Recap from the Dec. 12, 2022 Meeting.
Meeting Run by: President Naomi DeWinter
Invocation: Rob Yant
Guests: Daniel Evans (MPW), Lindsey Trumbull (Iowa Center for Economic Success), Megan Pederson (Alzheimer’s Association), Michelle Kelman (Alzheimer’s Association), Gretchen Nolman (Merrill Hotel), Alex Lambert (CBI)
Online Participation: We continue to offer a hybrid meeting each week. Members are invited to attend via zoom or watch the recorded presentation anytime. Thank you, Jim Stine, for joining us online.
Happy News/Announcements: All Happy News funds go towards our scholarship awards.
Lucas Gantner- The Salvation Army needs bell ringers to help finish the red kettle season. The campaign goal is $190K. The money raised goes towards emergency disaster response, kids programs, and community support. Today we have collected $41K. Please sign up to sing at registertoring.com. Mike Ruby- Mike reiterates Lucas’s plea for bell ringers. Mike was the only bell ringer on Saturday and collected $200. Every unattended kettle is a missed opportunity to collect at last $200. Please register to ring. Mike presented Lucas with a $300 donation from the Wesley Bible Study group. Mark Roberts- Granddaughter volunteers for the “Count the Kicks” campaign for a healthy pregnancy. The campaign slogan, Every Kick Counts, has raised $75K. Megan Francis- This weekend is the final weekend of the Stuff the Stocking Bar Challenge. Bring a donation to your favorite bar to support the Senior Resources Senior Christmas Basket program. The bar with the most donations will win the stocking stuffer award.
Club News:
- Slate of officers presented for club vote. President- Megan Francis, President-Elect- Mike Wedell, President Nominee- Rob Yant, Vice President- Mark Roberts, Treasure- Lindsey Phillips, Secretary- Megan Francis, Sergeant in Arms- Chuck Moody. Motion to accept the slate as presented John Kuhl, 2nd Carlin Lawhead- Carried.
- Club Vote- Is the club interested in adopting a Ukraine family by providing household needs through resources? The club response was a resounding yes.
- IBAT- Businesses Against Human Trafficking- https://ibat.iowa.gov/ibat-businesses/ Thank you to the businesses that have committed to “Learn Something and Do Something” to help combat human trafficking.
- We have two board positions available. Please see Naomi for more information.
- Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine’s Facebook page, @MuscatineRotaryClub.
Presentation:
Nancy Renkes- Riverbend Food Bank
How can so many people be going hungry in a nation that throws so much food away? In 2021, 53 million people turned to food banks to put food on the table. More than 34 million people, including 9 million children, are food insecure. In the 23 countries we serve,104,850 people are food insecure. 1 in 10 adults are missing meals, and 1 in 7 children (roughly 32,100) are missing meals. The numbers are concerning. Adults 65 and older account for 17% of adults facing food insecurity. 63% of adults choose between medications and food, and 62% of adults choose between housing and food.
Riverbend Foodbank’s mission is to lead the community-wide effort to end hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Riverbend has 60,000 sq ft of warehouse, including 10,000 sq ft of cooler freezer space warehouse holds up to 2.9 million pounds of food.
Takeaways, $1 donated provides 5 meals, 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 7 children do not have enough food. We are throwing away enough food to feed everyone. You can make a difference for those in need.
Missed Monday’s Meeting? Use the link below to enjoy the presentation recording.
Passcode: Rotary#1
Upcoming Meetings: Dec. 19- Muscatine Lock and Dam Overview, Dec. 26- No Meeting, Jan. 2- No Meeting. Jan. 9- Muscatine USDA.
It’s Week 1 of RI’s Month of Disease Prevention & Treatment
The news this week is about a Rotary Foundation Global Grant aimed at improving sanitation in Ghana. This story was reported in an online source by Anita Serwaa Adzoga (myjoyonline.com). The Rotary Club of Kumasi is constructing 152 micro flush toilets and 29 boreholes (wells) for selected communities in three districts in the Ashanti Region.
The Kumasi Metropolis, Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Tafo Municipality are the communities to benefit from the project. The project, according to Nana Effah Mensah, the International Service chairman for the Rotary Club of Kumasi, is part of the Global Grants projects approved by The Rotary Foundation. He added that they are partnering with Rotary E-Club Premier 7040, in Montreal, Canada, to undertake the project estimated at $160,000.
The Rotary Club of Kumasi, as a humanitarian institution, is committed to help improve sanitation and access to potable (drinkable) water which features prominently in the seven (7) areas of focus. According to Nana Effah Mensah, “the group will continue to help the less privileged in the society. That is why, we want to construct an additional 206 micro flush toilets and 30 boreholes by mid-April 2023 at Afram Plains and Bosomtwe district.”
Meanwhile, Dr Emmanuel Obeng, President of Rotary Club of Kumai, said “the decision to construct a borehole for the Adventist SHS, Bantama stems from an appeal by some old students who were concerned about the difficulties the students face in accessing potable water.”
The Rotary Club of Kumasi, in fulfilment of its vision to promote goodwill and prevent water borne diseases, has decided to construct toilets across the country.