Community Spotlight: Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed ...

Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed

The Weed and Seed Strategy

Operation Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy--rather than a grant program-- which aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area; and "seeding" brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.

A community-orientated policing component bridges weeding and seeding strategies. Officers obtain helpful information from area residents for weeding efforts while they aid residents in obtaining information about community revitalization and seeding resources.

Key Elements in the Weed and Seed Strategy

• Law Enforcement


• Community Policing


• Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment


• Neighborhood Restoration

Who Is My Neighbor

This week's R&P Report for March 29, 2010 from National Write Your Congressman ,,,

www.nwyc.com

Vol. 14 No. 2-10

Monday, March 29, 2010

REVIEW

Health Care Overhaul Bill: The House voted 220-207 to send President Obama a bill that would make changes to the law he signed March 23. The vote capped a roller-coaster week that started with the House clearing the bulk of the overhaul for the President’s signature and sending the second measure to the Senate.

The Senate’s parliamentarian found that two provisions involving Pell grants violated reconciliation rules. After correcting that problem, lawmakers passed a companion bill 56-43. They then sent it back to the House where members voted immediately. Republicans did little to obstruct the vote, vocally opting to take their objections to the public in the months ahead.
Attorney generals from at least 14 states have filed lawsuits challenging the health care overhaul bill. The states are preparing to sue the federal government over the constitutionality of the bill.

For a complete synopsis and highlights of the health care bill, go to www.nwyc.com

Small-Business Loan Program: The Senate cleared a short-term extension of a small-business loan program. The bill would appropriate $40 million in emergency funds to extend a group of fee reductions and eliminations under the Small Business Administration 7(a) loan program. The bill does not include provisions to offset the cost. (H.R.3948)

Extension of Benefits Package: The Senate is considering an extensions bill that would cover long-term unemployment benefits, health insurance subsidies for "jobless workers" and higher payments for physicians who treat Medicare patients. It also would extend a national flood insurance program, satellite TV transmission laws and the use of 2009 poverty guidelines for federal programs. All of those provisions expire during the upcoming two-week recess that Congress will be observing. (H.R.4851)

Ranking GOP Additional Tax on Bonuses: The House passed a measure that would impose a 90 percent tax on bonuses received by certain TARP recipients. (H.R.1586) To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

Panel Backs Bills for Legal U.S. Immigrants: A Senate panel approved a pair of measures to allow immigrants living legally in the U.S. to work overseas under certain circumstances without preventing their immigration status from being adjusted to lawful permanent residency.

Decision Reversed: A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court in Washington ruled that the Republican National Committee cannot raise unlimited contributions. The decision is in agreement with The Campaign Reform Act, a measure also known as the McCain-Feingold Act.

PREVIEW

Bipartisan Climate Change Legislation: Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are drafting a bill that they plan to unveil during the third full week of April. It addresses greenhouse gas control measures. The senators aim to move the bill to the floor by early summer after the CBO and the EPA have scored and reviewed it. The bill is being drafted in an effort to secure broad support and neutralize fierce opposition that a House-passed climate bill (H.R.2454) encountered.

To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

First-Responder Network: The House Energy and Commerce Chairman, Henry Waxman (D-CA) announced he is drafting legislation to create a nationwide broadband communications network for first-responders in the event of a national emergency. The bill would implement a public safety communications network that would cost between $12 billion and $16 billion over the next 10 years.

The Week Ahead: Both chambers are scheduled to observe a spring break from March 29-April 9.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Robin Tucker

Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for March 29, 2010 ...

Congratulations to the University of Iowa men's basketball team for the hiring a new coach, Fran McCaffery of Siena College. As a Creighton University graduate, it's nice to see a former coach from one of the 28 Jesuit college and universities in the USA get hired. From Georgetown to Gonzaga, there is some good college basketball played at various Jesuit schools.

Today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...

