District Conference Huge Success!

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WAVERLY ROTARY CLUB

The Waverly Rotary Club did an outstanding job of organizing this year’s District Conference at Wartburg College. Special recognition goes to

Marv Walston and Larry Biddison, who co-chaired the Conference Committee, and to Emily Pawlak, a Waverly Rotarian who was a wonderful asset in her role as director of conferences and event planning for Wartburg’s Saemann Student Center. The entire club rallied to help with the many duties and details associated with the conference. I am proud of their efforts and grateful for their friendship and support.

36 CLUBS REPRESENTED AT CONFERENCE

Thirty-six of the 56 clubs in Rotary District 5970 were represented at the 2008 District Conference. Approximately150 Rotarians participated in the conference, which was held May 2-3 at Wartburg College in Waverly.

BUCK RECEIVES ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S HIGHEST HONOR

David H. Buck, a member of the Waterloo Rotary Club and a past district governor of Rotary District 5970, has received the Service Above Self Award, Rotary International’s highest honor for Rotarians.

Dave is one of 150 Rotarians worldwide selected for the award, which recognizes individuals who embody the organization’s motto of “Service Above Self.” The Rotary International Board of Directors said Buck was chosen from “an exemplary group of 365 nominees.” Past District Governor and fellow Waterloo Rotary Club member Steve Thorpe presented the award to Buck May 3 at the District Conference in Waverly.

40 CLUBS QUALIFY FOR GOVERNOR’S EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Forty of the 56 clubs in Rotary District 5970 qualified for 2007-08 District Governor’s Club Excellence Awards, presented during the District Conference. Clubs receive points for their activities at the local, district, and international level, and those with 80 or more points on a 100-point scale earned an award. Recipients were Algona, Anamosa, Bancroft, Bellevue, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Daybreak, Cedar Rapids-Hiawatha Metro North, Cedar Rapids Sunrise, Cedar Rapids West, Charles City, Clarion, Clear Lake, Decorah, Dubuque, Eagle Grove, Eldora, Estherville, Forest City, Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge Daybreak, Hampton, Humboldt, Iowa Falls, Iowa Great Lakes, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion-East Cedar Rapids, Mason City, Mason City Sunrise, Monticello, Mt. Vernon-Lisbon, New Hampton, Oelwein, Osage, Rockwell City, Spencer, Waterloo Downtown, Waverly, and Webster City.

CEDAR FALLS NAMED CLUB OF THE YEAR

The Cedar Falls Rotary Club was named Club of the Year in District 5970 during the District Conference. The selection was based on involvement in a wide variety of endeavors as well as increased attendance and membership through the year. The club spearheaded a well-drilling project in Tanzania and is hosting a Group Study Exchange team from India this month. Members of the Cedar Falls club have also assumed leadership in District 5970. Roger Kueter chairs the district’s Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee, and Jim Coloff heads the District 5970 Group Study Exchange program. See the club’s Web site: http://www.cedarfallsrotary.org.

BOEKE EARNS PRESIDENT OF YEAR AWARD

Dr. Steven Boeke, president of the Cedar Falls Rotary Club, was named President of the Year in Rotary District 5970. The award recognizes his leadership in the Cedar Falls Club and was presented at the District Conference, where Cedar Falls was named Club of the Year.

Steve was unable to attend the conference because he and fellow club member Gale Bonsall were in Tanzania, overseeing a well-drilling project. In a recent e-mail from Tanzania on the club’s Web site, Bonsall paid tribute to Boeke’s work on two Rotary International grants that are helping with the project. He also noted that Steve “has been tirelessly reminding our club that attendance counts and that new members are the lifeblood of any successful club.” Gale added, “It must be working as both are up. Perhaps equally important is that I sense our club has a renewed purpose that enhances our enjoyment of Rotary and our time once a week that we spend together.”

MT. VERNON-LISBON RECOGNIZED AS MOST IMPROVED CLUB

The Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Rotary Club was recognized as the most improved club among the 56 clubs in Rotary District 5970. Club president Don Cell accepted the award at the District Conference. The club’s membership increased by 40 percent during the 200708 year, including the addition of four women to the previously all-male roster. The club has also remained constant in its community and international project involvement and in its contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

KUETER NAMED DISTRICT GOVERNOR NOMINEE

Dr. Roger Kueter of Cedar Falls was named district governor nominee in Rotary District 5970 at the District Conference. Roger is a professor in the department of teaching at the University of Northern Iowa and will serve as district governor in 2010

11. Active in the Cedar Falls Rotary Club, he also chairs the district’s Ambassadorial Scholarship program, which offers a grant of $24,000 for one academic year of study in another country. Learn more about Ambassadorial Scholarships at http://www.district5970.org/ambassadorialscholarship.htm.

