Sunrise Rotary News! Dec 3, 2024 (Dec. 03, 2024)

Highlights

Programs Weekly at Matthew 25:

> Dec 5 - No meeting. Evening holiday party at Biaggi's Ristorante
> Dec 12 - Dean Houdeshell - Innovative Coaching Strategies. (Marion East CR Rotarian)
> Dec 19 - No morning meeting. Meet at the CR Art Museum - 5pm Talk, Tour, Adult Social
> Dec 26 - No meeting.
> Jan 2 - Meet our Rotary Global Scholar Applicant- Ashton Knatz

> Jan 23 - John Wasta, Rotary Foundation Updates

Events!

Dec 5, Sunrise evening Rotary Christmas Party - No Rotary Meeting that morning.
Dec 7, Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Hobby Lobby - Signup Genius is coming soon.

Recent Program and Event Highlights:

> Nov 21 - Jenny Bosking - "The ARC" and wonderful services they provide to our area.
> Nov 14- Evan Schmidtke "Chain Reaction Bike Hub" renovating, selling and donating bicycles.
> Nov 7 - Erick Harris "Terracon" long history of growth and services
> Oct 31 - Chad Schumacher CR School Operations - new school facilities presentation. We also welcomed the Superintendent and Finance Director!

Last week for blood drive! See below.

Program/Speaker suggestions are always welcome. Contact Bruce Lindholm or email CRSunriseRotary@gmail.com

We hold our weekly meeting at 7am Thursdays at Matthew 25, 201 3rd Ave SW., Cedar Rapids, Iowa All are welcome!

Rotary November Blood Drive

Blood Drive! Sign-up today!

The current blood drive is from November 18 through November 29th. Give this week and it should still count!

Click to Register at either Cedar Rapids Donor Center:

Cedar Rapids Lindale (4828 1st Ave NE)

Cedar Rapids West (3001 Williams Blvd SW)

Please mention that you are donating for the “Rotary Blood Drive Challenge” (Give them "code 2719").

Why should you donate blood?

Save Lives: One blood donation can save up to three lives. Blood is essential for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.
Health Benefits for Donors: Donating blood can provide health benefits such as reducing iron levels, which may lower the risk of heart disease.
Community Support: Blood donations help maintain a stable blood supply, which is crucial for hospitals and emergency services.
Emotional Well-being: Helping others can improve your emotional well-being, reduce stress, and provide a sense of belonging.
Burn Calories: Donating blood can burn up to 650 calories per donation.
Donations drop by around 20% during holiday weeks. Your donation will ensure that all patients have the treatment they need no matter what time of year!

Never donated before? Check out these tips…

How to prepare for your blood donation:

Eat good meals for breakfast and lunch the day of the drive (choose healthy, well rounded meals with lean protein, greens, and whole grains)
Drink plenty of water the day before and the day of the drive (at least 8 glasses of water per day)
Bring your Photo ID

Tips for boosting your iron levels: one to two weeks before the drive, try adding in some foods such as lean meats, plenty of leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, and whole grains.

Club Meeting Duties

Each week, two Sunrise Rotarians are needed to support our meetings. See table below.

Can't be there? Just swap dates with another Rotarian on the list.

Date	Greeter/Invocation	Pledge/Drawing Prize
December 5	No meeting- Party	No meeting- Party tonight
December 12	Karen Nemecek	Douglas Francik
December 19	Rachel Rigdon	Eric Harris
December 26	No Meeting	No Meeting
January 2	Mary Schell	Bruce Lindholm
January 9	Robert Schell	Lynette Markofski

Duane Arnold Solar Projects Update

About a year ago Sunrise Rotary hosted a program and learned plans for the Duane Arnold Solar projects. We were offered and accepted a tour of the project in July.

Click for a November 2024 update from Alliant Energy.

"We celebrated a major milestone by placing the final solar panel at the first two phases of the Duane Arnold Solar Project earlier this fall!

Our latest construction update has been posted to our project webpage and highlights the beginning of site testing.

We expect to complete the 200-megawatt Duane Arnold Solar Project by the end of this year. Thank you for your interest in the Duane Arnold Solar Project!"

Upcoming Sunrise Programs - read/respond!

What's coming up? Are you curious about a topic? Send ideas to, or call Bob or Bruce, with an expert's name!

This is sent only to our Newsletter recipients:

Your ideas...Recommended interesting topics and experts you know, or be an organizer of an off-site meeting!

Need ideas for January.

What can you organize for us? These were suggested by someone in our club:

Pickleball Palace: Need an Organizer! Better to visit. Morning? After work social? Demos of pickleball, etc.
CR Art Museum: Lynette has arranged Dec 19.
Retirement Strategies: Recommend some experts... Its about retirement funds.... but also much more!

We are reaching the end of our brainstorming list.

Shakespeare Garden

Fall 2024 Shakespeare Garden Cleanup is postponed due to construction.

Sunrise and West Rotary Clubs joined the Shakespeare Garden volunteers April 20 for a clean up effort.

The Shakespeare Garden is our 2024-2025 Linn County Rotary Community Project, funding major improvements and supported by ALL Eight Linn County Iowa Rotary Clubs!

The metal gateway feature was fabricated by Marion/East Cedar Rapids Club, Rotarian Tom Barnes (Barnes Mfg, Marion, IA), and installed at the Ellis Boulevard entrance in June 2024!

Other updated features are shown below.

Fundraising continues for this beautiful riverside garden! https://friendsofshakespearegarden.org/