Program for Today: Heinz USA Update

June 13 Invocation by: Dave Utley

Incoming President Mike Ruby in his Rotary moment spoke about the history of singing at Rotary meetings. An interesting fact about our club is that when you joined in the 1920's you had to sing a solo as part of the initiation into the club.

Rotary guest: Justin Dwyer present to be with his brother Jeremy for the last Rotary meeting!!

The Vocational Awareness Committee will be meeting today (June 13, 2011). Members are: Jim Nepple, Tim Nelson, Dave Stanley, Jessica Wittman, Greg Boruff, & James Elliott. Jim Nepple has forms for the award nominations for Club Service.

Dick Stanley informed the membership of Kip Fisher's ill health due to a insulin reaction. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kip with wishes for a speedy recovery.

Rotary Night at the Ballpark will be June 29, 2011. Tickets are available at the back table for $7 with $3 going to Polio Plus. Let's all join in to Pack the Park for Polio and have some fun!!!

Jeremy showed off his diploma and Rotary jacket and told us that he appreciated coming to America and Rotary.

Happy News: Barb Christensen told us about the opening of Muscatine and the Civil War...the exhibit soon to open at the Muscatine Art Center. She also mentioned that the Muscatine History and Industry Center will have a Civil War exhibit. Rich Dwyer encouraged the club to expand the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Caren Luke mentioned the article about Mary Wildermuth in today's Muscatine Journal and also spoke gratefully of her family get together in Missouri to help her parents move. Judi Holdorf told us about her 1st place slot in a local Women's Golf Tournament. Marv Krieger asked members to complete nominations for the Muscatine High School Hall of Honor. Steve Ahman stated that today is his 24th wedding anniversary!! and Bill Phelan reminded us that volunteers are needed for the Fiery Trial Civil War Exhibit. Just call the Chamber to sign up to volunteer.

Program: Sal LoBianco, Chief Executive of Muscatine Power and Water, shared an update on the status of the locally owned utility. Water was the first product in the 1900's, electricity was added in 1922 and cable and computer technology in the 1980's. The utility has revenues of $97 million and expenses of $96 million. The last rate increase was in 2002.

MPW has a large reliance on whole sale of energy, lives with the everevolving world of environmental regulation and is working with an ever aging infrastructure. Sal told about the strengths of each utility area and the challenges of each as well.

Overall the locally owned utility strengthens our community because it is local, is highly reliable, and has excess capacity. In the powerpoint he listed many awards presented to MPW... the most recent being the Powder River Basin Award.