Mills County Love Tree Donation Glenwood Rotary Club Executive Director Patrick Umberger presents $1,000 to Lana Duysen for the Mills County Love Tree Project which ensures that more than 500 Mills County children have a Merry Christmas every year. A donation such as this is only possible thanks to our wonderful Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser sponsors and diners. Thank you all!
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District Governor Visits Glenwood Club District 5650 DG Kathryn Schubert visited the Glenwood club on Thursday, August 3rd. Kathryn shared her own Rotary story, her goals for the 2023-2024 Rotary year, and ways the Glenwood members can support those goals. Pictured here is Kathryn with many Glenwood Rotarians.
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District Governor Visits Glenwood Meet Rotary District 5650 Governor Kathryn Schubert on Thursday, August 3rd! Kathryn will share her expectations and goals for the District in the new 2023-24 Rotary year. This would be a great time to bring a friend who is interested in learning more about Rotary! Kathryn is an active member of Omaha Suburban Rotary Club, and has been since 2009. She is a Paul Harris Fellow and Patron of the Suburban Rotary Charitable Foundation. Learn more about District Governor Schubert by visiting https://www.rotarydistrict5650.org/. |
Glenwood Rotary Club Present Scholarships and Awards to GHS Seniors
The Glenwood Rotary Club Presented Scholarships and Citizenship Awards to the following 2023 GHS Seniors:
Congratulations to all of the scholarship and award recipients and to the entire Glenwood High School Graduating Class of 2023!
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Supporting Mills County  The Glenwood Rotary Club recently presented checks to the Mills County Public Health NEST Program and to the Mills County Storehouse. In the top photo Melody Ragland receives a check for NEST from Club Secretary Joe Pittman (left) and President Dennis Kelly (right). NEST is an incentive program whose mission is to improve the health of pregnant women, their babies, and ultimately their families. In the lower photo Dennis, Joe, and Wilma Kelly present a check to Dale Brown (right) for the Storehouse a local thrift store and food pantry that serves Mills County. Donations like these are possible thanks to everyone who supports Glenwood Rotary Club's Spaghetti Dinner and Culpepper & Merriweather Circus Fundraisers. Thank you all! |
Glenwood Rotary Celebrates 100 Years The Glenwood Rotary Club celebrated 100 Years of Service Above Self at their Annual Spaghetti Dinner on November 6th. They enjoyed a special presentation from several District Rotarians and a successful fundraiser for the community.
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Meet RI President Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones, Rotary International’s first female president, is the perfect leader to spread the word about the good Rotary does in the world, and inspire its members to keep going. Read more, click here. |
Culpepper Merriweather Circus Visits  September 3rd was circus day in Glenwood!!!
 Thank you to all of our partners in bringing the circus to town, we couldn't do it without your help! Both performances were standing room only helping us to raise over $3,000 100% of which our club will return to the community. |
District Governor Barbara Bartle Visits Club |
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Annual Spaghetti Dinner Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, and supported the Glenwood Rotary Club's 24th Annual Benefit Dinner - Spaghetti Feed. We were in a new location, during a new time, on a new day and we didn't know what to expect. We were thrilled with the turnout and were able to raise over $5,000 to donate to local organizations and provide scholarships to local high school seniors. |
2021 Holiday Donations  The Glenwood Rotary Club recently donated $1,000 each to Love Tree and to the Mills County Storehouse to support their Christmas Programs. Donations like this are thanks to everyone who supports the Glenwood Rotary Club. Thank you! |
District Governor Carol Horner Visits Glenwood Club District Governor Carol Horner visited the Glenwood Rotary Club on November 18th. She shared her passion for Rotary, her vision for the district over the next year, and a little bit about Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta's goals for the organization through the year. |
Meet Our Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta Shekhar Mehta President 2021-22 Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar West Bengal, India Mehta, an accountant, is chair of the Skyline Group, a real estate development company he founded. He is also a director of Operation Eyesight Universal (India), a Canada-based organization. Mehta has been actively involved in disaster response and is a trustee of ShelterBox, UK. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he helped build nearly 500 homes for families affected by the disaster. He pioneered a program that has performed more than 1,500 life-changing heart surgeries in South Asia. He is also the architect of the TEACH Program, which promotes literacy throughout India and has reached thousands of schools. A Rotary member since 1984, Mehta has served Rotary as director, member or chair of several committees, zone coordinator, training leader, member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, and district governor. He is also the chair of Rotary Foundation (India). Mehta has received Rotary's Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Awards. He and his wife, Rashi, are Major Donors and members of the Bequest Society. Watch the president's theme speech Visit the office of the president to:
Learn more about Rotary’s structure |
Rotary Serves Breakfast to GCSD Faculty & Staff    On Monday, August 23rd, Rotary welcomed the teachers and staff back to school after a year of unprecedented hurdles. We served them breakfast and shared how much we appreciate all they do for our community. We were also able to celebrate them further by providing some fun raffle prizes. |
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Julie Lynes LBSW, MHR - Mills County Public Health Julie Lynes and Taffy Jacob from Mills County Public Health visited the Glenwood Rotary Club on Thursday, April 22nd to share where Mills County stands with COVID and vaccinations. |
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John Stacey - Oak Township VFD The Glenwood Rotary Club heard from John Stacey of the Oak Township Volunteer Fire Department regarding their recent ISO rating and how that determines insurance costs for area residents.
