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One of the goals District Governor, Steve Dakin, set for his 2020-2021 term was to fund 25 Safe T Homes to be built for families in various countries around the world. These homes can sleep 10 or more people and feature a double-roofed system that displaces heat, a full-size, lockable steel door, two windows that can be locked from within and a water collection system. The Safe T Home is built to withstand hurricane force winds and has a useful life of 75 years. You can find more information at this web site: https://www.sukup.com/safe-t-home

A few weeks ago, Steve Wieneke issued a challenge to the members of the Rotary Club of Ankeny to match or exceed his contribution of $250 to support the Safe T Home project. Approximately $2,200 has been received, or committed, so far. At last week’s meeting, the Board committed to match contributions made by members through January 14, 2021 up to a total of $3,500. If you wish to contribute to this project, mail your check, payable to the “Rotary Club of Ankeny”, to Rotary Club of Ankeny, ATTN: Jim Ramsey, Treasurer, 911 North Ankeny Blvd, Ankeny, IA 50023. Please include the statement "Sukup Safe T Home Donation" on the memo line.

A receipt from the Rotary Club of Ankeny will be sent to you for your donation. Prior to year-end, the club will forward all donations collected to Steve Dakin with a check payable to District HEF (Humanitarian and Educational Foundation, Inc.), and a list stating all individuals and amounts contributed. You should then also receive a receipt from the District 6000 HEF for your tax-deductible donation. Another check and list will also be sent after January 14^th for contributions made in 2021.

Thank you to those members that have already accepted Steve’s challenge and to those that are planning to contribute.

December Rotarian Birthdays

The following Ankeny Rotarians will celebrate birthdays in December:

1st - Patty Munguia

2nd - Chuck Stewart

3rd - Scott Port

12th - Rich Job

14th - Tim Cox

15th - Dylan Dyer

21st - Doug Beech

29th - Katelyn Mateer

No In-Person Meetings Through Year-End

The Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Ankeny decided to discontinue in-person meetings through year-end due to increasing number of COVID cases in central Iowa. The Club, both noon and evening groups, will continue to meet via Zoom at least until January 4, 2021.

Prospective New Members

At their meeting on November 12th, the Board approved the following membership applicatins and changes:

Lincoln Savings Bank - Adam Boeding, a former member of the Rotary Club of Ankeny, will become the Primary Designee and Andy Pollock has applied to become a new Secondary Designee. Doug Parker will shift from the Primary Designee and become a Secondary Designee. Laura Brassell will continue as a Secondary Designee.

Sarah Green is currently a member of the Club as a Secondary Designee for corporate member Blessman International. Since she is now the Vice President of Philanthropy & Church Relations for Lutheran Services in Iowa, she has applied to be an individual member.

Erin Shaw is a registered nurse and is applying to become a Secondary Designee for Evening corporate member A Plus Home Care Services.

Sargent At Arms Committee

The club is looking for 4-5 members willing to serve on a "Sargent at Arms Committee". The members of this committee would take turns performing some of the duties currently being performed by the Secretary. Specifically, each member would be responsible for a month at a time to arrive by 11:30, assist with set up, take attendance, and put the Rotary items away after the meeting. Assuming there are 4-5 members on this committee, each committee member would be responsible for 2-3 months during the year. The Secretary, Nate Burnham, would still be around most weeks to assist but would be more free to help the speaker get set up, visit with guests, take pictures, and get set up for the Zoom call (at least for a while longer). This will also provide back up for when Nate may be traveling or unable to attend a meeting.

This is an easy and enjoyable way to serve the club and maybe learn the names of other members. If interested, please contact Nate at nfburnham@gmail.com or 515-238-6589. We would like to have the committee established and ready to start serving by January if not sooner. Thanks for considering.

Approval Received for Global Grant

Approval has been received from The Rotary Foundatin for an application to constuct sanitation facilities in various Early Childhood Development Centers across the communities surrounding Polokwane, South Africa. This award is in the amount of US$200,000. The project's one simple goal is to provide safe, hazardous free sanitation faciliteis for the benefit of children in early development canters as a basic human right. Currently, according to BBC News, South Africa has 25,000 schools with 4,500 of which are still using pit toilets. A pit tolilet is a hole in the ground covered by a platform. Many are shoddily constructed and as they get older become a death trap for young children.

