Iowa City A.M. Rotary

10/13/2026

📣 Join Us for an Evening of Politics, Prose & Plenty of Stories!

The Iowa City Rotary Companion Club gathering featuring nationally known author, longtime Iowa City resident, and local political figure Larry Baker!

📅 Tuesday, October 20
📍 Vesta – Coralville
🕔 Social Hour: 5:00 PM
🎤 Program: 5:30–6:30 PM

📖 Politics and Prose: A Life of Performance Art

From growing up in the Confederate South in the 1950s to making Iowa City his home in 1980, Larry Baker has lived a life filled with unexpected turns, colorful characters, and more than a few stories worth telling!

Before becoming an acclaimed novelist and local political leader, Larry worked as a sports reporter, burlesque house emcee, gravel truck driver, theater owner, and college professor—just to name a few!

Along the way, he’s published eight novels, including the bestseller The Flamingo Rising, which became a Hallmark movie, and served on the Iowa City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment.

With humor, candor, and a storyteller’s perspective, Larry will reflect on the changes he’s witnessed in himself, in America, and in Iowa City over the decades.

Politics and Prose. Truth and Fiction. And a lifetime of stories in between.

💙💛 Everyone is welcome! The Rotary Companion Club brings together Rotarians, friends, and community members for engaging conversations, fellowship, and opportunities to connect.

Come early, enjoy some social time, and stay for what promises to be a fascinating and entertaining evening!

10/06/2026

🎉 We’re growing at Iowa City AM Rotary! 🎉

We were excited to welcome Molly as the newest member of our club this morning! 💙💛

There’s something special about seeing our Rotary family continue to grow with people who are ready to connect, serve, and make a difference in our community.

Welcome to Iowa City AM Rotary, Molly! We’re so glad to have you with us and look forward to all the friendships, service, and fun ahead!

Interested in learning more about Rotary? Come join us any Tuesday morning, 7:00 a.m. at the Kirkwood Room, we would love to welcome you, too!

10/06/2026

🐾 We had a special four-legged guest at Iowa City AM Rotary this morning! 🐾

We were pleased to welcome Devon Strief from the Iowa City Animal Care & Adoption Center—and Devon brought along Libby, who quickly made herself at home and won over our Rotarians! 🐶❤️

https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6N95SY5z/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Devon shared with us the important work the Center does every day to care for animals in our community, reunite pets with their families, and help animals find loving forever homes. We also learned more about the Center’s programs, services, needs, and ways our community can lend a hand.

Thank you, Devon, for a wonderful presentation—and thank you, Libby, for reminding us that sometimes the best Rotary programs come with four paws and a wagging tail! 🐾

09/22/2026

💙 Caring for Our Seniors, Supporting Our Families!

At this morning’s Iowa City AM Rotary meeting, we had the pleasure of welcoming Laura and Holly, of Amada Senior Care who shared valuable information about the important work her team does throughout the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids communities.

Amada Senior Care helps older adults maintain their independence and dignity while remaining safely and comfortably in their own homes. From companionship and assistance with daily activities to helping families navigate long-term care insurance, veterans’ benefits, and senior living options, their team provides valuable support during some of life’s most challenging transitions.

Laura’s presentation reminded us that caring for our aging loved ones is about more than meeting physical needs. It’s about compassion, connection, and making sure no family has to navigate the journey alone.
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your knowledge, your passion, and the difference you and your team are making in the lives of Eastern Iowa families!

💻 Learn more: https://www.amadaseniorcare.com/cedar-rapids-senior-care/ 

📘 Follow Amada Senior Care on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18TusSdaan/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

09/15/2026

❤️ We all have stories to tell.

This week, Iowa City AM Rotary had the pleasure of hearing from Kory May, host of the FB Live-cast, “Thoughts Too Big for My Head” and some of what he’s learned through 19 years of storytelling.

Kory reminded us that stories aren’t just the big, memorable events in our lives. Stories happen to us every day. They’re found in a conversation, a shared laugh, an unexpected kindness, or one of those small moments of human connection that stays with us long after it happens.

It was a wonderful reminder to pay a little more attention to the people and moments around us. Sometimes the smallest moments make the very best stories.

To listen to some of Kory’s thought provoking stories, you can find him here at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EnrjrwffH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Thank you, Kory, for sharing your stories—and for reminding us just how much connection and meaning can be found in the everyday. ❤️

09/14/2026

Iowa City AM and Iowa City Downtown Rotary Clubs Partnership Works

❤️ Sometimes the simplest things can mean a brand-new beginning.

A group of Rotarians recently gathered with a very special purpose: to help turn newly built townhomes into homes for families rebuilding their lives after domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) has created these townhomes for families who have recently sought emergency shelter. They are more than four walls and a roof. They are a safe place to breathe, to heal, and to begin building a new future.

