January 30, 2012, Club Bulletin# 405
January 30, 2012 Program for Today: Update on Arts Campus at the University of Iowa with Chuck Swanson
January 23 Invocation by: Barb Christensen
Rotary Moment: Scott Ingstad highlighted the activities of the Community Service Committee including support of the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Sunset Park Afterschool Program, the Symphony, Dictionaries for 4th graders and Dog Watering Stations on the Riverfront!!
Rotary Guests: Adrianna Elspeth with Mary Odell.
Rotary Announcements: Reminder to get Award Nomination papers from the back table for selecting the Bob Roach, Citizenship, Guardian of Integrity and Vocational Service Awards. Please get them back by the meeting on the 30th of January.
Mike reminded us of the Murder Mystery Dinner for Rotarians, YPN and guests on March 3, 2012 at the Rendezvous. We were reminded to wear our Rotary pins every day including MONDAY!!
We have 2 prospective new members Erika Cox and Dave Armstrong!!
Happy News: Rose Mary Boesen encouraged us to sign up and help with the United Way funding process. Cynthia Maeglin is happy she's a Great Grandma!! Paul Kraushaar is encouraging us to attend Rotary in February because there are more great University of Iowa programs!! Rick Ray shared 2 fund raisers one for Pizza Ranch and the other for Saturday Night Chili Supper!! Bill Decker apprised us of the MHS Renovation on the School Board Agenda..see www.muscatine.k12.ia.us for many details.. but it's a pay as you go.. no levy project!! Ron Yohe got up to give more money for his story a couple of weeks ago about "nagging"!! And there is NO Meeting on February 20, 2012 in honor of Presidents Day!!
Help Muscatine become a Blue Zone by signing up at http://www.bluezonesproject.com/citizens/signup or texting "BZP" to 772937. Your support is STILL needed to help us secure grant funding...sign up now!!
Program for Today: Sarah Lande introduced Rotarian Mary Odell who updated us on the Blue Zone Project. It is a part of the Governor's Healthy State Initiative. Obesity in Iowa has increased 66%since 1995 with 29% of adults being obese. If we can curb this trend medical and insurance costs would be saved to the tune of 16 million dollars.!!
We can prevent obesity because 70% of the factors contributing to it are controllable through diet and exercise which include learning healthy behaviors and increasing walkability...in our communities.
10 Communities in Iowa will be selected through a granting process led by Wellmark Blue Cross who will be spreading $25 million dollars throughout those 10 communities to share best practice ..including the 9 elements of Blue Zone Communities: Moving more naturally, Having a life of purpose, Decompressing, Eating wisely, Reducing risky behaviors and creating social connections.. The grant for Muscatine was submitted on January 4, 2012 and selected communities will be notified on Februay 10 with a site visit soon after that.