Shelby's Playground Renovation

Boji Brew Fest

Park Cleanup

Food Drives

Event Volunteers

Club Socials

Welcome to Iowa Great Lakes Rotary!

We're Meeting in Person and Online - Please Join Us!

Iowa Great Lakes Rotary is now meeting both in person and online via Zoom with Hybrid meetings. For the summer, our location may vary as we are trying some new locations out so we are able to spread out and meet safely. This week (May 26), we will be meeting at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. Our meeting will also be available to watch via Zoom online as well.

Our program this week will feature Ruth Ann Burke from the Okoboji Summer Theater. After a year off from performing, she will be sharing with us the changes that have been made in order for them to do a shorten season of performances this year. We look forward to hearing all about the great shows they have planned.

For those who plan to attend in person, we are doing a pay-as-you-go lunch option. This week we will be having tacos ad chips/salsa from Los Pueblos. If you are interested in joining us (anyone is welcome to attend) and would like a lunch, orders are due by 10 am on Wednesday mornings and can be reserved by emailing Membership Chair Kathy Fahy at krfahy@gmail.com. If you are interested in joining the meeting via Zoom, you can also email Kathy for the link.

We have a winner!

Jon Collins of Milford possessed the winning time ticket in the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary annual car drop contest.

The Rotary Car Drop is an annual fundraiser for the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club. Tickets are sold for each minute of the day with one ticket including both the a.m. and p.m. time. The winner is determined when the car, which is placed on the ice of Smith’s Bay on West Lake Okoboji, falls through the ice. Once the car is retrieved, the official winning time is confirmed by a clock inside the car and the winner receives $1000 cash prize.

According to the clock mounted in the car, the actual winning time was 4:58 on Friday, March 19. The 4:58 ticket was not sold though, so the winner goes to the next closest time - 4:59. Jon Collins, of Milford possessed the winning ticket sold by Rotarian Brad Jungers.

Bob Kirschbaum from Bob's Towing was on hand to retrieve the car on Sunday, March 21. Kirschbaum annually donates the car his time to assist Iowa Great Lakes Rotary with this endeavor to support community projects. Funds raised by Iowa Great Lakes Rotary are used for community projects, recently including the playground upgrades at Shelby Duis Park and the building of an outdoor Pavilion at Camp Foster YMCA.

Pictured in the photo are Rotarian Leo Kofoot, winner Jon Collins and Rotarian John Battern.

Rotary Donates for Pavilion at Camp Foster

Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club members attended an on-site meeting at Camp Foster on August 12th to see the progress taking place on the new pavilion at the camp. Although Covid prevented club members from actively taking part in the building process this year, the club still provided funding both from the club itself and a matching district grant.

The open air pavilion will provide an additional space at Camp Foster for staff and campers to gather for activities in the case of inclement weather or to be shaded from the summer sun. YMCA CEO Andrew Fisher (also a member of the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club) provided the group with an update of the construction process as well as gave a tour of camp facilities.

Rotary Gives Back

The Iowa Great Lakes Rotary Club was proud to send a vehicle loaded with emergency supplies to assist with derecho recovery efforts in Cedar Rapids on August 17th. Tarps, batteries, chain saw oil, water, diapers and work gloves were among the items packed to help our fellow Iowans in need.

On Monday August 10th, a strong storm called a derecho packed 100+ mph winds in a swath from central Iowa into Illinois. Some of the strongest wind gusts were recorded near Cedar Rapids at 132 mph. The entire city lost power and estimates are that 80-90% of homes were damaged.The city lost more than 50% of its trees many of which were over 100 years old. Eight days after the storm, thousands are still without power and supplies are urgently needed to assist. Thank you club members for your generosity!