PROGRAM:
Rtn. Devin Van Holsteijn introduced today’s speaker, Steve Dakin, the incoming Rotary District Governor. Steve has been a member of the Boone, Iowa Rotary Club since 1975 and his wife, Lesley, is a member of a Boone satellite club. Steve has dyed his beard purple this year as both a conversation starter and to represent the fight to end Polio.
Steve began selling Sukop products in 1975. Sukop Manufactoring Company is family owned and operated with its headquarters in Sheffield, Iowa. Their focus is on grain drying equipment.
Project Safe T Home began in 2010 when there was a severe earthquake in Haiti. Sukop designed grain bins to become safe and secure homes. The structures can be assembled in about 4 hours using basic hand tools, they are anchored with concrete, have lockable doors and windows, and can withstand wind, fire, earthquakes, and termites. They are actually quite comfortable – their double roofs displace heat so they can be 30 degrees cooler than outside. With a loft, they can have about 400 square feet of living space. Larger structures can also be used for hospitals, stores, churches, etc.
There are almost 500 Safe T Homes around the world now (290 in Haiti, and others in Peru, Kenya, Uganda, and Eygpt). When Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti with 140 mph winds in 2016, only 10% of traditional housing survived, but 100% of the Safe T Homes stood. Sukop partners with GoServe Global to find the need and facilitate the delivery and installation of the homes. The total cost to manufacture, deliver, and install a home is $7,000. Steve encourages members to follow the groups on social media: @GoServeG, @SukopMfg.
Steve also discussed the Boone Rotary Club’s use of satellite clubs. A few years ago, they started an evening club to give members who cannot make daytime meetings a chance to participate. Mostly teachers and others who cannot leave their jobs during the day have joined the evening club.
The meeting ended at 1:00 PM as President Jim Conard led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
MEETING:
Singing: America the Beautiful was lead by Rtn. Bob Crane.
Rtn. Carlin Parish announced visiting Rotarians John Ockenfels (Iowa City AM); Steve Dakin (Boone); Lesley Dakin (Boone); and Maria Osterberg (Bettendorf).
Guests of Rotarians: Charley Buck (Jim Merchant); Kitty Chadima (Colleen Brown); McKenzie Musser (Colleen Brown); and Jonathan Brenson (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
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.