April's Programs Brings MUCH MORE than Showers

Wednesday, April 3 - Business Meeting
Our club members get together to discuss what's happening now and make plans for the future.  We talk about projects, kettlecorn, finances, marketing and a plethora of potential possibilities  

Wednesday, April 10 - Pollinator Habitats: They Involve More Than You Think, Robert Pruitt, Executive Director of the  Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens, will present on the importance of pollinator habitats in urban environments. Habitat loss and pesticides threaten native pollinators and, in turn, human quality of life. But we can be part of the solution! Mr. Pruitt will tell us how.

Wednesday, April 17 - Building Support for Mental Health, Tom Eachus, Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center and Mike Lind, Executive Director of Unity Point.

Did you know that 1-in-4 adults will suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime? The Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center is a part of Unity Point Health and we are trying to make this organization more visible in the community as an asset to a major health care need.

Wednesday, April 24 - What's Happening at the University of Northern Iowa? Dr. Mark Nook, President of UNI, will give us an update on happenings at UNI. UNI is a key component of the Cedar Falls economy, supporting economic innovation and growth and quality of life. He will explain that as UNI is preparing for its 150th anniversary in 2026, they are looking to lay the foundation for a strong university in the decades that follow.  The future vision at UNI is not about today.  It reaches decade upon decade into the future.

Stephanie Houk Sheetz Shares the Vision for Cedar Falls' Future

Wednesday, March 27 - Stephanie Houk Sheetz, the Director of Cedar Falls Community Development, had a gigantic overview of the future plans for our fair city. The forthcoming construction projects are riveting! 

There are some major changes in the way we travel around the city and the county but these are the necessary inconveniences that accompany progress.

Stephanie shared her visions of West 1st Street and also on the opposite side to the south at the corner of Highway 58 and Ridgeway Avenue which we won’t recognize the same area in the near future. Millions of dollars will be spent to enhance our daily commutes and make traffic flow more efficiently.

Thank you for joining us, Stephanie.

Written by Lynn Barnes.

Amy Davison Shares the Present and Future of Hartman Reserve

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 - Amy Davison, who is a Director of Blackhawk County Conservation Board and Hartman Reserve, explained the many opportunities that are available in the Hartman Reserve and the surrounding areas.

Hartman Reserve is a huge land investment of over 9,000 acres of the most beautiful parts of the county!  There are many opportunities of the great outdoors that area sportsmen have available to them because of their endeavors.  It takes 22-full time and 2-part time employees to maintain all the hiking trails and the special parks available for our citizens' recreational enjoyment.

Our Kiwanis Rough Risers club has been a great supporter of Hartman Reserve over the years. We have storage building, patios, bridges, stairs, bookcases, and a variety of other projects to support Hartman.  We have helped with events like the annual Maple Syrup Festival.

Hartman Reserve is an important part of the Cedar Valley and we thank Amy and her team for making it available.

Written by Lynn Barnes and Leigh Zeitz

Dr. Freedman Shares What it Means to Forgive.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - Our bodies have over 7 trillion separate nerves, and there are some people we encounter, who occasionally manage to push the right buttons to get on every single one of them!

UNI Professor of Educational Psychology, Dr. Suzanne Freedman, explained how to cope with different types of individual dramas by smoothing out the tone of our lives through forgiveness. When unpleasantness happens and our emotions run rampant, we can reach our anger breaking point. Forgiveness puts that speed bump between our brains and our mouths!

Dr. Freedman explained the “General Guidelines Regarding Forgiveness” and what it is not. Dr. Freedman shared her thesis on what the Overall Benefits of Forgiveness is all about and how it will improve our lives and physical well-being by providing transforming forgiveness.
Written by Lynn Barnes

The Amazing Zeon Astounds Us

Wednesday, February 27 - Our very own Kiwanian, ”The Amazing Zeon” (AKA Rough Riser Leigh Zeitz), performed a great magic show after the best breakfast meal we ever enjoyed at the Clarion Inn of steak and eggs.  

