The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club concluded its 107th year on June 30, 2022 and celebrated many accomplishments making a difference both locally and globally.
The club awarded grants and financial support to several noteworthy local projects. A $1,500 Rotary district matching grant was provided for the purchase of a bench and tree for the new CHI Therapy Garden project for mental health patients and families at the CHI Health Mercy Council Bluffs hospital. Ten of the club’s 50 weekly programs were focused on local mental health issues and services during the year.
Another $1,500 club contribution was made to the Council Bluffs Public Library to support their outreach efforts for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project. In a related effort, 160 books were donated by club members to promote literacy through FAMILY, Inc. and Raise Me to Read.
Club members also raised money to fund six student scholarships to attend Iowa Western Community College. In fact, the club’s annual soup luncheon brought in $4,330 for scholarships. The club’s education efforts start as early as elementary school. It supported the Fifth Grade Career Fair, which involved 40 career presentations for more than 900 students. In addition, teachers and students were honored from the Council Bluffs Community School District, Lewis Central Community School District, St Alberts Catholic Schools, and Iowa School for the Deaf during a program to recognize education achievements.
In a similar way, the club expressed appreciation for the work and dedication of the Council Bluffs Fire Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office during a special ceremony.
For more than 35 years, Rotary International has been committed to the eradication of polio globally. For that purpose, the Rotary Noon Club raised $1,485 during the year. Local club members donated another $15,475 to the Rotary Foundation, which helps fund the Rotary district grant program. That total was made possible by ten members contributing $1,000 each. For doing so, the ten each received Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow award. In other fundraising, the club holds an annual poker tournament. That event alone brings in $5,689.78 for the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary District 5650 puts a spotlight on the exemplary work of its 45 clubs. In July 2021, the Noon Club received the district’s Expand our Reach award under excellence in public image. The club earned that accolade for the assistance its members provided during the Pottawattamie County COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
The club assisted many other causes and activities. These included the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, Celebrate CB Clean Sweep, Westfair, Centro Latino Festival, HotMeals USA, RYLA Youth Camp, The 712 Initiative shoe drive, Ukraine relief supplies, toiletry bags for the Joshua House, and Christmas gifts for New Visions.
The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club had 87 members at year-end, having inducted 13 new participants during the previous 12 months.
The mission of Rotary Clubs is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
For more information about the Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club or Rotary International, please send an email to [email protected].
