Friday, March 24, 2017

The Mayors Come to Town

March 22, 2017 - This past Wednesday, our presenters were Mayor Quentin Hart from Waterloo and our very own Mayor Jim Brown from Cedar Falls.

They discussed what was going on in their cities, future plans and how they are working together in a collaborative effort to make our communities a better place to live, play, raise families, and work.  Public safety is always a major concern for them.  They talked about streamlining the respective governments doing more with fewer assets.  They both talked about new building permits were way up over last year so we are witnessing more jobs and getting backfill taxes from the promised state funds already owed to rebuild our infrastructure.  They are working hard to promote the Cedar Valley to attract future business to reside here for job growth.  Both Mayors said water treatment was a major priority to keep our waterways and environment safe and clean for the public consumption.


Our Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Riser Club feels citizens in Cedar Falls and Waterloo are very fortunate to have leaders who are men of their caliber.  -  by Lynne Barnes

Saturday, March 18, 2017

What's Happening at the YMCA?

March 15, 2017 - Angie Widner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Family YMCA of Black Hawk County spoke to us last Wednesday. She shared the mission of their YMCA which is: The YWCA of Black Hawk County is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all

Anyone can join in the swim and gym programs and other YMCA programs.  They serve over 400 local youth with a number of youth-centered activities and sports.  

They have success stories that show over 91% of involved youth have an improved GPA over their previous school year.  The children involved in the Y's Reading Program have 87% better proficiency from last year.  

Angie said that they are always looking for volunteers for help and assistance with financing equipment to support youth programs and camperships.  
Written by Lynn Barnes

Monday, March 6, 2017

365 & Counting: Iowans in the Vietnam War

Tom Brickman - Originator of Project


March 8, 2017 - At our last Wednesday Cedar Falls Kiwanis Club Meeting, Tom Brickman of Janesville spoke on his firsthand war experience as an Army specialist that he spent his tour of duty in Vietnam 48 years ago.  Combat is something hard for Veterans to revisit and discuss.


Tom and his daughter, Shari Kirkpatrick saw a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, Iowa.  What Tom saw trigged memories and nightmares he long ago tried to suppress. During 1967-68, Tom was attached to U.S. Army 196th Light Infantry Brigade in the American Division encompassing the Vietnam War. He served with distinction in heavy combat in Chu Lai, Da Nang, survived the 1968 Tet offensive and earned four battle stars and received the coveted U.S. Army Medal of Commendation for Meritorious Service during his tour overseas.

Chris Shackelford - Grout Museum
However, Brickman wanted to see more than just names, a quick profile, and sterilized statistics on his band of brothers. He thought the photographs of the fallen heroes would fill an emptiness he felt and have faces honoring his fellow comrades at arms that sacrificed everything for their country; so we would never forget their patriotism and devotion.

Tom and Shari were on a mission to match a photograph to all of the 853 names on the Iowans who fell in Vietnam and hope to have all photos eventually of all of the 58,261 of the fallen soldiers in the United States who paid the last full measure of devotion.

Tom and Chris Shackelford of the Grout Museum discussed to the Rough Risers Club about the new permanent Vietnam War display they both worked on to set up at the Five Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honoring all Iowans who served honorably and faces all of the fallen so they are never forgotten on their sacrifice. It's also because those who gave their lives were more than just names on a wall.  Written by Lynn Barnes

Sunday, March 5, 2017

March Includes Breakfast on the UNI Campus

This month has a variety of opportunities.  We will be learning about a Vietnam War Vet project, hear stories about the YMCA, Mayors will share their visions and we will explore how the vision for the Schindler Education Center at UNI came to fruition.

Wednesday, March 1 - Business Meeting 
Where active club members discuss their accomplishments and plans for running and developing the Rough Risers.
   
Wednesday, March 8 365 & Counting: Iowans in the Vietnam War
Tom Brickman and Chris Shackelford of the Grout Museum will share the Faces to Go with Names exhibit which highlights the lives and stories of all 866 Iowans killed or missing in the Vietnam War. Tom Brickman and his daughter spent several years finding a photograph of each of the fallen; and the museum staff have spent the last two years researching and writing brief biographies for each of the 866 warriors.

Wednesday, 
March 15 - New Visions at the YMCA

Angela Widner, CEO of the Blackhawk County YMCA will join us to share stories about the community importance of the YMCA and the visions they have for the future.
Wednesday, March 22 - Mayors Meet to Share their Visions
Mayor Jim Brown (Cedar Falls) and Mayor Quentin Hart (Waterloo), will provide us with the unique opportunity to learn about what if happening in each of their cities and then share how they are collaborating to enhance the Cedar Valley. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.



Wednesday, March 29 - Let's Visit the New Schindler Education Center (AT UNI)
Rick Knivsland, UNI instructor, recently visited us and shared the renovation plans for Schindler Education Center. Schindler is now complete and he has invited us to tour Shindler. The tour will begin at 6:30 AM and we will have breakfast in the lobby of Schindler beginning at 7:00 AM.  We WILL NOT meet at the Clarion Hotel this week!!


Saturday, March 4, 2017

Kiwanis Rough Risers Get a New Logo

  GREAT NEWS!!!

Kiwanis International has decided to update club logos.  Here is the latest icon provided by our Lieutenant Governor, Katie Orlando.

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Rough Risers Read in Read Across America

Our mission is to serve our community and one way that we can do that is by reading to them in their classrooms.  Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa organizes a day when people in the community read to children of Waterloo.  Many of our Kiwanis members signed up to read.  Thank you, Katie Orlando for organizing this stimulating event.

Click here to read the rest of the story.