Club Information

Welcome to our Club!

Fort Dodge - Day Break

Service Above Self

We meet Tuesdays at 7:00 AM
Iowa Central Community College
1 Triton Circle
Trition Cafe Building, Conference Room 101
Fort Dodge, IA  50501
United States of America
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Home Page Stories
Tuesday we started a new Rotary year by thanking past president Lora VanVoast Mansfield Messerly for her great year of leadership and welcoming Kevin Thompson as 2023-2024 Fort Dodge Daybreak Rotary President.
Hello Rotarians!  We are back!  We will have our first in person meeting of the year next Tuesday, March 2 at 7 a.m.  Kemna Auto has agreed to host.  You may park in the front lot and enter the front door.  Please wear a mask and social distance.  
 
To begin with our meetings will be low key, a social meeting with no speaker and a chance to reconnect.   Please fill and bring your own to-go mug with your favorite morning beverage.  We aren't sure of attendance so for now, no coffee or breakfast will be served.  
 
We look forward to seeing you and getting back to a normal schedule.  
Brian Peterson from Blue Ribbon Pelham Waters was our Guest Speaker this morning.  We all learned quite a bit about the water that comes out of our faucets and how it is treated.   Thanks for the great info Brian!   
We all found our way to the Bunk-House this morning along with our Guest Speaker Lindsay Laufersweiler. Lindsay brought us all up to date on the County Recorder's office. 

This morning we toured a new housing subdivision on the eastern side of Fort Dodge that will include 70 duplexes and a four-acre park.The neighborhood is called Gypsum Creek Crossing, Is south of 10th Avenue North and east of 32nd Street.

The new homes are behind the houses that currently line the south side of 10th Avenue North. They are in close proximity to the Fort Dodge Middle School and the Rosedale Rapids aquatics center.

Thanks to our President Jim Schwan and Legacy Realty Group, LLC for our tour.  

Our Guest Speaker this morning was Matt Cosgrove from Webster County Conservation. Matt shared a very interesting presentation about the fun and exciting things that are available in and around Webster County. You can find out more information at mycountyparks.com!   
Our Guest Speaker last week was Stephanie Rickman Manager of Anytime Fitness. She made us all feel energized for the day.    
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Rhonda Chambers! Rhonda came in to tell us all about the Deardorf Foundation. It was her first time giving a presentation about this wonderful organization and she knocked it out of the ballpark! Come back soon Rhonda!  
FD Police Officer Joelyn Johnson was our Guest Speaker this morning.  She came to discussed the Neighborhood Watch and School Officer responsibilities. 
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Del Kramersmeier. Del came to tell us his story about living with Polio. He was assisted by his wife Janet. Both Rotary members from Eagle Grove.     
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Wayne Judkins with Your Life Iowa.   They are a Non profit that helps people with alcohol, drug, mental health issues and gambling problems. 
Dave McGaughy stopped by this morning to tell us about the Fort Dodge Veterans Closet. They are collecting Men's and Women's clothing, shoes, jackets and providing them to Veterans in need in our area.   
Our Guest Speaker last week was Kim Boldholdt. Kim is a School Emotional Behavior Health Consultant with the AEA.  
Fort Dodge Daybreak Rotary had the privilege of having Roni Yetmar-Henry with Right Turn Supervision Services LLC this AM for our speaker. Right Turn Supervision Services LLC is a community based private agency providing court ordered supervision to adult offenders in Webster County and surrounding areas. They specialize in supervision for entry level offenses and low risk clients. This targeted approach allows them to spend the time necessary to effect real lasting changes. Thanks from All of us for the presentation! 
Fellow Daybreak Rotarian Linda Donner was our Guest Speaker this week.    We all enjoyed listening about her trip to Thailand and about the Dragon Boat races that she helped officiate.   
Last week Steve Hoesel came back to visit us.  Steve shared some pictures and told us about his resent visit to Spain.   We always look forward to his visits and are looking forward for his next visit in March.  
Our Speaker this morning was Matthew Zittritsch. Matthew is a 2017 graduate from the University of Dubuque and is currently a volunteer with the Peace Corps-Armenia. He came in this morning to discuss his various work and travel experiences abroad. Thanks to Jeff Schuur for inviting Matthew to come in today.    
Gregg Warland shared his volunteer involvement with the Incarcerated Veteran's Program at the Fort Dodge prison.  Thanks for all that you do for all of our Veterans Greg. 
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Jose Pahl. Jose is the Sudio Cordinator for Hope Sweet Hope. (Part of Gateway to Discovery). Hope Sweet Hope Studios is a commercial business formed for the purpose of enabling the women to earn a wage while providing them continued support for their personal recovery and well-being. At the studio they create unique paper artwork, greeting cards, journals, and much more from floral-infused hand-made paper. Hope Sweet Hope Studios uses the discipline of a business with the power of a marketplace to advance the social needs of the women. They gain the life skills crucial to maintaining their sobriety long after they graduate from the Gateway to Discovery program. As they gain new work ethics & job skills in the studio, they heal physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, creating peace, one piece of paper at a time.  
Daybreak Rotary was busy checking our local Veterans in for the 19th Brushy Creek Honor Flight this past Saturday. What a fun and worthwhile event. Congratulations to fellow Daybreak Rotarian Ron Newsum and his Board of Directors on such a successful event. We are all very proud to be part of this event.  
Ashley Vaala with the Lotus Community Project, just stopped by to pick up some donated items from Kim Schuur and the rest of the TSA personnel at the Fort Dodge regional airport. Kim is a member of our Daybreak Rotary and wanted to help our fundraising event. The boxes were full of household items and gift cards. Thanks Kim and everyone with our local TSA!   
Kerrie Kuiper from the Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors Bureau was our Guest Speaker this morning.  It was very nice to hear about all of the great things they are doing to bring in visitors to our area.      
Badger Fire Chief Jeff Brundige and Assistant Fire Chief Dave London stopped by to present a check for $250.00 to Daybreak Rotary for our help with Badger Fireman’s Fireball Bash.    
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Rod Leman. Rod is the Director of Business Development for Cactus Family Farms. Thanks for joining us this morning Rod!    
Thank you to everyone from our club for spending time cooking out for the Lotus families last week, and bringing us a ton of supplies and many other needed items! It was a great time! ❤    
This morning Tyson Powers came to tell us about his trip to RYLA!    RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a life-changing leadership training program for young men and women where leadership skills and principles are learned, developed and enhanced in an atmosphere of trust and respect.  Not only did Tyson enjoy his week at RYLA, he was asked to come back next year as a counselor and he told them that he was interested!   Tyson is a Junior at FDSH and is the grandson of Daybreak Rotarian Maureen Powers.   
 
