Club members Betsy and Dave Kutter attended a life-changing conference in South Africa last year facilitated by Father Michael Lapsley. This week, they shared their insightful takeaways and encouraged us all to attend Father Lapsley’s speaking engagements later this month right here in Cedar Rapids. He'll speak on the power of forgiveness and healing in reconciliation. Let's join together in supporting this important dialogue and learning from Father Lapsley's experiences.

 

 

Yesterday, our Rotary Club had a great time volunteering at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, helping prepare for the Friends of the Library Book Sale! We sorted books onto carts and organized bags for the sale, becoming experts in cookbooks and John Grisham novels in the process. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this fun and rewarding service project!

 

 

 

This week we heard from historian David Wendell, founder and curator of the Wendell Air and Space Museum Online. He shared his knowledge on many topics including Paul Harris (near and dear to our Rotarian hearts), Frank Lloyd Wright and William Eugene Drummond, and the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood outside Chicago.

 

 

Meet Dan Healy- A musician, a retired police detective, and "an Irish storyteller." Dan shared some of his stories with Cedar Rapids West Rotary this week. Dan needed a release from the mentally and emotionally challenging work he did for the police department so he began writing westerns. When he retired, he was able to focus on his writing and cranked out four books in five years.

 

 

One of our favorite meetings of the year! A Christmas concert featuring the students of Van Buren Elementary. We enjoyed a wonderful selection of holiday tunes, capped off by a gift for every club member, hand-delivered by a student!

 

 

Rotary West members gathered at the Kilburg home for a wonderful "5th Wednesday" event. Club President-Elect Chuck Kudej showed off his culinary skills with a delicious spread. It was a great kick-off to the holiday season! 

 

 

Cedar Rapids West Rotarians showed their holiday spirit with this month's service project. We rang the Red Kettle bell for The Salvation Army at the Wilson Ave Hy-Vee. It was a beautiful day to raise money for a great cause in our community!

 

Cedar Rapids West Rotary was pleased to give proceeds from The Big Drop event to Kerry Crowell with the LBA Foundation, and Dr. Ruth White with the Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success. Charles Kudej also presented funds on behalf of American Family Insurance.

 

     

New Cedar Rapids School District Superintendent Tawana Grover gave the Club an update about their strategic plan for the district and discussed their next steps after the recent school bond vote.

 

Rotary West member Peter Teahen and Iowa City Rotary member John Ockenfels shared stories from their Flight to End Polio adventure at our meeting last week. It was an amazing experience for them and truly touched the lives of so many people all over the world. We're extremely proud to call them fellow Rotarians! If you'd like to learn more, please listen to this recent podcast- https://pod.link/rotary/episode/9d6b9e25d1fa15b5f59d68907c651414 or visit https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/. 

 

 

Linda Betsinger McCann has authored several books, including Lost Linn County: Vanished Towns of the Cedar Valley. She shared her knowledge of forgotten places in Linn County with the Rotary West.

West Rotarians recently toured the new Jewel & Jim Plumb Heart Center. We were all impressed by the modern tech and patient-centered touches in the design. Thanks to Tom Vandevart for making the arrangements, and to Center director Jim Atty for the informative tour!

We were honored to have Cedar Rapids West member Peter Teahen and Iowa City AM member John Ockenfels discuss their Flight to End Polio at our 5th Wednesday event last week. It was incredibly interesting to hear about their journey, the challenges they faced, and the successes they celebrated along the way. Peter and John have already raised a tremendous amount of money to help eradicate polio worldwide. They don't hope... they BELIEVE it's possible. Even though their flight is complete, they are still raising money for this cause. Please consider donating today at https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/donate.

 

Club members were back in action yesterday as we helped Olivet Neighborhood Mission process clothing donations, restock their pantry, and do some light cleaning. Once again, many hands made light work. Serving others is always rewarding but yesterday's project was even better because former Club members Betty and Cliff Ehlinger were able to join us while they were visiting from Mississippi.

 

Join us to hear the story of Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels' historic round-the-world flight! Members, friends, and guests welcome.

Thanks to everyone who bought balls for Rotary West's Big Drop!

West Rotarians were on hand to say Welcome Home as our own Peter Teahen and Iowa City Rotarian John Ockenfels completed their historic Flight To End Polio with a picture-perfect landing at the Cedar Rapids airport on July 31. They flew for 90 days, 25,323 miles, and raised more than $1 million for Rotary's Global Polio Eradication initiative. Read more in Diana Nollen's story in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. 

 

Rotarians and Quotarians joined forces to clean and prep books for the Cops N Kids Reading Program at our May Service Project. Volunteers cleaned, labeled, and stickered more than 530 books in just one hour.