Robin Tucker and my father, Tommy Tucker are members of Rotary International and Paul Harris Fellows ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Noon Meeting and Program:

Monday, March 29, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program

Travis Christopher

Hawkeye Area Boy Scouts of America

Robin Tucker

Another Action Alert from the Senior Senator from the State of Iowa ...

Chuck Grassley's concerns and views on the recent health care insurance bill via an e-mail ...

ACTION ALERT

Right after the final health care vote today, I introduced a bill
to apply the new health care law to the President, Vice President, cabinet
members, top White House staff, and the congressional staff who drafted the
measure enacted this week. I’ve offered amendments to establish this
accountability in Congress and the administration, but the amendments
have twice been rejected by the Senate majority. Congress can act to
pass my
free-standing bill at any time, and it should.

Click here to watch an interview about the history of this
effort.

If Congress doesn’t act, there’s a double standard. As it
stands today, President Obama does not have to live under the Obama health care
reforms, and neither does the congressional staff that helped to write the
overhaul. The message to the people at the grassroots is that the reforms
are good enough for you, but not for us.

Even so, the new health care law includes most of the amendment I got
adopted by the Finance Committee last September, and that will require members
of Congress and their staffs to get their health insurance through health
insurance exchanges.

Public officials who make the laws or lead efforts to have laws
changed should live under those laws. It’s the same principle that
motivated the bill I got passed in 1995, which for the first time applied 12
major civil rights, labor and employment laws to Congress.

***

Also today, senators voted to defeat my amendment to get
rid of one of the sweetheart deals in the new health care law, giving five rural
states better treatment than every other rural state, including Iowa.

My amendment would have used money that’s obligated to
the special deal for improved Medicare payments to physicians in all rural
states this year and next. My amendment would have better safeguarded a
formula fix that I got in the health care reform during Finance Committee work
last fall. This fix makes sure accurate data is used to make geographic
adjustments for Medicare payments to physicians and other health care
professionals. It’s a matter of equity for rural providers who have been
penalized by an unfair formula factor.

Despite the defeat of this amendment today, my formula fix
remains in the new law. In fact, a number of my amendments and legislative
initiatives are in the health-care reform bill that became law on Tuesday,
including my reform to make sure tax-exempt hospitals are held accountable for
their special status. My legislation to require pharmaceutical and device
manufacturers to report payments to physicians is included. So is my
legislation to establish greater transparency about nursing home ownership and
safety, and my bill to disclose self-referral ownership interests in imaging
facilities. I authored the Medicare fraud-fighting provisions in the new
law, and the value-based purchasing reforms are based on legislation I developed
several years ago in the Finance Committee. I also developed the
provisions to improve Medicare reimbursement for mid-sized “tweener” hospitals,
a number of which are located in Iowa. These items and others were put
into the proposal during the many months of work I did last year as Ranking
Member of the Finance Committee with the Committee Chairman, Senator Max Baucus,
during our effort to try to put together a bipartisan reform bill. The
provisions remained in the legislation throughout the process, and the fact that
they did shows that they are good policy and nonpartisan initiatives.

The final health care reform bill was massive in size
and scope, and I voted against it for a
number of reasons, including the fact that it increases taxes and
new mandates on job-creating small businesses, raises taxes and fees that the
Congressional Budget Office says will be passed on to consumers and result in
higher health insurance premiums, imposes mandates and huge fines on
individuals, fails to address reforming the Medicare physician payment
sustainable growth rate formula known as the SGR and, instead, cuts Medicare
spending not to improve Medicare but to start an unsustainable new entitlement
program. It also fails
to do anything about health care inflation, which was supposed to
be a major goal of reform.

Click
here to see an interview about it.

The impact of this bill on the sustainability of jobs and our economy leaves one with many doubts about short-term and long-term future of moving Americans from 88% to 95% health care coverage. We agree with Mr. Grassley that government officials should be required to live under the same rules and laws as the American taxpayer.

Robin Tucker

Action Alert from Senator Grassley on his Health Care amendment ...

Our senior Senator, Chuck Grassley, from the Great State of Iowa sent us the following Action Alert. Again, our government officials failed to cover themselves under the recent measure acted upon by The House on Sunday regarding Health Care Reform ...

