IC Noon Rotary Mtg Summary 8.29.19
Our meeting was called to order by President Jim Conard. There was a moment of silence remembering Richard Coplan who passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Services were held August 22nd. Dick was a very active Rotarian and part of the UI College of Medicine who volunteered many smiling musical times with Rotarians. Dick joined Rotary in 1992.
Announcements:
Rtn. Anna Stone announced tickets are for sale for the Joint Service Club Luncheon Oct. 10th at noon at the Hilton Garden.
Rtn. LaDonna Wicklund announced that they are connecting with the schools on how many materials they will need for the “I can read” program. Eighteen schools have signed up so far with over 900 literacy materials that need to be delivered. LaDonna asked for volunteers to assist with these deliveries. She also reminded everyone of the Rotarian Champions Party being hosted by the Funk’s Sept. 19th with tickets still available.
Rtn. Tom Cook announced last week in the Dominion Republic seven doctors were trained to treat clubfoot and those seven doctors were sponsored and funded by Rotarians here in Iowa. The second item was a reminder of the Ponseti-Kids for a Cause Fun Run Sat., Sept. 21st at the Marriott Coralville Iowa / 300 E 9th St. location. Run begins at 9:00 a.m. and is for infants and children up to 13 years old and their families.
Rtn. Verne Folkmann made a Paul Harris +2 presentation to Mace Braverman.
PROGRAM speaker:
Rtn. Devin van Holsteijn announced our PROGRAM speaker Rtn. Joseph Dobrian – Topic: Write Your Book. Joseph Dobrian has been writing for a living for more than 30 years. He is a novelist, essayist, poet, and financial journalist, also known as a political activist and TV talk show host. He has written four novels; Willie Wilden, Ambitions, Hard-Wired, and his most recent Feldy’s Girl, a 2019 National Book Award Nominee. All attendees received a signed copy of Feldy’s Girl. Joseph wanted to present this idea because he believes an organization like Rotary is sure to be full of people who believe they have a book in them. If you decide to write a book, you need to choose a subject about which you’re passionate – something that gets you up in the morning. The idea should excite not only you, but also anyone you tell about it. Run the idea past two or three people you trust to tell you the truth. He started with two pieces of advice from the science fiction novelist, Robert Heinlein – 1). You must write and 2). You must finish what you write. If you’re writing fiction, Joseph’s advice is “Write the story you’re dying to tell.” For non-fiction “Write what you love.” Don’t worry about finding a publisher, you have options. Self-publishing has become easy and surprisingly inexpensive. If you’d rather not do that, you can find small publishers all over the country. If you need a writing coach this is a town full of writers, and a lot of them offer consulting services. As for the process of writing a book, it requires discipline, discipline, and discipline. Give yourself a series of deadlines, each one more immediate and more specific than the last one. Once you’ve started on your project, write without looking back. Do not edit or correct what you have written till you have completed the first draft. Write for just one reader and have that reader in mind, all the time you are writing the book. With regards to the act of writing, some writers have a special physical space where they write, and they advise beginning writers do the same. Joseph best summed it up with writing a book is like shoveling a huge pile of manure. You need to never look at the manure. You’ll be overwhelmed if you do. Keep looking at the shovel. Look at every shovelful you take and forget that the big pile exists. If you can keep doing that, you’ll be astonished at how fast the pile disappears. Joseph offered to meet anyone for coffee and to spend time talking about what kind of project you might have in mind, your objectives and your vision. What book do you dream of producing? Writing your book. You’ll love it.
The meeting ended at 1:00 p.m. as President Jim Conard led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
MEETING:
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
The Club enjoyed singing America the Beautiful, led by Rtn. Bob Crane.
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.
Our Greeters, Bud Strub and Marilyn Lippold announced visiting Rotarians: Jack Cameron, AM Iowa City
Guests of Rotarians: Aubrey Yates (Assata Caldwell); Eric Hesse (Chuck Hesse); Rebecca Neades (Steve Quigley); Beth Cody (Richard Campagna).
Program: Devin van Holsteijn; Attendance: Nancy Droll