He started with his cane turning into a bouquet of flowers and ended with a selected card appearing in a bag of kettlecorn.  It was amazing. Zeon showed us a spellbinding money illusion that he said he bought for a couple of dollars.  A cheap trick!  Bad jokes, laughs, and smiles were on every face including our visiting and our very own Kiwanis Lt. Governor, Brian MacLearn.  Written by Lynn Barnes

Good Job, Zeon!

March's HOT Programs will help us Thaw Out!

Wednesday, March 6 - Business Meeting
Our club members get together to discuss what's happening now and make plans for the future.  We talk about projects, kettlecorn, finances, marketing and a plethora of potential possibilities  



Wednesday, March 13 - What is the Power of Forgiveness? Dr. Suzanne Freeman, UNI professor of Ed Psych and Foundations, will share her thoughts about the psychology of interpersonal forgiveness and forgiving. What you don't know about forgiveness can hurt you. She will share what it means to forgive and how that can better your life and those around you.




Wednesday, March 20 - What's Happening at Hartman Reserve? Amy Davidson, Manager of Hartman Reserve Nature Center, introduces us to the wonderful year that the Hartman Reserve team has planned for us. She will share what they will provide that will help us better understand our environment through education, recreation, and community involvement. We look forward to seeing what she brings.




Wednesday, March 27 - Cedar Falls Road Improvements, Stephanie Sheetz, Director of Community Development for Cedar Falls, will explain the plans the city has for improving our roads. She will share their vision for the Viking Road intersection. The First Street replacement plan will be covered. Hopefully, she will share Cedar Falls' five-year plan for road construction. Should be quite informative.

Meeting CANCELLED on Feb 20!!

Jim O'loughlin and His Students Bring James Hearst Back to Life!

Wednesday, February 13 - UNI Professor of English and published author, Jim O’Laughlin, has a passion for preserving and archiving the entire lifetime works of Cedar Falls' native son and national treasure, poet James Hearst.  

Professor O’Loughlin has been working on this project for 2 years and has a daunting task ahead as he works with old-school media of the written word and reel-to-reel tapes in his effort to convert the entire collection of works into digitized form.  

As a result of his curating, Dr. O’Loughlin has created The James Hearst Digital Archive with, the 670 poems and other scholarly writings and material of James Hearts. These works will be preserved for future generations to enjoy as well.  Jim talked about how he discovered 19 previously unknown poems that show a critical piece of the puzzle of Mr. Hearst’s life.  Dr. O’Loughlin also found 3 versions of the same poem and was able to see how Hearst changed his thoughts and words right up to the final draft of the poem that had the same powerful thought with the fewest words.  

Our club member, Lynn Barnes, shared with us that he had taken English courses from James Hearst when he was attending UNI.  He said that it was an exciting experience to learn from such an author.  

Thank you for sharing your work, Dr. O’Loughlin.  Your work will be appreciated by people the world over - and I know that we appreciated it as well.

Written by Lynn Barnes

February will be Magical for the Rough Risers

Wednesday, February 7 - Business Meeting

Our club members get together to discuss what's happening now and make plans for the future.  We talk about project, kettlecorn, finances, marketing and a plethora of potential possibilities  

Wednesday, February 13 - Innovation in the Cedar Valley
Mark Kittrell, a long-time entrepreneur in the Cedar Valley, will share with us the many projects that he and other innovators in the Cedar Valley have been creating.  This should be an exciting presentation as we learn more about the present and peer into the future of our community. 

Wednesday, February 21 - What is the Power of Forgiveness? Dr. Suzanne Freeman, UNI professor of Ed Psych and Foundations, will share her thoughts about the psychology of interpersonal forgiveness and forgiving. What you don't know about forgiveness can hurt you. She will share what it means to forgive and how that can better your life and those around you.

Wednesday, February 28 - Bringing Magic into our Lives.  The Amazing Zeon will Mystify and Astound Us as he performs prestidigitation and wonders of wizardry. Join Zeon as he journeys through the World of Illusion.  