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Glenwood's New PortSide Travel Agency On March 25, 2021 we heard from Jim Henderson who told us all about his new company PortSide Travel - a Gateway Travel partner and full-service travel agency. Jim's mission is to build the best trip ever for you with personalized service and attention to detail. Plan your next travel adventure at: https://www.facebook.com/PortSide-Travel-107522807542910 |
ROTARY MULTI-DISTRICT VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE As a joint effort in January and February our Rotarian family and friends across Districts 5650 and 5630 (southwest Iowa & all of Nebraska) raised funds to help those in our communities in critical need of food. With matching funds from both districts our grand total is $33,060! For every donated $1, FoodBank for the Heartland can distribute enough food for three meals. With that statistic in mind our two districts provided 100,818 meals for the region (1,800 for Mills County alone)….amazing!!! |
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS - SOUTHWEST IOWA  January 14th we heard from Anna Killpack - the Executive Director of The National Alliance on Mental Illness - Southwest Iowa. The infographic above shows some of the mental health stats for Iowa. Keep in mind these stats are from pre-COVID. The numbers today are likely to be much higher. If you aren't feeling okay lately, know that that's okay. Here are a few tips we discussed to get you feeling a little bit better: - Attend a support group - NAMI Offers a variety of support groups weekly; - Journal - Identify your feelings and what is making you feel that way; - Develop a self-care ritual - Whether that means 20 minutes of silence with your coffee in the morning, or creating a to-do list for the following day before bed; - Find something that makes you feel better, and do it daily; - Use your people - It's okay to rely on others when you aren't feeling okay; and - Take a break - and don't feel guilty about it. Give yourself some grace. For more information, visit https://www.namisouthwestiowa.com/ |
ROTARY MULTI-DISTRICT VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVEAs we are all aware, food insecurity in our communities is at an all-time high. Even though the holiday giving season has passed, the need for food is still at a crisis level. As a joint effort we are asking our Rotarian family and friends across Districts 5630 and 5650 to raise funds to help those in critical need of food. In 2019 The Food Bank of the Heartland, in conjunction with the Lincoln Food Bank, distributed 22.7 million meals across 93 counties in Western Iowa and Nebraska. Beyond the more than 600 food pantries, schools, emergency shelters and other nonprofit partners directly supported, the Food Bank for the Heartland also coordinates other programs including SNAP (formerly the food stamp program), Mobile Pantry, and the Backpack Program. The food drive has been extended thru February. If you'd like donate, please visit: https://support.foodbankheartland.org/.../Rotary-Open... |
SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTED  Lillian, Kendall, Joselyn and Delaney received their $1,000 scholarships from the Glenwood Rotary Club January 7th! These ladies were selected for their commitment to their communities and for demonstrating a "Service Above Self" attitude during their time at Glenwood High School. Each recipient has successfully completed their first semester at their respective universities. Congrats, and best of luck in this coming semester! #ServiceAboveSelf #Rotary |
District Governor Visits Glenwood  District 5650 Governor Roxy Orr visited on October 22nd. In the top photo President Rachel Reis (left) accepts a plaque recognizing Glenwood for placing 7th in the District Profile Program from Governor Orr (right). The Program recognizes the Top Ten Clubs out of the District's forty one whose activities best exemplify Rotary's five Avenues of Service - Community, International, Vocational, New Generations, and Club. In the second Rachel accepts Rotary's prestigious Presidential Citation which recognizes Clubs whose activities supported Rotary International's strategic priorities. Both awards recognized the Club's accomplishments during Past President Katelin George's 2019-20 Rotary year. After the presentations Roxy spoke to the Club outlining her goals for the District and its Clubs during her, and Rachel's, 2020-21 Rotary year.
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Glenwood Police Department K-9 Update President Rachel Reis thanks Officer Hahn for his informative presentation and drug detection demonstration. Glenwood retired its last police dog about two years ago. Officer Hahn raised about $12,000 to purchase Zeke for the Department about 18 months ago. Our Club together with District 5650 provided a $3,000 grant to help Officer Hahn. Zeke, a Belgian Malinois and German Shepard mix from Hungary, is now three years old and understands commands in three languages. He's expected to be on duty with the Department for at least another five years. Officer Kittelson accompanied Officer Hahn and Zeke.
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Abby Sorensen, Mills County Extension Director Abby Sorenson from Mills County Extension joined our virtual meeting this evening to share with us what the Extension is doing during times of COVID, as well as plans for future programming. Thanks for taking time to answer our questions and keep us in the know, Abby!
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Dollars for Dugouts The Glenwood Rotary Club presented a check for $3,000 to the Glenwood Baseball Softball Club. The Rotary Club's $1,500 was matched by a grant from Rotary District 5650 and is being used to fix up Glenwood's baseball and softball fields' dugouts to make them safe for our children for years to come! Rotarian Joe George presented the check to the club on Saturday, August 8th following a 12-hour work day at the fields. Thanks Joe and the Glenwood Baseball Softball Club for all of your hard work yesterday and all year! |
District Leadership Award
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Five-Gas Meter for Fire & Rescue August 3rd Glenwood Rotary Club president Rachel Reis and past president Katelin George presented Glenwood Fire & Rescue with a $1,800 check to cover the cost of a new Five-Gas Meter for the department. The meter has recently been purchased and already utilized in the field. Among other uses, it enables the department to detect a natural gas leak faster and more accurately than ever before, and will be used to determine whether or not it's safe for the crew to remove their breathing apparatuses following a fire.