 

 

We gathered at the Iowa City Airport on May 4 for a sendoff party with Rotary West member Peter Teahen and Iowa City's John Ockenfels (pictured with their wives Janet and Deb) for their Flight To End Polio.

 

Peter and John took off the next morning for their three-month round-the-world flight which we hope will raise $1 Million for Rotary's polio vaccination and education program. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving a 2:1 match for every dollar donated.

 

You can track their progress at flighttoendpolio.com/ or using the FlightAware app. Enter the plane's tail number, N732WP.

West Rotary's April service project was at HACAP in Hiawatha. Volunteers sorted food and checked expiration dates. We enjoyed playing a part in HACAP's meaningful work!

 

We had a great turnout for our "Be Our Guest" event at the Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance. We meet all kinds of cool new people, and heard a preview of the new CityView High School from principal Dan Devore, as well as updates from two of our charity partners, Ruth White from the Academy for Scholastic and Personal Achievement, and Al O'Bannon from the LBA Foundation. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

 

Our March service project was at Central Furniture Rescue, a local nonprofit that collects basic furniture and household items to provide to those transitioning from homelessness into their own homes. We cleaned and sorted a variety of donated items so they could be distributed and make someone's home happier and more comfortable.

 

If you want to serve your community and have fun while doing it, hit the Contact Us button to learn more about Rotary West!

West Rotary's January service project was at Eight Days of Hope, an organization which provides rapid response service to communities in need. Eight Days of Hope came to Cedar Rapids originally to help after the 2008 flood, and now has a permanent Cedar Rapids satellite office. It was especially fun to have former CR West member, Gary Pribyl, tell us about this great organization.  

 

Two education charities that primarily serve students of color received $12,000 from Cedar Rapids West Rotary to further their missions. The Academy for Personal and Scholastic Success and the Learners Believers Achievers Foundation received proceeds from West Rotary's Big Drop fundraiser, along with a matching grant from American Family Insurance.

 

Pictured (L-R): Dr. Ruth White, Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success, Rotary President Janette Fiedler, Al O'Bannon, Leaders Believers Achievers Foundation, Brandon Bieri, American Family Insurance, Charles Kudej, American Family Insurance and Big Drop committee member.

Each year, Rotary West awards scholarships to one student from each Cedar Rapids and Marion-area school to attend Kirkwood Community College. The 2022 Rotary West scholarship recipients are:

 

Gabriela Hovey - Cedar Valley Christian

Every year, Rotary West asks area high school administrators to nominate an outstanding educator for the Rotary Teacher Appreciation Award. We hosted principals and teachers on May 4 from Jefferson, Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Metro, Marion, Prairie, and Washington. Getting to meet these exemplary teachers and hear about their hard work and dedication to students is one of our favorite events of the year.

 

 

Rotary West, with the help of a District Matching Grant and sponsorship from West Music, has placed a Piano Lab in the Orchestra Iowa School. There are now six keyboards in the lab, with equipment that allows the teacher to work individually with a student using headphones, even in a group class. Education Director Myron McReynolds (pictured, with Penny Olson and President Matt Teply) says the first session with students has been completed, and several of the young people have decided to continue piano lessons!

 

Thanks to West Music, District 5970, and Penny Olson, who spearheaded the project.

 

Rotary West is now meeting in person! Join us Wednesdays at 12noon in the beautiful National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library. Plenty of free, indoor parking, too!

 

Rotary meetings will also be live-streamed over Zoom until further notice.

Rotary West members gathered in person for the first time in many months on April 21, and took advantage of cool, but clear weather to have some socially-distanced fellowship and help Indian Creek Nature Center with a little spring cleanup. It was so good to see each other's smiling faces! Thanks to Jane Schlegel for organizing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a few of the many cards sent by Van Buren Elementary students to say thanks for West Rotary's continued involvement with their school. Even though we can't be with them physically right now, our club has purchased winter coats, school supplies and other materials to make their days better.

A little thing like a pandemic didn't stop Rotary West from its annual project of bell ringing for the Salvation Army! Club members staffed the bell station at the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee on November 21.

West Rotarians recently raised funds to buy 24 coats for students at Van Buren Elementary in Cedar Rapids. Many of the kids who attend the school don't have proper cold weather gear.

James Nelson presented the coats to Van Buren's Jan Hanks.

 

 

The Big Drop will take place at 10am September 5. Ping Pong ball sales have been closed.

 

Watch this page and the Rotary West Facebook Page for video of the fun! Good to luck to everyone who bought balls, and thanks for helping Rotary care for the kids served by HACAP and Van Buren School.

Rotary meetings are temporarily suspended as Cedar Rapids recovers from the devastating derecho storm that has destroyed hundreds of homes, thousands of trees, and shredded the electric grid.

 

Watch this space and your email to learn when our Zoom meetings will resume.

Rotary West meets over Zoom on Wednesdays.