Chief Olson Tells the Story Behind Public Safety Officers

Wednesday, January 9 - Jeff Olson, Director of the Cedar Falls Public Safety Services (includes City Police and Fire Protection), trumpeted the advantages of both departments being cross-trained as highly skilled professionals for either role when in demand. This in effect doubles personnel coverage without adding strains to the already "stretched to the limit" city payrolls. Jeff emphasized the accomplishments and goals with real-life scenarios that happened recently within the city confines. Jeff said this is a slow process with a steep learning curve as they sort through the weak spots, but in the end will benefit the community as a whole and lead to a better quality of life for everyone. Written by Lynn Barnes

Rough Risers and Jaycees host Gift of Giving!!!!

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Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Risers and Jaycees host the Gift of Giving again.  It should be noted that our Kiwanis club funds, cooks, and cleans breakfast for all of kids and adults who participate in this wonderful event.  Santa love it too!!!!

Day of Giving at Scheels

December 14, 2018 - We have some generous sponsors throughout the Cedar Valley and Scheels is one of them.  They have been donating $1,000 to our Kiwanis Rough Risers club for the past 10 years.  It is always good to have reliable supporters like them.

Last Tuesday, Scheels invited Dean Dryer and myself (Leigh) to their store at 8:30.  I  couldn't make it because I had University conflicts

so Dean braved it alone.  The front section of the store was packed and attendees were provided with coffee, tea, donuts, and other refreshments.  Everybody stood and shook hands with others of the selected few. 

Scheels employees share stories about the many organizations they sponsored.  All in all, Scheels donated $146,362 to organizations in the Cedar Valley.  We are grateful that we were included in that select group.

Thank you, Scheels.  Thank you, Dean.

Written by Leigh Zeitz

Mia Reisetter Manages Things at the Table 1912 Restaurant

Wednesday, December 12 - In Cedar Falls, there are numerous eating establishments that you can eat dirt cheap—but who wants to eat dirt when you can go a short distance and have a fine dining experience?  

At the Western Home, the new manager is Cedar Falls' very own, Mia Reisetter (daughter of our fellow Kiwanian, Tom Reisetter) who has impressive credentials including the distinction of a master wine connoisseur of world wines and gourmet foods.  She has worked for some of the finest restaurants in New York City and San Francisco and also with internationally acclaimed culinary chefs.  

The Western Home has included event space for conventions and local organizations meeting spots in the new buildings.  Mia shared her impressive resume with our Kiwanis Club, and she was up for the challenge to start-up new Western Home restaurants including “Table 1912” that with dazzle your taste buds with savory offerings and mild budget impact!

Rough Risers Hold a Wrap Party

Rough Risers Ready for Christmas!!

Wednesday, December 5 - At the Wrap Party, the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Riser Club had members looking for large ribbon and bows to cover up bad wrapping jobs. We were wrapping presents we had purchased to make Christmas a special time for two special families. 

Every year, the Rough Risers adopt a couple of families through the Salvation Army.  We are given Santa lists from the family members so we know what to get. Everyone pitches into a fund and some of our Kiwanis elves go out to purchase gifts. Now it was our turn to wrap the presents to make Christmas merry.  

A good time was had by all!!!!   Look at those smiles as we try to figure out where to cut and where to tape.     Written by Leigh Zeitz and Lynn Barnes

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!

Breakfast at Figaro Figaro

Wednesday, November 28 - It was so hard to say “Pasta la Vista!!!”  because we ran out of thyme! We moved our Kiwanis Club meeting place this once to the superb new Main Street restaurant called Figaro Figaro and we didn’t have to spend a pretty penne to do this.   

What a great time we all enjoyed there.  A great meal and baritone songs while being serenaded by the infamous Saturday Night Live alumni Gary Kroeger and his management and staff.  Gary gave us the history on how he came back home to Cedar Falls to settle in and how he got his idea of his eatery.  

Our gracious hosts put out the red carpet to show us a grand time and food and we will take with us fond memories of our experience at Figaro Figaro!   Written by Lynn Barnes

Thank you, Gary, Brad, Joseph, and the team.