Thank you, Glenwood Fire and Rescue, for everything you do for our community every single day! |
Top Ten Club Recognition The Glenwood Rotary Club was awarded a top ten club recognition at the virtual District 5650 Conference last weekend! District clubs are given points for items such as service projects, giving, and much more. The Glenwood Club was ranked #7 out of 41 clubs for the 2019-2020 Rotary year! |
Omaha RiverFront Project On June 18th we heard from Kyle Fiddelke, an OJB Landscape Architecture partner and Red Oak native, about the $300M RiverFront project that his firm’s been working on for about 4 years. Kyle in San Diego and Katie Bassett in Omaha via Zoom shared with us a comprehensive overview of the exciting revitalization project to be completed in 2024. Katie oversees the construction phase and will later manage the RiverFront area for the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority as its Vice-President of Parks. For this unique public-private joint venture the city of Omaha is providing $50M and the area’s philanthropic community the remaining $250M. RiverFront’s guiding principles: · Connect Omaha to the Missouri · Use native plants & trees to draw wildlife to the area · Create a variety of active spaces for the public · Be a catalyst for growth and economic development · Make the area a regional destination |
Emergency Grant to Fight Hunger in Mills County Last week, Rotary District 5650 opened up a small amount of funds to eligible clubs in an effort to provide emergency grant money to local communities in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Needless to say, the Glenwood Rotary Club jumped at the opportunity, voted via email and zoom meetings, wrote the grant, and received funding for a $1,500 match in less than a week! This morning, April 18th, we were able to deliver a $3,000 check (social-distancing style) to the Mills County Storehouse, who provided groceries for 235 families in March, 2020. This is a jump of 50 families from February, 2020, and they expect to see even more, this month. This $3,000 will provide meals for 30-40 Mills County families for 1 month.
Thank you to District 5650 for opening up this opportunity, to our members for their speedy action to secure these funds - our district has many much larger clubs and we are proud to have secured funding prior to it running out - and most of all to the Mills County Storehouse and all of their volunteers for continuing to provide such an essential service to our county residents throughout back-to-back emergencies. |
IOWA'S HOST HOME PROGRAM President Katelin thanked Erin Lucas (left), Kelly Flanagan (second from right), and Kevin Bradley (right) for their informative presentation on REM Iowa's Host Home Program on March 12th. Host Home is a shared living arrangement in which a person, couple, or family in the community share their home & life's experiences with an individual with a disability. The goal of Host Home is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by matching them with a family or a person of their choosing and to provide the services and supports the individual requires.
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GLENWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT President Katelin George thanked Chief Matt Gray for an enlightening presentation on the capabilities of the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Teams on February 27th. Chief Gray also covered the Department's immediate need to purchase a "five-gas" meter to detect combustible, flammable, and toxic gases and also measure oxygen depletion.
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Rejuvenating Women Program On February 13th Julie Shrader, President of Rejuvenating Women (second from right), and Jennifer Snow, Operations Director (second from left), presented an outstanding program on their non-profit organization committed to providing hope and restoration to those enslaved in human trafficking from all over the United States. Julie and Jennifer are shown above with Julie's close friend and Past President Stan Sibley and current club President Katelin George. In August, 2012 Julie realized her long-time vision to provide a safe home in Omaha with a compassionate trauma-informed staff where survivors who have suffered complex trauma can begin to heal. Her passion is to help every woman find healing, peace and love by going through her Restored Wings Program. In addition to covering her organization and its programs Julie also addressed the four types of Human Trafficking (Sex, Labor, Organ and Infant) for members as well as the surprising extent of those activities across Nebraska and within the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. You can learn more by going to www.rejuvenatingwomen.com and www.facebook.com/rejuvenatingwomen/ and even do something by donating, volunteering, sharing social-media posts, attending the Restored Wings Gala on 9/10/20, and praying for the survivors in her program, her staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors. |
2019 Community Service Scholarships Awarded .jpg) Over the winter break Rotarian Bill Magnuson presented the 2019 Glenwood Rotary Club Community Service Scholarships to Parson Covington (University of Kansas) and Catherine Millar (University of South Dakota) in the first photo. In the second Bill presented a scholarship to Abigail Schultz (University of Iowa). Not pictured is the fourth recipient Danielle Hardcastle (Grand Canyon University). Each student received a $500 scholarship recognizing their outstanding service to the community while attending Glenwood Community High School.
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DECEMBER DONATIONS     Thanks to our many donors from our successful November Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, Katelin, Matt, and Rob were able recently to present $1,000 checks to: the Glenwood High School Vocal Music Program (director Kevin Kilpatrick, accompanist Rebecca Neff & students); the Love Tree Program (Vicki Bird), the Mills County Storehouse (Dick Nieman); the Mills County Health NEST Program (Melody Ragland); and Glen Haven Village (Administrator Julieann Marriott).
