Stories

1. Rotary International Presidential Award
2. 100% EREY Club
3. 100% Sustaining Member Club
4. 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
5. Four existing level 2 Major Donors, two existing level two Bequest Society Members
6. Annual gifts to FAMSCO and Iowa MOST
7. Four members D6000 Paul Harris Society
8. One of two clubs to receive the Golden Club Award

1. One Of 7 clubs receiving the District Governor’s Award
2. Rotary International Best Cooperative Project Award
3. Rotary International Presidential Award
4. Outstanding Club Newsletter # 2
5. Achievement in Public Relations Award
6. Four Paul Harris Society Members
7. 100% EREY Club
8. 100% Sustaining Member Club
9. 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club

10.  Two New Level 2 Major Donors, two existing level 2 Major Donors, two existing level two Bequest Society Members

11.  Annual gifts to FAMSCO and Iowa MOST

1. Four Paul Harris Society Members
2. 100% EREY Club
3. 100% Sustaining Member Club
4. 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
5. Rotary International Presidential Citation
6. Assistant Governor Kenneth Donnelly Completes service
7. Rotary Foundation Centurion Club
8. Two existing Level 1 Major Donors, two existing level 2 Major Donors, two existing level two Bequest Society Members
9. Annual gifts to FAMSCO and Iowa MOST

1. Four Paul Harris Society Members
2. 100% EREY Club
3. 100% Sustaining Member Club
4. 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
5. Rotary International Best Cooperative Project Award
6. Rotary Foundation Top 3 clubs in giving
7. Rotary Foundation Centurion Club
8. Two existing Level 1 Major Donors, two existing level 2 Major Donors, two existing level two Bequest Society Members
9. Annual gifts to FAMSCO and Iowa MOST

 

1.     Three Paul Harris Society Members

2.     100% EREY Club

3.     100% Sustaining Member Club

4.     100% Paul Harris Fellow Club – Firstin District 6000 (June 2006)

5.     Rotary International PresidentialCitation

6.     $50 per member Gold Award toKatrina Relief Fund

7.     8% growth in membership growth

8.     Bronze level donations per member toSpecial Olympics

9.     Rotary Foundation Top 3 clubs ingiving

10.  Rotary Foundation Centurion Club

11.  Two existing Level 1 Major Donors, two existing level 2 Major Donors, twoexisting level two Bequest Society Members

12.  Annual gifts to FAMSCO and Iowa MOST

13.  Significant donor to Rebaz for heart surgery

14.  Presidential Commendation to inserts to local newspapers

15.  Four Way test essay by high school student – Aaron Campbell – HonorableMention

16.  Rotary International District Service Awards to Tom Brooke and BillKoellner

17.  Rotary Song won in District 6000 by Audrey Allen, now deceased

1. Rotary International Presidential Citation
2. Governor’s Centennial Citation – 1st in District 6000 – Ken Donnelly and WL Club
3. Gifts to Rebaz for surgery
4. Centennial Community project of High School Sign

1. Per Capita giving of $123.26 per member
2. Rotary International Presidential Citation
3. Rotary Foundation Centurion Club

1. Per Capita giving of $100.00 or more per member
2. Rotary International Presidential Citation
3. Rotary Foundation Centurion Club

1. Fourth place in Electronic Bulletins
2. Third highest place in attendance for year
3. Rotary Foundation Centurion Club
4. District Governor’s Citation for great accomplishments during year
5. First place in membership growth
6. Per Capita giving of $100.00 or more per member
7. Rotary International Presidential Citation

 Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing membership guidelines, and to endeavor to include the appropriate range of individuals in their clubs. A club that reflects its community with regard to professional and business classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.

 

Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

 

For years, Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self has been channeled through the Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of club activity. 

• Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club. Learn about effective club service in Membership and Training.
• Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards. Observed each October, Vocational Service Month spotlights Rotary club projects related to this avenue, offering opportunity for clubs and districts to use their professional skills in service projects.
• Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
• International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. Rotarians can support International Service by sponsoring a project in another country, seeking international project partners to support projects in their own communities, or by personally volunteering at an international project site. Visit the ProjectLINK database to post a project in need of assistance, find projects to support, or learn about successfully completed projects to replicate.
• New Generations Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities as RYLA, Rotaract and Interact, service projects, and creating international understanding with Rotary Youth Exchange.

