Mason City Noon Rotary

06/15/2026

Thank you to Penny McCaslin with North Iowa Addiction Prevention Alliance (NIAPA) for coming to speak with Mason City Noon Rotary today. It is a coalition that started as a smoking prevention and has since expanded to alcohol, ma*****na and other drug misuse prevention. They are funded by federal and state grants including the opioid settlement funds. NIAPA focuses on harm reduction, building family and community, promoting responsible retail, and specialized community response.
Learn more at https://cghealth.com/the-north-iowa-addiction-prevention-alliance/

06/08/2026

Today at Rotary, we had the pleasure of hearing from Bill Casey, who shared stories from his remarkable 41-year career as publisher of The Daily Iowan. Under his leadership, the student newspaper at the University of Iowa grew into one of the nation's premier college publications.

Bill also established a scholarship program that encouraged young people to work hard, find their voice, and express themselves through journalism. Over the years, The Daily Iowan has launched the careers of many successful writers, editors, and publishers who got their start working alongside Bill.

One of the most memorable takeaways from his presentation was his message to young people: “You can be part of the problem or part of the solution.”

Thank you, Bill, for sharing your experiences, wisdom, and commitment to helping future generations succeed.

06/05/2026

Jennifer and Diane volunteers for American Foundation for Su***de Prevention spoke on Monday at Rotary about the work being done in the community to raise awareness about su***de. They speak with high schoolers and at many places in the community. They are planning a community walk to raise funds for research, advocacy, prevention, community programs and supporting those left behind from a su***de loss. Walk is Saturday, September 12th, sign up today. “Together we can bring more light, more understand and more hope into our community.”

https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/NorthIowa

05/23/2026

Are YOU ready for the 2026 Cannonball Day on June 27th?!?!

Sign up for the Bill Riley Talent show, FUN RUN and get the kids involved with the Kids Business Fair!

Please visit our website for full application details! https://masoncitynoonrotary.org/

Here are a few links for the FUN RUN Early Bird Registration open until June 13.
https://operations.daxko.com/programs/redirector.aspx?cid=2228&pid=83549&sid=2421055

Registration after June 13
https://operations.daxko.com/programs/redirector.aspx?cid=2228&pid=83549&sid=2421056

05/18/2026

Congrats to our 5 scholarship winners! Keira Udelhofen, Elise Dykstra, Maggie McMichael, Lane Hansen, Jade Calkins

Each student recieved a $500 award!

Thank you to all of our current and returning students of the month and their parents for attending todays event.

05/11/2026

Thank you to Jo Hafermann with Caring Pregnancy Center of Mason City for coming to speak with Mason City Noon Rotary today. The Caring Pregnancy Center provides free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, abortion information, pregnancy options information, education, material aid, and more. They offer practical help, encouragement, and relationships.
Learn more: https://www.cpcmasoncity.org

05/05/2026

On Monday at Mason City Noon Rotary, we had the privilege of hearing from Jody Wright, Metabolic and Surgery Coordinator at MercyOne, who shared valuable insights on bariatric surgery in our community.

With over 40% of Americans considered obese, Jody highlighted the reality that diets alone—and even lifestyle changes—are often not enough for long-term success. Bariatric surgery can be a powerful tool to improve health, but it’s not a quick fix. It requires a lifelong commitment to healthy eating and habits.

What made today especially impactful was hearing from fellow members who have undergone the procedure and spoke candidly about their journeys and the positive changes it’s brought to their lives.

Thank you, Jody, for an informative and inspiring program!

Learn more:

Is bariatric surgery right for me? Patient stories Bariatric surgery and weight loss options

04/27/2026

Thank you to Shanna Sieck with Mason’s Lighthouse for coming to speak with us today. Many families have medically fragile children that need 24/7 care and kids who need hospice care. Their goal is to provide a loving, "home away from home" while giving professional nursing care. They are currently fundraising to build a home for families in Iowa City for all Iowans. Visit masonslighthouse.org to donate and learn more.

Congratulations to Marsha Gordon on being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow presented by her brother, Steve Dakin, a fellow Rotarian from Boone and Rotary District 6000 Foundation Chair.
Mason's Light House

04/27/2026

Thank you to Shanna Sieck with Mason’s Lighthouse for coming to speak with us today. Many families have medically fragile children that need 24/7 care and kids who need hospice care. Their goal is to provide a loving, "home away from home" while giving professional nursing care. They are currently fundraising to build a home for families in Iowa City for all Iowans. Visit masonslighthouse.org to donate and learn more.

Congratulations to Marsha Gordon on being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow presented by her brother, Steve Dakin, a fellow Rotarian from Boone and Rotary District 6000 Foundation Chair.

01/13/2026

Thank you to Ward Budweg, Rotary District Governor, for joining Mason City Noon Rotary on Monday and sharing insights on Rotary’s forward momentum. It was energizing to hear his perspective on the positive direction of Rotary and the great things happening within our club.

We’re especially proud of our members—celebrating long-term dedication like Tim’s incredible 39 years of service, alongside our newest member, Christina, who joined us this year. Together, they reflect the story of Mason City Noon Rotary: honoring our history, embracing new voices, and continuing to share the impact and purpose of Rotary in our community.