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Mills County Flood Recovery Update At our December 12th meeting President Katelin George thanked Mills County Supervisor Lonnie Mayberry for providing a most interesting presentation and discussion on Mills County flood recovery efforts.
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New Member Welcomed On Thursday, November 7th, President Katelin Lusch presented Bob Cummings with his new member folder and officially welcomed him to our club effective October 1, 2019. Bob is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and is currently working at US Strategic Command at Offutt. He and his wife Janice moved across the Missouri to Glenwood last year to be closer to his grandsons (and, of course, his daughter and son-in-law, too).
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On With Life Program and Tour On October 10th Josh Heitkamp, On With Life's Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, provided club members an overview of his organization at our meeting in the On With Life conference room. On With Life is a non-profit organization providing post-acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, long-term skilled, and supported and independent living services to individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or other brain injury. Afterward Josh gave members a tour of his fantastic facility on the Glenwood Resource Center campus.
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DISASTER RELIEF DONATION Rotarians (left to right) Dennis Kelly, Katelin Lusch, and Ron Kohn presented a check for $3,340 to Glenwood Chamber Director Rachel Reis (also a Rotarian) to help the Mills County Disaster Coalition meet the needs of Mills County residents after this year’s devastating flooding. The Glenwood Club matched an initial donation of $1,670 from the Newport News, VA Rotary Club led by member Andrew Dunn, a Glenwood Community High School graduate.
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Keg Creek Brewing Company At our August 8th noon meeting Randy Romens updated members on Keg Creek Brewing Company’s phenomenal growth and surprised us with some Wabash Trace anniversary beer! |
Glenwood's New Police Dog On August 7th, during National Night Out on the square, President Katelin George and club members Justin Franks, Bill Magnuson, and Rob Simmon (left to right) present a $3,000 check to Officer Noah Hahn to help in the purchase of Glenwood Police Department's new police dog, Zeke - part German Shepherd and part Belgian Malinois. Officer Hahn uses commands in German with Zeke. (National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our communities safer, more caring places to live.)
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District Recognizes Glenwood as a Top Ten Club District 5650 Governor Julie O’Hara (left) presented President Katelin George (right) with a plaque recognizing Glenwood for placing 7th in the District's Profile Program competition last Saturday evening, July 27th, at the District Conference in Nebraska City. The District Program captures the activities of its forty one clubs across all five of Rotary's Avenues of Service - Community, International, Vocational, Youth, and Club - to identify and recognize the Top Ten.
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Wild Hearts 'n Horses On July 11th, Bob & Carol Weilage updated the club on the progress made at, and their enhanced vision for, their Wild Hearts 'n Horses ranch and retreat property located south of Glenwood. Their project provides a safe place for children, horses, and families to experience hope, healing, and encouragement. Almost 2 years earlier, they told the club about their intent to use their horses and property to help "at risk" youths gain confidence and trust. After that presentation we donated $500 to their project. (visit https://www.wildheartsnhorses.com)
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Service Project: Planting an Orchard.jpg) .jpg) On May 26th, 2019 club members planted a variety of fruit trees - one for each of our 27 members.
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Rotary Honors Glenwood High School Seniors Rotarians Bill Magnuson (left) and Dennis Kelly (center) recognized Danielle Hardcastle (right) and 15 other Glenwood Community High School Seniors for exceptional community service and citizenship at the high school’s Senior Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 28th. Bill and Dennis presented four $500 Rotary scholarships for community service and twelve Rotary medallions for both community service and citizenship. All recipients are listed below:
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Glenwood Police Department's K-9 Program President Katelin Lusch thanks Officer Noah Hahn for his informative presentation on the Glenwood Police Department's K-9 Program. Glenwood retired its last police dog, primarily a narcotics detection dog, about two months ago. Officer Hahn just began a campaign to raise about $12,000 in the next few months to purchase a multipurpose police dog (detection, apprehension, search and rescue, etc.) for the Department. Officer Blake Westerhold accompanied Officer Hahn.
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TOM MULHOLLAND, Mulholland Grocery (Malvern) President Katelin thanks Tom Mulholland, owner of Mulholland Grocery in Malvern, for a very interesting presentation to the club on April 4th. Tom bought his store in 2008 after more than 20 years at Wohlner's in Omaha in the meat department. Tom is a 4th generation owner - his great grandfather opened the store in the 1870s.