 

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
• SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
• THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
• FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Tom Brooke

Conrad Gregg

Deepak Giri

William Koellner

Tom Brooke

Mary Pat Brooke

Conrad Gregg

Janet Koellner

William Koellner

Tom Brooke

Mary Pat Brooke

 Tom Brooke

Mary Pat Brooke

William Koellner

Kenneth Noble

Jo Noble

 

Betty Akers	Deepak Giri	DeLynne Porter
Brad Akers	Conrad Gregg	Martin Rich
Audrey Allen *	Mildred Gregg *	Norman Rich
Steve Barber	Garland Haselhuhn	Rebecca Rodocker
Roger Benge	Steve Hinkhouse	Lester Royal *
Janet Bloom	James Keele	Kenneth Ruegsegger
Angela Brooke	Janet Koellner	Marilyn Ruegsegger
Bruce Brooke	Todd Koellner	Kenneth Rutledge
Darren Brooke	William Koellner	Pamela Schnittjer
Lori Brooke	Karen Lathrop	David Schulz
Mary Pat Brooke	Todd Leach	Donna Schulz
Patti Brooke	Terry Mahnke	Betty Schweer
Scott A. Brooke	Linda Malone	Victor Schweer
Thomas Brooke	Chris Martin	Sara Sedlacek
Ronald Brown	Rachel Martin	Mike Steinkrueger
James C. Carey*	Cindy Mays	M. Joe Stiff*
James D. Carey	James McCrabb	Velma Stiff
John W. Carey*	Janice McCrabb	Tom Strumpel
Jason Cassady	Cara McFerren	Michael Tharp
Karel Cline	Clifford McFerren	William Tharp
Robert Cline	Jeanette McMahon	Jeanie Thurston
James Conrey	Filmore Melick	Kenneth Wagner *
Marilyn Conrey	Jerry Melick	Gerry Wickham
Kenneth Donnelly	Lewis Morrison	Heather Wickham
Cloyce Downer *	Dana Nelson	Alfred Wilson
William Eichenauer *	Betty Nevins	Eloise Wright
Elizabeth Farmer	James Nevins	John R. Wright*
Ralph Farmer *	Jo Noble	Nathan Yoder
Edward Garrett	Kenneth Noble	Jose Zacarias
Amirta Giri	Jill Koellner-Perkins	Betty Zimmerman
	Peter Pohl	Al Zimmerman
		*deceased

Saluting Citizen of the Month
Sponsorship of Cub Scout Pack 141
Cub Scout Father-Son Cake Bake Sale
Muscatine County Fair Food Stand
International Children's Day Food Stand
International Picnic-in-the-Park Food Stand
Chicken BBQ
Fair Grove Stage and Canopy
Honoring Achievers in Sports
Senior Citizens Christmas Party
Bi-annual Blood Drives
Congregate Meal Delivery to Shut-ins
Bingo at Simpson Memorial Home
RI Student Exchange Program
Two High School Graduation Scholarships
Maintenance of Wapsi Park Rotary Shelter
Muscatine County Fair Float
WL High School National Honor Society
American Legion Boys State Sponsorship
Latino College Night Sponsorship
Cookies with Santa Sponsorship
RYLA sponsorship of two students
Muscatine County Fair Queen Sponsor
Middle School Dictionary Project
Books for Speakers to WL Public Library
National Special Olympics Sponsor
National Special Olympics Volunteers
Rotary Trash Cans in Downtown WL
Project Green at Mini-Parks in WL
New High School Sign for Future Events
Support of Manzinillo, MX Orphanage - Kitchen Equipment
School Bus for Manzinillo, MX Orphanage
Rotarians provide Labor at Orphanage
Polio-Plus Donations
Rotary Booth at Iowa State Fair
Group Study Exchange Hosts
Twelve Water Purification Systems to Rural Mexico
 

 Why I am a Rotarian

Hugh M. Archer (electrical engineering]. President, Rotary International, 1989-90. Member of the Rotary Club of Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A. Theme: "Enjoy Rotary!"

