Called to order at 11:58a by P. Kelley Kreuger (PKK).  Aaron Schaeffer (and almost Anna Moyers-Stone) led the us a Capella singing “You Are My Sunshine”.

 

PRESIDENT and OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS (more than a  Sunday church bulletin, so hang on):   

PKK: 1) Kudos to Lynette Marshall who received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Assn. of Fund-raising Pros, E. Ia Chapter to be presented 11/12, 4-6p at Field Day Brewing, NL. ; 2) Rotarians had coffee at Kindred Coffee on 9/26; 3) RYLA/WAS funding brochures on reg tables; 4) AM Club needs landscaping volunteers at Open Heartland on 10/17, 830a; 5) orientation and ICPL library tour for Anna Mongano, 9/30, ICPL, 2d floor, look for Ryno; 6) misc. area club doings--grants approved for software for area foodbanks (AM Club), and a “Buddy Bench” at East Ridge Elem. (Corr/NL), Walk/Ride fundraiser @ Terry Trueblood (11/7).  AND, a few more….

Literary Champs partied at Kecia B’s on 9/24 (LaDonna Wickland); Kerber Heartsafe 2025 annual report published (Jim Merchant); Aaron Schaeffer presented 2d Paul Harris award (Verne Folkman).

 

Kristie Fisher, 60^th President of Kirkwood CC, presenting the 2026 state of the institution report (intro by Eric Weiler).  Officially serving 7 counties (plus parts of 11 adjacent ones!), KCC has lived its mission of “Access (for all), Every Student (‘s success), and Continuing Innovation” to deliver Assoc. Degrees, diplomas, ad hoc certificates, HS equivalency credits, industry credentials, and workforce training certificates to 1,000’s over its 60 year history, generating an estimated $800-Mm in economic impact annually, along with hundreds of jobs.  Is this a success story for all of us to be proud of—you bet, just keep reading!

 

A faculty of 230 full-timers and 450+ adjuncts, supported by 568 FT staff and 206 part-timers, work to serve students in three primary groups: HS students enrolled for college credit (40%)—who save an estimated $12-mm in 4-yr tuition for their families; career and technical training (37%); and liberal arts majors (22%) who plan to transfer to a number of public and private 4-year institutions that participate with KCC via articulation agreements—again saving families and individuals $ 1,000’s in tuition requirements for baccalaureate degrees.

 

By the numbers: KCC enrolls 43k students (17k credit, 28k workforce and career) representing residents from 93 IA counties, 42 states and 50 countries; delivering 237k credit hours over 150 different credit majors, degrees, diplomas and certifications.  Awards $3.6 Mm in scholarships. Eighty percent of students attend part-time, avoiding costly career interruptions.  Fifty-two percent of students graduate or transfer within 3 years. 

 

Kirkwood, the largest of Iowa’s junior colleges, is the crown jewel of the system and of Iowa as well.  It would be difficult to encounter anyone in our state who has not benefitted in some way from an association with the College.

 

Visiting Rotarians: Peggy Doerge, Jim Peterson and Nancy Pacha (IC/AM); and Guests Tara Sterba and Ellen Fox (PKK and Anna M-S); Dave Kapler (Aaron S.); Jared Pourroy (Verne F.).

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

 

Program: Haley Rosendahl; Attendance: Nancy Droll.