The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club concluded its 108th year on June 30, 2023, and celebrated many accomplishments making a difference locally and globally.
The club awarded grants and financial support to several noteworthy local projects. Together with the Centennial Club, the two CB Rotary Clubs received a total of $3,000 in Rotary district matching grants for the purchase of bike racks for Thomas Jefferson High School and Bayliss Park at a cost of $6,000. The metal racks feature the Rotary wheel icon in a design that resembles a bicycle.
In another joint project of the two CB Rotary Clubs, $2,000 was donated to the Council Bluffs Food Pantry Association, along with food items collected at local grocery stores.
Reading has served as a recurring theme for the club’s annual projects. Twenty-one members solicited 434 books for the Books for Prisoners drive, which was inspired by one of the weekly programs presented to the club.
Club members also raised money to fund $6,000 in scholarships for four students to attend Iowa Western Community College. In fact, the club’s annual soup luncheon brought in $3,518.31 for scholarships and other worthy causes. 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, six teachers and six high school students were honored from the Council Bluffs Community School District, Heartland Christian School, Iowa School for the Deaf, Iowa Western Community College, Lewis Central Community School District, and St Albert Catholic Schools during an annual 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 in May 2023.
In other efforts, the club raised $11,200 for the Rotary International Annual Fund. The Purple Pinkie Project was held with the assistance of College View Elementary School and brought in $2,904 that was matched by Rotary District 5650 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. For more than 35 years, Rotary International has been committed to the eradication of polio globally. In other fundraising, the club holds an annual poker tournament. That event alone brought in $4,170.66 for Iowa Western student scholarships.
The club assisted many other causes and activities. These included the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign, Celebrate CB Clean Sweep, Westfair, RYLA Youth Camp, The 712 Initiative shoe drive, Winter Wear Drive, and Rock the Block.
The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club had 84 members at year-end, having inducted 14 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. The Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club has been serving Council Bluffs since 1915 with the leading purpose of “service above self.” A multitude of service projects and fundraising to support projects are carried out throughout the year. Weekly meetings are held on Thursdays at noon at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S 6th St, Council Bluffs.
To learn more about Rotary, consider membership, or make a gift to support the club’s many service projects, visit the club website at portal.clubrunner.ca/6088, contact Club Administrator Brandy Van Riessen at [email protected], or send a note to the Council Bluffs Rotary Noon Club at PO Box 673, Council Bluffs, IA 51502.