ACTION ALERT

Senators are expected to vote later today on my amendment to the health
care reconciliation bill to apply the health care reforms enacted yesterday to
leadership and committee staff in Congress and to the President, Vice President,
the President’s cabinet and White House staff. All of these political leaders
and public officials remain untouched by the reforms that have taken effect for
the rest of the country. If my amendment isn’t passed, then President Obama will
not live under the Obama health care reforms, and neither will the congressional
staff who were most responsible for helping to write the overhaul. That sends a
message to the people at the grassroots is that the health reforms are good
enough for you, but not for us.

This pending amendment follows my efforts last year to make sure there
wasn’t a double standard and that the public officials who pass the laws and
work hard to get laws changed experience the law themselves. The new health care
law requires members of Congress and their personal office staffs to get their
health insurance through the new exchange because of an amendment I got adopted
last September by the Finance Committee. The principle is one I’ve fought for
going back two decades, when I first offered legislation to apply civil rights,
labor and employment laws to Congress for the first time.

• Click here to read my news release.


• Click here to see the Senate floor debate last night.


• Click here to read the story in today’s Politco.


• Click here to read the story in today’s Roll Call newspaper.


• Click here to read the editorial in today’s Washington Times.


• Click here to read the story in today’s New York Post.


• Click here to read the editorial in today’s New York Post.

On the Senate floor, I’m also fighting for my amendment to the health
care reconciliation bill to secure specific changes to the way Medicare
calculates payments to physicians and unfairly penalizes rural doctors, making
it increasingly difficult for Medicare beneficiaries in rural states to find a
doctor.

There are two issues behind my effort. First, the reconciliation bill
from the House is accompanied by a letter from the Secretary of Health and Human
Services committing to a new study on geographic disparity. I don’t want to risk
the fix that I got in the health care reforms signed into law yesterday, and the
new data that could emerge from this study could be hurtful to rural
reimbursement rates. It’s uncertain. And, the study is connected to a Board that
is supposed to cut Medicare spending, which is unlikely to result in
improvements for rural areas. Second, one of the special deals in the health
reform that became law yesterday gives extra payments to five selected frontier
states. They’ll get more money at the expense of every other state, and the fact
that they’re getting a better deal under the new law will make it harder to
build support for changes to help rural states everywhere. My amendment is
driven by fairness and would take some of the savings from repealing the special
deal for frontier states and use it to improve rural payments in all states
during the two-year transition to accurate data this year and next.

I hope senators don’t let politics get in the way of making sure these
important policies are established in a way that is equitable and fair. These
formulas determine how well Medicare works, or doesn’t work, for beneficiaries
in rural states.

Click here to read my news release.

We commend our Senator, Chuck Grassley, from the State of Iowa for working on behalf of rural states like Iowa. We appreciate the importance of Health Care in the USA. We are concerned about the direction our Federal government is heading with this type of health care insurance legislation. As a proponent of Limited Government, a strong defense, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, we encourage the Senate and the House to make the appropriate changes to correct the wrongs found in this current legislation.

Robin Tucker

NWYC Issue Update: Health Care Reform (H.R. 3590)

National Write Your Congressman sent an e-mail update on the Health Care overhaul bill (H.R. 3590) in the House, that the House approved on Sunday.

Issue Update: Health Care Bill

Robin B Tucker, here's a look at the bill the President just signed into law. These are the key components of the $940 billion health care overhaul bill (H.R. 3590) that is scheduled to take almost a decade to roll out in full.

2010 - Coverage

• Subsidies begin for small businesses to provide coverage to employees.


• Insurance companies barred from denying coverage to children with pre-existing illness.


• Children permitted to stay on their parents’ insurance policies until their 26th birthday.
  

2011 – Coverage and Taxes/Fees

• Set up long-term care program in which people pay premiums into system for at least five years and then become eligible for support payments if they need assistance in daily living.


