The World Polio Day 2020 Global Update theme is “A win against polio is a win for global health.”  You can go to the RI website for a status update on Rotary and our partners’ polio eradication efforts, as well as how investment in polio eradication is critical for other global health initiatives, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

While this conflicts with our meeting, alternatively, you have been invited to a special event by the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club this Wednesday.   Liz Smith from the Rotary Club of Troy, Michigan will present a program "Polio Fatigue". Liz is a past District Governor and Zone Public Image Coordinator for Rotary and is passionate about Rotary eradicating polio from the world. Their meeting starts about 12:10 pm.   If interested, contact Larry and he can give you the zoom link for the event.

 

When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. We’ve made great progress against the disease since then. Today, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we, as Rotarians, remain committed to the end.

 

While we are not planning a special event,  please consider a donation to the Rotary Foundation earmarked for the fight against polio.  You can send your check to our Treasurer Jim Coller and he can see that it gets processed.  We are getting so close to eradicating polio! 

 

Through James's connections we can get 12 coats for $300.  That is a mere $25 per coat.  Jan Hanks, our Van Buren contact, will make sure that those coats get to some very needy kids at Van Buren.  We are taking donations from Club members to cover that cost.  If you would like to donate please send your check to Jim Coller.  Please help us to reach that goal or, dare I say, surpass it!

Last week, District 5970 held its Virtual Leadership Conference.  Former District Governor Michelle Bell did a great job last year leading our District, as well as assisting our club in so many ways.  She announced that our Club was awarded not one but two awards under President Penny's outstanding leadership.  First, we received the Rotary Club Excellence Award for 2019-2020 from the District Governor.  Second, we received the Rotary Gold Citation for 2019-2020 from Rotary International.  Congrats to all members for the parts you played in earning these awards.  Let's do it again this year despite the various obstacles 2020 has put in our path.

Yep, our club held two Rotary functions on October 11.

 

Our regular Rotary meeting was held by zoom at noon.  Many thanks to Dennis for presenting the news, James for doing the invocation, pledge and 4way test, and Dana for leading us in song.

 

Liz announced that our annual day to ring bells for the Salvation Army will be held on November 21 at the HyVee on Wilson Avenue.  Ringing starts at 10 am and goes until 8 pm.  Time slots are for one hour.  Contact Liz Durham at tedurham1010@yahoo.com  or 319-310-1300 if you are interested in ringing and she can let you know what time slots remain open.  She will take care of signing you up.  If you cannot ring on that day, you can still go to the Salvation Army website to signup for a different time, date and location.  Contact Liz on how to signup direct.  You will need to use her user name and password.

 

Janette introduced our speaker Melanie Lentz.  She is a former Secret Service Agent.  She started at the young age of 22.  She talked about her experiences and the impact they had on her.  It was extremely interesting and encouraging to all!  She has written her memoirs in a book called "Agent Innocent."  For further details you can check out her website at melanielentz.com.  Sounds like a great book to get on Amazon.

 

It was noted that congrats go out to Charles for getting married on October 17.  

 

Our in person meeting at the Indian Creek Nature Center was hosted by Jane.  She had a nice fire going in the firepit.  The wind even cooperated.  It was interesting to hear about the various programs.  It was nice to see our fellow Rotarians in person.  Hopefully, we can arrange more of these before the snow flies (oops until old man winter really gets serious about winter).

 

The Orchestra Iowa piano lab grant is in process.  It is being monitored by Penny and Matt.   Everything has been ordered, but there are some delays caused by COVID.  The total cost of the piano lab is $7768.39.  Of that amount $1000 was donated by the West Music family.  The Rotary grant was $3000 matched by our club's donation of $3000.  The remaining $768.39 is being covered by Scott and Penny Olson.   Thanks so much to all for your involvement.