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America's Founding Documents for County 8th Graders .jpg) The Glenwood Rotary Club distributed pocket sized booklets containing the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution to area 8th graders on March 19th. This annual gift, initiated several years ago by Rotarian John Dean, represents Rotary’s commitment to supporting Mills County students' and teachers' efforts in developing active and informed citizenship. Shown in the top picture are one of Adam Giaffoglione's Glenwood Middle School History classes and Glenwood Rotary Club's current President, Katelin Lusch. Assisting Katelin and shown in the lower picture is Dr. Stan Sibley, past Rotary President and former Superintendent of Glenwood Community Schools. Booklets of America’s foundation documents were distributed to around 175 students in Glenwood and 45 at East Mills. |
GLEN HAVEN VILLAGE PROJECT RECEIVES DONATION The Glenwood Rotary Club recently presented a $1,000 check to key personnel responsible for the construction and management of the Glen Haven Village skilled nursing complex. This is the third of five annual donations by the Club to the project now renovating six Glenwood Resource Center residential cottages for skilled, long-term, and rehabilitative care use. The new complex will replace the aging and outdated Glen Haven Home that has served the Glenwood community for nearly 55 years. The complex is expected to be ready for residents and staff by the end of this summer. Pictured in the long-term care cottage nearing completion are (left to right): Glen Haven Village Board of Directors (Larry Raabe, Don Schoening, Barb Mass, Rotarian Dick Lincoln, Matt Ross, and Ron Ross), Rotarian Bill Magnuson and Rotarian Phil Warren (also the construction project’s manager), and Glen Haven Home/Village Administrator Julianne Marriott. |
March 7th Program - Glenwood Resource Center Dr. Jerry Rea (left), Glenwood Resource Center Superintendent, is welcomed by Program Chairman, Phil Warren on Thursday, March 7th. Dr. Rea provided a brief overview of the Resource Center itself, but focused more on recent actions taken by his staff to increase the quality of medical care for residents and to make the Center more relevant as a state & national resource for preventing, assessing, and treating emotional disorders. The facility's diverse staff of 703 employees serves 202 residents with an annual budget of $76M.
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February 21st Program - Russ's Market Brian Dorian (left) and Jason Holliday (right) of Russ's Market were our speakers Thursday evening, February 21st. B&R Stores, based in Lincoln, Neb., acquired Newman’s Thriftway store in mid-November. The Glenwood store is the 20th location for the company. President Katelin Lusch welcomed Jason and Brian to the community and thanked them for their most informative presentation.
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ADDITIONAL DONATIONS   Thanks to our successful Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser in November, Katelin, Rachel, and Matt recently presented $1,000 checks to: the Glenwood High School Vocal Music Program (Kevin Kilpatrick & students); the Mills County Storehouse (Barb Kaiman); and the Mills County Health NEST Program (Melody Ragland & Julie Lynes). (NEST is an incentive program supporting healthy activities for families in the county who are expecting and assists until their child turns three.)
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The Circus is Coming Back! The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus just notified us that they will return to Glenwood again! Two performances are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 31, 2019 - at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. at Glenwood Lake Park. Save the date and please watch this site, our Facebook page, and the Glenwood Opinion-Tribune for the latest information until plans are finalized.
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LOVE TREE DONATION Matt Portrey presented Love Tree's Vicki Bird with a check for $1,000 out of proceeds from our 20th Annual Benefit Spaghetti Dinner.
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District Governor Visit Katelin accepts the 2018-19 Rotary International Presidential Theme banner from District Governor Julie O'Hara from Shenandoah. Julie also presented the club with a Presidential Citation. Glenwood is one of only ten clubs in the district to receive this recognition. Julie then gave an informative presentation on her history in Rotary and her journey to the District Governor's position. She is very passionate about the opportunities Rotary offers its members and is focused on making Rotary a family affair during her term.
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Two-time Paul Harris Fellow Recognized President Katelin Lusch recognized and thanked Past President Patrick Umberger for reaching the level of Paul Harris Fellow for the second time. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute substantially to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. It is because of support such as Patrick's that our club is able to do what we do through The Rotary Foundation.
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Mills County Extension Program & Lakin Community Center Tour On October 11th, Sherry Ford (right), Iowa State University's Mills County Extension Director, hosted club members in her conference room at the new Charles E. and Florence M. Lakin Community Center in Malvern. Sherry presented an informative update on her office's extension and outreach efforts serving Iowans through six program areas: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry, Communities, Families, 4-H and Youth Development, and Continuing Education. As a bonus, Chad McCollester (left), Agri-Valley Farm Management Director, gave members an enlightening tour of the nearly $2.9M and 6,000 square-foot Community Center and Extension office spaces.
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NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED On Thursday, October 11th, President Katelin Lusch (right) presented Dick Davis (left) and Rachel Reis (middle) with their new member folders and Rotary badges and officially welcomed them to our club. Dick is a retired Navy Captain and active in numerous city and county organizations. Rachel is the Executive Director of the Glenwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
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Dictionaries for Mills County Third Graders Since 2005, the Glenwood Rotary Club has delivered 2,544 dictionaries to Mills County third graders as a gift for each to use - either at school or at home - for years to come. On September 18th 222 students at West, East Mills, and Fremont-Mills Elementary schools received a new dictionary from the Club. In the photo above Rotarians Stan Sibley and Devin Embray present dictionaries to Ms. Brandie Yates and her students at West Elementary.
Educators see third grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn. The Dictionary Project is the largest literacy project in Rotary. Its goal is to assist students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. Since 1995, over 3,500 Rotary clubs in 62 Rotary Districts have donated more than 15 million dictionaries to students in the United States and around the world. |
NEW MEMBER WELCOMED On Thursday, September 13th, President Katelin Lusch (left) presented Rick Allely with his new member folder and Rotary badge and officially welcomed him to our club. Rick is the Executive Director of the Mills County Economic Development Foundation.