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!!!

"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.

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.

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

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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.

Providing Help for Traumatized Children in the Classroom

Wednesday, October 31 - When trauma enters a child’s home life, it can affect their classroom behavior, their mental health and make the child unstable.  Donna Kitrick from Waterloo Community Schools shared their program for making a positive impact on children’s lives to help them travel the road back to normalcy.  Donna explained the many warning signals displayed by kids in trouble. She explained that they either fight, flee, or freeze.  Many kids have a deep feeling of powerlessness.  

Mrs. Kitrick explained that she studies the history of the child at risk to scrutinize if they ever displayed trauma before or if their siblings had a history of such experiences.  Donna explained the ACE Study that explained that these traits all must be addressed or when the child matures, they tend to abuse others later in life.  Mood regulation and collaborated care can help form positive relationships with adults.

Thank you for sharing with us, Donna Kitrick.  We are appreciative of how you are improving the lives of many children.   Written by Lynn Barnes and Leigh Zeitz

Focusing on the Future for the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Featured speakers Steve Carignan and Virginia Tunniclift from the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center showed us how to make a “Perfect Pitch”. We reviewed numerous audition videos of artists under consideration for next performance season and all the less desirable acts were tossed in a dumpster and they crashed into a bagpipe! 

We watched the videos less than a minute each; because you don’t have to eat the whole apple to know what's good and what's rotten.  We did give Steve and Virginia positive and productive feedback on the artists that we would pay to see perform at the Center.  They try to serve and please such a wide audience interest and tastes.  Steve and Virginia use the Kiwanis Club as a focus group because we offer segments of different preferences and viewpoints. Gallagher Bluedorn offers a large variety of genres to choose from and we look forward to their yearly visits.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your decision process for next year.

Written by Lynn Barnes

Making Reading Come Alive for Kids

Karlene Izer, the Cedar Valley Readers Coalition Coordinator attached to Operation Threshold, held trial with the Cedar Falls Kiwanis Rough Risers and explained why all the words and punctuation in books are always in court; because they must be sentenced!  

The mission of the Readers Coalition is to make as many kids proficient in reading by the end of the third grade.  School attendance absenteeism reduction is paramount to fashion better students.  They also supply different manuscript types of print and non-print media to peak the children varied interests and ignite the spark that will create the thirst to enjoy reading all their life.  Not only do they have programs for reading, but free eye exams and glasses for kids that need them.  Such a great service they dispense to over 475 Cedar Valley families annually!

Thank you for sharing your great achievements in supporting the children of Cedar Valley.

Northeast Iowa Food Bank Makes a Difference!!

Vital food source services for those in need is found at our Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  Jessica Herring, the Volunteer Manager, did a great job representing the organization by explaining just a fraction of the myriad of the client services they provide to those in need.  

They provide nutritious food to 5,800 different people weekly through a far-reaching network of over 200 food pantries, soup kitchens, schools, churches and nonprofit groups.  They do this every day covering 16 counties and 200 member agency partners distribution system that all have to stay in sync with a common goal of providing food for 46,000 people including 14,000 kids in trouble! 

The Food Bank receives food from many entities including local farmers who donate a large surplus bounty of homegrown fruits and vegetables.  They supply vital food to Iowans in need of all age groups from the very young to the elderly.

Thank you for serving people in need. You are making a big difference in many peoples' lives.  

Written by Lynn Barnes and Leigh Zeitz

Yes, Kiwanis DOES have a Song - Hail Kiwanis

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The Kiwanis Rough Risers are known for their melodic voices as we fill the air with our dulcet tones every
Wednesday morning singing "My Country Tis of Thee."

Believe it or not, Kiwanis has a club song as well.  It is called Hail Kiwanis!   It is sung to the tune of Hail California which is the University of California Alma Mater.

I couldn't find a video of a club singing this song, but below is a video of Elin Carlson singing it while accompanying herself on the piano.




You can't leave this posting until you listen to this theme song from Ferndale WA.  It is filled with fun, banjo, and hot dogs!!