Cedar Rapids West Rotary 
    If you're a part of this year's Big Drop Committee or if you'd like to see how you can help out, don't forget to stay for a few minutes after this Wednesday's meeting for a quick Big Drop Committee meeting!  
 
    Service above self,
 
    Mike 
This Week: Lacey Becker, CORDA Teacher Store 
Greeter: Dana Nichols  Cashier: Matt Brandt
 
Lacey Becker, Executive Director of the CORDA Teacher Store will visit us to tell us how the store is supporting K-12 educators in the Cedar Rapids area.
 
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.  
 
 
Last Week: Fifth Wednesday - New Member Program Greeter: Pete Eddington  Cashier: Betsey Kutter 
 
Big thanks to everyone who presented and supplied some tasty treats for our New Member Event last week! Janette organized a great program that talked about the different aspects of both Rotary and Cedar Rapids West. It was a great reminder on why we joined Rotary.
 
Let's work to get some of those "I can't make it, but I'd like to know more" folks to a meeting in the next few weeks. 
 
 
Next 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. 
 
 
2026 Schedule 
 
May 5: May Rotary Board Meeting, Zoom 
 
May 6: Teacher's Store, Lacey Becker 
             Big Drop Meeting following main meeting 
Greeter: Dana Nichols  Cashier: Matt Brandt
 
May 7: May First Thursday social gathering 
 
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: May Service Event, TBD 
 
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 - Ball Drop Audit - TENTATIVE
 
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.