Rotarian Susan Ahlers Leman appeared in the Second Opinion section of Saturday's "Messenger." The article was outlining the benefits of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association, a very valuable addition to the arts in Fort Dodge.
President
President Elect
Immediate Past President
Executive Secretary
Co-Treasurer
Co-Treasurer
Floundation Chair
Membership
Board of Director to 2021
Board of Director to 2021
Board of Director to 2021
Board of Director to 2019
Board of Director to 2019
Board of Director to 2019
Board of Director to 2020
Board of Director to 2020
Board of Director to 2020
.jpg?_=636756802766183475)
Rotarian David Fierke appeared in the Fort Dodge "Messenger's" "Fort Dodge Business Connection" insert in an article discussing the issues with underground utilities. These items, such as sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water mains, etc., are "out of sight and out of mind" for most citizens until they fail to work. Unfortunately for the City all of the underground utilities have "built-in" life spans and in many cases we are long past those dates. Repairs and replacements are very costly and give many "sticker shock." Only with sound planning and funding strategies can the issues be solved.
Rotarian Amy Bruno appeared in the "Messenger's" "Fort Dodge Business Connection" in an article outlining the goals of the Upcoming United Way Fund Drive. The goals are primarily geared to support youth in a variety of programs. This year's goal is $425,000.
.jpg?_=636756802766183475)
Rotarian Dan Kinney appears on the cover of the Thursday "Messenger" as he joins the ICCC Mascot and Bill Greehey (Valero Energy) turn the first shovels of dirt for the Greehey Family Student Success Center. Bill Greehey is a former Fort Dodger who went on to head Valery Energy and his family has developed a Greehey Family Foundation that contributed $3 million to the $6 million structure.
Monday's guest speaker was Sam Thompson of the Webster County Juvenile Court, one of four Juvenile officers for Webster County. Sam outlined his youth and education as follows:
- Grade and High School at BCLUW (Conrad) just north of Marshalltown
- UNI for a degree in Criminology
- Employment at Woodward Academy
- Work at Eldora Juvenile Detention Center
The Webster County Juvenile Court works with youth along two avenues:
- Youth who enter the court system for the first time, generally because of petty theft or underage drinking. The intent is to place these first offenders in short term intervention with partners throughout the community. The youngest offender was age 8 up to legal age of 18. For first time offenders the office has the ability to work a low level program with the hope that the kids will "get the message" and not reenter the system.
- You who have become habitual offenders are referred to the Juvenile Courts and more serious interventions are ordered by the courts. Sometimes these offenders will end-up in secure holdings. Counseling and intervention services from the local area are used whenever possible. Community service opportunities for first-time and lower level repeat offenders can include:
- City park clean-up, plantings, etc.
- Almost Home
- Church service
The current case-load for the Webster County office is 25 kids, of which 21 are males. A substantial aid to the process is the development of intervention specialists in the local schools to deal with drugs, school attendance, and attitude. In all cases, it is money well spent that goes to intervention.
At Monday's meeting Rotary hosted seniors from Fort Dodge Senior High and Saint Edmond High School. The students from Saint Edmond: Zoe Asadipour, Erin Flattery, Macey Mason, and Aaron Simpson. From Senior High: Drake Miller, Collin Ellsbury, Molly Hartman, and Ellie Yoder. Each student discussed their plans after high school, favorite memories from their school, and their parents. Rotary provided each with a Certificate of Attendance, 4-Way Rotary Key Chain, and brochure on Rotary in Fort Dodge. This program packages with the Club's emphasis on youth.
Rotarian Bill Thatcher is a proud alumnus of ICCC and recently attended the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and recognition program. He was pictured with the ICCC mascot as shown in the attached icon. Thank you Bill for yur never ending support for ICCC.
Monday's Rotary guest at a special relocation to Pizza Ranch was Reverend Al Henderson, who spoke on the SOS (Serving our Servants) program. Al is the Chaplin to our Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Fire Departments, EMS, Civil Defence Agencies, and PARA medics. Al and a collection of local volunteers raise funds to provide the following services to our public servants;
- Pizza to Post 7;
- Breakfast to the LEC staff during change in shifts;
- Pizza to changes of shifts at the Fire Station;
- Pizza to to the Emergency Room staff at Unity Point;
- Support to families of the Air Guard when the significant other is deployed;
- Support and coordinate the annual "Guns and Hoses" event by providing funding support coordination, T-shits, etc.;
- Blood Drive for special emergencies, such as the shooting last summer in Las Vegas;
- Choosing of a "Servant of the Year" and coordination of the "Heroes of the Heartland;"
- Help to local officials during events such as RAGBRAI;
- Gift cards supported by Creative Cakes given to city/county snow plow operators;
- Help with traffic during officer funerals;
- Providing weapon safes at the LEC;
- Financial help to DSOC.
A series of excellent questions and answers ensued after his presentation. The Club thanked Reverend Henderson for his service, which includes Chaplin services to our Public Servants.
This is a "save the date" notice of an upcoming Club Social event for all members and their families. Please note that some details are beginning to be added.
November TBD - Possible discussion being our International Project)
January TBD (Lunch and activities at Fort Frenzi for a winter break)
February TBD. Rotary Night at Soldier Creek
March TBD – International Project
.jpg?_=636756802766183475)
The following have volunteered to provide the weekly invocation as our meetings start. If you are unable to make your assigned schedule please contact a substitute that will then check-in with the President prior to the meeting. (Also please note that you can call either Don Woodruff or Janet Secor, who have said they6 can be a fill-in alternate.)
Oct 22 - Bill Thatcher
Oct 29 - Cameron Nelson
Nov 5 - Bruce Shimkat
Nov 12 - Ross Nemitz
Nov 19 - Mel Schroeder
Nov 26 - Gary LeValley
Dec 3 - Hans Nielsen
Dec 10 - Janet Secor
Dec 17 - David Fierke
Dec 24 - Holiday
Dec 31 - Holiday
Kraig Barber passed around a copy of the latest Master Plan for Snell-Crawford Park. The latest version incorporates some of the suggestions by Rotarians of leaving the road into the interior of the Park. Kraig noted that within the near future the Fort Dodge Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Commission will be reviewing this issue. A picture is included for your knowledge.
Minutes and/or Financial Reports for the 2018 Rotary Year have been posted to the members only section of the Website and are available for viewing by accessing the Members Only Section.
Rotary is a service organization comprised of community leaders of various professions dedicated to humanitarian causes locally and throughout the world. The club budgets funds annually for a variety of local causes that may be made available for requests made throughout the year for which the Board of Directors may want to support. To make application for funds please use the following application format found over two sections of this applet. When completed please scan your application narrative and send to Fort Dodge Rotary, Box 935, Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 . The first page of the application appears below and the second is found by clicking on the "read more" applet.
please use
.jpg)