From the book Rotary Wisdom, Reflection on Service-Volume 2, Copyright © 1991 and 1998 by Rotary International, Evanston, Illinois

The story is told about young lawyer Abraham Lincoln returning to his overnight quarters after a busy day in a country courthouse. He was driving a horse-drawn buckboard and was accompanied by his opposing counsel. It had rained all day and the muddy road with its mucky side ditches presented a dismal picture. As they rode along, they came upon a sow entrapped in the ditch under a rail fence. Squealing with frustration, she was losing the battle to free herself. Abe drove on a few yards but then stopped the buckboard. He climbed down into the muck, lifted the rail and the sow clambered out of her muddy prison. Back on the buckboard, he resumed their journey. "That was a very unselfish deed, Mr. Lincoln," said his companion. "It was a selfish deed," replied Abe, "Had I not freed the sow, I would have lain awake tonight wondering about her fate!"

So it is with Rotarians. Aware that they have the ability to improve the quality of life of people around them, they know that their personal self esteem and well-being requires that they act. They act for a selfish reason. They receive personal pleasure in being a Rotarian. They want to sleep better at night.

All Rotarians have a broad streak of compassion in their psyche. They like to associate with others similarly endowed. They find that being in Rotary gives them access to others like themselves. The result is a worldwide endeavor interested only in increasing the quality of life. Worldwide . . . yes. But mindful that the '"world" starts right at home and with the neighbor next door.

That's why I am a Rotarian. When somebody has a brighter future because I did something helpful for them, I feel "better." I like to have personal self esteem. I need the respect of my companions and Rotary gives me the opportunity to earn their respect. I want to associate with people whose actions I admire. I like Rotarians and I want to be like them. I want to enjoy life. It helps to be a Rotarian.

Hugh M. Archer


N. Pratt Secrest [pulpwood distributing). Director, Rotary International, 1970-72. Member of the Rotary Club of Thomasville, Georgia, U.S.A.
My introduction to Rotary came at age three when my father was president of the Rotary Club of Athens, Georgia, and I at¬tended a "Fathers and Sons" banquet. My active membership began 20 years later when I was in¬ducted into the world of Rotary at the Rotary Club of Thomasville, Geor¬gia, U.S.A.

It took a few years for me to realize the magnitude of the opportunities available to those fortunate persons who call themselves "Rotarians." 1 began to realize that Rotary is so very much more than just a luncheon club! I came up with my own definition of Rotary:

"FRIENDS WORKING TOGETHER AROUND THE WORLD"
FRIENDS . . . because all we do and are begins with friendship. Friend¬ship which transcends all real and imagined boundaries, drawing us together regardless of race, color, creed, or gender.

WORKING . . . because the Avenues of Service are just that . . . Avenues of SERVICE, providing myriad opportunities to enrich and extend the lives of countless thousands . . . including ourselves!

TOGETHER . . . because I've experienced a strong bond that brings Ro¬tarians together in a synergy unlike any other.

AROUND THE WORLD ... the true internationalism of Rotary grows more exciting every day! Thanks to The Rotary Foundation, World Commu¬nity Service, Youth Exchange and multiple Fellowships, doors are opened and now the whole world is just a telephone call or fax message away from us.

Finally, Rotary is not a destination, it's a DIRECTION! Not a place at which we arrive, but a launching pad to a more useful life! That's Rotary!


N. Pratt Secrest


Tom Duncan Reed {groceries—retail). Director, Rotary International, 1984-86. Member of the Rotary Club of Springfield, Kentucky, U.S.A.
The question, "Why am I a Rotarian?", is entirely different from "Why I belong to Rotary." Like every member who has been in¬vited into membership in our worldwide organization, we all are members of our Rotary club because one person thought enough of us to propose us to membership; and, sad to say, some will go on to be "Rotarians," while others will remain "just members."

In my case, being a Rotarian began quite early in my small rural com¬munity of 3,000 people. It was my feeling about the leaders in this town that made me take so very much pride in the invitation I received to be¬come a member of this small Rotary club. I had always looked up to these business and professional men and had hoped to become a part of Rotary with them.

Then, one day I was invited into the Rotary club secretary's office and he told me about the desires of the local club and that he should sign me up and give me my first bit of Rotary information. This was certainly a day in my life I would never forget. The one great piece of counsel he left me with that day was, "Rotary means sharing." To this day, I have always tried to keep this admonishment close to my membership.

I quickly learned my personal enjoyment and satisfaction of member¬ship was keyed to the amount of involvement in which I engaged each phase of the four Avenues of Service. Each presented in its own way that opportunity of sharing Rotary.

Student Exchange was a very early interest in which our entire family became involved. The students spanned a total of 17 years of living in our home with our seven children, and our oldest daughter became an exchange student and lived with a Rotary family in Managua, Nicaragua.