Current Pit Toilet New Waterless Toilets

The funds from this grant will be used to to construct new sanitation facilities using dry sanitatioin technology. This application was prepared by Blessman International and the Rotary Club of Ankeny is acting as the US Host and the Rotary Club of Polokwane is the local club. The majority of the funding will be coming from one of Blessman's major donors. These funds, $115,000, will be given to the Rotary Club of Ankeny, and we will then forward to the Rotary Foundation along with $1,000 from our club. District 6000 will provide $24,452, and $3,938 will be provided by the Rotary Club of Polokwane and their District 9400. The balance of the funds will come from RI matching funds.

Doc Blessman Named Rotarian of the Month for October

Dr. Jim Blessman was recognized by President Wehr during the meeting on October 8th by naming him the club's Rotarian of the month for October. This is in recognition for the work he has done serving the families in need in South Africa. In the past year, Blessman International has led the submission of two Rotary Global Grants that will serve children and families in need in the communities surrounding Polowane, South Africa.

Halloween at Rotary

Sally (Popeye) Schroeder, Kathy (Olive Oyl) Sibbel and Nate (Elvis) Burnham celebrated Halloween early by coming to the noon meeting on October 27th in costume. Don't they look Boo-tiful?

What Is The Paul Harris Society?

The Paul Harris Society, named for Rotary's founder, is made up of dedicated supporters who annually contribute $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Rotary Foundation grant. The Rotary Club of Ankeny currently has seven members of the Paul Harris Society who have made this commitment. They are Juan Arias, Nate Burnham, Jacquelyn Duke, Tim Hawkins, Steve SchraderBachar, Sally Schrader, and Zane Smith. If any other members would like to become members of the Paul Harris Society, they should contact Steve ScheraderBachar, Chair of the Club's Foundation Committee. The contribution may be made as part of their quarterly dues, $250 per quarter, an annual contribution of $1,000, or a monthly credit card payment of $85.

Rotary Foundation Minute

In August 2019, Nigeria reached three years without a case of wild poliovirus. A year later, on the 25^th of August 2020, the continent of Africa was declared polio-free.

October 24 was World Polio Day and recognizes Rotary International’s immense contribution to the global effort at combating the crippling disease. Through TRF and matching grants by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the poliovirus is on its way to becoming history. Since 1996, Rotarians from across Africa and around the world have raised funds, immunized children, and promoted vaccinations all aimed at eradicating polio. More than 9 billion doses of oral polio vaccine have been provided throughout Africa preventing almost 2 million cases of paralysis.

Every year about 2 million volunteers help vaccinate over 430 million children against polio in Africa. Rotarians all over the world have contributed almost $890 million toward polio eradication efforts in Africa. With the Gates matching funds, TRF has spent a staggering $1.6 billion on polio eradication. The funds have allowed Rotary, through TRF, to issue PolioPlus grants to fund polio surveillance, transportation, awareness campaigns, and National Immunization Days.

Dr. Tunji Funsho, chair of Rotary’s Nigeria PolioPlus Committee was recently honored by TIME Magazine for his leadership in that nation’s polio eradication effort, and noted the impact that Rotarians have had on polio eradication efforts in Africa. Dr. Funsho said, “From raising funds and immunizing children, to providing ‘polio plusses,’ such as soap and health kits, Rotary members have shown resilience and steadfast dedication to our top priority of ending polio….no child in Africa will ever again be paralyzed by wild polio, a disease that once disabled 75,000 children every single year in Africa.”

“I am from a generation who has witnessed the devastating effects of polio. When I discovered how close we were to eradicating polio, I was very motivated to be a part of this movement. It is so rare when you can accomplish something so spectacular.” - (Angelique Kidjo, Beninese Singer-Songwriter)

District 6000 Foundation Luncheon

The annual District 6000 Foundation luncheon will be held online on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at noon. There will be presentations to Rotarians that have been recognized by The Rotary Foundation and District 6000 during the past Rotary year and also be a brief report on the successes that District 6000 has had by using the power of Our Foundation. The keynote speaker for the luncheon and special guest will be Rotary International President Holger Knaack. Don't miss this great opportunity to hear from our Rotary International President. Go to the Rotary District 6000 website, rotary6000.org, to register. Experience how "Rotary Opens Opportunities" through the The Rotary Foundation!

