Registration for the conference is now open.  This is the perfect opportunity to attend since it will be conducted by zoom so there is no travel involved and there is no cost to register.  A number of excellent speakers have been arranged.  Watch for future notices about the conference and register even if you cannot make all of the events.

 

A silent auction and a duck pluck fundraiser will be part of the events.  Please support those events as well, even if you cannot attend.  Our Club has donated a Cedar Ridge gift box featuring a bottle of  Slipknot No. 9 Reserve signed by the band founder "Clown."

Rhonda has been organizing our teacher recognition program.  So far the following teachers have been scheduled for our zoom meetings.  

 

February 3--Kat Power from Linn-Mar HS

February 10--Dennis Hynek from Kennedy HS

February 17--Joe Link from Jefferson HS

February 24---Erica Ireland from Xavier HS

March 3--Ann Van Etten-Janey from Metro HS

March 10--Gretchen Mundorf Marion HS

March 24--Jason Nell Washington HS

March 31--Colin O'Brien from Prairie HS

 

Congratulations to each teacher.  Also thank you Rhonda for organizing and Jim C for doing the certificates they are receiving.

April 22 is Earth Day.  We are planning a service project day for our April 21 regular meeting.  There will be no zoom option that day.  Instead, we will be meeting at the Nature Center to help with some work projects involving the hoop house, as well as sprucing up the grounds.  Those attending are encouraged to bring a sack lunch since the outdoor patio will be available.  Perhaps Liz can bring some of her goodies to share that day as well.  The plan would be to start at 11:30 that day so we can be done by 1.  Further details will be given as we get closer to the date.  In the meantime, thank you Jane S for giving us this opportunity to meet again in person while doing some service work.  Please reserve the date and plan on attending!

Our thanks to Mike for doing the news, Larry for giving the invocation, pledge and 4way test, and Charles for leading us in singing.

 

Washington High School administrator Darius Ballard introduced Jason Nell, the teacher being recognized by our club for his outstanding performance.  Jason has been at Washington for two years.  He is the Science Department Chair.  He exhibits great preparedness in all he does.  His willingness to help others is exhibited by taking under his wing 15 new teachers as they adapted to their new assignments at Washington.  Jason shows his versatility by also being the coach of the Ultimate Frisbee team.

 

Janette introduced our replacement speakers Mitch Smith and Nick Grant of eFuneral.  Efuneral is a preplanning online service that was started in Des Moines in 2017.  It provides digital online services for 230 funeral homes in Iowa and elsewhere.  Their services are accessed through the funeral home's website.  In planning a funeral there are 25-100 decisions that need to be made.  By using the preplanning services some of these decisions can be decided ahead of time.   Also eFuneral has a relationship with Homesteaders Life that can provide a funeral policy.

 

John Z stated the book "One Smile"  will be given to Van Buren School in their honor.