Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary

Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary Rotarians and friends will find highlights of club membership, our past week and upcoming program schedule, current activities, and other announcements.

Meet once every two weeks on Monday Night starting at 6:00 pm. Message us for the location.

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on April 20th, 2026 our guest speaker was Lieutenant (Lt.) Jeremy Andreasen of...
04/25/2026

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on April 20th, 2026 our guest speaker was Lieutenant (Lt.) Jeremy Andreasen of the Iowa State Highway Patrol (ISHP). Lt. Andreasen's first law enforcement job was with the Police Department of La Porte, Iowa. In 1999 Lt. Andreasen was hired by the ISHP and was assigned to District 13 in Mt Pleasant. During his 27 years with the the ISHP he was a technical collision investigator for fatal crashes and spent 18 years on the tactical unit. Lt. Andreasen liked working the road and interacting with people, but learned leadership makes a difference and last year was promoted from Sargent to Lieutenant. District 13 covers eleven counties from Mahaska County to the Missouri line and east to the Mississippi. Approximately twenty troopers cover the district, with three Sargent's, one Lieutenant and an administrative assistant. Lt. Andreasen explained in crash investigation they are looking to determine the cause and was there a violation of the law. With fatal crashes they look to explain how the crashed happened and what caused the fatality. Crash investigation uses mathematical equations to determine the cause along with drones that photograph the scene to generate a computer recreation of the crash. In 2025 crash fatalities in Iowa were below 300. This is significantly below the last few years with 357 during 2024, 379 during 2023 and 336 during 2022.

Just finished making this new set of ginger oil for joint and neuralgic pains. I testify to its efficacy. Contains Turme...
04/25/2026

Just finished making this new set of ginger oil for joint and neuralgic pains. I testify to its efficacy. Contains Turmeric, Peppercorns, Cloves and Lavender florets.

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on April 6th, 2026 our program was on saving the Oakland Mills Walking Bridge....
04/25/2026

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on April 6th, 2026 our program was on saving the Oakland Mills Walking Bridge. Steve Davis, Miranda Pratt and Nathan Menke shared information about the Oakland Mills Walking Bridge and efforts to restore the bridge.
What is known today as the Oakland Mills Walking Bridge was completed in 1878 replacing the ferry that transported passengers across the Skunk River. In 1948 a car crash damaged the bridge and after being repaired the bridge reopens but is no longer historically accurate. In 1959 the concrete bridge to the west opens for vehicle traffic and the bridge becomes limited to foot traffic. From 1971 to 1990 repairs are completed on piers and decking. In 1998 the bridge is entered into the National Register of Historic Places. From 2008 to 2020 piers are repaired and safety features added so the bridge can stay open to foot traffic. In 2023 with no funding for needed repairs the bridge is closed. In 2024 Preserve Oakland Mills, a 501(c)(3), is formed with a goal to repair and reopen the bridge.

Find more information about Preserve Oakland Mills and 2026 fund raising events at: https://www.facebook.com/PreserveOaklandMills

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on March 2nd, 2026 our program was given by Sarah Sandburg, Director of the S...
04/25/2026

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on March 2nd, 2026 our program was given by Sarah Sandburg, Director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport, Burlington and Susan Skees, VP of Customer Success with Contour Airlines. Contour Airlines began service from Burlington to Chicago on July 1, 2025 with 12 round trips to Chicago O’Hare Airport weekly utilizing a 30 passenger jet. Find the flight schedule at: https://flybrl.com/flight-schedule/

Southeast Iowa Regional Airport offers:
Free parking
Avis Car Rental
Short check-in and security lines
Umbrella service on rainy days
Comfortable planes with extra leg room
Friendly Contour Airline representatives who call you by name and explain your trip through your connecting airport

Learn more about Southeast Iowa Regional Airport at: https://www.facebook.com/seiowaairport/ or https://flybrl.com/

Contour Airlines is the regional airline brand of Contour Aviation, based in Smyrna, TN. Contour Aviation was founded in 1982 as Corporate Flight Management, a private jet charter company. Today, Contour Aviation is among the 10 largest Part 135 charter operators in the United States, and the largest in the Southeast. The company operates a diverse fleet of aircraft for private charter, ranging in size from 8 passenger light jets to three cabin ultra long-range business jets. Contour is rated Platinum by ARG/US, the highest possible safety rating for private jet operators in the industry. Contour’s private jet and commercial operations are supported by a world-class operations team based at its headquarters.