CEDAR RAPIDS WEST CLUB WILL HOST 2009 CONFERENCE

The Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club will host the 2009 Rotary District 5970 Conference. The conference is set for May 1-2, and the location will be announced at a future date. Dr. William Jacobson, a member of the Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club, will serve as district governor in 2008-09.

YOUTH GATHER AT DISTRICT CONFERENCE

Inbound and outbound Rotary Youth Exchange students enjoyed time together at the District 5970 Conference in Waverly. Past District Governor Mike Hamilton of Estherville chairs the Youth Exchange effort. Eight clubs are hosting Youth Exchange students during the 2007-08 school year, including Garner, Maquoketa, Cedar Falls, Iowa Falls, Waverly, Marion, Rockwell City and Forest City. The students represent Germany, Slovakia, Peru, Belgium, Argentina, Kyrgyzstan and Ecuador. Seven students from District 5970 are studying abroad as part of the Youth Exchange program in Mexico, Argentina, Slovakia, France, and Belgium. Sponsoring clubs for these students are Forest City, Mt. Vernon, Cedar Rapids Sunrise, Clarion, Cedar Rapids Daybreak, Forest City and Cedar Falls. Learn more:

http://www.district5970.org/youth1.htm

INBOUND AND OUTBOUND GSE TEAMS

Members of the inbound and outbound Group Study Exchange Teams met at the District Conference May 2-3. The team from Rotary District 3260 in India is visiting Iowa from April 27 to May 24. Members of the outbound team from District 5970, who spent four weeks in India Jan. 20-Feb. 16, were also at the conference, including team leader Tom Teggatz of Hampton, Dani Krass of Fort Dodge, Molly Pisarik of Monticello, Susan Tomlinson of Humbolt and Kathy Rogotzke of Mason City. Meet the teams: http://www.district5970.org/GSEPage.htm

CONFERENCE RAISES $14,000 FOR ROTARY FOUNDATION

The annual Duck Race, organized by the Mason City Sunrise Club and its duckmaster, Assistant District Governor Dennis “Chuck” Burke, raised $8,000 for the Rotary Foundation during the District Conference. A total of 1,600 ducks, purchased by district Rotarians for $5 each, competed in the race, which was held in the vortex pool of the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center. A silent auction and a live auction of items donated by clubs in District 5970 raised an additional $6,000 for the Rotary Foundation. Kay Englin of the Waverly Rotary Club organized the auction, and Roger Kueter of the Cedar Falls Rotary Club was auctioneer.

ISU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ADDRESSES ROTARIANS

Jamie Pollard, director of athletics at Iowa State University, spoke at the Rotary District 5970 Conference luncheon on Friday, May 2. His topic was “Communicate by Sharing.”

FORMER SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE STAR EXTOLS VIRTUES OF IOWA

Gary Kroeger, a Cedar Falls native who spent the early part of his career in the television industry and was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” spoke at the May 3 Pioneer Breakfast, part of the District Conference. In an entertaining presentation, Kroeger discussed his television career and his reasons for returning to Iowa. He is now associate creative director at Mudd Advertising in Cedar Falls.

SIMON ESTES ENTERTAINS, INSPIRES ROTARIANS

Iowa native and international opera star Simon Estes entertained and inspired Rotarians attending the closing luncheon at the District Conference. Following powerful renditions of “Ol’ Man River,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “Without a Song,” Estes described a career path that took him from Centerville, Iowa, to the opera stages of the world and performances for two popes, two U.S. presidents, and South African leaders Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. He also discussed his philanthropic work, which includes four scholarship foundations for young people and his involvement with the Simon Estes Music High School and choir, near Cape Town, South Africa.

PIERCE ABLY REPRESENTS INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT WILF WILKINSON

Carolyn Pierce, Rotary International representative to the District 5970 Conference, blended an extensive knowledge and involvement in Rotary with her warm and friendly personality to inspire Rotarians to greater service. Pierce spoke on several occasions at the conference and complimented district clubs on their good work. She was District 7890 Governor in 1996-97, has provided distinguished service to the Rotary Foundation, and belongs to the Rotary Club of Tri-town, Mass.