At the last meeting in 2023, on December 19th, President SchraderBachar presented the AG&CC staff, Adam and Cindy, with a Christmas card to thank them for taking such good care of us during the past year. Inside each card was $200 cash. Thank you and Merry Christmas, Cindy and Adam!
Paul Romanelli was inducted into the Rotary Club of Ankeny on December 6th. Paul was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Janesville, Wisconsin where he was a past president and participated in two overseas service projects. He is a retired Orthodontist, and has been a Rotarian for 33 years.
Heidi Kramer has been a member of the Rotary Club of Ankeny for the past four years as a member of Blessman International's corporate membership and has been chairing the Club's Membership Services Committee. She has now taken a new position with Delta Dental and will no longer be able to attend Rotary. President SchraderBachar presented her with a gift bag for her service at her last meeting on December 19th. Thank you Heidi for your service!
The Ankeny Golf & Country Club will be remodeling the banquet room where Rotary meets each Tuesday. The remodeling will begin in January and is expected to be completed by the end of March. Rotary meetings will be moved to the dining room and members will need to enter through the golf pro shop or through the east door into the bar area while construction is in progress.
The Rotary Club of Ankeny and the Rotary Club of Ankeny Evening held their joint 2024 Christmas social at Briarwood Golf Club on December 12th. The theme for the evening was "Santacon", with many guests dressing in a Santa costume or wearing a Santa hat, in honor of the late Gary Welch. Evening Club President Kristofer Orth welcomed the Rotarians and guests and then took a moment to pay tribute to Gary Welch, reflecting on his contributions, kindness, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind. His spirit lives on in the warmth and camaraderie of our Rotary community. Later in the evening Noon Club President recognized Gary's wife, Colleen Welch, by announcing the Club was making her an "Honorary" member of Rotary. She was also presented with the gift of a large poinsettia.
The evening also featured a fierce and friendly trivia session! Teams battled it out in a battle of wits, showcasing their knowledge and quick thinking. Team Gary brought their A-game to the trivia session, and the result was victory for them! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable night! Your presence and participation made the Ankeny Rotary Christmas Social a resounding success. Here's to the spirit of giving, camaraderie, and the cherished memories we create together.
Thank you to the ShevaughnMoore and the rest of the social committee for organizing such a great event!
An application for a corporate membership in the Rotary Club of Ankeny has been received from the Ankeny Community School District. Superintendent Dr. Erick Pruitt will be the "Primary Member" and he has asked for an exception to our guidelines for a corporate membership to allow for four additional members be included instead of just three. The Board has approved this application and this exception. The proposed members are
Dr. Erick Pruitt - Ankeny Community School District Superintendent
Darin Haack - Assistant Superintendent Amy Dittmar - Assistant Superintendent Katie Claeys - School Board President Jessie Dirks - Chief Officer of Legal Affairs and Strategic Initiatives
Comments regarding this application may be forwarded to any Board member.
The Rotary Club of Ankeny was chartered on January 19, 1973 and the Club celebrated with a "50th Anniversary Gala" on January 21st. In recognition of the completion of a year of celebrating, the members and several special guests shared in a special cake during the last meeting of 2023 on December 19th. The special guests included District Governor Dennis Drager, District Governor Elect Dave Cook, District Governor Nominee Norland Hinke and Cindy Hinke, Past District Governor Steve Wieneke and Brenda, and Past District Governor Steve Dakin.
District Governor, Dennis Drager, attended the December 19th meeting for the Rotary Club of Ankeny and presented President SchraderBachaer with a certificate of appreciation from Rotary International for the financial support the club provide in the 2022-2023 year in support of the "End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign". The certificate is signed by Ian Riseley, Chair of the The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Jennifer Jones, President of Rotary International.
The 2024 PolioPlus night at the Iowa Wolves will be Friday, February 23rd at 7:00 PM at Wells Fargo Arena. The Wolves will be playing the Rio Grande Vipers that night. The tickets are discounted to $20 each with $10 from each refunded to the Club to be donated to PolioPlus. More information will be provided later but "Save the Date".
Ankeny Rotarians have been ringing the bell for the Salvation Army in each of the past 8 years. Several dedicated Rotarians rang the bell at the Hy-Vee stores in Ankeny on December 9th. The spirit of giving was truly alive as our dedicated Rotarians selflessly stood by the iconic red kettle, sharing smiles and spreading warmth to everyone passing by. In the true spirit of "Service Above Self" these Rotarians made a positive impact on our community by supporting the Salvation Army's mission to provide assistance to those in need.
Evening club members rang the bell at the north HyVee store and collected $723.28. The bell was rang by noon club members at the Prairie Trail store and collected $341.96. With an additional $1,000 donated by the noon club, the total raised was $2,065.24. Thank you to everyone that took time to Ring the Bell!
Ankeny Mayor, Mark Holm, issued a proclamation on December 18, 2023, stating the month of January 2024 as "Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month", and encouraging all citizens to become more informed on this growing problem, to be vigilant and report suspicious activity, and to work towards solutions to end tracking in all its forms in our community. If you see something that doesn't look right, take actin and call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. For more information and resources about trafficking in Iowa, go to the Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery website at www.iowanaht.org.
Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute or have had contributions made in their name of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. It was established in 1957. Early Paul Harris Fellows received a certificate of recognition. In 1969, the Foundation unveiled the first Paul Harris medallion at the RI Convention in Honolulu, HAWAII. Japanese artist Fiju Tsuda created the piece under the direction of then past Foundation Trustee Kyozo Yuasa. Today Paul Harris Fellows receive a certificate and pin and are eligible to purchase a medallion.
The medallions are 1-1/2" diameter with antique brass finish and features the image of Rotary International founder Paul Harris on one side and the Rotary Masterbrand emblem on the other. The medallion is shipped in in a gift box and includes a royal and gold neck ribbon. If you are a Paul Harris Fellow and would like to purchase a medallion, contact Nate Burnham, nfburnham@gmail.com and he will order one for you. The cost is $15 each.
Have you considered placing an ad for your business on the Rotary Club of Ankeny's web site? Space is available! All ads appear on a rotational basis on the home page, down the right hand panel, on all sub pages, and on the left hand panel of the club bulletin that is emailed to all members and friends of the club. Ads will be 1/2 inch tall and are $100 for a full year. The cost of the ad can be included in your next Rotary quarterly billing. The ad may be your company logo or a text based ad and will include a link to your website or email address. Contact Nate Burnham with questions or to set up your ad.
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