Dogs, Legos and Hospitals in February

Wednesday, February 3 - Business Meeting
Where active club members discuss their accomplishments and plans for running and developing the Rough Risers.    

Wednesday, February 10 – The New Sartori Hospital
Where would you put a new hospital in Cedar Falls? 
Jack Dusenbery, CEO of Wheaton Franciscan Health Care, will discuss their plans to build a new Sartori hospital. 

Wednesday, February 17 – The Hive - A Maker Colony
Whether you stitch, hack, quilt, tinker or are just curious, Amy Rousselow will fascinate you as she introduces The Hive in the Waterloo Public Library. The Hive is a DIY (Do It Yourself) environment to ignite your imagination and provide an experience. Whether alone or in groups, project-ready or looking to be inspired, experienced or a novice, The Hive will change the way you think about the library. Learn more about the Cedar Valley's first Public Maker Space that will open to library card holders in March 2016.   

Wednesday, February 24 – Retrieving Freedom

Keegan Birkicht from Retrieving Freedom will discuss the importance of service dogs for our veterans and children with autism. She will explain where they get their dogs and how the dogs are trained. The dog coming along will demonstrate a few tasks used in his or her service work. 

Rough Risers 2015-2016 Executive Board of Directors

From left: Jim Larson (Secretary-Treasurer); Leigh Zeitz; Bob Ericson; Tony Reid (President); Alan Czarnetzki (Vice-President); Tim Jones, Sue Loy; Rod Hamer (Past President); Cindy Hahn, Gery Deaver. This group works hard to guide the Rough Risers towards meeting its goals of serving the community and enhancing recreational activities for children. This leadership team meets once a month to conduct business, make decisions and swap a few jokes and stories.

Ensuring Students Have the Skills Needed for Future Jobs

Wednesday Jan. 13—A partnership of business, industry, educators, non-profits and government is working together to increase awareness and achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Dr. Jeff Weld, a member of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council joined us today to explain the program, how it got started and its benefits. Since the program began in 2011, the percentage of Iowa students who meet college readiness in science based on ACT scores has increased 47%.

We appreciate the time Dr. Weld spent explaining how STEM is striving to improve the state’s readiness for future industries and careers.