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District Recognizes Our Glenwood Club Saturday evening, July 28th, Governor Tom Cardwell presented Glenwood President Katelin Lusch with a plaque recognizing our club for placing 4th (out of 42!) in the District's Profile Program competition at the Annual District 5650 Conference. The District uses the Profile program to measure the progress of the clubs in various Rotary activities and programs and to determine and recognize the District's "Top Ten Clubs."
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FAREWELL TO WENDY & JOHN HALBERT On July 12th club members bid farewell to President-Elect Wendy Halbert at her last meeting before moving to the Cincinnati area with husband and fellow member John who had to depart for their new home a week earlier. Club members wanted to thank them both for all they've done for the club and community by honoring them as new Paul Harris Fellows and donations of $1,000 in each of their names to Rotary International's The Rotary Foundation. Past President Patrick Umberger presented Wendy with her Paul Harris Fellow certificate and pin.
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Noon Program - Mills County YMCA On June 12th, Emily Prickett (far left), Mills County YMCA Membership Director, presented an informative update for club members on her organization's community involvement and outreach efforts as well as its membership, youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs. Emily is shown with fellow staff members and Executive Director Diana Burchett (second from right).
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New Members Inducted On June 14th President Patrick Umberger (second from left) inducted four new members into Rotary International - Elizabeth Becker (third from left), Diana Burchett (fourth from left), Matt Portrey (fourth from right) and Rufus Staton (second from right) with sponsors Rob Simmon (far left), Dennis Kelly (third from right) and Bill Magnuson (far right).
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Club Says Goodbye to Joel  At our May 31st meeting friends and club members honored our Rotary Youth Exchange student Joel Ibanez with a farewell dinner. Joel returns home to Tarija, Bolivia on June 6th after spending the last academic year at Glenwood Community High School and with host family and members Wendy and John Halbert.
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Lincoln Farm and Home Service On May 17th, Mark Lincoln (center) provided an enlightening program and discussion about his Lincoln Farm & Home Service business. Lincoln Farm and Home Service consists of 3 family-owned BP convenience stores located in Glenwood, Red Oak, and Pacific Junction. In addition to convenience stores, he also offers bulk gasoline and diesel fuel to over 600 customers and serves as a BP wholesale distributor for other BP stations in the area. Most of the program focused on his newly opened PJ store at the I-29 and Hwy 34 interchange. Rotarians Katelin Lusch and Joe George thanked Mark for his presentation. |
Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department On May 10th, Captain Matt Gray of the Glenwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department presented a very comprehensive status report on his organization and then followed that up with an offer to us to tour the station’s buildings and see their equipment. Left to right: Jacob Weilage, Michael Brown, Matt, Lora Shanks, Logan Brown, and Ryan Fee.
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Inaugural Noon Meeting Thank you Rick Allely, Mills County Economic Development Director, for presenting at our club's first noon meeting. Hopefully, the word will get out about the new, creative way we are trying to reach younger professionals in hopes to join our club!
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Starbucks Metro Crossing Peggy and Phil Warren thank Carrie Hough, Starbucks Manager, for a very interesting and informative presentation about her Metro Crossing store as well as numerous aspects of her corporation's business. Carrie also supplied regular and decaf Pike Place coffee for members to have with their meal as well as ground samples to take home. Afterward, remaining coffee, cream and sweeteners were taken to on-call members of Glenwood's Fire Department.
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John Y. Stone - A Spirited Program Longtime Glenwood resident, 175-year-old John Y. Stone, recently visited the club attired in his Civil War uniform - having enlisted in 1861 and mustering out as a first lieutenant in 1865. John regaled members with some exciting “war stories” about serving under General Grant at Shiloh and Vicksburg and under General Sherman in Atlanta and on the way to Savannah.
After the War John returned to Mills County first as a journalist becoming editor, co-owner, and publisher of the Glenwood Opinion. He then read law and was admitted to the bar in 1868 eventually becoming one of Iowa’s foremost attorneys - as well as a member of both houses of the Iowa legislature, the Speaker of its House, and then Iowa Attorney General from where he left public service in 1895. Members felt honored indeed to share a meal and some time with someone of such stature as the Honorable John Y. Stone (respectfully played by fellow Rotarian Stan Sibley). |
Glenwood Municipal Utilities President Patrick Umberger thanked Dave Malcom, Glenwood Municipal Utilities Superintendent, after his informative presentation about his organization that provides water and sanitation services to Glenwood and a growing area. Dave has worked for GMU for 23 years and as Superintendent over the last year.
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Haiti Christmas Humanitarian Project Update New members Katelin Lusch & Joe George provided club members with highlights of their trip over the Christmas holidays to Haiti's Ile de la Gonave to provide gifts to dozens of children and some basic necessities to their families.
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District Recognizes Leadership Graduate District Trainer Carol Horner of the Council Bluffs Noon Club presented Glenwood President Patrick Umberger with his Graduation Certificate from District 5650's Rotary Leadership Institute.
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NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED Katelin Lusch and Joe George were inducted as new Rotarians by President Patrick Umberger, President-Elect Wendy Halbert, and Sponsor Phil Warren on February 1st.
