Rotary File - November 12, 2013
VISITNG ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
Martin Mueller, guest of Carl Christensen and former Ambassadorial Scholar and Iowa MOST volunteer
Karin Franklin—IC Noon
Carrie Watson—City High Interact Advisor; Hannah Langenfeld and BJ Sullivan, City High Interact
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deb Pullin VanAuken wrote to Casey Cook during her stay in France about the very different club meeting she attended.
Jack Tank was officially transferred from the Noon Club to our club. Casey Cook indicated that Jack is a well-known expert in the farming world and is an active supporter of Community Foundation and church activities. Welcome to Jack!
Myrene Hoover talked about Rotary news and mentioned that Rotary belongs to a global foodbanking network. We will also be doing our part in the area of hunger relief when we make our community grant awards.
We will have unofficial meetings on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Chris Knapp is being strongly considered for District Governor. Let’s all support his candidacy.
Elections: We voted for next year’s president-elect and directors at the November 12 meeting.
ROTARIANS IN THE NEWS
Rick Dobyns was spotted in a picture in the paper drinking beer to celebrate defeat of the 21 only initiative. Dave Parsons was in the press talking about roundabouts. John Ockenfels and his flying group were also in the press.
SPEAKER
Mark Patton introduced State Senator Rob Hoag from Cedar Rapids. He grew up in Iowa City and attended City High. He chairs a number of committees and is a member of the State Senate Ways and Means Committee. His talk was a continuation of the discussion on climate change that was begun a couple weeks ago by our speaker, Jerry Schnor. Hoag has written a book on the subject of what we can individually and locally help stave off climate change.
There is no longer much dispute that there are too many greenhouse gasses. We are up to 400 ppm and going up 2 ppm per year. Within a generation may be at irretrievable level. The major impacts that have already been felt are extreme weather patterns and ecological disruptions. A transformative moment was flood of 2008. The consequences of climate change are awful in terms of economic hardship and tragedy. Our flood was minor compared to the major events happening world-wide where thousands of lives are lost in floods and typhoons in places like the Philippines and Pakistan. In the US unprecedented weather events linked to climate change include most recently Hurricane Sandy. We can expect to have more disasters and for the impacts to increase substantially in the coming years. None of us asked for this, but we have all got to deal with it just like we had to deal with WW II. Everyone can afford the little things that help, such as changing over to LED lighting.
We all must get ready for the big disasters through water and natural resource management; disaster relief and recovery; better managed building with floods in mind. We can deal with greenhouse gases through energy efficiency and use of renewable energy—wind, biomass, biogas, solar. Hoag noted that a new VanMeter Corp warehouse has been built to LEED gold standards and in its first year of operation the energy costs of operation were only $330 for a whole year.
More Americans should get more informed and speak up more and the need for energy efficiency and sustainability. Lots of groups need help including environmental groups and faith-based groups working on disaster relief and conservation. Two of Hoag’s favorite groups are Climate Parents and Hundred Grannies for a Livable Future. Everyone can do something.
The key is to find your own way to get involved.
Liz Nichols
Notetaker