#1038 Club Bulletin, Sept. 14, 2026

Recap from the Sept. 14, 2026, meeting.
                                                                                                                 
Thought of the Day: Lindsey Phillips
 
Welcome, Online Members: Dawn Sturms Dodds
 
Happy News/Announcements:  All Happy News donations support Rotary scholarships.
  • Greg Slonka – Go Iowa!
  • Carlin Lawhead – $1 for the Hawks win and $1 for a nice evening out with friends at his dental school alumni reunion.
  • Mike Wedell- Mike invites everyone to the Cultural Alliance Celebration: Volunteer Recognition & Fundraiser on October 15 from 5-7 p.m. at the National Button Museum. Tickets are $40. (Information attached.)
  • Marc Hines- $16 for the 16 points scored by the Hawkeyes and a reminder that FestivALL is this Saturday from 1-7 p.m. on 2nd Street. Check out the Crossroads Facebook page for fun event info, including a fundraiser to select Marc’s next haircut.
Voluntell: Volunteer Hours & Opportunities
 
Volunteer Hours Reported:
  • Mike Wedell – 16.5 hours total:
  • Lindsey Phillips – 2 hours: Selling apparel at the Muskie Homecoming game. It was fun, and you get a great view of the game. Highly recommend!
  • Greg Slonka- 2.5 hours total: Monarch Tagging at the County Conservation Center with his daughter.
  • Marc Hines- 4 Hours total: 1 hour giving blood and 3 hours working on Rotary.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:
  • Diaper Drive & In-Meeting Service Project – On September 21, we will partner with United Way for an in-meeting diaper drive and service project in honor of National Diaper Need Awareness Week. Diapers size 5 and up are especially needed, but all sizes are welcome. We will also collect baby wipes.
  • Highway Cleanup- Mark your calendar for the morning of October 9.
  • Native Prairie Seed Collection – Mark your calendar for Friday, October 16, from 1-4 p.m. Registration will be available soon. Plan to wear closed-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants, and bring bug spray.
  • Ongoing opportunities with The Bridge, Junior Achievement, and Flickinger Center.
 
World Polio Day – World’s Largest Polio Walk
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m.
📍 Vibrant Arena at the Mark, Moline
 
Club Business:
  • Our September 28 meeting will be off-site at MidAmerican. To RSVP, contact Michayla Horchem at Michayla@unitedwaymuscatine.org.
  • 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.
  • We are currently accepting donations to purchase a tree in honor of Marv Krieger. Please see Lindsey if you would like to contribute.
  • Follow the Rotary Club of Muscatine Facebook page at @MuscatineRotaryClub.
Presentation:
Mike Truitt – MHS Football Program
 
Coach Mike Truitt shared the changes he is making within the Muscatine High School Football program. After spending his first two years largely following what had been done in the past, Coach Truitt is leading a culture change focused not only on football, but on developing leaders and creating a program where players, parents, and the community feel connected.
 
A major part of that change is the new Player Leadership Academy. Coaches selected four players for the Leadership Council, who then selected four additional players to join them. Modeled after military leadership principles, the academy focuses on lessons including Leaders Eat Last, High Trust, Everything Matters, FAMILY (Forget About Me, I Love You), Comms Check, Bring the Juice, Default: Aggression, and Lead from the Front.
 
At the center of the program are four core values: Accountability, Attitude, Commitment, and Respect. From changes in leadership structure to smaller details like uniforms and helmet decals, Coach Truitt is working to build not only strong football players, but strong leaders, community members, and young people prepared for life after high school.
 
Missed today’s meeting? Use the link below to catch up.
Passcode: BVK&p2qR
 
Upcoming Meetings:
 
September 21 – Diaper Bank Service Project
September 28 – Off-site at MidAmerican (RSVP required)
October 5 – United Way Reading Mentors