• Drug makers face annual fee of $2.5 billion (rises in subsequent years).
  

2013 – Coverage and Taxes/Fees

• New Medicare taxes on individuals earning more than $200,000 a year and couples filing jointly earning more than $250,000 a year. Tax on wages rises to 2.35% from 1.45%. New 3.8% tax on unearned income such as dividends and interest.


• Excise tax of 2.9% imposed on sale of medical devices.
  

2014 – Coverage and Taxes/Fees and Cost Control

• Create exchanges where people without employer coverage, as well as small businesses, can shop for health coverage. Insurance companies barred from denying coverage to anyone with pre-existing illness.


• Requirement begins for most people to have health insurance. Subsidies begin for lower and middle-income people. People at 133% of federal poverty level pay maximum of 3% of income for coverage. People 400% of poverty level pay up to 9.5% of income. (Poverty level currently is about $22,000 for a family of four.)


• Medicaid, the federal-state program for the poor, expands to all Americans with income up to 133% of federal poverty level.


• Subsidies for small businesses to provide coverage increases. Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and average annual wages of less than $25,000 receive tax credit of up to 50% of employer’s contribution. Tax credits phase out for larger businesses.


• Independent Medicare board must begin to submit recommendations to curb Medicare spending, if the costs are rising faster than inflation.
  

2016 – Taxes/Fees

• Penalty for those who don’t carry coverage rises to 2.5% of taxable income or $695, whichever is greater.
  

2017 – Coverage

• Businesses with more than 100 employees can buy coverage on insurance exchanges, if state permits it.
  

2018 – Taxes/Fees

• Excise tax of 40% imposed on health plans valued at more than $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage.
  

AYES Votes (219):

Ackerman
Andrews
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boccieri
Boswell
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chu
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Dahlkemper
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Driehaus
Edwards (MD)
Ellison
Ellsworth
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Foster
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Garamendi
Giffords
Gonzalez
Gordon (TN)
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Halvorson
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kilroy
Kind
Kirkpatrick (AZ)
Klein (FL)
Kosmas
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Luján
Maffei
Maloney
Markey (CO)
Markey (MA)
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McNerney
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy (NY)
Murphy, Patrick
Nadler (NY)
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Perriello
Peters
Pingree (ME)
Polis (CO)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Quigley
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Rodriguez
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sánchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schauer
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Speier
Spratt
Stark
Stupak
Sutton
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velázquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth

NOES Votes (212):

Aderholt
Adler (NJ)
Akin
Alexander
Altmire
Arcuri
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boozman
Boren
Boucher
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bright
Broun (GA)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Campbell
Cantor
Cao
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Castle
Chaffetz
Chandler
Childers
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (AL)
Davis (KY)
Davis (TN)
Deal (GA)
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dreier
Duncan
Edwards (TX)
Ehlers
Emerson
Fallin
Flake
Fleming
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Griffith
Guthrie
Hall (TX)
Harper
Hastings (WA)
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Herseth Sandlin
Hoekstra
Holden
Hunter
Inglis
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan (OH)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kissell
Kline (MN)
Kratovil
Lamborn
Lance
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lee (NY)
Lewis (CA)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
Marshall
Matheson
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McIntyre
McKeon
McMahon
McMorris Rodgers
Melancon
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Minnick
Moran (KS)
Murphy, Tim
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Nye
Olson
Paul
Paulsen
Pence
Peterson
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Posey
Price (GA)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rehberg
Reichert
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Ross
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schmidt
Schock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Skelton
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Souder
Space
Stearns
Sullivan
Tanner
Taylor
Teague
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden
Wamp
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)

The U.S. House of Representatives also passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R.4872) by a vote of 220 to 211. This legislation is set to make changes to the Patient Protectiuon and Affordable Care Act.

This is a fast-moving issue. Sign up for Twitter alerts from NWYC for the latest information and breaking news alerts on the health bill.

We the People are the voice of America.

The House passes Health Care Reform on Sunday; what else is going on with Federal Legislation this week and last ...