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NEW MEMBER OFFICIALLY WELCOMED President Patrick Umberger (left) recently presented Dennis Kelly his Glenwood Rotary badge. Last summer Dennis and his wife Wilma moved back to family and friends in the Omaha area deciding to settle in Glenwood. We're most fortunate that he transferred membership from his former Ohio club to ours in mid-November.
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ANOTHER DONATION Rotary Club President Patrick Umberger presented a check December 20th to Shannon Severs, new Director of Nursing at Glen Haven, for the second of five pledged donations for the proposed Glen Haven Village project to renovate seven of the Glenwood Resource Center cottages for skilled and rehabilitative care use.
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Propane for Pine Ridge  This year our club decided to extend its reach at Christmas and donated $250 to an Omaha nonprofit called Toy Drive for Pine Ridge. That amount should provide enough propane to keep a Lakota Sioux family on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwest South Dakota warm for the winter. The Toy Drive for Pine Ridge is a nonprofit organization that collects and delivers toys in early December to children on the reservation and also raises donations for heating, clothing, food, and educational resources for reservation residents throughout the year. The Toy Drive started in 2003 with Larry Dunn—an Omaha musician also known as Lash LaRue—a friend and a small pick-up truck. With each year the nonprofit expanded its reach on Pine Ridge and is now providing, in addition to the toys, assistance for elders including a vital propane heating fund, educational resources for three schools, and resources including heating to a medical clinic. Because of the phenomenal growth of the Toy Drive, each year Larry adds more fundraisers—concerts and other events, such as a radiothon—in and around Omaha. Learn more at toydriveforpineridge.org |
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Thank You, Benefit Dinner Donors!The Glenwood Rotary Club wishes to thank the following people and businesses for their contributions to our 19th Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. We must also thank, and ask your support of, Lincoln Farm & Home Service BP who donated $50 again this year, as they do every year, but were mistakenly left off the Opinion-Tribune ad below.  |
95th Anniversary Celebration On Friday, November 3rd, the Rotary Club of Glenwood commemorated the 95th Anniversary of its founding with a celebration and supper for members, spouses, and a few honored guests, including District 5650 Governor Tom Cardwell and his wife Jenny of the Lincoln South Club and Mick McKinley, District Governor-Nominee, and his wife, Jan, of the Council Bluffs Noon Club. Council Bluffs sponsored Glenwood when it joined Rotary International on November 2,1922.
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The Impact Of Membership in Rotary Impact starts with our members — people like you who want to be part of making the world a better place. At club meetings in communities across the globe, our members come together to strengthen their connections to friends and neighbors and their commitment to improving lives. Click here for more from Rotary International.
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Glenwood Rotary Club Delivers Dictionaries Mrs. Diane Enger’s third grade class at West Elementary with Rotarians Stan Sibley, Rob Simmon, Erin Jones, and Keith Johnson. Since 2005, the Glenwood Rotary Club has delivered 2,328 dictionaries to Mills County third graders as a gift for each to use either at school or at home for years to come. Recently 211 students at West, East Mills, and Fremont-Mills Elementary schools received a new dictionary from the Club.
Educators see third grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn. The Dictionary Project is the largest literacy project in Rotary. Its goal is to assist students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners by providing them with their own personal dictionary. Since 1995, over 7,000 Rotary clubs have donated more than 14 million dictionaries to students in the United States and around the world. |
Thank You, Circus Sponsors/Partners!  The Glenwood Rotary Club once again brought the Culpepper and Merriweather circus into town for two well-attended performances. Proceeds from the circus, like all of our fundraisers, are used to support community programs and causes. Thanks to all our sponsors who purchased tickets in advance and to all those who attended. Thanks, too, to our partners - American Legion Harvey Rimel Post, Veterans Administration, Mills County Public Health, Bloom Senior Center, Mills County Storehouse, Elementary School Counselors, and the Indian Creek Antique Machinery Club. Our next fundraiser will be our annual spaghetti dinner, set for November 14th at the high school.
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America's Favorite Old-Fashioned Big Top Circus!
On Saturday morning between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. come watch the raising of the Big Top and then stay for the FREE Tour. Advance tickets are available at a discounted price of $10 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets are available at the Glenwood State Bank and Jim Hughes Real Estate or from any Glenwood Rotary Club member. |
New District 5650 Governor Visits Glenwood District 5650 Governor Dr. Tom Cardwell, presented President-Elect Wendy Halbert with Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s banner during his visit on August 17th. Tom was accompanied by Assistant District Governor Steve Chamley of the Council Bluffs Noon Club. District 5650 covers Eastern Nebraska and Southwestern Iowa with a total of 43 Rotary Clubs and over 2,000 members. Dr. Cardwell and his wife Jenny (also a Rotarian) are members of the Lincoln South Rotary Club. Tom is the newly retired Dean of Student Engagement at Southeast Community College and also a licensed psychologist. Tom's goals for 2017-18 include asking each District Rotarian to plant a tree this coming year, increasing District membership among women and people under 40 by at least 10%, and helping District members to work together side by side across geographical, religious, political and cultural divides to build stronger communities that help families thrive. |
Glenwood Rotary Wins Two Awards  District Governor Gary Bren presented President-Elect Wendy Halbert with two significant awards at the recent District 5650 Conference on Saturday evening, August 12th. In the left picture our club was recognized for placing 10th (out of 43) in the Top Ten Clubs of District 5650 competition. On the right, our club placed first in conference attendance for small clubs and will receive $1,000 to apply toward a club project of our choice.
