Presidential Message

Stephanie A. Urchick

President 2024-25

August 2024

If we are to truly change the world with The Magic of Rotary, it’s up to all of us to foster a sense of belonging in our clubs. But every club should take its own path to get there, and the Action Plan can help you find your way. What does that look like?

Take for instance the Rotary Club of Beveren-Waas in Belgium. It was chartered in 1974 but has evolved with the times, developing both a strategic plan and a membership plan. To find new members, the club analyzes the city’s professions to help focus its search, and all new members are quickly assigned tasks and roles.

The club also mixes up meeting times, alternating between evening and afternoon sessions, making them accessible for all members.

Sometimes, circumstances force clubs to make changes. But as people of action, we know that behind every obstacle is an opportunity.

Rotary Club of Indianola assisted The Groggy Dog Restaurant again this season to create meals for those who may not have other options.  The Groggy Dog, West Hill Brewery, Rotary Club of Indianola and donations from other businesses and individuals raise funds to make the Guinness Stew.   

Rotary Club members meet at The Groggy Dog on the appointed days to package the stew. 

Each batch created 25-35 meals which, when reheated, provides a nutritious meal on cold winter days.  Once the stew is packaged, it is frozen and delivered to Warren County Helping Hand and Heal House of Iowa for distribution. 

If you are interested in helping us purchase ingredients for additional batches of stew click here to fund the project.  Click the Read More to see additional pictures.

Rotary Club of Indianola was chartered on September 26, 1922. 

In September 2022 our club celebrated its Centennial as a member of the Indianola Community.

The Four Pillars of Rotary

  Of the things we think, say or do:

•      Is It the TRUTH?

•      Is it FAIR to all concerned?

•      Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

•      Will it BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The Rotary Motto:   

  Service Above Self  

Paul Dalluge (left) accepted the gavel for the 2022/2023 Rotary Year from current president Michael Kleene at our June 17th Rotary Noon meeting.

Rotary Club of Indianola Established a Peace Garden at McCord Park

World Peace is one the pillars of Rotary International.

By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.

 

 

Quote of the Day

 

"Plant seeds of happiness, hope, success, and love; it will all come back to you in abundance. This is the law of nature."

 

STEVE MARABOLI

January 30, 2022

Dear Polio Eradication Warriors,

"What is Rotary?"

As a Rotarian, one of the hardest questions to answer is 'What is Rotary?'  You would think that after 20+ years as a member it would be an easy question to answer.  But it is not.

Rotary has so many moving parts, in so many parts of the World, in so many different ways, well to be honest, it boils down to the people.  It becomes the question of "Who is a Rotarian?"

With the motto "Service Above Self", a Rotarian is one individual who wants to help those around them, whether it be individuals, communities or countries.    

As a whole, Rotary is made up of three parts: our clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation. Together, we work to make lasting change in our communities and around the world.

And yet, it boils down to individuals. 

• Individuals willing to travel around the world to deliver a dose of polio vaccine to a child. Rotarians have been doing this since 1987 and the wild polio virus has been eliminated from all but one Country - in the World. Think of the millions of lives that have been changed because individuals were willing to help others.

• Individuals willing to walk a local parade and collect food items for the local Food Pantry - The Helping Hand.

• Individuals, taking time out of their daily work schedule, to visit five different elementary schools and hand out personal dictionaries.

• Individuals who raised the funds and furnished the labor to build a shelter at the local recreational trailhead.

• Individuals who spend nine evenings, in a row, selling tickets and parking cars at the National Balloon Classic, so the Club can afford to purchase dictionaries and sponsor other projects in our community.

• Individuals who teach leadership skills to High School Youth.

• A Foundation, supported by individuals, that funds water projects around the world, providing clean water, which in turn decreases diseases among the people who live there.

• The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

So, to answer the question, What is Rotary? Rotary provides a fulfilling system that allows me to help people in my community, in my District and in the World, making this a better place for all.   

Terry Pauling,

Rotary Club of Indianola.