This week's R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman ...

www.nwyc.com
Vol. 14 No. 2-9
Monday, March 22, 2010

REVIEW

Health Care Overhaul Bill: Democratic leaders in the House have promoted legislation designed to remake the nation's health care system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) posted a preliminary $940 billion cost estimate for the bill. President Obama canceled a planned trip to Asia to help push through the legislation. The House voted and passed the health care package on Sunday, March 21, with floor action to follow in the Senate as early as this week.
Republicans were thwarted in a bid to bar Democrats from using a rule that allowed them to clear the Senate-passed health care overhaul and to pass a reconciliation bill after making changes to that measure. (H.R.4872)

Budget Math Hinders Health Care Bill: House Democrats had difficulties crafting a final health care bill that would achieve a five-year deficit reduction of more than $100 billion. The problem delayed what party leaders hope will be a final vote on the measure to Sunday.
Under the little-known rules for budget reconciliation, a bill passed through the expedited parliamentary process must produce a greater deficit reduction than the legislation it amends. Since the Senate health care bill would produce $104 billion in deficit savings in its first five years, according to the CBO, the final bill — which will include changes to the Senate bill — must provide more savings. (H.R.3590) (H.R.2847)

Student Loan Overhaul: A House-passed student loan measure includes 45 percent less education spending than the version passed last year and calls for less funding for financial aid and community colleges. It has no new funding for early education. (H.R.3221)

To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

Lawmakers Allowances: The House backed a bill that would require any unspent dollars from members’ office accounts to be returned annually to the Treasury. (H.R.4825)

Financial Regulatory Overhaul: Ranking GOP members on the Senate Banking Committee met with fellow Republicans to discuss a financial regulations overhaul bill. GOP amendments on the bill are expected to reach into the hundreds on the draft measure.

‘Vertical Price Fixing’: A Senate committee approved a measure aimed at spurring marketplace competition by banning minimum-price-setting agreements between manufacturers and those selling and distributing their products. Supporters say the bill would produce greater price competition, keep retail prices low and benefit the overall economy. (S.148)

PREVIEW

Federal Aviation Authorization Bill: In an FAA reauthorization bill, senators are attempting to end a “slots and perimeter” dispute over long-distance flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (H.R.1586)

Navy Considers Purchase: The Navy plans to buy 124 carrier-based versions of the F-18. The order would be divided between standard fighter jets and EA-18G Growlers, which are for electronic warfare. The Boeing Co. has offered a discount to the Navy for a multi-year purchase. The deal would represent a step by the Defense Department to address a projected 100-jet Navy shortfall over the next decade.

Cybersecurity Standards: The Senate Commerce Chairman has proposed revised legislation that would strike a balance between government pressure and private-sector incentives. Companies that fail their audits would be required to work with the government to devise a plan to get into compliance. (S.773)

The Week Ahead: Both chambers will continue work on the health care reconciliation package that has the potential for dozens of recorded votes on amendments. The Senate is expected to take up a House-passed student loan bill (H.R.4872) (H.R.3221)

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

We the People are the voice of America.

Robin Tucker becomes Paul Harris Fellow ...

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids presented Robin Tucker with a Paul Harris Fellow at the Monday, March 22, 2010 meeting. It was an interesting meeting as Brian Connors presented a program titled "Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing" as shared about the good, the bad, and the ugly of opening The Bridge Cafe in Beijing.

Robin Tucker

Today's meeting of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids for Monday, March 22, 2010 ...

Congratulations to the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team for the win over #1 seed Kansas to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time in school's history ...

• UNI men advance to Sweet 16 - nice picture in today's Wall Street Journal
• Iowa women beat Rutgers; face Stanford women on Monday
• Iowa wrestling program wins third straight NCAA wrestling title in Omaha over weekend
• Iowa State women down Lehigh to advance to second round play on Tuesday

Today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...

Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker are members of Rotary International ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Robin Tucker is scheduled to receive his Paul Harris Fellow award today.

