Posted by Mary Wildermuth on Oct 16, 2017
Program for October 16, 2017: Jerry Riibe and Mike McGrory Report on our Schools
Invocation: Sal LoBianco
Happy News: Ken Noble visited from the West Liberty Club. Special recognition of the Rotary Anniversaries and October's Birthdays and the women who are still members who were inducted 30 years ago!! Sarah Lande, Karen Diercks and Caroline Levine!! Erika shared an update on Polio's demise with only 11 cases this year worldwide with those cases being in Pakistan and Afganistan!!  Paul Fitzpatrick will be participating in Second Saturday giving donations to Polio Plus.  World Polio Day is October 24th!! Marv Krieger  was happy about the Iowa State win but dismayed with the football players taking a knee when the National Anthem is being played. Marv told of his service during WWII being in a hospital taking care of the wounded.  It was not a pretty site! Bobbi Holliday's son has chosen Iowa for his PA Program. Alan Ostergren is grateful for 20 years of service to Muscatine County. Larry Hetzler is happy about the Iowa State win. RIch Dwyer has completed his first week of Leadership Iowa and he provided an update on the Pearls of Progress Project. He announced that Kent Corporation will be matching contributions with a $500,000 grant. Megan Francis is happy her daughter got to be a little Miss Muskie Pom Girl and she reminded us of the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. Wear Purple on Tuesday, October 10th to commemorate the event!! Sal LoBianco is happy about the Iowa State and Muskie's win and he invited all to the Muscatine Power and Water Breakfast on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:30 am. Harvey Allbee shared the Plantation's Story (Moline, Illinois) as reported in Sunday's paper and noted he and his wife, Joann enjoyed a lovely meal there when it first opened!
 
Program: John Kuhl introduced Kim Warren, Collective Impact Director who explained the framework of AIM. The collaborative community project seeks to 
  • Provide a common community agenda
  • Shared common measurements
  • Mutually Reinforcing Activities
  • Constant Communication
  • Provide Backbone Support
Muscatine's goals are to address Early Education, Academic Success, Post Secondary Commitment and Adult Education. We are seeking kindergarten readiness, elimination of chronic school absenteeism, more students entering postsecondary paths and adult education and retraining. Kim noted the progress in each goal area. In the early education preschool area a greater effort is being made to market preschool and to link families to preschool options. Over 250 more students attended school last year due to the group's efforts. This was done through coordination of Middle School Services and production of a commercial about the importance of being in school. Postsecondary efforts include help in completion of college applications and marketing of the importance of continuing school through College Decision Day articles etc. The retraining effort for adults was studied by the group and those unemployed or underemployed were 31% not employed, 81% with a high school diploma or less and 50% with no high school diploma.  The effort is designed to get those folks back to school!!  A lot of great working being done collaboratively to provide a better school and work climate in Muscatine leading to a better livelihood for all!!