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2017 RYLA Participants Tell Their Experiences

At the Sept. 19 meeting, Derrick Dolezal and Ciera Hanson did a presentation about their experience at RYLA this past summer at Grinnell College to the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club. They thanked the Rotarians for sending them and both are considering going back to RYLA as counselors to help continue this great program. The told of their experiences at the summer leadership week and the Club asked many great questions. They were supported by Interact members Harrison McDonald and Marianne Selfridge.

We look forward to sending more students this coming summer to this prestigious Leadership Conference put on by Rotary Districts 5970 and 6000!

Thank you again Marion-East Cedar Rapids for sponsoring members of the Linn-Mar Interact Club!

Salvation Army Bell Ringing 2017

Posted by Tom Padley

The Salvation Army is hosting its 2nd annual Red Kettle Competition for the Rotary Clubs of Linn County. The Rotary Club that brings in the most money while bell ringing will receive a traveling award. Our Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club won this award last year! So far this year, Rotary West, Sunrise Rotary, and our club are signed up to participate in the contest. We will be bell ringing at the Marion Fareway, Saturday, November 18th, and at the Marion HyVee, Saturday, December 2nd.

The Salvation Army is also holding a Red Kettle Gala benefit on Thursday, October 19th at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. You can learn more about it and register at TSACedarRapids.org.

Visitors from Kosovo Visit Iowa and our Club

For several years, Marion-East Cedar Rapids has been able to host an international group for lunch through the Open World Leadership Center with the Library of Congress. They are hosted by the Friendship Force of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City. Vic Klopfenstein presented the group of information management professionals who spoke about Kosovo and exchanged questions with Club members to better understand this newly established country and their impressions about the United States. Facilitator Lejla Selimi coordinated the group who stayed with various local Friendship Force members. Kosovo was part of the former Yugoslavia and the US has supported recognition of Kosovo by world political bodies. These opportunities provide Club members with experiences with persons from all over the world.

International Rotary Friendships Last a Lifetime

At the September 19th meeting, member Jill Olsen shared the story of a Rotary friendship begun at the 2008 Rotary District Conference where her son, Drew Virlee, and his (then) fiancée ,Renee, became impromptu evening hosts of the incoming GSE team from Italy. In 2009 Marco Masselli, one of the team members and his Rotoract group hosted Drew and Renee at the beginning and end of their Mediterranean honeymoon cruise. They met again when Marco lead a GSE team to Illinois. And they met again this past weekend as they hosted Marco on their farm. Marco flew to Iowa from the Italian Entrepreneurs Group Conference housed in San Francisco. They and Marco now have young children : Marco and his wife Gabriella have a young son and Drew and Renee a newborn daughter. Plans were made to meet again soon. Jill presented our club with a banner from Marco's Conference. She concluded that this was an example of the connections made through Rotary--friendships across the world to last a lifetime.

5451 Pairs of Shoes Provided to Local Kids

Posted by Erik Miles

Kids go to school every day with footwear that is failing them, no longer fits or that their family cannot afford. That is the reason the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary has been providing shoe cards since to families, primarily through school nurses in Linn County. Through August 27, 2017, 5589 shoe cards have been turned in for shoes since 2004 to assist those kids and their families. With a discount provided by Payless ShoeSource, the Marion Club has raised money directly or through fundraisers to provide this needed service. Many of us in Linn County do not realize the need locally, however reports from school nurses emphasize that need. Many thanks to everyone who has donated or worked to make this project possible!

Rotarians Respond to Lifting Antique Car

A call for help at the September 5 meeting of the Club had many Club members responding in order to lift an 1899 steam antique car into the Marion Heritage Center for an upcoming display, "Good Roads - Bicycles, Motorcycles and Automobiles on the Transcontinental Highway 1878 to 1919." This exhibit will open September 30 and will be well worth visiting the Center. Many thanks to Tom Barnes for making the arrangements to get the automobile into the Center as well as Club members Selfridge, Miles, Colton, Bolton, Hapgood, and Harstad who provided lifting power, supervision and encouragement for a vehicle heavier than it looked as well as volunteer help from several other community members.