 
We had some distinguished guest visit our meeting this week. From left to right: Assistant District Governor Mark Dohms along with District Governor Michelle Bell and President of Fort Dodge Daybreak Rotary Jim Schwan (holding flat Paul Harris). We enjoyed your visit and want to thank you for coming to see us!
Our guest speaker this morning was Eric Anderson.
Eric is the Director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, is an Iowa native with a passion for arts, education, and history. Eric graduated with a MFA in Studio Art in 2007 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. After graduation, Eric taught painting at Drake University. Later Eric spent time with many institutions of higher education in Iowa teaching painting, drawing and art appreciation. Eric is community minded and believes in the creative spirit that is alive and flourishing in the Midwest.

Daybreak Rotary took a trip to the Webster County Courthouse this morning to meet up with Mark Campbell. Mark is a member of the Webster County Board of Supervisors.

Mark showed us the recommended repairs that are needed for the Webster County Courthouse roof and Clock Tower. The last time the Clock Tower went through major rehabilitation was in the 1980's.

Mark is appointed to the following committees/boards

County Buildings - SS
Drainage District 96 Representative (Alt)
Fort Dodge Housing
Growth City/County
Ia Crossroads of Global Innovation Advisory Board 
Insurance Committee
Market on Central
MH Advisory/Plan Committee
North Racoon River Watershed Coalition (Alt)
Public Health
Solid Waste Commission
Squaw Creek Management Authority (Alt)
Wellness

Thanks again for taking time to meet with us this morning.     

We would like to thank Niki Conrad for joining us this morning and for keeping us up today in Webster County. Niki is appointed to the following committees/boards:

Central Iowa Juvenile Detention (Alt) 
Conference Board 
County Buildings - LEC 
E911 Service Board (Alt) 
GFDGA Executive Committee 
HazMat Response Committee 
MH Advisory/Plan Committee (Atl) 
Public Health (Alt) 
Second Judicial (Alt)

Thanks for all of your hard work Niki!

Daybreak Rotary was thrilled to have a local Author come and speak at our meeting this morning. Joe LeValley stopped by to talk about his novel "Burying The Lede".

Prior to becoming an author, Joe was fortunate to find success in three different careers: journalism, health care, and music.

Joe was a reporter-photographer for Iowa newspapers for seven years. During that time, he wrote thousands of articles ranging from breaking news to feature stories to personal columns.

He served for more than 30 years as an executive in Iowa hospitals and its largest statewide health care network. He was project leader on numerous expansions of services and facilities, including more than half a billion dollars worth of hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities. He assisted many Iowa hospitals in developing strategic plans and was a frequent public speaker on health care policy. He and his staff won four national awards for excellence in communications.

​As a musician, Joe plays drums and guitar. He has performed in rock bands, a country-rock trio and as a solo artist. He also is a composer. You can hear some of his original music at www.rockiowa.net. (The menu tab on this site called "Link to Original Music" will take you there directly.) Joe serves on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association.
​ 
In 2016, he was inducted with the Mourning Glory Rock Band into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.

A lifelong Iowan, Joe has a degree in journalism from Drake University in Des Moines and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

Joe is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He serves or has served on the boards of directors of many community organizations in northern and central Iowa, and has served on committees for state and national health care advocacy organizations.