My Rotary membership gave us many opportunities to involve the fam¬ily in the district conferences, international conventions, international in¬stitutes and assemblies. It's been my pleasure to have attended 20 international conventions in six different countries.

Good fortune allowed me to serve my Rotary district on two occasions as the district governor, which, incidentally, came ten years apart. Then one of the greatest moments of my Rotary life came when I was nomi¬nated to serve on the Rotary International Board of Directors. I will always be grateful for this grand experience.

To attempt to sum up "Why I Am a Rotarian," I would conclude by saying all that I feel and hope for Rotary truly lies in the Object of Rotary. These are the most beautiful and self-explanatory words we will ever read or attempt to serve.

Tom Duncan Reed

 I’m proud to be a Rotarian
by Sara Sedlacek • January 14, 2009
Over the holidays I missed a few Rotary meetings. I don’t normally miss meetings but I got fairly busy this holiday season. So, tonight was my first meeting in three weeks. I’ve always enjoyed being a member of Rotary but I didn’t realize how much I valued my time with the club until my return tonight.

First of all, I’d just like to say what a great group of people the West Liberty Rotary Club has as members. I’d be hard-pressed to find a more genuine, hard-working and caring group anywhere. Even though there is quite an age difference between me and most the other members, I still feel quite welcome and at home with my fellow Rotarians. I have gained great friends and mentors through the club and I’m so happy to know each and everyone of the men and women who I eat dinner with nearly every Tuesday night.

Second, I’m so proud of the things the West Liberty Rotary Club does for the West Liberty community and beyond. I’m happy to say I’m part of such an incredibly devoted group.

I’m sure most of you know about the Rotary Chicken Barbeque held each year and I know I see many of you with a turkey leg or tenderloin at the fair. I’m also sure there are probably a number of things the club does that you don’t know about.

Our most recent event was the Cub Scout Father/Son Cake Bake Auction. Each year Rotary sponsors the auction to raise money for the Cub Scouts. This year we raised over $1,600! This event helps keep the Cub Scout Troop funded all year.

We also host a Senior Citizen Christmas Party at Simpson Memorial Home. Usually we bring in a local musician or group to entertain the Simpson Home residents but this year the club entertained. Though I was unable to make it due to a city council meeting, I heard the Rotary Singers went over beautifully at Simpson Home and have been invited back next year.

The West Liberty Rotary Club, along with many other West Liberty organizations, gives two college scholarships to high school seniors each year.

We host Cocoa & Carols, which brought in a record number of West Liberty residents this year. I brought my two-year old nephew and he loved watching the middle school choir sing.

Each year we serve dinner to the families of the volunteer firefighters at the West Liberty Fire Department. We host international exchange students, sponsor the National Honor Society Recognition Night with the Lions Club at the school, we are a sponsor of the Latino College Night, we give daffodils to the widows of Rotarians and that’s just to name a few of our yearly events.

Something else we do that many of you may not know about is our international service. We sponsor an orphanage in Manzanillo, Mexico. Each year Conrad Gregg and Tom and Mary Pat Brooke head to Manzanillo to help out with maintenance and anything else with which the orphanage needs help. I can’t wait until I can go there. I also hope to someday be part of a group to go to Africa to administer polio vaccines.

We also give books to the library and dictionaries to school kids.

Groups around Iowa and the nation recognize the efforts of the West Liberty Rotary Club. Unfortunately, I don’t have room to talk about all the things Rotary does, but I’m proud to be a Rotarian and I hope West Liberty realizes what a great group of people are representing the community in this international organization.

West Liberty Resident Named to Corridor "Forty Under 40" List
by Sara Sedlacek
West Liberty sits on the southeastern tip of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor. With international and nationally recognized colleges and Universities, an exemplary transportation and communications infrastructure, diversified industries, cultural destinations, high quality of living and with one of the highest skilled workforce populations in the USA our place in this corridor is important.

"We sit right on the edge of greatness!" Gerry Wickham says about West Liberty’s location. President for the past two years of our local Rotary Club and resident of our community since 2002 Wickham has just recently been named to the 2007 Forty Under 40 honorees awarded by an independent panel of judges. The Corridor Business Journal will announce the members of this years Forty Under 40 class at a luncheon in Iowa City October 3. Te Forty Under 40 awards recognize professional and community excellence by people early in their careers.

