Cedar Rapids West Rotary 
    The Big Drop Committee is off and running. Make sure to check in with Chuck after you've made your calls. 
    There's also information below on how to signup for this month's service project with HACAP. 
 
    Service above self,
 
    Mike 
This Week: Chad Schumacher, Cedar Rapids Schools Construction Update  
Greeter: Rochelle Naylor Cashier: David Chadima
 
The Cedar Rapids School District has some major construction projects underway at Van Buren Elementary and at Jefferson High School.
 
CR Schools Director of Operations Chad Schumacher will join us to talk about the new Van Buren Elementary School that features flexible classrooms, collaborative spaces, and technology integration to support 21st-century learners. Jefferson and Washington High Schools are expanding to include their Freshman Academies and Career & Technical Education (CTE) spaces. 
 
 
Last Week: Lacey Becker, CORDA Teacher Store 
Greeter: Dana Nichols  Cashier: Matt Brandt
 
Lacey Becker, Executive Director of the CORDA Teacher Store visited us to explain how the store supports K-12 educators in the Cedar Rapids area. We presented Lacey with a check for $1,000 from the proceeds of the 2025 Big Drop. She also went item by item to show us all of the stuff she was able to buy for teachers with last year's donation. We also learned that pencils and Kleenex are still much needed items in a lot of classrooms. 
 
Organized after the 2008 Flood, the CORDA Teacher Store has helped bridge the resource gap between what schools and families can provide and what students need to succeed, ensuring educators have access to essential supplies without personal financial burden.  
 
 
Next Week: Kirkwood Scholarships, Mast of Ceremonies Bruce Hamous 
 
Greeter: Keith Collins  Cashier: Steve Bowman
 
Cedar Rapids Rotary West has had a long-standing relationship with Kirkwood Community College. This year we are again providing scholarships to deserving students at Cedar Rapids-area high schools to help support their freshman year at Kirkwood. 
 
This is always one of our more inspirational meetings as we get to meet high school seniors, learn their stories and their plans for the future. 
 
May 27 Service Event at HACAP Food Reservoir Warehouse, 1515 Hawkeye Drive, Hiawatha, Noon-1 p.m. 
 
We'll be busy once again assembling food boxes for this in need in our community at the HACAP Food Reservoir. This is a great service project and its feels great to look at all of the finished boxes when we're done. 
 
Make sure you visit the club SignUp Genius to help us know who is coming so we can tell HACAP.
 
And don't forget wear closed toe shoes and watch the Food Safety Training Video. 
 
2026 Schedule 
 
May 13: Chad Schumacher, Cedar Rapids Schools Construction Update  
Greeter: Rochelle Naylor Cashier: David Chadima
 
May 20: Kirkwood Scholarships, Bruce Hamous 
Greeter: Keith Collins  Cashier: Steve Bowman
 
May 27: HACAP Food Reservoir, 1515 Hawkeye Drive, Hiawatha, Noon to 1 p.m.  (More info above)
 
June 2: June Rotary Board Meeting 
 
June 3: Jana Bodensteiner, World Traveler
Greeter: Jeff Kaiden Cashier: John Zakrasek
 
June 4: June First Thursday Social Event 
 
June 10: Author Evelyn R. Carter, new book 
Greeter: Cecelia Rokusek Cashier: Penny Olson 
 
June 17:  Cedar Rapids Reading Programs, Meredith
Ash
Greeter: Chuck Kudej  Cashier: Chris Carr 
 
June 24: June Service Event - TBD
 
Can't make the meeting in person? Click here to join us on Zoom. Please tell us if you use this option as we evaluate what to do with our Zoom subscription.