President Kelley Krueger called the meeting to order. Rtn. Bill Dickenson led members in singing “Smile” and “Happy Birthday” in recognition of members celebrating November birthdays.

 

President Kelley introduced guests, Robin Therme of CIVCO, who also serves on the CID Airport Commission, and Pam Hinman and Marty Lenss of The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID).

 

World Polio Day Awareness Event: Rtn. Ann Bywater encouraged members to join fellow Rotarians for a bike ride or walk in support of polio eradication. The event will take place Saturday, November 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Participants should meet at Shelter 1.

 

Tree Planting Project: President Kelley reminded members of the upcoming tree planting project on Saturday, November 14, at Oak Hill Elementary in Tiffin, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

 

Rotary Board Elections: President Kelley announced that Rotary elections are approaching, with electronic ballots scheduled to be emailed the week of November 30. There are three open Board positions, including one two-year term to fill a vacancy, as well as the president-elect position.

 

Members interested in serving on the Board must have been members of the club for at least one year. Candidates for president-elect must have prior Board service.

 

Those interested in being considered for a Board position should contact Barb Thomse and provide three bullet points highlighting their background, involvement in Rotary, and interest in serving on the Board.

 

Social Media: President Kelley announced that the club has launched new Instagram and LinkedIn accounts in addition to its existing Facebook page. Members were encouraged to follow the club on all three platforms and help expand its social media presence.

 

 

Rtn. Haley Rosenthal introduced today's speaker, Marty Lenss, President and CEO of The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), a position he has held since 2015.

 

Marty provided an overview of the airport's governance and operations. The Airport Commission is appointed by the Mayor of Cedar Rapids, with members limited to three consecutive terms.

 

Key airport facts and highlights included:

Passenger capacity and demand continue to grow. Available seats in October 2026 were up 5% compared to October 2025, with CID trending above the national average. However, rising fuel prices are creating some uncertainty for the airline industry.

 

CID currently offers 17 nonstop destinations and more than 400 one-stop connections. The newest addition is Washington, D.C. (DCA), a route that took approximately 15 years of discussion and planning to bring to fruition.

 

CID is nearing completion of a 10-year, $121 million improvement project. The project includes a 30,000-square-foot expansion, four additional gates, and an outdoor patio. The airport has maintained a debt-free position while aggressively pursuing grants to help fund improvements and future development.

 

Marty also highlighted the new gate pass program, developed with the work of Pam Hinman, Director of Marketing Communications at the Eastern Iowa Airport, which allows non-ticketed passengers to obtain a pass to go through security and accompany travelers to their departure gate.

 

Marty discussed the region's longstanding connection to aviation and aerospace. The Wright Brothers spent part of their childhood in Cedar Rapids, where their father served as a minister. Iowa also has a rich aerospace legacy, including Collins Aerospace and the pioneering work of Dr. James Van Allen.

 

Looking ahead, CID is exploring the possibility of a third runway and has partnered with Kirkwood Community College to help address the industry's growing workforce needs.

 

Marty introduced Ascentus, a new aerospace initiative and brand launched in June 2026 under the tagline “Aerospace Happens Here.”

 

The long-term vision is to establish Eastern Iowa as a competitive and nationally recognized aerospace industry cluster, with the capabilities to retain and grow existing aviation and defense (A&D) companies while attracting new businesses to the region.

 

With significant investment flowing into the U.S. aerospace market, CID and its regional partners see an opportunity to position Eastern Iowa to participate in and benefit from this growth. Ascentus represents a long-term commitment to building the region's aerospace presence, capabilities, and economic opportunities.

 

The meeting concluded with the recitation of The Four-Way Test.

 

Program: Raya Gupta, GenTech Project

 

Program Chair: Rtn. Haley Rosendahl
Attendance: Rtn. Nancy Droll

 

Please send newsworthy items and/or photos to janicebaldes@gmail.com for inclusion in the weekly slide presentations.

For questions or additional information regarding club administration, please contact the Club Secretary at secretary@iowacitynoonrotary.org.