During the month of November, we celebrate The Rotary Foundation, and the opportunities Rotarians provide to those less fortunate around the world.
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Welcome to our club!
This year, the Club raised funds for the Holiday Basket Program through selling pine wreaths with proceeds going toward member organizations to support the purchase of personal hygiene items not covered by SNAP or other assistance programs. Through the sale of 152 wreaths, we raised over $3,600 for the Holiday Basket Program. With the Club Match each of the seven member organizations received $1,000 in support. The member organizations are:
- Boys & Girls Club of Story County
- ChildServe
- Friendship Ark
- Mainstream Living
- The Bridge Home
- The Salvation Army
- YSS
We wish to Thank Jeanne Rogert for spearheading this effort and Thank You for your continued support for this program.
Represented in the photo below receiving the $1,000 checks are: Kate Reynolds, ChildServe; Jennifer Ellis, Friendship Ark; Cari McPartland, The Salvation Army; Judge Johnston, Boys & Girls Club of Story County; Cub President Kelsey Carper and volunteer coordinator, Jeanne Rogert.
We believe that exemplifying and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be a part of everything we do.
At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.
Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, we commit to advancing equity in all aspects of Rotary, including in our community partnerships, so that each person has the necessary access to resources, opportunities, networks, and support to thrive.
We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.
In line with our value of integrity, we are committed to being honest and transparent about where we are in our DEI journey as an organization, and to continuing to learn and do better.
This Rotary year, we have made some significant changes to our meeting and membership structure. We have adjusted our in - person club luncheon schedule to twice a month. The club luncheons will be a hybrid meeting for those who cannot attend. The other two Mondays of the the month are virtual meetings only. We will offer the opportunity for a fellowship meeting for those who would like to meet together in a small group and watch the virtual club meeting together. For those months where there is a fifth Monday, we will host a Day of Service in the Ames community.
We now offer several membership levels which will meet with your situation and schedule:
Young Professional (<40 years of age)
Individual
Household (2 persons in the same house)
Corporate (up to 4 members from the same company or organization)
Virtual Only
Intrigued? Learn more by emailing info@rotaryclubofames.org.
This year, the Ames Rotary Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to Arunadee Fernando and Kalista Leners. Both are freshmen at Iowa State University. Congratulations Arunadee and Kalista!
owa Rotary District 6000 Governor, Alka Khanolkar arranged a Zoom training between Iowa and India on July 30th in honor of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Alka has made the prevention of human trafficking one of her major goals as our new Rotary Governor.
The two-hour virtual meeting connected Iowans with the Rotary Club of Seven Hills Dharwad, India. Three US presenters spoke about the progress being made to end trafficking in Iowa. The speakers included, Teresa Davidson, Vice-Chair of the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking (NAHT), Karen Walkowski, President of the Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking, and George Belitsos, Board Chair of the NAHT and vice-chair of the Rotary Action Group Against Trafficking (RAGAS).
A speaker representing India spoke about the growing slavery problem in his country and how the Covid pandemic has resulted in a recent increase in modern slavery. If one includes forced child marriage, the number of enslaved people in India is nearly 18 million. The Zoom screen photo below shows the speaker from India, William Christopher. He serves on the India High Power Committee on Human Trafficking and Bonded Labor.
Alka informed the Seven Hills Dharwad Club that she has formed a District 6000 Prevent Human Trafficking Action Team. This Action Team is providing awareness training for Rotary Clubs and community groups in Iowa.
The Action Team plans to engage Rotary clubs in sponsoring anti-trafficking projects. She and 3 other District 6000 Rotarians are also members of RAGAS and are serving as RAGAS Good Will Ambassadors. The Rotarians in India were encouraged to become members of RAGAS.
Shirlee Reding, NAHT Board Member and Chair of the Central Iowa Service Network Against Trafficking (CISN) made a second virtual presentation on human trafficking to a group of human trafficking professionals from India. These participants were invited to connect with Iowans by the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State. Janet Norton of the Iowa International Centers was their hostess and program guide while studying in Iowa.
The Department of State outlines the following specific objectives for the project:
- Present innovative strategies for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting trafficking crimes;
- Explore Iowa initiatives to recognize, protect, and assist victims of abuse and trafficking, including social and economic reintegration services;
- Discuss awareness and education efforts and share strategies for international cooperation in combating trafficking in persons.
- Examine efforts to combat trafficking in Iowa, including crimes against women and children, by examining the formulation, administration, and enforcement of policies at the international, national, state, and local levels:
Shirlee shared some major anti-trafficking Iowa projects over the past several years. She told them about our efforts to get Iowa legislation passed that would allow law enforcement to closely monitor the activities of their local massage businesses because of the sex trafficking that occurs in some of them. She also talked about the hotel/motel employee training. Through their discussions, it became apparent neither of these programs is something they are currently doing in India but she sensed both were eye-opening. She further got the impression it was something they intended to bring back to their superiors as something worth pursuing.
After Shirlee’s presentation Chief David Lorenzen spoke about the various anti-trafficking projects at the Iowa Department of Transportation. Chief Lorenzen also presented information and anti-trafficking projects of Truckers Against Trafficking.
To learn more about the Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery or the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery, please contact:
George P. Belitsos (Dr. George)
YSS Founder and CEO Emeritus
Chair, Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery
Vice-Chair, International Board, Rotary Action Group Against Slavery
- On average, each club member volunteers 275 hours annually within the community.
- We have 210 active members.
- That’s 57,750 volunteer hours club members give back to our community.
- At $24.14 per hour, that is an impact of $1,394,085 annually.
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PolioPlus is engaging reluctant communities by addressing basic needs
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Challenge from a Champion
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Are you interested in learning more about Rotary or joining our Club? Please send an email to info@rotaryclubofames.org
for information or plan to attend one of our club meetings.
In-Person Hybrid at ISU Alumni Center
Mar 14, 2022
Karla Webb, Story County Community Services: Mental Health
Service Above Self
Reiman Ballroom on the 2nd Floor
Ames, IA 50011
United States of America