May 22nd Rotary Wheel
Guests/Announcements
Dr. Lee Holmes, our assistant district governor attended the meeting to let us know… Rotary International has met the polio plus goal of $200 million! We actually raised $215 mil as of May 1st. Gates is giving additional $50 million towards eradicating Polio. India has not had a new case for 1.5 years, so that means only three countries with new cases remain: Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Congratulations to Alison Carlson and Russ Hamilton who exchanged their red badges for blue badges.
Three weeks in a row we have sold out at the Orange juice stand. As of last weekend we are $230 in the black. Rotary t-shirts, will be available starting tomorrow.
June 2 Val-air ballroom Big Band Dance and concert
June 4 defend title at Bunny Harper
Hopefully some of us attended the 50s sock hop at Prairie Meadows on the 25th benefiting the Special Olympics of Iowa!
St. at Arms
Paul Wielage is from Dubuque originally, and graduated from UNI in accounting. He worked after graduation at Deloitte and Touche, after coming back to Iowa in 1983 he has worked at Northwestern Mutual for about 17 years, now in financial life planning.
Today's Meeting
Jason Johnson and Brad Harrison with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS). The NCRS is an USDA agency, originally formed in 1862. They are a soil conservation service, that services all 99 counties in Iowa. The NCRS is a group of environmental science professionals that work with private land owners to:
1. reduce soil erosion
2. improve water quality
3. reduce flooding
4. wildlife habitat
5. energy efficiency
6. air quality
The NCRS is a service agency that along with the Owners, write conservation plans. They also provide financial assistance to benefit the Owners. They promote grassed waterways, no till farming and cover crops to reduce soil erosion and planned wetlands. To date, the NCRS has provided more than $70 million in financial assistance.
Brad Harrison is from Dallas County. He has worked at NCRS since 1987. He works on engineering surveys and project management. Dallas County does a great deal with strategic placed wetlands, works with easement flood plain and planned wildlife habitats. They also have programs that promote tree planing, and pollinator habitats. Iowa top soils were once 14"-16" now they are approximately 6"-8".
Should a farmer be concerned with inviting the NCRS out to their home? No. The Owner welcomes the NCRS out to do the conservation plan, they are not a regulatory agency.