Iowa City Noon Rotary

Watch today's meeting here: https://youtu.be/StiRPx-ggPk
 
Our Meeting was called to order by President Barb Thomas
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
Rtn. Kelley Drowne welcomed Club members and guests and provided Zoom tips.
 
Guest Joe Briddle, a student at Tippie College, shared his story about his recent battle with cancer. He is on the finance committee for the UI Dance Marathon, which raises money for research and support of children battling cancer, as well as their families. In the event anyone wishes to donate to Joe’s campaign, the link is provided here: https://donate.dancemarathon.uiowa.edu/payment/361. You can also search for another student to support their fundraising efforts.
 
Rtn. Ryan Bell announced that the Iowa City Area Business Partnership is presenting a Speed Networking event. As Rotarians, we are members of the Partnership and are welcome to attend on March 10th at 4PM. It will be presented via Zoom and participants will be sorted into breakout rooms and will have an opportunity to meet everyone at the event. Register here: https://iowacityareabusinesspartnership.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/GrZzee6r
 
President Barb Thomas announced that Rtn. Pete Wallace let us know that Towncrest Pharmacy is accepting appointments this Friday and Saturday only if you are over age 65. You must register ahead of time: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=21141420&appointmentType=207125
 
President Barb Thomas also announced changes to the Board of Directors.  Rtn. Neil Quellhorst, our long time, devoted Treasurer is resigning as Treasurer and we thank him for his service.  Rtn. Madaline Windauer has volunteered to serve as Treasurer for a 3 year term, a non-elected position.  Her spot on the Board will be opening, and it will be filled by the next runner-up in our recent elections, Rtn. Kelley Drowne.  With Rtn. Ryan Bell moving into the President-Elect position, the last year of his Board term will be filled by Rtn. Tara Minetos, the next runner up in the elections.  Kelley and Tara will start on the Board in July. 
 
Rtn. Tara Minetos announced that the Rotarians Supporting Women Committee is seeking candidates for their annual scholarship. Strong preference will be given to a woman in our community who is seeking a non-traditional educational path. Please share this with anyone who may qualify. The link to the application is available here: https://iowacitynoonrotary.org/page/club-projects-rotarians-supporting-women-scholarship
 
The Rotary Moment of Gratitude and Positivity was delivered by Rtn. Trisha Smith. Trisha shared a story, “Potatoes, Eggs, and Coffee Beans.” A daughter told her father that she was so tired of struggling and wanted to give up. Her father, a trained chef, filled 3 pots with water. Once they began to boil, he put each  item in its own pot. After 20 minutes, he turned off the heat and placed each item into serving dishes and asked his water what she saw, and asked her to touch each item – the potatoes were soft, she cracked the egg shell and learned it was hard inside, and she sipped the delicious coffee – but she still didn’t understand his message. He explained that each item has faced the exact same adversity, but each of them reacted differently.  The potatoes were hard and unrelenting and with boiling, became soft. The eggs were soft and fragile, but they’re now hard. The coffee beans exposed themselves, changed the water, and created something new.  Which are you – the potatoes, the eggs, or the ground coffee beans? We’re all facing our own and our shared adversity, but each day we can choose to lay in a heap, to find growth and opportunity in this experience, and be the coffee beans!
 
New Member Induction: Tagba Djato-Bougonou
 
PROGRAM:
President Barb Thomas introduced our speaker, Rtn Jennifer New. Jennifer oversees the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies. She oversees the Center’s communications and facilitates programs, community engagement, and event planning. 
 
The Obermann Center for Advanced Studies is located at 111 Church Street, housing offices and conference rooms.  They serve the research mission of the University and support graduate students across the campus.
 
Humanities for the Public Good (HPG) was funded by a grant to the Obermann Center by the Mellon Foundation. It is a four year grant, but it will likely be extended due to COVID-19. They have a large advisory board that is designing an interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program. The University of Iowa and other universities are rethinking Humanities graduate education in light of addressing pandemics, racism, environmental devastation, economic crises, and inequities.
 
The University has began HPG Summer Internships, offering graduate students a stipend to serve in a professional capacity with businesses and organziations in the Corridor.  The interns gain confidence outside of academe. This provides them with real world experience and diverse mentorship and opens their eyes to different career paths.  The host organizations also receive a stipend and greatly benefit from the expertise of the graduate-level interns.
 
Jennifer shared some of the inspiring stories of the student interns.  You can watch a video about an exciting project with the Johnson County Poor Farm here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mfgeiHaBmQ&t=1s
 
The meeting ended at 1 PM as President Barb Thomas led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
 
MEETING:
 
Visiting Rotarians included: Gary Wicklund (Vail, CO)
 
Guests of Rotarians: Emily Wenzel (Ryan Bell); Joe Briddle (Barb Thomas); Claire McGranahan (Ryan Bell); Brent Carstensen (Nancy Quellhorst); May New (Pete Wallace)
 
Program: Devin van Holsteijn; Attendance: Nancy Droll
 
Please forward any newsworthy items and/or photos to Jon Brown or Janice Baldes to include in the weekly slide decks emailed to members prior to each meeting and shown just before Rotary meetings at the Club. You can send information to: Janice Baldes janicebaldes@gmail.com or Jon Brown at mjonBrown@taxesplusiowacity.com
 
For questions related to Club administration, please contact us at secretary@iowacitynoonrotary.org.
 
It is our policy to have all members silence their cell phones before the meeting and refrain from answering their cell phones during the meeting out of respect to the speaker and fellow members.