Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The "Programs" Tab is HERE!!!

Look up above 
Do you see the tabs on this screen?
There is a new tab. It is named .....................Programs





The Programs tab connects you to a page where "Program Controllers" (see previous posting) can post information about the programs and presenters they have scheduled.  It is also a way that you can look ahead to see what you might miss if you skip a meeting and what you will enjoy when you come.



It is open for you to use so just type in your information and to our plethora of programs.

Control is in YOUR hands!!!








Monday, November 26, 2018

"Program Controllers" for the Next Year

Yes, we have another wonderful year of programs to enjoy.  We love the diversity of topics and people that we get to experience each Wednesday morning.  We have had drag racers, city planners, financial planners, professors, presidents, mayors, monks, coaches, authors, contractors, fishermen, KWWL news broadcasters, volunteers, and many other fascinating people. These people work with Cedar Valley youth, build condos, plan parks, coach sports teams, fish, make haunted houses, build elevators, study the civil war, write books, and engage in a myriad of other endeavors. 

Usually, our presenters entertain us in our glamorous Clarion Inn settings, but sometimes we travel to other places for the program and breakfast.  We have gone to the Western Home Communities, Schindler Education Center at UNI, PFG Best offices, and this week we will go to Figaro Figaro on Main Street.  Sometimes we "beam in" our presenters from far away places.  In 2009, Nebraska-Iowa Area Governor - Ron Petsch joined us by computer. Also in 2009, Thynka Little used the virtual world of Second Life to share how she taught farmers about pesticides and other important skills through the computer screen.  Recently, Rushton Hurley joined us from San Jose to share the unique methods they use on the west coast to hold worldwide virtual club meetings.

The key to offering such interesting programs lies in the imagination of our Program Controllers.  These are the Kiwanians who are given the honor to identify and host 3 to 4 programs per month.  Have you signed up for this prestigious position?  Look below.   If your name is already on the list - Thank You.  If you can't find your name, contact Jim Larson and he will gladly help you sign-up for a month.


  • November              Leigh Zeitz
  • December              Tom Reisetter
  • January                  Tony Reid
  • February                Greg Stefanich
  • March                     Leigh Zeitz
  • April                        Alan Czarnetski
  • May                        Dale Jansen
  • June                       Larry Loesner
  • July                         Bob Nelson
  • August                    Rod Hamer
  • September              Gene Traetow


Our monthly programs really make our meetings interesting.  You have lots of great ideas - Join our Legion of Program Controllers.








Sunday, November 25, 2018

What Does It Mean to be a Kiwanian?

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world, one child and one community at a time.

Our mission is To serve children of the world.

The name “Kiwanis” means “we trade” or “we share our talents.” It was coined from an American Indian expression, Nunc Kee-wanis. 

Kiwanians are volunteers changing the world through service to children and communities. Kiwanis members help shelter the homeless, feed the hungry, mentor the disadvantaged, and care for the sick. They develop youth as leaders, build playgrounds, raise funds for pediatric research, and much more. 

No problem is too big or too small. Why? Because working together, members achieve what one person cannot accomplish alone. When you give a child a chance to learn, experience, dream, and succeed, great things happen!
As Kiwanis clubs and members, we see it everyday!

Fun Fact about Kiwanis 
  • There are about 8,000 clubs in 96 countries.
  • More than 260,000 are adult members.
  • Approximately 320,000 are 18 years old or younger. 
  • Each year clubs sponsor nearly 150,000 service projects and raise more than $107 million.
Members and clubs have contributed more than $80 million toward the global elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), the leading preventable cause of mental retardation.

Kiwanis is making a big difference in the world and so are you - One Child and One Community at a Time.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Americorps Makes a Difference in Children's Lives

Wednesday, November 21 - Giving back to the community to help troubled youth by involving partnerships for protecting children can be achieved by going through a national program called AmericaCorps.  Valerie Hockey, Director of Volunteers at the Center of Attention Community Resource Center in Waterloo, explained the aspects of services offered to the youth. They provide mentoring and tutoring to their participants.  The children first have to trust and then you must act the way you say.  

AmeriCorps engages in a lot of one-on-one interaction with the kids to develop their strengths.  They discuss dream paths leading to the careers the youth want to pursue in life.  They acknowledge strengths the children have to fit in their goals and the plan of action to attain their dream.  All adults that work at the center are role models and may be the only adults that these kids get to interact with on a daily basis. They may be missing their adult role models because they may live in a one-parent environment and/or their parents have to work multiple jobs to support the family. This lack of leadership can cause the kids to get into trouble or fall behind in their studies.  AmeriCorp is there to combat these challenges and support the youth towards success.

Thank you for all that you and AmeriCorp do for the children of Cedar Valley, Valerie.  Your presentation was enlightening.  You are making a difference in many children's lives.

Written by Lynn Barnes

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Chris Neuhaus Demystifies Google for Us

Wednesday, November 14 - Google is Everywhere, but how much do we know about Google and what it does?  We were fortunate to have Chris Neuhaus, Associate Professor of Library at UNI, join us today to take us on a tour of Google.  

As you know, Google is the leading search engine in the world.  While 90% of folks in the U.S. use Google while 95% of the rest of the world searches using this tool.  Another interesting point shared by was that Google doesn't search the Web everytime you make a query.  Instead, Google bots are constantly roaming the web and creating its own version of the Web that can be searched quickly and effectively. Interestingly enough, the model that Google indexes is only about 10% of the Web.  Remember the last time you searched for a bread recipe and received 19 million hits?   Funny thing is that that quantity is only an estimate and Google will only provide you with about 200 locations. 

We thank Professor Neuhaus for sharing many insights into using Google and look forward to using our new awareness in searching the Web.   Written by Leigh Zeitz                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Monday, November 12, 2018

November Programs are a Feast for Great Minds

This month will share a variety of wonderful ideas.


Wednesday, November 14 - Google: The Good, the Bad, and that Sneaking Suspicion That Something's Not Quite Right
Chris Neuhaus, Research Consultant and Instruction/Liaison Librarian at the UNI Rod Library, will take a look at the (not entirely unintentional) limitations of Google and a few suggestions for overcoming some of them.  We'll also visit the problems and promises of Google's cousins Google Books and Google Scholar.   Along the way, we'll touch on why so much of the world's information is not to be found with Google or any other search engine.



Wednesday, November 21 - 
Americorps: How it Makes the World a Better Place.  
Valerie Hockey, Program Developer at the Waterloo Center of Attention,  will share the amazing programs that Americorps supports in the Cedar Valley.  


Wednesday, November 28 - Breakfast at Figaro, Figaro.
It's a long time coming, but we will have breakfast at the amazing Figaro Figaro restaurant at 419 Main Street in Cedar Falls.  Hosted by the owner, Gary Kroeger, and his Manager and Matre de', we will learn about the story behind this incredible establishment and enjoy some of their unique culinary delights as well.