Club Information
Cedar Rapids Sunrise

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.
1100 3rd St. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
United States of America
We meet at 7:30AM most Thursdays. See "Highlights" on our webpage for each Thursday program. Join us at the the NewBo City Market 1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids. Coffee is provided.
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Home Page Stories
Highlights! 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  • Weekly Rotary Programs
    at ROTARY HALL in NewBo City Market
  • 7:30 AM Thursday programs upcoming: 
> April 16 - No Regular Meeting.  Club Board Meeting. 
 
> April 23 - Joe Lock - Eastern Iowa Health Center
 
> April 30 - Steve Hershner - Linn County Trails.  Steve will present his program earlier at 7:35AM. 
 
> May 7- Justin Wasson - St Jude Children Hospital: His family's experience and gratitude for their daughter's healing. 
 
> May 14 - Open
 
> May 21 - Golf Scramble Fundraiser for "Families Helping Families" Join us!  Details and Registration Here

  Our Past Program and Activity Highlights. Contact us "to present your program"
 
> April 10, 11 - We planted 100 new trees at Indian Creek Nature Center.  Sunrise Rotary's of $5,000 purchased trees and supplies. 
 
> April 2 - Trees Forever - Molly Stuelke, Director of Programs. Update on communities Derecho recovery, how to get trees and PLANT trees! 

> March 12: Commander Patrick Reinhert - American Legion Service to Veterans and our communities
 
> March 5:  Scott Olson, Cedar Rapids City Council - Update on Cedar Rapids
 
> Feb 26: Dr Padget Skogman, Pediatrician... Impact of social media and devices on young kids.

> Feb 12: Aaron Amundson - Willis Dady Homeless Services

> Feb 5: Marty Norris - Salvation Army Cedar Rapids
 
> Jan 15: Scott Wilson - New Exec Director, NewBo City Market- Our weekly host!

> Jan 8: David Janssen - Brucemore Estate story.  (March 26 Brucemore Social followed)


Ashton Knatz - Our International Rotary Scholar:  
Ashton is busy studying at Edinburgh University. She will spend a year furthering her studies of Environmental Science for a Masters Degree. Ashton's host club is Edinburgh Rotary! 
This is her March 2026 Report 

Program/Speaker suggestions are always welcome.  Contact Bruce Lindholm, Theresa Mickelson, or email CRSunriseRotary@gmail.com
 
We hold our weekly meeting at 7:30AM Thursdays at NewBo City Market 1100 3rd Street SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa   All are welcome!

Families Helping Families Sunrise Rotary Golf Event raised over $6,000 for this local organization.  The 'Big Check' was presented to Executive Director, Meredith Hershner. 
 
 
 
 
Researching Poor Farm Cemeteries - Dec 4 Speaker
Doug Elam is visiting all Iowa counties researching and examining "Poor Farm Cemeteries"  
 
When Doug retired from Kirkwood and a contract position with Keep Iowa Beautiful, he had traveled much of the state.
 
Doug thought it would be fun to visit the rest of the 99 counties, but he needed a reason to do so. A lifelong student of history he decided on researching and locating the Poor Farm Cemeteries.
 

Grant Approved for Indian Creek Nature Center
 
 
Sunrise Rotary annually applies (and usually receives!) a Rotary District Grant.   Half is from our fundraising, half is from our Rotary District 5970 Foundation funds.
 
This year our $5000 grant project at the Indian Creek Nature Center has been APPROVED!.
 
The project is removing undesirable underbrush in the forest south of the "Barn"... their original facility.    New undergrowth trees will be planted in Spring 2026.  
 
Undergrowth will be removed this fall, with the help of AmeriCorps, our Rotary Members, and perhaps Boy Scouts. Rotarians from other clubs in the area are invited to assist. 
 
AmeriCorps focuses on community service and civic engagement, offering opportunities for individuals to serve in various sectors like education, environment, and disaster relief.  AmeriCorps was recently re-instated and will operate until Nov 15, 2025. 
 
 
 
Rotary Visit to New Boys and Girls Club!
In August our club members visited the newly opened Cedar Rapids Boys and Girls club on Washington Ave in Wellington Heights. 

This facility hosts Middle and High School kids for sports, learning and meals. Spaces are dedicated to study, gaming, cooking, music and social gatherings. 
        