Led by the Rotary Club of Iowa City A.M., and partnering with the Iowa City Downtown Club, Rotarians have worked together to provide many of the everyday things a family needs when moving into a home: window blinds, towels, bathmats, bed comforters, pantry shelving, flashlights, scissors, jar openers, nightlights, step stools, toilet brushes, microwaves, toolkits—and so much more.

They may sound like ordinary household items.

But imagine starting over with nothing.

Imagine leaving a dangerous situation with only the clothes and belongings you could carry. Suddenly, a towel matters. A warm comforter matters. A microwave matters. A nightlight for a frightened child matters.

And perhaps most importantly, knowing that people you have never met care about your future matters.

That is what Rotary service can look like—not simply donating things, but helping restore safety, dignity, independence, and hope.

To our fellow Rotarians who envisioned this project, gathered the supplies, installed the blinds and shelves, assembled furnishings, and helped prepare these homes: thank you.

Because sometimes changing a life begins with something as simple as helping someone finally feel safe enough to say:

“We’re home.” ❤️

09/09/2026

OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT!

What an inspiring morning at the Rotary Club of Iowa City A.M.!

Today, we had the privilege of hearing from seven outstanding students from our local high schools who spent part of their summer participating in two incredible Rotary-supported leadership experiences — RYLA and the World Affairs Seminar.

🔹 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a life-changing leadership training program where high school students learn, develop, and strengthen their leadership skills and principles in an atmosphere of trust, respect, teamwork, and personal growth.

🌎 World Affairs Seminar (WAS) brings young people together from around the world for an international conference designed to develop global leaders and engaged citizens through an innovative academic program, thoughtful discussion, and exposure to different cultures and perspectives.

This morning, these seven students shared what they learned, the friendships they made, and how these experiences have influenced the way they see themselves and the world around them.

Listening to them was a wonderful reminder that our future has a very bright spot! Their enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, confidence, and desire to make a difference were truly inspiring.

With young people like these students — and their friends and classmates — preparing to become our next generation of leaders, there is much to be hopeful about.

We are proud that Rotary helps create opportunities for young people to learn, lead, connect, and discover their potential.

Congratulations to all seven students, and thank you for sharing your experiences with us this morning!

09/01/2026

💛🖤 FOR THE KIDS! 🖤💛

This morning, the Iowa City AM Rotary Club welcomed Claudia Witte, Campus Relations Director for the University of Iowa Dance Marathon 33, to share more about this incredible student-led organization and the impact it has on children and families affected by pediatric cancer.

Claudia, a senior at the University of Iowa, shared her passion for Dance Marathon and the year-round work students put into raising funds, building relationships, and supporting families connected with University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Thank you, Claudia, for spending your morning with us and sharing the story and mission of UI Dance Marathon. We wish Dance Marathon 33 an amazing year! 💛

To learn more or donate please visit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Jd1GFAYy5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For the Kids. For the Families. For a Cure.

06/16/2026

🎤📝 This morning, the Iowa City AM Rotary Club was thrilled to welcome IC Speaks to share their inspiring story and impact in our community.

IC Speaks began in 2019 as an after-school club and later merged with Iowa City Poetry in 2020, creating even more opportunities for local students to develop confidence, creativity, and connection through spoken word and self-expression. Since then, the organization has continued to grow and expand opportunities for youth voices to be heard and in 2026 became a James Gang Endeavor, marking another exciting chapter in their evolution and community impact.

Thank you to Caleb Rainey and the IC Speaks team for joining us and sharing how poetry and storytelling can empower young people, build community, and create meaningful spaces for expression.

We appreciate learning about organizations that are investing in the next generation right here in Iowa City. 💙💛



Learn more about IC Speaks here:

Empowering the next generation of voices, IC Speaks is led by Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey.

06/07/2026

🌍 Local Impact. Global Reach. 🌍

At Iowa City AM Rotary, we often talk about the power of service close to home, from supporting local nonprofits through community grants funded by our can sorting efforts, to investing in youth, families, and community needs right here.

Rotary’s impact doesn’t stop at county lines.

Rotary clubs around the world are united through the Rotary Foundation to tackle challenges that no one community can solve alone. Recently, Rotary District 9112 in Nigeria raised $13,000 through the “World’s Greatest Meal” initiative to support PolioPlus — Rotary’s signature effort to eradicate polio worldwide.

Because of decades of global partnership, polio cases have been reduced by more than 99% worldwide. Yet until polio is eliminated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk.

That’s why what we do locally matters. Every service project, every fundraiser, and every Foundation gift connects our club to something bigger — improving lives in our own community while helping create healthier, stronger communities around the world.

Service Above Self — locally and globally. 💙💛