Wickham is the Director of Experiential Education in the University of Iowa’s Pomerantz Career Center. He oversees a team of professionals who work with students to find high quality internships in Iowa, the USA and across the globe. He is also the director of the new Des Moines Center Internship Program, an academic internship program for UI undergraduates in the State’s capital. In addition to his professional duties he serves on The University of Iowa’s Civic Engagement Advisory Board. He is also a member of the experiential education committee of the Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers.

He is very involved in the community in West Liberty – leading the Rotary club with its many community service projects that include sponsorship of the McVey Chapter of the National Honor Society, the annual Chicken Bar-B-Que, sponsorship of the Cub Scouts Annual Bake Sale, an annual dinner honoring local firefighters amongst others. Under his leadership of the Rotary the club received the 2007 Best International Cooperative Projects award for its work with Casa Hogar Los Angelitos orphanage in Manzanillo, México.

West liberty Rotary Club has received three grants worth over $30,000 from The Rotary International Foundation used to provide a school bus, all new kitchen equipment and library materials to the orphanage in Mexico. This project has required collaboration with the Children Foundation, Inc. of Loveland, CO and the Rotary Club of Manzanillo. The Best International Cooperative Projects Award is not given out every year and is a significant achievement for a small Rotary club in a small community.

Wickham holds degrees from Carlow Institute of Technology (Ireland) the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland), Dominican University (Chicago) and The University of Iowa. He lives with his wife Heather Hermann (manager of technical support at Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville), their 7 year old daughter, Cora.

He came to the USA from Wexford, Ireland in 1997 and became a US Citizen in 2004. In his spare time he likes to cook, travel (particularly to old cities in Europe), brew beer, and is an avid swimmer. He reads everything he can get his hands on about Antarctic explorers and hopes one day to venture onto the frozen continent.

Wickham will be profiled in the October 22 issue of the Corridor Business Journal along with other area honorees, and is West Liberty’s only resident to be included in this year’s class. 

 City council approves Rotary donation just in time
by Sara Sedlacek • November 29, 2006
Members of the Rotary Club flooded City Hall, awaiting the approval. The Rotary spoke with the Parks and Recreation Board and the board approved the donation. Ruben Galvan, Parks and Recreation director, spoke to the council about the clock and the donation.

"My original plan was to fundraise for the clock," Galvan explained. "Then some of the members of the Rotary said that they would purchase the clock for the city."

Galvan told the council that he had seen the clock. He took a trip with members of the Rotary Club to the factory in Rock Island, Ill. where the clock is going to be built.

"You can’t really appreciate the detail work on that clock," he explained as he passed around a photo of it. "It’s a gorgeous clock."

Galvan said that while they were touring the factory they saw four clocks that other Rotary clubs were donating to other communities.

"We need to take advantage of the great organizations that we have in this community," Galvan said. "This is a great gift from a great organization to be given to the city."

Mayor Clifford McFerren agreed.

"You know, that’s what I like about our civic organizations in town," he said. "They really step forward and do very nice things."

The Rotary Club was the last group to fix up Ron-De-Voo Park and, according to the council, it seems only fitting that they should have their name on it once again. The clock, from the Fancy Street Clock & Light Co., L.L.C., stands 11.5 feet tall and will have a matte black finish. The clock will say "West Liberty" on the top and the face of the clock will contain the Rotary Wheel. It is the classic two-dial model pedestal clock. The clock will cost $5,790.00. The city will initially pay the $5,790.00 and the Rotary Club will then reimburse it for the full amount, $1000 of which Rotary member Conrad Gregg has donated from his own pocket.

"I always wanted a clock somewhere in the city," Gregg said when his donation was acknowledged. The council and Rotary thanked him graciously for his donation.

It will take eight to 10 weeks for the clock to arrive in West Liberty. Each clock is custom made and the factory does not stock any of the items that are used to build the clock.

The clock will be located next to the wall of West Liberty Pharmacy, between the bushes by the fence. The preparation work for the wiring for the lighting was done with the hopes of acquiring the clock.

The Rotary Club is funding the clock with, in addition to the money donated by Conrad Gregg, money given by the Howard Waters Trust, which is providing 20 percent of the project. A grant from Rotary International is paying $2000 and the West Liberty Rotary Club is paying $2000. The Rotary is also donating this clock in honor of John Rohner, former mayor of West Liberty and Rotarian who contributed a lot to West Liberty.