Learn more about Contour Airlines at: https://contourairlines.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/contourairlines

04/25/2026

At the Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary on February 2nd, 2026 Dr. Olabisi Gwamna shared a documentary on polio in Nigeria.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of five. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water.

Addressing a critical long-term need such as access to clean water helps build relationships and trust with community members. Supplying clean water to vulnerable communities is a priority of the PolioPlus program not only in Nigeria, but also in Afghanistan and Pakistan — the only other remaining polio-endemic nations, or countries where transmission of the virus has never been interrupted.

Volunteer community mobilizers are a critical part of vaccination efforts in Nigeria’s hardest-to-reach communities. The volunteers are selected and trained by UNICEF, one of Rotary’s partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and then deployed in the community where they live. The volunteers spend time connecting with community members about polio and why being vaccinated is so important.

On a cold winter day in December Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary members Larry Brenizer and Betty Mullen along with her husba...
04/23/2026

On a cold winter day in December Mt Pleasant Evening Rotary members Larry Brenizer and Betty Mullen along with her husband Willie delivered over 4,000 diapers to Amy McLaughlin at the Family Connection in Mt Pleasant.

In 2025, the Family Connection provided over 1,000 home visits to 65 families in Henry and Washington Counties. Each visit is personalized for the family's needs. Information is shared about child development and a hands-on learning activity for parents and children. To learn more about the Family Connection visit their page: https://www.facebook.com/famconnection #

At the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary on January 5, 2026 our guest speakers included Chris Knaap, past district governor ...
01/25/2026

At the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary on January 5, 2026 our guest speakers included Chris Knaap, past district governor and Jessica Welch from Maxwell Market. Chris recognized member Olabisi Gwamma as a Paul Harris Fellow. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships. Olabisi is also the editor of the Foundation Minute which goes to over 500 Rotary members. Rotary provides service to others, promotes integrity, and advances world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Jessica provided us with the history of Maxwell Market which started in 1968 as a fruit and candy stand ran by Ross Maxwell. When Ross passed away Duane & Joanie Maxwell and Dick & JoAnn (Maxwell) Corell took over. Jessica was hired in 2011 and when Dick passed away in 2017 she took over the operation of Maxwell Market. Candy is ordered in May, June, and September. Candy begins to arrive in late October through November. The market opens the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and is open until Christmas or the candy sells out. The market averages selling 7 ton of candy and sells 100 kinds of candy.

At the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on November 3, 2025 our program was given by Paul Dennison and Kadie Johnso...
01/25/2026

At the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on November 3, 2025 our program was given by Paul Dennison and Kadie Johnson from KILJ Radio. The KILJ radio station turned 50 and Paul has been playing smooth sounds that entire time. Paul's focus is to report local news first and accurately. Notable interviews Paul has had over the years include Nelson Rockefeller during his presidential campaign, Jeff Foxworthy in August 2025, and Colonel Sanders when he came to Old Threshers. Kadie brings improvements in technology to the station, where computers are the primary component of radio. Computers enhance the radio experience. The radio transmitter is remote controlled through computers. The largest expenses to operate a radio station include FCC fees, music rights and employees.

Evening Rotarians at the Festival of of Lights at the entry gate on Thursday, December 18th. Importantly all participa...
12/19/2025

Evening Rotarians at the Festival of of Lights at the entry gate on Thursday, December 18th. Importantly all participants were accounted for after encountering strong winds. As reported to a local news source, "It was a chill experience".

At our Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on November 17, 2025 Jim DePriest was our guest. Jim was the MPCHS Instrum...
12/01/2025

At our Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary meeting on November 17, 2025 Jim DePriest was our guest. Jim was the MPCHS
Instrumental Music Director until his retirement in 2023. In retirement Jim says he works seven days a week writing show choir and marching band arrangements/custom drill design. Taken from Jim's web site JD Music Composition and Arrangements https://www.jdmusicarrang.com/ " I am available for clinics with marching bands, jazz bands, concert bands and show choir bands. I have directed many honor band festivals over the years and have also adjudicated for jazz, marching, concert, show choir bands and solo and ensemble festivals." Jim says the most difficult part of his job is keeping up with changing technology.

Address

708 N Grand Avenue, Mt Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, IA
52641

Telephone

(319)2173484

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