stay. She will conclude her presentation by sharing her plans for the future.

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

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Dr. Christina Karels, Medical Director at the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa (HSNEIA), will speak at the Rotary After Hours meeting on the new Wellness Center at the local HSNEI facility located in the Decorah Business Park.

The HSNEI recently opened the Wellness Center and is taking appointments. The Wellness Center clinic provides exams, vaccinations, preventative care, spay/neuter surgeries and treatment for acute and chronic conditions. They offer free annual vaccines for all pet owners at its Decorah clinic and at community clinics across its five-county service area, along with affordable spay/neuter services and a community cat package that includes surgery, vaccinations and ear tipping.

Dr. Karels is a 2018 graduate of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and currently practices as a veterinarian in northeast Iowa, providing care for companion animals, livestock, and equine patients. Her work includes both clinical medicine and on-farm herd health, with a strong focus on animal welfare, client education, and community service. In addition to her civilian career, Dr. Karels serves as a Public Health Officer in the United States Air National Guard, where she supports the health and readiness of military personnel.

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DRC Sponsor: Shannon Duncan

Fellow Decorah Rotarian and local Mayo Clinic Health System Physician Dr. John (JT) Vogel, along with former Decorah Community Free Clinic Director and ongoing clinic volunteer Souk Sengsaisouk, will be demonstrating and describing a vitals machine sponsored by the Decorah Rotary Club to share how it benefits area patients. The Decorah Community Free Clinic provides free high-quality healthcare and education to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Decorah and in the surrounding areas of northeast Iowa.

Dr. Vogel is a graduate of Des Moines University and David Grant Medical Center. He works at WinnMed where he specializes in family medicine and focuses his practice on caring for the entire family from birth through the end of life as well as obstetrical care. He is also one of the volunteering physicians at the Decorah Community Free Clinic.

Mr. Sengsaisouk is a 2023 Luther College graduate and has been working for and volunteering with the free clinic since 2022. He is pursuing his BA in Global Health with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He works at the Mayo Clinic as a colorectal surgery nurse.

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

DRC Sponsor: Ward Budweg

Decorah volunteer firefighters John Budweg, Collin White, and Jessie Reyerson will give an inside look at being a volunteer firefighter. They will cover the training, recap some of the unusual calls, and share the commitment it takes to serve the community.

The Decorah Fire Department is committed to providing rapid, high quality emergency services through teamwork and leadership, utilizing trained volunteers dedicated to the well being of the community twenty-four hours per day. The department services the City of Decorah and the residents of Decorah, Glenwood, Canoe, Pleasant Townships and portions of Madison, Bluffton, Burr Oak, Hesper, Highland and Springfield townships through an agreement with the Decorah Rural Fire Protective association.

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

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Decorah native and Luther College graduate Gail Magnuson, founder and owner of Agora Arts in Decorah, will speak about the history of her store--how it started, how it grew, etc. She will also talk about the ways retail has changed downtown and give her assessment of the present situation.

Gail opened Agora Arts in 1992 with the consigned work of 30 local artists. Since then, Agora Arts has developed a reputation for consistently introducing new and exciting handcrafted work to the gallery. Many of the most recognized artists in the industry trust Agora Arts to promote and sell their work. Agora Arts features contemporary art and fine craft by over 250 American and Canadian artists. They offer the highest quality collection of handcrafted work in the upper Midwest. Agora Arts is a four-time recipient of the Niche Top 100 Retailers of American Craft Award. Criteria for the award include promoting and marketing American craft, treating artists fairly, and giving back time and energy to the community.

For more on Agora Arts please visit their website at https://www.agoraarts.com.

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

DRC Sponsor: Erick Kephart

Presentation details TBA

The Riverview Center is unique in that it is the only agency in the 14 county northeast region of Iowa providing dedicated sexual assault services. They also offer sexual and domestic violence services in Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties in Illinois. Their services are free regardless of biological sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, immigration status, English proficiency, race and/or ethnicity, incarceration status, disability or background. Riverview Center is considered a safe space whose services are available to anyone affected by sexual assault, including non-offending family members of the survivor.

For more about the Riverview Center please visit their website at https://www.riverviewcenter.org.