 
Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor includes facilities in Iowa City and Marion Iowa. 
 
 
Our Past Speakers and Programs
Come and visit, to learn more about our community.   Our recent speakers and field trips include....
 
> Oct 23 - Abigail of ABC Acres - Fresh raw milk, beef and more! https://www.abcacresiowa.com/
> Oct 2 - Sydney Rieckhoff - Founder of Almost Famous Popcorn Company. Almost Famous NewBo Store tour followed.  A wonderful family business story!!
> Sep 25 - Visited the Indian Creek Nature Center at the Old Barn.  Sunrise Rotary's $5000 Grant Project area
> Sep 11 - Visited the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy 2630 B Ave NE
> Aug 14 - We toured the new Boys and Girls Club at 1602 Washington Ave SE, Cedar Rapids.  Sarah Hoeger was our host. A wonderful facility for their mission with MS and HS students.
> July 10 - Save CR Heritage presented - http://www.savecrheritage.org/  Sunrise Rotary is donating $1000 to this organization, toward their new permanent facility and location.  Details here:  http://www.savecrheritage.org/news/
> Aug 14 - We toured the new Boys and Girls Club in Cedar Rapids.  An amazing place for engaging and developing youth in Cedar Rapids. 
> July 24 - Citizens’ Police Academy | Sergeant Jen Roberts.  An amazing CRPD public spokesperson and presentation. 
> July 10 - Save CR Heritage, Jay Vavra http://www.savecrheritage.org/  A $1000 Rotary donation to the organization was announced. They have reached their goal!
> June 19 - Sunrise Rotary served lunch to Vets at the Freedom Foundation.  A Rotary donation of $500 was also presented. 
> June 5 - CR Fire Department talk - Important home safety actions! 
Shakespeare Garden
June 9 2025 the Shakespeare Garden was the site of an 'open house' showing progress and selling flowers.  The area has really transformed!  2 Gazebos are complete. 
 
8 Rotary Clubs in the Cedar Rapids area have supported these improvements. Barnes Manufacturing in Marion supplied the steel structures. 
 
Visit the garden in Ellis Park facing Ellis Boulevard. The Northwest Neighborhood Association leads the improvements. 
 
 
    
  
 
April 20 2024, Sunrise and West Rotary Clubs joined the Shakespeare Garden volunteers for a clean up effort. 
 
The Shakespeare Garden is our 2024-2025 Linn County Rotary Community Project, funding major improvements and supported by ALL Eight Linn County Iowa Rotary Clubs! 
 
  
 
The metal gateway feature was fabricated by Marion/East Cedar Rapids Club, Rotarian Tom Barnes (Barnes Mfg, Marion, IA), and installed at the Ellis Boulevard entrance in June 2024! 
 
  
 
Other updated features are shown below. 
 
Fundraising continues for this beautiful riverside garden!    https://friendsofshakespearegarden.org/
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alliant Energy - Duane Arnold Solar News
Kimberley Dickey, the Duane Arnold Solar project developer manager, presented their Duane Arnold I and II projects to our club earlier this year.
 
From our warm reception for her, we were invited to visit the Duane Arnold Solar II project site under construction, in July.  That project update is here.  
 
A recent public meeting introduced the Duane Arnold IV project, as reported here. It may be sized about the same at Duane Arnold I and II together.
https://corridorbusiness.com/nextera-energy-outlines-plans-for-duane-arnold-solar-iv-project-in-linn-county/   Solar is becoming an alternative to wind turbines for clean energy. 
 
Cedar Rapids Gazette Photo

Sunrise Rotary "Transform Week" Project at Matthew 25
Every year in the last week of June, Matthew 25 organizes volunteer teams from business, non-profits and clubs to work on home improvement projects.   The homeowners are challenged with funding and physical abilities, and are grateful for project teams who can fix, paint, replace and 'clean up' older homes! Up to 150 volunteer team members from many organizations made a big difference every day that week. 
 
This year Sunrise Rotary members joined the Lin-Mar High School Robotics Team on a project, to clean up the landscaping of weeks, brush, dig out old steel fencing, remove/haul away some trash and planting grass and flowers.  Photos of the boys (and our new President Bob Schell) highlight the "after" pictures.  Lunch was served to the 150 volunteers at Matthew 25.  

We forgot to get 'before' pictures of the yard! 
 
