Iowa City Noon Rotary

Watch today's meeting here: https://youtu.be/xkxt8Mcrfx8
 
Our Meeting was called to order by President Barb Thomas
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
 
Rtn. Devin van Holsteijn welcomed Club members and guests and provided Zoom tips.
 
President Barb Thomas highlighted some activities in our community happening this weekend, now that more of us are getting vaccinated and the weather is improving.  Music on the Farm takes place on Saturday at Walker Homestead.  City Park, a band featuring Rtn. Eric Weiler and Rtn. Mark Nolte will be playing live music.  The music starts at 4PM.
 
Rtn. Devin van Holsteijn told the club about two socially distanced, outdoor events taking place on Saturday evening.  Filmscene in the Park will take place in Chauncey Swan Park, and will be showing Wolfwalkers on Saturday at sunset (approximately 8:05PM) on a 48 foot screen with amazing speakers.  The event is free and first come, first served.  The series will continue throughout the summer. You can check out the schedule here: https://icfilmscene.org/series/filmscene-in-the-park/  Also on Saturday at 7:30PM at Hancher, there will be a free outdoor ballet performance.  Local restaurants will be selling picnic baskets to enjoy during the show. More information can be found at : https://hancher.uiowa.edu/2020-21/dance-spring-iowa-city.  Picnic information: https://downtowniowacity.com/28552-2/
 
Rtn. Aaron Schaefer told the club about Amana Colonies’ Maifest, starting at 10AM on Saturday and Sunday. You can learn more at: https://amanacolonies.com/event/maifest-2/2021-05-01/
 
Rtn. Ryan Bell re-opened his restaurant, Table, in North Liberty.  They have live music on Wednesdays, and great food every day.
 
Rtn. Linda Farkas announced that World Affairs and RYLA interviews have been completed, and we are (virtually) sending 34 participants to World Affairs from Iowa City, and 17 to RYLA.  She gave her thanks to our Club for their financial support and assistance with the interviews.
 
Rtn. Ryan Bell thanked everyone for helping with our Earth Day activities.  Our group planted 55 trees at Court Hill Park.  New members Rtn. Brent Christiansen, Rtn. Tagba Djato-Bougonou, and Rtn. Jesus Garcia joined and met some Rotarians in person.  Rtn. Dave Brown expressed his appreciation to everyone for their help with our adopted highway cleanup.  A great crew made quick work of the project.
 
The Rotary Moment of Gratitude and Positivity was delivered by Rtn. Gregg Shoultz. Gregg and his wife met at the University of Iowa and then taught overseas in Guam and Switzerland before returning to Iowa City with their expanded family.  He expressed his gratitude for the Iowa City community as a wonderful place to raise his daughters.  He is grateful for the amazing students, parents, and educators he’s had the pleasure of working with over the years.  He was particularly impressed by West High Student Dasia Taylor, who created award winning technology and was a guest on the Ellen Show this week.  You can view the video at: https://www.ellentube.com/video/astounding-teen-inventor-is-changing-the-medical-field.html?fbclid=IwAR2OOIGqgEww1L8yT-CJkHkdyknRioVT2z4wNqz-OquTzUKVOIDaSZgQdEY.  Gregg announced that he is retiring from Iowa City schools in a few weeks and will be teaching abroad in Nigeria.
 
New Member Induction: Anna Barker
 
PROGRAM:
Rtn. Devin van Holsteijn introduced today’s speaker.  Courtney Axline, a fellow Rotarian, is the Owner and Director of Learning Rx, which operates in Cedar Rapids and Coralville.  The organization conducts one on one cognitive skills training to help people think, learn, and perform better.  Clients of all ages work with a Brain Trainer to make their brains stronger, including children as young as 5 and 78 year old woman.
 
Courtney taught us about how we input information into our brains and how we can increase our cognitive skills and access the information more efficiently.  The Club participated in some interactive activities to help us discover skills like attention, processing speed, working and long-term member, visual and auditory processing, and reasoning.
 
The meeting ended at 12:56 PM as President Barb Thomas led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
 
MEETING:
 
Visiting Rotarians included: Gary Wicklund (Vail, CO); Courtney Axline (Gateway Club of Ely)
 
Guests of Rotarians: Michele Presley (Ryan Bell)
 
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.