Recap from the Nov. 9, 2026 meeting.
Thought of the Day: Marc Hines
Welcome Guests: Joy Lary
Welcome Online Members: Shane Orr
Welcome, New Corporate Member: Seth Shoemaker, Muscatine Power and Water (MPW)
First Reading for New Members: Eric Wigand and Jim Odean, MPW
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News donations support Rotary scholarships.
- Mark Roberts: Mark Roberts enjoyed a trip to Overland Park for his grandson's soccer tournament, where one of his grandsons made it to the championship game. Mark also shared an update on the Rotary sign at Kruse Park.
- Lindsey Phillips: After months of traveling to Arkansas to help care for her grandfather, Lindsey shared that her family was able to bring him home, where he can receive care closer to family. Lindsey also announced that Big Brothers Big Sisters' Bowl for Kids' Sake is on Saturday, January 17. Registration is open at muscatinebfks.org.
Voluntell:
Volunteer Hours Reported:
- Mike Wedell: 2 hours of genealogy volunteer work.
- Alexia Graves: 30 minutes of reading mentoring at Franklin
We set an original goal of 100 volunteer hours for this Rotary year, but our members have already exceeded it! Our new goal is 500 hours of service!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
- Highway Cleanup: This Friday, November 13, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Meet at Crossroads at 1:30 pm.
- Adopt a Senior: We're adopting three seniors for our December 7 in-meeting service project! Please use the Wish List Google Form to sign up to contribute items for their gift baskets.
- Ongoing opportunities with The Bridge, Junior Achievement, and Flickinger Center.
Club Business:
- Please consider supporting the Rotary Foundation, which funds both local and international service projects. Contributions may be made by ACH or check. Please contact Lindsey for more information. Thank you for your impact through Rotary membership and giving.
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine Facebook page at @MuscatineRotaryClub.
Presentation:
Josh Lary and Marc Hines | Direct Support Professional Ambassador Program
Josh Lary was born and raised in Muscatine. He is the son of Joy and Chris Lary and the grandson of Bob and Irene Lary. Josh has two brothers, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Through his relationship with his brother and his work as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Crossroads, Josh has become a proud advocate for people with disabilities.
Josh shared his experience participating in the ANCOR DSP Ambassador Program and Capitol Hill Day in Washington, D.C. Marc Hines also shared information about the challenges facing Direct Support Professionals and the disability services industry.
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, and seniors. Their work includes helping people with daily living, supporting employment, and providing opportunities for social connections and community involvement through programs such as Day Habilitation.
Josh shared his experience at the DSP Ambassador Program through ANCOR, the American Network of Community Options and Resources. The program brings DSPs and self-advocates together to learn how to effectively advocate for their profession, the organizations they represent, and the people they support.
A major focus of the program was the power of storytelling. Josh explained that personal stories often have a greater impact than statistics alone. Participants learned how to share their experiences, describe challenges, explain their role, and demonstrate the difference their work makes in people's lives.
Following the training, Josh participated in Capitol Hill Day, where he had the opportunity to meet with congressional offices and advocate for policies that support DSPs and people with disabilities. Two priorities included establishing a federal occupational classification for DSPs and protecting funding for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
Nationally, DSP turnover is approximately 50%, and 85% of organizations report moderate to severe staffing shortages. DSP wages range from $15.30 to $16.72 per hour, showing the financial challenges many DSPs face despite the importance of their work.
What can we do? Josh encouraged Rotarians to contact elected officials, learn more about disability services, and share information from organizations like Crossroads. He reminded members that advocacy doesn't have to happen in Washington, D.C. Local conversations and community awareness can make a difference, too.
Missed Monday’s meeting? Use the link to enjoy the recording.
Passcode: 6TN.nXGp
Upcoming Meetings:
November 16- Off-site Meeting at MCC
November 23- Off-site Meeting at Community Foundation. Presentation: Trinity Muscatine Updates