Rotary File - December 9, 2014
Announcements:
Thanks to Peggy Doerge for hosting the well-attended Monday Opener chili supper last night. She reported a net gain of two bottles of wine on top of all of the empties. Deb Ockenfels won the horrible Christmas sweater competition as the only entrant, but she’d have won anyway.
Joan Garrity passed around the gift-wrapping signup sheet for Monday, December 22 at the Coral Ridge Mall.
Sue Cronin needs help planning the AM Rotary grant recipient event in February, there will be a short meeting after today’s membership meeting.
Brian Adamec says the second order of toffee almonds will be in next week. We’ll send 15 kids to RYLA training next year, due primarily to Bryan’s fundraising activities. 70% of the income from nut/gift sales came from our own members.
Roger says sign up for dishwashing duty! And use the correct sheet this time.
Election Results – Deb Dunkhase was somehow unanimously selected (before any voting occurred) to be our President-Elect – her term will begin July 1, 2016. We are told there were no irregularities in the process. New directors who will be starting in July: Dick Huber, Deb Ockenfels, Phil Peterson. Congratulations to all!
The Coralville-North Corridor club will have a “Breakfast with Santa” event from 7:30 to 10:30 this Saturday at the Coralville Marriott– tickets are available from Mark Patton.
There will be an Executive Committee meeting one week from today (12/16) at 6:45 a.m.
Chris Knapp said there was a great reception and gratitude expressed at the dictionary distribution at Shimek school last week.
Deb Ockengels says that if any club has excess funds, the Keokuk club has 22 kids who would like to go to RYLA training next year.
Andreas Soemadi announced a fundraising website for space exploration that allows donors to name features on Mars; www.uwingu.com.
Rotarians in the News: Rick Dobyns was quoted, and Casey Cooke had something to say about the three historic (?) cottages that have been in the news recently.
Speaker: Deb PVA introduced Tammy (Richardson) Wright, Executive Director of Bur Oak Land Trust, formerly Johnson County Heritage Trust.
The Bur Oak Land Trust is a local non-profit organization committed to the preservation and enjoyment of natural areas in Johnson County and nearby areas in Iowa. These include prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and sites of historic, archeological or scenic interest.
The Trust currently maintains and preserves eight local natural areas, for the enjoyment and education of the public, and holds 13 conservation easements.
The Bur Oak Land Trust is a land trust which accepts donations of land from residents and landowners who want their natural areas to be in the public trust, available for present and future generations.
The Trust can also arrange and hold conservation easements, facilitate transfers of land from private to public ownership, and advise land owners on donations, sale, and preservation of their land.
The Bur Oak Land Trust cooperates with other groups which promote and preserve natural areas, including the Johnson County Conservation Board, the Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department, the Iowa Nature Conservancy, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and the Iowa Environmental Council.
They are a member of the national Land Trust Alliance, and accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The Trust currently maintains and preserves eight local natural areas, for the enjoyment and education of the public, and holds 13 conservation easements. All properties are open to visitors/skiers/fisherpersons except for hunting (by permission only).