Events

Frank Mirano, a personal trainer with Ames Fitness Center.

Stronger for Life

Everyone ages, and too often, the words “it’s just part of getting older” are said. A large part of my job is showing and helping people of all ages realize what they’re capable of and how to maintain or improve their health to improve the rest of their lives. I will also walk you through the planning process of integrating exercise into your life.

YouTube Live Stream - https://youtube.com/live/pqqnrMHon74?feature=share

Heather Bristow, Director of OLLI at ISU and Retirees, will share information about the OLLI program and its impact on lifelong learning and our community.

The Ames Regional Economic Alliance launched the “Live – Work – Play in Ames” website and social media channels that are designed as a digital platform to showcase the myriad opportunities that make Ames and its surrounding communities vibrant places to reside, pursue careers, and enjoy leisure activities. The new website serves as a centralized hub for residents, prospective movers, job seekers, and visitors, offering detailed insights into the unique aspects of living, working, and playing in the Ames region. By providing a user-friendly platform that encapsulates the essence of the region, the website aims to attract new residents, support local businesses, and enhance the overall community experience.

Andrew's presentation will include a brief history about how Reiman Gardens started, highlights from the first 30 years, and information about the official 30th anniversary celebration--The Botanical Bash, on September 13.

Lunch will be catered by Sweet Caroline’s – Breaded Chicken Sandwich, Potato Salad and a Cookie. 

Harrison Mwamtemi of Shighatini, Tanzania will join us to thank the club for our work with their milk processing plant.

50 Years of University Museums: Celebrating a Legacy of Culture and Community. Discover our history, explore one of the nation’s largest campus public art collections, and learn how our collections and educational programs connect art and community.

We also invite you to celebrate with us at the Brunnier Art Museum for our 50th Anniversary event on September 19, 2025.

The presentation will provide an overview of the Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance for Community Development (MIPA), a regional planning agency in central Iowa. MIPA works with cities and counties on a wide variety of community development activities such as transportation, housing, economic development, and workforce development.

Susie Petra will share an update from Public Schools Strong and share an invitation to a public meeting with the Ames School Board.

Join our effort to create a better place to support the animals in our community. The current Ames Animal Shelter building is 30 years old, small, inadequate, and inefficient - but with your help, we can give our animals the safe and loving environment they need. 

Hear about the new clay courts at the ISU tennis complex from Dave Carlyle 

Artificial intelligence is increasingly woven into our everyday routines, shaping communication, work, security, and more. Dr. Joshua Waite, postdoctoral researcher at Iowa State University’s Translational AI Center and founder of Asters (an early-stage physical security technology startup), will share approachable examples of AI’s role in daily life, address its limitations, and discuss how these technologies are being developed and applied.

Coffee farmers, service learning, and coffee immersion visits to Uganda and Honduras. Cafe el Zapote has been importing coffee to Ames since 2018, but the volume has grown exponentially over the last two years. Adding service learning trips and coffee immersion visits to the coffee imports is an exciting endeavor.

We will enjoy breakfast burritos and scones from the Filling Station and freshly brewed coffee from Cafe el Zapote. 

Ames Fire Chief Rich Higgins will also join us with a few words about the Ames Fire Station #2 Relocation Project. The City of Ames is moving forward with plans to relocate Fire Station No. 2 from its current location on Welch Avenue to a new site along State Avenue. A bond referendum will appear on the Tuesday, Nov. 4 ballot. This project is designed to: Enhance community safety with a modern, efficient facility; Improve emergency response times; Support redevelopment in Campustown.

Program Spotlight: Ames New Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus

The City of Ames is embarking on a new era for solid waste, recyclables, and yard waste management as it transitions away from the 50-year waste-to-energy operations. Join us to learn about the exciting construction and plans for the community's new Resource Recovery and Recycling Campus.

We are excited to welcome Clayton Mooney, Co-Founder and Chief Farmer of Clayton Farms, as our guest speaker! Clayton will share his fascinating journey, detailing how he transitioned from growing up on an Iowa farm to successfully building innovative technology companies. As Chief Farmer of Clayton Farms, his mission is to provide "better food for more people." A proud alum of Iowa State University, Clayton enjoys pushing his limits by running ultramarathon trail races when he's not busy revolutionizing farming.

For lunch, you'll have the opportunity to taste the results of Clayton's hard work! We will serve delicious salads made with produce from Clayton Farms.

If you aren't able to join us in person, we will be streaming the meeting on our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/live/DqSqjvNJqfo?feature=share

We're excited to welcome Matthew O'Neal, Professor and the H.A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Microbiology at Iowa State University.

Professor O'Neal will share insights and data from the innovative Alliant Energy-ISU Solar Farm partnership. This 10-acre, utility-scale solar farm, built in 2024, is a living laboratory where ISU faculty and students conduct crucial research on agrivoltaics—determining which farming and conservation practices can be carried out in an environmentally and economically sustainable way alongside solar panels.

Having just completed their second field season, Professor O'Neal has interesting data and stories to share about:

• The possibilities for integrating conservation and agricultural activities at solar farms.

• The research into growing fruits, vegetables, and pollinator habitats in the modified microclimate beneath and between solar arrays.

• What these results mean for the expansion of solar developments in Iowa and the future of sustainable land use that values both agriculture and renewable energy.

Don't miss this fascinating look at what's possible when utility and agricultural interests align for the future! 

President-Elect Nominee Randy Olson will kick off our membership campaign for the year. Lisa Heddens will share details about a new social media campaign that everyone will participate in, and Karin Sevde will provide the annual Rotary Foundation update and present several Paul Harris Fellow recognitions.

Lunch will be Pyrizhky and Rolinni, from Piece & Freedom, and soup from Labyrinth Coffee.

If you are not able to join us in person, please tune in to watch our live stream on our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@rotaryclubofames

The Rotary Club of Ames is hosting a special off-site "Bring Your Own Brown-Bag Lunch" meeting on Monday, November 24th.

We're excited to visit and learn more about the incredible work being done at the Boys and Girls Club of Story County! This is a fantastic opportunity to see their new space and get a comprehensive overview of their program.

• Date: Monday, November 24th
• Time: Fellowship and Brown Bag Lunch begins at 11:45 am
• Program/Tour: Starts at 12:15 pm
• Location: Boys and Girls Club 210 South 5th Street, Ames, IA 50010
• ​Note: This is a Bring Your Own Brown-Bag lunch, so please remember to bring your own lunch for the fellowship portion!

We encourage all members to attend and support this vital community partner.

This Meeting will NOT be live-streamed.