Speakers

For over a century, Lake LaVerne has been a notable landmark on the Iowa State University campus, but significant changes are forthcoming. This presentation will review the lake's history and preview the planned improvements by the university. These enhancements aim to address necessary maintenance, improve accessibility and usability, promote biodiversity, and beautify this iconic area of campus.

Our presenter, Chris Strawhacker, is a campus planner in the Real Estate and Capital Planning department at Iowa State University. He has been responsible for planning, maintenance, and improvements to Lake LaVerne for over 18 years. As a source of inspiration, he keeps a small jar of sediment on his desk, containing material from Lake LaVerne dating back to 1995.

Ada McKilligan, winner of the MLK Essay Contest, will join us. She is the youngest first-place winner in the last 5 years and is a freshman at Gilbert High School.  She will read her essay titled "A Generation of Hope".

If you are not able to attend in person, you may watch our live stream on our YouTube Channel.  https://youtube.com/live/4femfzEztW0?feature=share

The Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at 1:00 after the club meeting. The board meetings are open to all members interested in attending.

This presentation will feature Prairie Rivers' past projects and how they got to where they are today. We will then dive deeper into their Pollinator Conservation program and the projects they are currently working on.

Make It OK is a program from Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative to reduce stigma in Iowa by starting conversations and increasing understanding of mental illness.