Where there is love, there is hope
by Ken Donnelly • April 30, 2008
For nearly six years now, a lifeline of financial aid and personal visits by Tom and Mary Pat Brooke and Conrad Gregg, motivated by love and service above self has linked our Midwestern community of West Liberty to a suburb of Manzanillo, in the state of Colima, Mexico in a town called Salaha. The object of this charity, 52 Mexican children, ranging in ages from a six-month old infant to high school students. Each child has a unique and heartbreaking story, some were victims of abandonment, abuse, severe neglect or extreme poverty.

The Rotary Club of West Liberty first became involved with this orphanage in 2002, when Dan Foley, an Assistant District Governor of Rotary and former West Liberty postmaster, asked Tom and Mary Pat Brooke if they would visit the place in the Manzanillo area while they were vacationing in that city.

The orphanage, Casa Hogar los Angelitos, was begun by a Colorado native, Nancy Nystrom, who started a soup kitchen for children she found living on the streets. Her dream was for a home for these children to grow both physically and spiritually. A generous donation from Colorado allowed a real “home” to be provided for the children in 2002 and basic renovations started.

When the two Brookes returned to town and their weekly Tuesday Rotary meeting, actions were initiated to get the children a used yellow school bus so that they might be able to attend school. The West Liberty Rotary Club, through grants from the Rotary Foundation in Evanston, Ill. and Rotary District 6000 (a geographic area made up of 62 clubs in the southern half of Iowa), purchased a used bus on E-bay from the state of Kentucky. It sat in Dallas Center, Iowa and took two long years to finally arrive in Manzanillo.

The gift of the bus was followed by another combination of Rotary International grants and West Liberty monies to purchase a freezer, a refrigerator and other kitchen equipment. In addition, beds have been purchased by individual local club members for the children.

The board of the West Liberty Rotary Club has authorized annual support in the amount of $3000 for Casa Hogar los Angelitos. Recent brick and mortar funds have helped establish a library, a computer room and a music room.

Way back in 1939, a new Rotary club was established in Wellman, Iowa with the sponsorship of President Hubert Cline, father of Bill and Bob, and the local club. Now two generations later West Liberty is helping establish the Manzanillo, Mexico Rotary club.

In addition to Tom and Mary Pat Brooke’s multiple journies as goodwill ambassadors, Conrad Gregg has driven six hours to the Twin Cities, then flown four hours in a 737 charter flight to the orphanage four times. The most recent visit was this past February. Conrad has seen the young person he sponsors at $450 per year, Raul, become a healthy and happy eight-year old. The West Liberty Rotary Club, as well as the Brookes, also sponor a child.

For Conrad, his annual visit combines a working vacation with strolls along the beach he has grown to love. In February, while we were cursing the snow, he wired in the new washer and dryer, installed multiple donor plaques on the wall and helped build a 10 x 16 foot stage for live performances by the kids. Conrad smiled as he spoke of the very talented Mexican youths who play multiple instruments and performed various dances.

Rotarian Bill Koellner mentioned that the first of the orphans who have graduated secondary school, now are pursuing post secondary education. An environment, a milieu, if you will, is developing, for what was a real impossibility just a few short years ago: a professional career, a good life-time job. “Where there is love, there is hope.” It is said that children are the hope of the future, with help from West Liberty, Mexican orphans are finding that hope.

Steve Stout, formerly a resident of Washington, Iowa, and now the president of the Manzanillo Rotary Club, stated that if it had not been for Rotary, this oprphanage would not have expanded and prospered.

Reports are circulating locally of possible plans by the Rotary in West Liberty to launch a local auction later this year or early next year under the leadership of President-elect Cindy Mays. This new club project will enable all local residents to support the Casa Hogar los Angelitos in bigger and better ways.

Will you help us, help them? 

 

West Liberty Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight: West Liberty Rotary Club
by Sara Sedlacek • July 15, 2009
It was late October in 1924 when the Rotarians of Iowa City decided it was time to start moving east. At a dinner served in the Masonic dining room by the Women’s Relief Corps, 20 local men became the charter members of the Rotary Club of West Liberty. Led by President L.A. Royal, the West Liberty Rotarians began a legacy that has spanned generations and continues today.

The Rotary Club of West Liberty now has 33 members.