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SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER CLUBS
Activities of other District Rotary Clubs Click here to link to the District Website - Spotlight Page. Other Iowa Rotary Club Meetings: Red Oak - Not meeeting Shenandoah - Online Tuesdays at 5:00 pm CB Centennial - Meetings to resume in May CB Noon - Online every other Thursday at Noon beginning May 7th |
YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT FOR 2017-18 ARRIVES Glenwood Rotary Club members welcome Joel Alejandro Ibanez Soto at Eppley Airfield on Sunday, August 6th after an almost 24-hour journey from his home in Tarija, Bolivia. Rotarians left to right behind Joel are Erin Jones, Patrick Umberger, Wendy Halbert, John Halbert, Stan Sibley, Bill Magnuson, Dick Lincoln, and Rob Simmon. Joel will be living with sponsors Wendy and John during his first semester at Glenwood Community High School.
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New Member Inducted Assistant District Governor Rob Simmon and President-Elect Wendy Halbert congratulate and welcome new member Erin Jones into the Glenwood Club at the June 27th meeting.
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THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO TOWN! The Glenwood Rotary Club is pleased to announce the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus is returning to Glenwood and will hold two performances on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. at Glenwood Lake Park. Advance tickets are now available at a discounted price ($10 for adults and $7 for children) from what will be charged at the gate the day of the circus ($13 and $8 respectively). Advance tickets can be purchased at the Glenwood State Bank and Jim Hughes Real Estate or from any Glenwood Rotary Club member. Please watch this site and the Opinion Tribune for more information and updates on the Circus in Glenwood.
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Glen Haven Village Rotary-Kiwanis Project The Glenwood Rotary Club, in partnership with Glenwood Kiwanis, was the recipient of a matching funds grant from Rotary District 5650. The grant and matching funds, totaling $2540, were used to purchase two lift chairs for the Memory Care Unit at Glen Haven Village, scheduled to begin construction this fall. Shown presenting the chairs to Glen Haven are seated left to right, David Epperson, Glen Haven Nursing Home President of Resident Council and Patrick Umberger, Glenwood Rotary Club President. Standing left to right are Rob Simmon, Glenwood Rotarian, Dick Lincoln, Glen Haven Board member and Glenwood Rotarian, Wendy Halbert, Glenwood Rotarian, and Carol Robertson, Kiwanis Club President.
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Four-time Paul Harris Fellow Recognized
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New Member Inducted President Patrick Umberger (left) congratulates new member Cameron Quinn upon his induction at the May 25th meeting accompanied by sponsors John and Wendy Halbert.
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THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO TOWN ON SEPTEMBER 2ND!.jpg)
.JPG) Rob Simmon (left) is pictured with Dave Williams, Culpepper & Merriweather Circus Contracting Agent, who visited the club on April 20th to begin the process to bring his circus back to Glenwood on Saturday, September 2nd, 2017 for two live, Big-Top performances at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus last visited Glenwood Friday, August 28th, 2015. |
Donation to Glenwood's Pickleball Project The Glenwood Rotary Club recently made a $500 donation to the Glenwood Pickleball project. Shown accepting the check from Rotary members is Dr. Jacque Young, one of the committee members for the project. The project entails converting the south Vine St. tennis courts into six Pickleball courts for use by the public. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the Metro as well as nationwide, and can be played by people of all ages.
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End Polio Now Dinner Raises Over $800 The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation doubles every dollar we raise so the total ($1600+$800) going toward eradicating polio is over $2400! |
Raising Funds to Eradicate Polio |
2016 Scholarships Awarded The 2016 Glenwood Rotary Club Community Service Scholarships were distributed over the winter break. From left, Aaron Bertini, Sam Umberger, and Chrissy Vinton each received a $500 scholarship for their outstanding community service while attending Glenwood Community High School.
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December DonationsIn early December our Club presented $5,500 raised from our November Spaghetti Benefit Dinner to the following Mills County organizations: the Glenwood Community High School Vocal Music Program ($1,500), the Mills County Storehouse ($1,500), the Mills County Public Health's NEST Program ($500), the Mills County Love Tree ($1,000), and the Glen Haven Village project ($1,000).
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Boy Scouts Visit Left to Right: Life Scout and former Scout Master John Dean; Brian Stanley, Assistant Scout Master, Troop 243; Tyler and Trevor Stanley, Life Scouts, Troop 243; and Eagle Scouts Ed Cambridge, Dr. Robert Fryzek and Hugh Trask.
Troop 243 members presented an excellent program to Rotary club members on November 3, 2016.
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Rotary Countywide Benefit Dinner |
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Not only was the Glenwood Rotary Club recognized at the District Conference last weekend, but our own Rob Simmon received the District Leadership Award for 2019-2020! We are so grateful for everything Rob does for our district, our club, and our community!
The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will hold two performances on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. at Glenwood Lake Park.
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