Rotary Wheel – April 10, 2012

 

From the April 3, 2012 meeting:

 

Northwest Rotary Club Fundraising Project:

Brad Helgamo from the Northwest Club was in attendance.  He shared information regarding a fundraising project:  The Charles Gabus Memorial Ride for bike riders of all abilities.  The ride will start at the Gabus Memorial Tree Park in Urbandale (next to the Urbandale Library) on June 23, 2012.  Rides are as short as 5 miles and as long as 70 miles with several options in between.  Cost is $10/individual or $25/family.  For more information, please check www.cgm-br.com or call Brad at 689-0004. 

 

Bicycle Project:

Speaking of bicycles, don’t forget about our own bike project!  Per Harold Hulleman, we are still taking donations of good used bikes!  If you have some or know of someone who has some bikes, let Harold know.

 

District 6000 Conference:

The district conference Is set for April 12-14 at Riverside Casino/Hotel in Riverside, Iowa (near Iowa City).  If you wish to attend, you best make arrangements soon!

 

Senior Citizen Luncheon:

Larry Everett is heading up this effort this year.  The luncheon is schedule for April 14 at West Des Moines Christian Church.  If you can help, please let Larry know.  The time he requests you be there is from about 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

 

Memorial Golf Event:

Tyler Price mentioned that on April 28, 2012, a golf tournament in memory of his mother will be held at Copper Creek.  Please contact Tyler for more details. 

 

Foreign Exchange Student:

Our club will host a young lady from Italy next school year.  If you have an interest in being a host family or in learning more about it, please contact Tom Narak.

 

Farmer’s Market:

Jamie Bunn reminded us that the Farmer’s Market fundraiser is rapidly approaching.  Watch for more details in the near future.  If every club member does their part and works just 4 shifts (just two full mornings), that is all that should be needed.  Everyone needs to help!  The first Farmers Market is May 5!

 

RYLA: 

The annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award conference is set.  This year’s conference will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, April 17th.

RYLA is a daylong leadership program for sophomore students, which demonstrates Rotary’s respect and concern for youth. Participants learn methods of responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership through a training experience that encourages continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth. The conference also publicly recognizes the high qualities of many young people who are rendering service in their communities as leaders, and provides positive motivation.

 

Clean Up  I- 235:

Adam Nelson is again heading this up.  The date is May 5 and he needs about 7 people to help out.  This is a great way to have family involved.  The plan is to meet at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines at 7:45 a.m.  The time commitment is only about 1.5 hours.  After that, you can enjoy the rest of your day and possibly check out the Farmers Market that also starts that same day!  Contact Adam if you can assist!

 

Bob Start:

Can you believe it???  Yet another free concert at Java Joes performed by the CJC Big Band featuring our very own Bob Start!  It is scheduled for April 15 at 2:00. 

 

Bunny Harper Golf Event:

Greg Kenyon mentioned that June 4 is the day and Honey Creek is the location.  Clean off those clubs and practice so you can help defend our Rotary trophy!  If interested in golfing, please let Greg know. 

 

Mark Reed was our Three Minute Speaker.  Thank you Mark! 

 

Featured Program: 

Tom Larson introduced Sherri Nielsen, President/CEO of Easter Seals Iowa.  Also presenting was Angela Hilbert, Director of Development.   Easter Seals shares a long history and very close ties with Rotary.  Paul Harris served as the first Chairman of Easter Seals when it was then known as the International Society for Crippled Children. 

 

From the Easter Seals website:

 

Our Mission:  Our mission is to provide exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities."

 

Our Vision:  ...which allows every child and every adult with a disability to maximize their individual potential for living, learning, and working in their communities.

 

...in which families will have easy access to a continuum of services for people with disabilities of all ages, through out their lifetime.

 

...in which every child will have quality day care in an inclusive, nurturing environment where children of all abilities can play, learn, and grow together.

 

...in which every adult with a disability will have employment opportunities in natural work environments in their communities.

 

...in which every person with a disability will be able to access camping, recreational, and socialization opportunities and respite care for their families and caregivers.

 

 Our History:  Easter Seals Iowa is part of a nationwide network of separately incorporated affiliates, that cumulatively represents the world's oldest and largest not-for-profit organization providing direct services to people with disabilities.  Easter Seals' network includes more than 100 state and local affiliates in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

 

Although Easter Seals Iowa is affiliated with a national organization, it operates with a great degree of autonomy, with a board of directors comprised of individuals from throughout the state serving as its governing body. Since its inception in 1926 as the Iowa Society for Crippled Children, Easter Seals Iowa has earned a reputation as a leader in providing unique and responsive services to Iowans with disabilities of all ages.   Easter Seals Iowa is driven by its mission of  "creating solutions that change the lives of individuals with disabilities and other special needs and their families," and all of its programs and services have evolved out of this mission.

 

Easter Seals Locations:  Easter Seals Iowa operates from two locations: Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside, located several miles north of Des Moines, which houses camping, respite and recreation programs, Rural Solutions,  and durable medical equipment loan services and the Easter Seals Center, located in Des Moines, which is the homebase for all vocational, employment, and case management services.

 

Easter Seals Staff:  Staffing at Easter Seals includes nearly 100 full-time employees and approximately 75 seasonal (summer) employees employed for our camping and recreation programs.  Volunteers are extensively involved with Easter Seals last year more than 15,000  hours of service were donated by volunteers.

 

http://ia.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=IADR_whoweare