Noon Meeting and Program:

Monday, March 22, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program

Brian Connors

Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing

Robin Tucker

State of Iowa sports programs shine in men's and women's basketball; Iowa wrestling program wins third straight NCAA title ...

• UNI men's basketball team advances to Sweet 16


• Iowa women's basketball team defeat C. Vivian Stringer's Rutgers team


• Iowa wrestling program wins third straight NCAA Wrestling title (23) in Omaha

Northern Iowa holds off Kansas, 69-67, advances to Sweet Sixteen - The Gazette
That time-honored "One Shining Moment" song the nation expected to be ringing sweetly in the Kansas Jayhawks' ears at the conclusion ...

Iowa women beat Stringer and Rutgers finally to advance ...

Iowa women run past Stringer, Rutgers, 70-63 - Mason City Globe Gazette
No. 1 Stanford Advances in Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament - Bloomberg
8 seed Iowa beat ninth-seeded Rutgers 70- 63 at Stanford, California. Stanford's Jeanette Pohlen had 16 points and Kaylan Pedersen added 15 points and 12 ...

A good story on reunions at Standford for Iowa's Bruder, Stringer and Vanderveer ...

C. Vivian Stringer, Tara Vanderveer helped make women's basketball history - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
Vivian Stringer, before her Rutgers team took on her former team, Iowa, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday.STANFORD, Calif. ...

The University of Iowa remain #1 with third straight NCAA title captured at the Qwest Center Omaha on Saturday ...

3 Iowa wrestlers claim national titles - msnbc.com
"That's why you wrestle all 7 minutes. Anything can happen." Iowa's McDonough decisioned Iowa State's Andrew Long 3-1 for his fourth victory over him this ...
Iowa's Metcalf earns redemption as Hawkeyes win NCAA wrestling title - USA Today

While the University of Iowa and Iowa State University men's basketball programs are idle this tournament season, the UNI Panthers move to 30-4 and reach their first Sweet 16 in program history. Congratulations to Ben Jacobsen and the Panthers. Our daughter is a junior at UNI.

The UNI women will face #1 seed today in the NCAA Tournament, when they face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a homecoming for the two head coaches. UNI's Tonya Warren and Nebraska's Connie Yori, both native Iowans, were teammates from 1983 to '86 on Creighton University basketball team.

The Iowa State women are also in the women's tournament and will play today.

On Iowa!

Well, it's not quite the same this year in men's basketball!

Robin Tucker

National Write Your Congressman sent a Action Alert on Health Care Reform ...

Action Alert from nwyc

Health Care Overhaul Legislation


Democratic leaders in the House promoted legislation this week designed to remake the nation's health-care system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) posted a preliminary $940 billion cost estimate for the bill.

As President Obama again delayed a planned trip to Asia, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) remarked, “This is historical. He wants to be here for the history.” Hill watchers say the President stayed home to help push through the legislation.

When: The House is scheduled to vote Sunday, March 21, on the final package, with floor action to follow in the Senate as early as next week.

Highlights of the Legislation

• Coverage: The 10-year plan would provide coverage to 32 million people now uninsured through a combination of tax credits for middle class households and an expansion of the Medicaid program for low income people.


• Employer responsibility: Would alter the transition to the employer policy for employers with 50 or more full-time workers by subtracting the first 30 full time employees from the payment calculation.


• Medicare cuts: Would Call for hospitals to operate more efficiently or risk going out of business, but seniors could see the coverage gap in their prescription benefits gradually eliminated.


• Insurance companies: Would face unprecedented federal regulation. Health care industries would be hit with new federal taxes. Upper-income households would face a new tax on investment earnings.


• High-cost plan excise tax: Would reduce the revenue collected by the tax by 80 percent and delay the application of the tax until 2018. It would also increase the dollar thresholds.

Democratic Voice: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters, "The best initiative we can take to improve jobs, strengthen our economic security, is to pass health care reform. We will make progress by passing this legislation."

