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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2007-2008 President,
Gary Wieskamp
; President Elect,
Karen Diercks
; Directors: Dennis McDonald, Mary Wildermuth, Tim Nelson, John Schwandke. Past President:
Dale Lucht
, S; Treasurer: Randy Ludke, GS; Secretary
Ann Moody,G(2)S
www.muscatinerotary.org
Governor, District 6000: Diana Reed, Des Moines, Iowa.
Rotary International President: Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, Ontario, Canada.
BARB CHRISTENSEN NAMED SUSTAINING PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
Great news! Congratulations Barb. She came to town in 1979 to work as assistant director of the Art Center and became the director in 1989. Barb was one of the first American women to enter Rotary in 1987.
HIS WEEK'S BIG STORY
Get ready for our special "Guest Night." It's going to be a reprise of last year's venture to New Era Church. The show is "Hot Mikado" on Thursday, May 22. Dinner is chicken breast, parsley potatoes, a green vegetable, salad, rolls, dessert and a beverage. Pricing is on the brochures on each table. This is a FAMILY APPROPRIATE show so you can bring your children and grandchildren. The Trolley can take you from the Holiday Inn to the church if you like at no extra charge. ---- By the way, "The Mikado" by Gilbert and Sullivan (this is the same show with some more modern music) is one of the funniest shows Gilbert and Sullivan wrote.
THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM
Student Food Drive. Our presenter is Sarah Johnson (Secretary/Executive Director, Bettendorf, IA). Introduction by Roger Lande
LAST WEEK'S
PROGRAM
Judy Jeffrey, Iowa Department of Education Director reviewed the 2006 - 2007 Iowa Statewide Profile of Public Schools. Issues she pointed out include the dramatic decline in the number of school districts in the past 50 years - from 4,652 in 1958 to 365 in 2007. This is a reflection of the dramatic shift in population from country to city. There were 700,000 children in school in 1972. Only 483,00 children were in school in 2007. An indicator of the state's aging population. The number of children in school who arrived in school unable to speak or understand English increased by 100% since 1986. There is a desperate shortage of physics and chemistry teachers in the state. The state spends 4% of its educational dollars getting children to and from school in bright yellow buses. Although many people consider the senior year in high school a total waste, many students use the time to take classes for college credit and reduce the size of their student loans. By and large, Iowa school students score well on national tests and Iowa, although it has lower average salaries for teachers than some other states, gets good results for the money.
UPCOMING ROTARY PROGRAMS
Sr. Irma Ries is program chair for April
April 14 - Topic: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Presenters: Sara Fitzer-Huston (Unit Director of the American Red Cross Muscatine-Louisa Unit Sharon Gibson-Ellis (Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Muscatine, Inc.) - April 21 - Topic: Muscatine County Needs Assessment Presenters: Becky Furlong (Curriculum Director of Muscatine Community School District) Mike Johannsen (Community Services Director of Muscatine County Community Services) Sharon Gibson-Ellis (Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Muscatine, Inc.)
April 28 - Topic: Domestic Violence Rape Sexual Assault Program Presenters from Family Resources, Inc. Dawn Sturms - Regional Coordinator of Muscatine Rachel Riley-Smock: Program Coordinator of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Advocacy Program Heidi Freeland - Community Educator
Marv Krieger is program chair for May
May 5-- Program at Stanley Consultants
May12--- 3 Point Senior Honor Program
May 19-- Program given by exchange students
May 22 --- Rotary Guest Night at New Era Church --- Have dinner, see "Hot Mikado"
May26 Memorial Day --- no meeting
Barb Christensen and A.J. Johnson are program chairs for June
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let's hope Kip Fisher sleeps through the announcements today. He noticed that the dates were wrong on upcoming meeting programs and tipped off President Gary that the editor should bring a dollar for a fine. Let's all be v e r y q u i e t during happy news.
Kip tell us that Bill Housh is home but hurts a lot when he walks.
Stan Howe, according to Kip, was still in a clinic in Arizona.
SINGING
That was actually Tim Nelson and not Ann Meeker that lead the singing. Tim doesn't look a thing like Ann. He did a great job and got people in the back of the room to actually chirp up and sing.
HAPPY NEWS
Kip Fisher was very happy to tell us he was celebrating his 62nd wedding anniversary.
Gregs Thomopulos can't contain himself about Iowa Basketball.
Mike Ruby was all smiles about our upcoming president and vice president attending PETS (president elect training session).
GUESTS
Students - Maria.
NON-ROTARIAN GUESTS Jan Collinson, Joelle McConnaha, Aaron Eversmeyer, Vicki Connelly, Barb Hyman, Bob Weaton, Diane Campbell - Tom Williams
Becky Wichers - Jim Sturms (her Dad)
Bill Phelan - Jane Daufeldt
Becky Mather - Mark Mather
Nichole Sorgenfrey - Gladys Reif
SONG LEADERS
April - Diana Gradert
May - Norm Smith
June - Harvey Allbee, Jr.
Our Quote of the Day - I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
Today's Rotary Moment - In 1958, believing that we placed far too much emphasis on athletics, our fellow Rotarian Marv Krieger organized for the Rotary Club of Muscatine, the first three point high school senior scholarship dinner and as you know that popular tradition continues today, 50 years later.
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