“Rotary is everywhere around town,” said member and past president Ken Donnelly. “When you enter town, you see Rotary signs on Prairie Street, X-40, Highway 6 and coming from Atalissa.”

Donnelly explained that Rotary is a civic group and, though it is part of an international organization, has its hand in many local projects.

“Rotary is very big on parks,” he began. “Ron-de-Voo Park was donated by a Rotarian, John Rohner; and Rotary donated the clock that now sits in the park. We built the shelter in Wapsie Park and we helped get the tennis courts in the new Dutton Park.”

In addition to signs and parks, Rotary has planted and maintained (with the help of Alice Johnson) flower beds at numerous locations around West Liberty, including one at the West Liberty Post Office. The flagpole at Memorial Field was donated by the Rotary Club of West Liberty and trash bins around town were also donated by Rotary.

The Rotary Club of West Liberty is very involved with the youth in the community. An upcoming events sign donated by Rotary sits outside of the high school to prove that. The club has sponsored a local Cub Scout pack for more than 50 years, hosting the Cub Scout Cake Auction every year to raise money for the pack. The club also gives a $500 scholarship to a deserving young man and woman each year and sends a 10th grade student to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy each year. Rotary also helps pay for the students who attended Boys State. Rotarians are involved with the reading program at the West Liberty Public Library and each year the club donates dictionaries to every fourth grade student in the district.

The Rotary Club of West Liberty has most recently joined forces with the West Liberty School Foundation and the P.T.O. to help raise money for the new playgrounds at the schools. The first joint fundraiser will take place this week at the fair. The Foundation and P.T.O. will be staffing a stand right next to the Rotary stand, selling hot dogs, corn dogs, ice cream and more. Twenty-five percent of the profits will go directly to the playground. More fundraisers for this project are slated to be held next spring

The Rotary Club of West Liberty has had their own stand at the fair for 30 years, selling its famous turkey tenderloins. For more than 40 years the club has hosted its Annual Chicken BBQ, serving hundreds of chicken dinners to the community.

West Liberty Rotarians are no strangers to food service, of course. Each year the club serves dinner to the West Liberty Fire Department, the West Liberty City Council, the school board and the West Liberty Police Department.

As part of an international organization, the Rotary Club of West Liberty does its part to aid the international community. Since 2002, the Rotary Club of West Liberty has sponsored La Casa Hogar Los Angelitos, an orphanage in Manzanillo, Mexico. The club has provided the orphanage with a school bus, a new kitchen and several hours of volunteer work. Several West Liberty Rotarians, including Tom and Mary Pat Brooke and Conrad Gregg, go to Manzanillo each year to help the orphanage make improvements and repairs.

Last year the club received a matching grant from Rotary International to build a cancer treatment center in Brazil. A Rotarian from Brazil who had been a Rotary Exchange student in West Liberty when he was in high school, made the West Liberty Rotary Club aware of his area’s dire need for such a center and the club made it a priority to help him.

Long-time Rotarian and past president Ken Noble and his wife, Jo, spent time in India administering polio vaccines. Rotary’s Polio Plus initiative has helped eradicate polio in almost every country in the world. There are only four endemic countries left in the world, the lowest ever. Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria are the only countries left with cases of the debilitating disease.

The Rotary Club of West Liberty is part of a global community so it seems natural that the club has international members. The club’s president in 2008 was Gerry Wickham, who was born and raised in Wexford, Ireland. This year’s president is Deepak Giri, hailing from Nepal. Another past president was born in Mexico and a former member was from Germany, to which he returned.

The club currently has seven female members, ranging in age from 28 to 80.

The club has also seen multiple generations of families throughout the years. Jim Carey is a third generation Rotarian. His grandfather was a founding member. Bob Cline is a second generation Rotarian. His father was club president during World War II. There are currently two generations of Tharps in Rotary. Dr. Michael Tharp and his son, Bill, are both club members. Two generations of Melicks have been Rotarians. Henry was a founder and Filmore was the most recent member. Two generations of Keeles have been members and Jim is a current member. There have been three generations of Brookes in Rotary. Tom is a 58-year member.

Current officers are Deepak Giri, President; Tom Brooke, President-Elect and Treasurer; Jim Conrey, Secretary.

To find out more about Rotary or to become a member, speak to any current Rotary member. Visit the Rotary stand at the fair to find out more about meeting times and places.