​He and his wife Jane have six children and live in Dallas County, Iowa.


Changing of the guard today at Daybreak Rotary. Thank you Andrea Swanstrom for your service!!!! Jim Schwan is now the President of Daybreak Rotary. Flat Paul somehow got in the pic as well!!!!   
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Dylan Hagen. Dylan is the Emergency Management Coordinator for Webster County and it sound like we he keeps pretty busy. Thanks for stopping by this morning Dylan. Thanks to Jim Schwan (the new President of Daybreak Rotary) for inviting Dylan to speak to our club this morning.  

Daybreak Rotary met at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home & Cremation Services this morning. We would like to thank Luke and Mark Lauferswiler for the warm reception and tour of your facility this morning.  Their family has been part of the Fort Dodge community for over 150 years. As the 5th generation, they are proud to serve our community. Back in December of 2018, they announced the completion of their On-Site Crematory, guaranteeing that your loved one never leaves their care.        

 

Thank you to Linda Opheim from the Schmoker Adult Day Care for stopping by to tell us about the services they offer.

Schmoker Adult Day Services at Friendship Haven reaches out and brings their passion for purposeful living to the Fort Dodge community. For participants, Schmoker Adult Day Services offers opportunities to discover hidden potential, develop new skills and strengthen old ones, make friends and gain a renewed sense of confidence, connection and purpose. For caregivers or family, they provide a break and cost-effective option. And for all, an opportunity to gain peace of mind.  

The Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, 24 N. Ninth St., Suite B, was created in July 2007. It merged the functions of United Way of Greater Fort Dodge and the Community Foundation of Fort Dodge and North Central Iowa. (Initially named United Way and Community Foundation of Northwest Iowa, it was subsequently renamed the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way.)

The two components of this enterprise perform complementary but somewhat distinct functions. There is, however, an overarching goal that unites the diverse projects supported – encouraging people to give back to their community. Linking potential donors with the multiple ways that can be accomplished is at the heart of what the organization does, according to Kuhlman.

 

Daybreak Rotary was thrilled to have our Representative for Iowa District 9, Ann Meyer join us this morning.    Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come back to Daybreak Rotary to tell us about your first year. representing us.  
Daybreak Rotary would like to thank Kris Patrick for joining us this morning.   Kris is the Main Street Director.   
Molly Nelson stopped by to talk to us about the FDSH Foundation this morning. It sounds like the Foundation is doing some amazing things. Come back again soon!!!  
Justin Faiferlick was the Guest Speaker at our meeting this week. Justin is the owner of Faiferlick Martial Arts in Fort Dodge. He spoke to us about his book on Bulling and about the Martial Arts that are taught at his company. Thanks for joining us this week Justin and thank you for all of the work you do for our community.   
This week we had the pleasure of welcoming our newest member to Daybreak Rotary. Our President Elect Jim Schwan is seen here welcoming Jeff Schuur to our club. Welcome to Daybreak Rotary Jeff!   
Thanks to Barb Wollan for stopping by this morning and informing us on Credit Freezes. In this day and age of identity theft, its nice to know that there is a free tool out there to help us prevent our identity from being stolen. Come back anytime Barb!  
Chad Schaeffer from the City of Fort Dodge came in and brought us up to date on the Dam and River District planning this morning. He also updated us on current and future street projects. Thanks to Dawn Larson for inviting him to join us.   
Thanks to Jake Crimmins for meeting us at Perkins this morning and bringing us all up to date on the Trinity Pharmacy! Trinity Pharmacy is conveniently located within UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center next to Java City, to allow patients to fill their prescriptions before being discharged or leaving their doctor's appointment. This added convenience means you do not have to make another stop on your way home.   
Our Guest Speaker this morning was Kathy Moe. Kathy gave a wonderful presentation this morning. She talked about the differences between Traditionalist, Gen X, Baby Boomers and Millennial's. It truly is amazing how much we have changed over the years. Thanks for joining us this morning Kathy! Come back anytime.      

Our Guest Speaker this week was Aaron Mchone from the Berryhill Center. The Berryhill Center offers a complete range of outpatient counseling, medication management, primary care and community-based services to people of all ages. A wide variety of services include those for: depression, stress, panic disorders, phobias, child behavior disorders, grief counseling, primary care and 24-hour behavioral health crisis services. Treatment is designed specifically for each individual's needs and goals.

Berryhill Center serves people with a wide range of emotional, behavioral and physical health problems, from short-term personal and family problems to the most disabling illness. In addition, Berryhill Center offers consultations and community education on an extensive range of subjects.      

Our speaker this morning was Cameron Nelson from Shimkat Motor Company in Fort Dodge.   Cameron is their Commercial Sales Manager and came to talk to us about Ram large trucks and Promaster cargo vans.  
Speakers
Mid American Energy
Apr 30, 2024
Shelly Bottorff
Jun 11, 2024
Phillips Historic Auditorium FD Fine ARts
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Jim Flaherty
    April 16
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Nancy Griffel
    April 23