Republican Voice: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said after leaving a meeting on the House floor, “Our plan is for it not to come to the Senate. Our plan is for it to be defeated here in the House in the next few days.”

Where lawmakers stand now: Click here to get the latest update on where lawmakers stand: http://www.spesend.net/SpeClicks.aspx?X=2R0QE581HVAP9ZY404SWWQ

Who’s in play: House health-care vote - Washington Post
How members voted on health-care legislation Nov. 7, where they stand now and who is still undecided ...

Should Congress pass Health Care overhaul legislation (H.R. 4872)?

Voice your opinion now!

Click here to voice your opinion on this issue!

We the People are the voice of America.

Confirmation
Your e-mail message was sent to:
Representative David Loebsack (D-IA 2nd)

Personally, we are opposed to both these House and Senate bills.

Wishing all a Happy St. Patrick's Day 2010: 'Take it easy, play it safe and be careful' ...

The 35Th annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day Parade was held in Downtown Cedar Rapids, less than a block away from our commerical building at 613 Second Avenue SE, home of Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. and Tommy Tucker Realty Co.

This year's button is pictured. Learn more about this organization at http://www.sapadapaso.org/

Parked cars and trucks were all along the alley way between Second and Third avenues in the 600 block of Downtown Cedar Rapds, as Robin Tucker returned from a community luncheon meeting. Some parade attendees blocked in other cars. One couple with their 104 year-old relative was stuck in a parking place, until after the parade. Thankfully, it wasn't Summer and hot.

PHOTOS: The St. Patrick’s Day Parade - The Gazette and KCRG-TV9
Replay the video and see photos from the 35Th annual SaPaDaPaSo St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Cedar Rapids.First half of parade Second ...

PHOTOS: St. Patrick’s Day breakfast - The Gazette

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2010!

As Dr. Max used to say on old WMT-Channel 2: "Take it easy, play it safe and be careful" ...

Robin Tucker

This week's R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman ...

Many are concerned what the majority party in Washington D.C. is doing these days to our Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. Here's a recap from National Write Your Congressman.

Vol. 14 No. 2-8

Monday, March 15, 2010

REVIEW

Tax Extenders: The Senate sent a package of tax breaks back to the House, bringing lawmakers a step closer to a conference committee on what Democrats are calling their jobs agenda. The Senate voted 62-36 to pass the bill. The tax bill would extend more than $30 billion worth of tax breaks that expired at the end of 2009. It extends, long-term unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless through Dec. 31. Other provisions, such as Medicaid funding assistance to states and physician payment rates under Medicare, would get shorter extensions. The bill is not fully offset, but the tax portion of it is. Because the safety-net spending is considered an “emergency” it is exempt from pay-as-you-go rules. (H.R.4213)

Jobs Measure: The Senate is taking final action on a $17.6 billion package that includes payroll tax relief for businesses that hire new workers. It would cost $13 billion over 10 years. The measure also includes extensions of the Highway Trust Fund, the Build America Bonds program and expense deductions for small businesses. The House passed the bill earlier this month but returned it to the Senate with amendments. (H.R.2847)

Tax on Bonuses: Lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) fund recipients. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and has 51 cosponsors. Eight other related bills have been introduced into the House.(H.R.1586)

To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com.

Defense Department - F-35s: The Senate Armed Services Committee learned last week that the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, will cost tens of billions of dollars more than previously disclosed and will be fielded much later than officials recently predicted. The growing costs and schedule-setbacks left Congress members exasperated. Some vowed to continue support of the program only if it is properly managed.

Financial Overhaul: Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) announced plans to introduce his own proposal for overhauling financial regulations. The move came after two failed rounds of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans.

Earmarks: With Senate leaders from both parties under pressure to respond to voter anger over congressional spending, lawmakers announced plans to impose restrictions on earmarks. A champion of the “tea party” movement, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is pressing an amendment to impose a one-year ban on all earmarks.