 
 
 
  

 
   

      
 
 
 

     

 

  
 
 

Rotary Year Wrap Up! 
The Rotary Year summary on June 25, 2024
 
President Lynette Markofski reviewed our many accomplishments of the 12 months ending.   
 
Incoming President Bob Schell received the president's gavel and our charter certificate. 
 
Club Secretary Ben Stutt was honored with Darrel Berry Rotarian of the Year award.  Ben handled the Secretary duties AND led the Annual Sunrise Rotary Golf Fundraiser!  Both were great accomplishments. 
 
Our new Rotary Year begins July 1.  Congratulations to all Rotary Members and Rotary Families! 
 
 
 
 
Families Helping Families Golf Event! 
Sunrise Rotary and Families Helping Families joined forces and hosted a great Golf Event on May 23
 
22 teams competed for fun-prizes on a beautiful spring day! 
 
A report will be coming from the golf committee and FHF in the week ahead. 
Flight to End Polio Report
    

ONE ENGINE, TWO PILOTS
AND A 2:1 DONATION MATCH

 
After nearly 90 days they are HOME!!!!

Cedar Rapids Gazette front page article April 9:  Read or Print PDF

https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/#

Use this link to Donate!   Contribute to Rotary Foundation - Polio Fund! 
 
Read their story, see photos, share the Facebook page with friends. https://www.facebook.com/flighttoendpolio
 
Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels raised awareness for polio eradication by piloting a single engine aircraft all the way around the globe! 
​
Peter and John departed from Cedar Rapids, Iowa May 5, 2023 in a Cessna T210M (single engine) airplane. Along the way, they attended events and encourage support of ending polio forever throughout the world.
 
YOU can promote the completed flight, start conversations, and encourage Polio funds for Rotary with friends and strangers!  
 
Rotarians and friends in D6000 and D5970 are promoting awareness and this fundraising effort. Donations will go toward PolioPlus Fund. 
 
Peter and John arrived home July 30 and are reunited with their spouses!
 
The crowd moving out to greet the brave Rotarian pilots!
 
 
 
 
 

Rotary International Conference in Minneapolis! 

Great News from our District Governor:

I am excited to share that the 120th Rotary International Convention will be hosted just to our north in Minneapolis, MN May 26-30, 2029!

More than 15,000 Rotary members and participants from around the world will gather in the Twin Cities to connect, learn from each other and various experts, and share ideas for bringing positive, lasting change to communities across the globe. 
 
Along with our sister District 6000, I have expressed to the host committee that D5970 will assist where needed. In my visits this year I have spoken about how RI Conventions have influenced me personally and how they show the impact Rotary has around the globe.
 
I invite you to take advantage of this opportunity, when it’s so close, to experience what a difference Rotarians make worldwide!
 
The 3 Sunrise Rotary Community Grants Completed in 2022. 
Sunrise Rotary awarded these THREE grants.  They were funded 50% by our fundraising and 50% by the Rotary Foundation.
  • Catherine McAuley Center.   Equip their new childcare center, enabling parents to learn without distractions. 
  • Abbe Health/Aging Services.  Prepare at-home older adults to use tablets to connect to others. 
  • ChildServe Coralville.  Assist with purchasing Speech Therapy Apps to help non-verbal children. 
Sunrise Rotarian volunteers engaged on completing these projects AND volunteered with the organizations in their critical work. 
 
Rotary Links
 
Join Great People at Rotary! 
Are you looking for a way to engage in the Cedar Rapids area community?   Serve alongside some great Rotarians!   
 
Check us out.  Visit our weekly meetings, any Thursday morning at 7:00 AM.   Just walk in - Coffee is on us.  NewBo City Market, 1100 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
 
Contact us directly.   Click to Email CRSunriseRotary@gmail.com
 
Not sure yet which club to consider? Start your inquiry at our Rotary Leads portal and we will talk and point you to one or more clubs.  
Site Pages
Club Executives & Directors
President
Bob Schell
President Elect
Mary Schell
Treasurer
Karen Nemecek
Foundation Chair
Bob Schell
Membership
Theresa Mickelson
Programs Chair
Theresa Mickelson
Club Social Activities
Lynette Markofski
Club Grants Management
Bruce Lindholm
Immediate Past President
Bob Schell
Service Projects
Lynette Markofski
Club Public Image
Theresa Mickelson
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