Sunrise Rotary News! Nov 18 2024 (Nov. 18, 2024)

Rotary November Blood Drive

Blood Drive! Sign-up today!

The current blood drive is from November 18 through November 29th.

Click to Register at either Cedar Rapids Donor Center:

Cedar Rapids Lindale (4828 1st Ave NE)

Cedar Rapids West (3001 Williams Blvd SW)

Make sure to tell the front desk that you are there for the Rotary Blood Drive Challenge.

Why should you donate blood?

Save Lives: One blood donation can save up to three lives. Blood is essential for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.
Health Benefits for Donors: Donating blood can provide health benefits such as reducing iron levels, which may lower the risk of heart disease.
Community Support: Blood donations help maintain a stable blood supply, which is crucial for hospitals and emergency services.
Emotional Well-being: Helping others can improve your emotional well-being, reduce stress, and provide a sense of belonging.
Burn Calories: Donating blood can burn up to 650 calories per donation.
Donations drop by around 20% during holiday weeks. Your donation will ensure that all patients have the treatment they need no matter what time of year!

Never donated before? Check out these tips…

How to prepare for your blood donation:

Eat good meals for breakfast and lunch the day of the drive (choose healthy, well rounded meals with lean protein, greens, and whole grains)
Drink plenty of water the day before and the day of the drive (at least 8 glasses of water per day)
Bring your Photo ID

Tips for boosting your iron levels: one to two weeks before the drive, try adding in some foods such as lean meats, plenty of leafy greens, lentils, chickpeas, and whole grains.

Highlights

Programs Weekly at Matthew 25:

> Nov 21- 7AM: Jenny Bosking "The ARC of East Central Iowa"
> Nov 28- Thanksgiving Day - no Rotary Meeting
> Dec 5 - Our holiday party - no Rotary Meeting

Events!

Dec 5, Sunrise evening Rotary Christmas Party - details to follow. No Rotary Meeting that morning.
Dec 7, Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Hobby Lobby - Signup Genius is coming soon.

Recent Program and Event Highlights:

> Oct 31 - Chad Schumacher CR School Operations Director - launched his new school facilities presentation. We also welcomed the Superintendent and Finance Director!

> Oct 17 - Melissa Walker - Tanager Place - its long history in Linn County, and its very broad benefit today!
> Oct 10 - Karen Besler - Learned about the Mona Foundation - Educating kids around the world for 25 years.

> Oct 3 - Shelly Mott, a great program on the Hoover Museum & Library expansion, rennovation project

Program/Speaker suggestions are always welcome. Contact Bruce Lindholm or email CRSunriseRotary@gmail.com

We hold our weekly meeting at 7am Thursdays at Matthew 25, 201 3rd Ave SW., Cedar Rapids, Iowa All are welcome!

Club Meeting Duties

Each week, two Sunrise Rotarians are needed to support our meetings. See table below.

Can't be there? Just swap dates with another Rotarian on the list.

Date	Greeter/	Pledge/
	Invocation	Drawing


November 21	David Murray	Anne Wilson
November 28	Holiday	Holiday
December 5	No meeting- Party	No meeting- Party tonight
December 12	Karen Nemecek	Douglas Francik
December 19	Rachel Rigdon	Eric Harris
December 26	Mary Schell	Bruce Lindholm
January 2, 2025	Robert Schell	Lynette Markofski

Upcoming Sunrise Programs - read/respond!

What's coming up? Are you curious about a topic? Send ideas to, or call Bob or Bruce, with an expert's name!

This is sent only to our Newsletter recipients:

Your ideas...Recommended interesting topics and experts you know, or be an organizer of an off-site meeting!

Need ideas for Dec 12 and 19. No meeting Dec 5, Christmas party that night.

What can you organize for us? These were suggested by someone in our club:

Pickleball Palace: Need an Organizer! Better to visit. Morning? After work social? Demos of pickleball, etc.
CR Art Museum: Lynette was asked to firm up a date. Contact has been made.
Retirement Strategies: Recommend some experts... Its about retirement funds.... but also much more!

We are reaching the end of our brainstorming list.

Shakespeare Garden

Fall 2024 Shakespeare Garden Cleanup is postponed due to construction.

Sunrise and West Rotary Clubs joined the Shakespeare Garden volunteers April 20 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/