Welcome RaeAnn Barnhart as a New Member

Linn County, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Director, RaeAnn Barnhart was inducted into the Marion Rotary Club on September 5 by Past President Jeff Selfridge. Her background running service organizations and enthusiasm will make you want to welcome her into our Club family.

Welcome Cindy Shipley to MECR

Cindy Shipley has been inducted as the newest member of the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club. She owns Classic Tax in Marion. We welcome Cindy and look forward to getting to know her better and her involvement with the Club.

Evening Rotary with the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Club

The August 23rd Evening Rotary had a beautiful evening to harvest watermelon for Feed Iowa First as a service project.

Sonia from Feed Iowa First was a wonderful host and shared with us her passion for feeding the hungry and training people to farm what she called the richest soil in the world. One of her rules for working the farm was that everyone had to taste the food that was being grown there. Tom assisted the group in cutting pieces of the fruit for everyone to try. All agreed it was delicious. After we loaded her truck with the bounty we headed over to Axels for fellowship and adult beverages. While our group was small in numbers, we did have 2 new prospective members and 2 guest members.

Barnes Accepts Rappeling Rotary Challenge

Tom Barnes rappelled down the Historic Iowa Building on August 19 as part of a Rotary Challenge supporting Heartland Youth for Christ.

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"I'm excited to take the Rotary Challenge and represent Marion - East Rotary Club! In fact, not only am I taking the challenge, I am extending it by matching the funds raised on my page dollar for dollar up to $500!" $1000 was raised by Tom for the Challenge.

District Governor Smith Visit August 8

District Governor, Ralph Smith

Rotary District 5970 Governor Ralph Smith spoke at our meeting on August 8. Ralph is from Charles City and shared his thoughts and goals for the District and update us on Rotary's work in the world. After our regular meeting at Indian Creek Country Club, District Governor Smith met with the Board of Directors and Officers. He was very complimentary to the efforts and accomplishments of our Club. One way this is evident is the District Governors our Club has provided the District. We caught Greg Hapgood and John Bender along with President Tom Barnes for a picture. Jill Olsen was also at the meeting. Michelle Bell is also in line to fill this important post.

Marion Town Clock Project Approved

Linn County Veterans Help

At the Club's July 11 meeting, speaker, Jim Crowley of Marion American Legion Post 298 brought to our attention the effort by the Linn County Veterans to address needs of veterans with PTSD and suicide issues and the availablity of a 24 hour hotline every day to assist them. If you know of veterans or others who could use this service supporting their service, please make them aware of the hotline, (319) 362-2174.

Grandparent Cane, An Old Tradition Renewed

An old tradition for the Marion-East CR Rotary was to present the newest grandparent a cane which they kept until the next grandchild of a Marion Rotarian was born and the cane presented to them. The previous cane disappeared many years ago however Charter Member, Past President and Past District Governor Greg Hapgood never forgot about it and arranged to have a new one made. He had Larry Sylvester of Marion create our new Club Grandparent Cane which was presented at the June 27th meeting to our most recent grandparent, Club President Bob Mollman.

Rotary Calendar

A special effort is being made to keep the calendar on the Club's web site up to date. You can use it as a resource for items that involve you or committees that you are on. Some items are "all hands on deck" events where we need as many Rotarians as possible to make the event successful such as the Waffle Breakfast or the Marion Fly-in. You can get those dates on your personal calendar early when a date is known. Speakers, Board Meetings, District events and other dates are included. The Calendar can be found on the ribbon near the top of the Club's Home Page. Use it as a resource so you are in the loop. www.marionrotary.org is your key to much Club information so you are in the know.

Siren Wednesday

When the sirens sound be reminded it is Siren Wednesday. This is a time for fellowship at Cibo's. Join fellow Rotarians and friends for a beverage and visiting starting around 5:00 on Wednesday, October 4. Many stay for dinner that evening if your schedule allows. This counts as a meeting make-up and is an enjoyable way to pass some time.

Rotary Links

Welcome to the Marion - East Cedar Rapids Rotary Club Web Site!

Service Above Self

District Governor, Ralph Smith