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

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Megan Wilson, Director of Athletics at Luther College, will join our members to discuss the state of affairs for the athletics programs at Luther. She will discuss her philosophy on athletics--character, community, and competition--and how those attributes are key in making college athletics meaningful and transformative.

Ms Wilson was appointed as Director of Athletics at Luther in June, 2025. An NCAA Division III national champion athlete, former head coach, and experienced athletics administrator, she arrived at Luther from the University of Dubuque where she had served as associate dean of student engagement and intercollegiate athletics. Prior to joining Dubuque, she served as associate athletics director and advisor to the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Luther. Along with home event administration for major events including the All-American cross country meet and three A-R-C conference championships hosted by Luther, she served as the director of the then-named Regents Center. Earlier in her athletics administration career, she was associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Stevens Point and held the same position at the UW-Platteville. As a head coach, she had a nine-year career leading UW-Platteville women’s basketball, and during her time also served as the liaison for athletics and admissions for Pioneer athletics.

As a college athlete, Ms Wilson had a legendary career for UW-Stevens Point, playing all four years and serving as the team captain her junior and senior seasons as the Pointers won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2002. Following graduation, she became an assistant coach for the Pointers for four years, helping guide the team to back-to-back Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and NCAA tournament bids. A native of Barneveld, Wisconsin, she led Barneveld High School to back-to-back basketball state championships and was the valedictorian of her graduating class.

Ms Wilson holds a Master's Degree in Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from UW-Stevens Point. She and her husband Josh have three children, Aidan, Brody and Palmer.

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

DRC Sponsor: John Moeller

Sam Boeke, Executive Director of The Highlands (the new senior living center under the auspicers of Aase Haugen Senior Services) will take our members on a virtual tour of the new facility located at 607 Highland Drive in Decorah and will discuss its infrastructure and operations.

The move of residents and staff from the previous location in West Decorah to The Highlands was completed on December 17, 2025. The move marked the culmination of a long-term effort to enhance care, comfort and dignity for residents while honoring the organization’s legacy. The Highlands remains a part of the overall Aase Haugen Senior Services business entity and features the new, intentionally designed campus, skilled nursing, long-term care, memory care, and rehabilitation services; and modern technology, dining, and wellness spaces.

Mr. Bodke joined the senior services team at Executive Director at Aase Haugen in April 2022. He has over 31 years of experience in executive management and long-term care/senior living leadership. As a former board member of the Iowa Health Care Association and active member of the National Health Care Association and Leading Age Iowa, he led many long-term care initiatives both at the state and federal level.

Mr. Boeke earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from National University in San Diego, CA, and went on to earn his MBA from the University of Northern Iowa. He was designated a Certified Organizational Management (COM) professional at the University of Oklahoma in a program led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and also served as a board member of National Small Business United in Washington, DC.

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

DRC After Hours Sponsor: Diana Morrow

Steve Vanden Brink is a critical care paramedic, Director of Ambulance for WinnMed, public information and education office volunteer with the Decorah Fire Department, and American Heart Association cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instructor. He will meet with the After Hours group to give his authoritative presentation on CPR and, time permitting, will speak about the automated external defibrillator (AED) and its proper use.

February is American Heart Month, a national observance to raise awareness about heart disease, encouraging everyone to learn about risks, symptoms, and lifestyle changes like healthy eating, physical activity, and knowing CPR to protect their cardiovascular health and that of loved ones. Key initiatives include National Wear Red Day and promoting resources from the American Heart Association and National Institutes for Health.

Mr. Vanden Brink has over 35 years experience in fire and emergency medical services (EMS) coordination and response. He is also experienced in training emergency services staff.

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DRC After Hours Sponsor: Diana Morrow

Jeni Melcher, who along with her spouse Tom is a sixth-generation co-owner and operator of Green's Sugar Bush, will join the After Hours group to talk about their renowned maple syrup operation, her family history, and the upcoming 35th annual Maple Festival.

Green’s Sugar Bush near Castalia is the oldest continually operational business in Iowa. The family has been producing maple syrup every year since 1851. The maple farm is about 60 acres in size, and the Melcher familiy taps the trees every spring to make their wildly popular syrup. It takes an immense and variable volume of sap to create maple syrup -- a single tap may only yield 1/2 pint to one quart of syrup. Every year beginning in 1991 the family has hosted the Maple Festival and Pancake Breakfast the last weekend of March and the first weekend of April.

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