Rotary File - May 28, 2013

Posted by Dean Carrington

President Pam Ehly -- despite the end of regular University classes for the summer, Pam highlighted some eclectic University-sponsored summer educational opportunities.

Guests and Visiting Rotarians: Deb Ockenfels, guest of Nancy Pacha; Anette Nosted, Youth Exchange; Mike Quinlan, speaker.

Announcements:

May 30 Board meeting: 6:45 a.m. at Waterfront Hy-Vee. All members are welcome.
May 30 District Conference 2015 steering committee meeting headed by Mike Messier: 5:30 p.m. at the Kirkwood Room.
June 3 Month-Opener: 5:30 p.m. at Donnelly’s.
June 4 Farewell Open House for our Norway exchange student Anette Nosted: 7-9 p.m. at the home of her current host parents, Ron & Kara Logsden.
June 12 Fireside Chat: 6:00 p.m. at Tom & Louise Novak home, 609 Manor Drive. Targeted to new members; Committee chairs should try to attend/recruit; all are welcome.
June 25 Year-Ender celebration: 6:00 p.m. at Brick Arch Winery; French food caterer. Tickets are $20. (No morning meeting.)

Program: Mark Patton introduced Mike Quinlan, head of Hope House, Coralville. Hope House is a halfway house residential confinement facility operated by the Iowa Department of Correctional Services where residents are ordered to spend time under supervision. The facility houses three types of residents -- parole work releases, OWI continuums and probationers. Mike also supervises the Johnson County Work Crew, sponsored by Americorps. The Hope House residents and the Americorps volunteers provide critical manpower to the surrounding municipal communities, nonprofits and festivals. In 2012, these groups provided nearly 14,000 labor hours. Examples include renovations at Old Brick, unloading Christmas trees for the Optimist club, pulling weeds, setting up for festivals, transporting food for local food banks, and putting up Christmas lights along the Coralville Strip.