November is Rotary Foundation Month

November is Rotary Foundation month!! It is the mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty through gifts from it's members.

As the charitable arm of Rotary International, the Foundation taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise to empower them to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact. Through the Foundation, Rotary members have supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, provide basic education, and grow local economies. Rotary has also been a leader in the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.

Did you know:

Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.

In 1929, the Foundation made its first gift of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The organization, created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen, later grew into Easter Seals.

When Rotary founder Paul Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring in to Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created to build the Foundation.

In 1947, the Foundation established its first program, Fellowships for Advance Study, later know as Ambassadorial Scholarships.

1965-66: Three programs were launched: Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training, and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of The Rotary Foundation, which was later called Matching Grants.

1978: Rotary introduced the Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants. The first 3-H Grant funded a project to immunize 6 million Philippine children against polio.

1985: The PolioPlus program was launched to eradicate polio worldwide.

1987-88: The first peace forums were held, leading to Rotary Peace Fellowships.

2013: New District, Global and packaged grants enable Rotarians around the world to respond to the world’s greatest needs.

Since the first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $1 billion.

Gocke Named PHF + 5

Foundation Chair, Steve SchraderBachar, presented Jim Gocke with a pin containing 5 sapphire stones to recognize him for achieving Paul Harris + 5 status for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

2020 Holiday Schedule

The Evening Rotary Club of Ankeny will not be meeting on Tuesday, December 22nd. Neither the Noon or Evening clubs will be meeting on Tuesday, December 29th. No decision has as yet been made on a Christmas social for the members of the noon club. Evening club members and guests are planning to have a Christmas social on December 1st at the Villas at Stonewater clubhouse.

November Rotary Board Meeting

The November meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Ankeny will be held virtually, at noon, on Thursday, November 12th. All members are welcome to attend and it will count as a make-up. The Zoom link is

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665211033?pwd=WW9aWFBjQUFhdmhzTk9GVkdQYlpsZz09

A reminder email with this Zoom link will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

November Rotarian Birthdays

The following Ankeny Rotarians will celebrate birthdays in November:

3rd - Steve Wieneke

4th - Nate Burnham

11th - Laura Luetje

12th - Jim Foreman

25th - Jan Franck

25th - Del Mohler

26th - Kathy Sibbel

29th - Darius Potts

October Rotary Board Meeting

The October meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Ankeny will be held virtually, at noon, on Thursday, October 8th. All members are welcome to attend and it will count as a make-up. The Zoom link is

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81258959506?pwd=L1psZEFaa2hoUVV6Y294L1RNcjg5QT09

A reminder email with this Zoom link will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

Donation Request Guidelines

It is the "Object of Rotary" to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to encourage and foster "Service Above Self".

The Rotary Club of Ankeny makes cash donations to worthy organizations each year. Requests are considered by the donation committee with recommendations being made to the Board. If any member of the Rotary Club of Ankeny would like to request a donation, they should review the "Donation Guidelines" that can be found on our web site under "Site Pages" / "Donations Requests". The "Donation Application" form can also be found on this page.

Board meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. To allow time for the Board members to review the requests prior to the actual Board meeting, all donation requests should be submitted to the Chairman of the Services/Donation Committee, Mary Cochran, dcochran@mchsi.com, prior to the end of the preceding month. For example, for a request to be considered at the November 12, 2020 Board meeting, it needs to be submitted to Mary by October 31, 2020.

Coats for Project Fresh Start

For the 6th year in a row the Rotary Club of Ankeny will be purchasing 138 winter coats to be distributed by Project Fresh Start to students in the Ankeny Community School District at a cost of $2,502. Dave Kissinger attended the noon meeting on September 29th to accept the check and to thank the club for their contribution to the "Warm Coats" project. Thank you Dave Mercer for again leading this project this year.

AGAPE Thank You

With the assistance of a matching District Community Development grant, the Rotary Club of Ankeny provided funding for the AGAPE garden to purchase a potato plow. While participating in a service project to help harvest over 1,100 pounds of turnips and onions, members of the Ankeny Evening Rotary Club were able to get their picture taken with the plow. A very lovely thank you card has been received from The AGAPE Garden Team from the First United Methodist Church. "Thank you for the awesome gift. This Potato Plow is going to help us be sustainable for many years."