Bulletin Notes from 1/9 meeting
Announcements
Roadside Pickup: Past President Naura Godar inquired about the interest of members in continuing this long standing project – a semi-annual walk through a ditch picking up treasures while dodging high speed traffic. From the show of hands it was clear that our club is committed to keeping our stretch of I -235 clean. Look for this opportunity to volunteer in March 2018 and October 2018!
Exchange Student: Chris Nelson reports that we have a host family ready for a student. In order to proceed with the project, we need two positions from our club - a counselor and coordinator. These are important positions and we need to have a commitment soon. If you would like to know more about this, you can talk to Chris Nelson, Tom George or Tom and Carol Narak, all who have been involved in this project in recent years.
Speaking of Exchange students, Tom Narak reported that on May 12th, exchange students from all over the district will be coming to Des Moines to attend an Iowa Cubs game and will need host families for a day or so. Tom was looking for someone to serve as a coordinator of the host families. If you have any interest in helping with this project, please see Tom.
Polio Plus: President Brad reminded us of Rotary International’s goal to eradicate polio worldwide. The number of cases has declined from a few hundred to less than twenty.
The DSM area is holding its annual Polio Plus fundraiser at the Iowa Wolves basketball game on February 3, 2018 at 7 PM.
Tickets are discounted and approximately half of the ticket price is donated to the Rotary Polio Plus Project. Promotions that night include Hoops and Hounds where people are permitted to bring their dog to the game and that there is a special half time performance by K9’s in Flight. Also, it is $2.00 beer night throughout the game. Tickets cost $16.00 each of which $8.00 goes to the Polio Plus Project.
It was noted that if you would like to donate your tickets but cannot attend, you can make arrangements with Doug Hillman and the tickets will be donated to Mosaic which will allow intellectually challenged adults to attend the game.
West Des Moines Valley Interact Club: The Interact Club is working on a food drive and a blanket making night.
New Coats Project: Tanya Manatt reports that the coats were delivered.
Literacy: Committee chair Fred Maharry mentioned the need for some substitute readers during the first half of February. He also read a very nice note from our member Ken Kremer sharing his experience and the benefits he receives from participating.
Social Event: The next social event is scheduled for January 25, 2018 at the Draught House located at 50th and EP True Parkway.
New Member: Garrett Reynolds gave a brief talk about his background and his current employment.
Garrett is a native of Milo, Iowa. He graduated from UNI and he is a fan of both UNI and ISU. He and his wife Stephanie have two children with a third on the way.
Garrett works in Commercial Lending at the MetaBank office in Urbandale.
His personal interests include golf and boating although with his growing family he has little time to do either.
Speaker at the Meeting on January 9th: The Speaker was Melanie Shellenberger with the Iowa Secretary of State where she serves as director of the Safe at Home project. This project is designed to provide safety and confidentiality for victims of abuse and domestic violence.
The program provides a mailing address for its participants and keeps the actual physical location confidential. She emphasized that this was not a witness protection program but it has been very helpful in protecting over 350 people in the 2 years that it has been existence.
Most of the people who have sought protection through the program are female but it was noted that about 5% are male.