Student Loan Package: Democrats debated wrapping a health care overhaul and a student loan bill into a single budget reconciliation package last week. The legislation would make the federal government the sole originator of student loans. (H.R.3221)

PREVIEW

Health Care Bill - Abortion Funding: Several Democratic lawmakers who supported a blanket ban on abortion funding in the House-passed health care bill have shown signs of wavering, an indication that they may accept the Senate version of the bill. House leaders are positioning for a final vote on health care overhaul legislation as soon as this week, (H.R.3590) (H.R.3962)

FAA Reauthorization: The Senate is continuing work on a bill that would reauthorize the FAA through fiscal 2011. It would expedite the transition to a new air traffic control system and provide airline passengers new “rights” against excessive tarmac delays, (H.R.915)

The Week Ahead: The House is expected to direct its efforts toward health care overhaul legislation, with floor votes possible. The Senate is moving forward on a bill serving as a vehicle for a $17.6 billion jobs measure (H.R.2847).

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Our Heritage

We the People of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America

Another good organization to follow is the Public Interest Institute located in the 2Nd Congressional District in Iowa, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Robin Tucker

Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for March 15,2010

Robin Tucker is a third generation member of Rotary International ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Noon Meeting and Program:

Monday, March 15, 2010

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

MARCIA ROGERS, ADTRACK CORPORATION

FEED HAITI INITIATIVE - CEDAR RAPIDS FOOD INDUSTRY LEADERS

Robin Tucker

On Monday "Grandmaster" Woojin Jung spoke the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids at our Noon meeting ...

Here's a recap from Ripples from the Rapids for this week ...

Grandmaster Woojin Jung was the program on Monday, March 8Th and we welecomed two new members to our Club. We will have Club Breakouts April 19, which gets back to the original Rotary International meeting in Chicago.

THE FRONT PAGE

GRANDMASTER WOOJIN JUNG

Why He Chose to Live in Cedar Rapids for the Last 39 years?

Woojin Jung arrived in Cedar Rapids on December 31, 1971. He was to stay with a Korean friend who was then living in Cedar Rapids. However, there was no one to greet him at the airport because his plane had been delayed by a snowstorm. His English was poor. He was alone in a strange, new land and had difficulty using the telephone to call his friend. Upon his arrival in the United States from Korea, Jung had only $35 in his pocket.

His first job was pumping gas in a gas station on 15Th Street and Mount Vernon Road SE. He ate one meal a day. On Friday’s he treated himself to a wonderful meal at the KFC restaurant for 99-cents. By Wednesday he would be "abuzz with excitement" and by Friday "delirious" with anticipation. The meal revived his "body and soul" and he is sure he will never taste anything better that the KFC Friday lunch meal for the rest of his life.

In 1973, he opened his first Tae Kwon Do School at that same location on Mount Vernon Road SE. In 1979, he built New Life Fitness World in Cedar Rapids. It was the first health club owned and operated by an immigrant in Cedar Rapids and the biggest the city had ever seen. He went on to build 13 more health clubs including facilities in Iowa City, Columbia and Lexington, South Carolina and Fort Meyers, Florida.

Very grateful for his success, he wanted to give back and in the late 1970s, he started forming foundations and charities to help others. He said his inspiration came from the community of Cedar Rapids. He formed Jung’s Black Belt Association, a school scholarship for children in his hometown in Korea, the Grandmasters’ Honor Society and the Jung Family Foundation.
Don Canney, former Mayor of Cedar Rapids, fought in the Korean War. He remembered Koreans as good people and he and Woojin became close friends. Cedar Rapids and Wulsan, Woojin’s hometown, became sister cities. Jack Evans, who introduced Woojin at Rotary this week, has visited Woojin’s home in Wulsan. Jack and Woojin sat on the floor and drank tea with Woojin’s mother. In 1989 Woojin assisted in bringing PMX to Cedar Rapids. This amounted to a $500 million investment and 600 jobs for the community.

In 2007 he sponsored the Goodwill Tour which hosted the North Korean Tae Kwon Do Demonstration Team on a tour of the United States. The team performed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cedar Rapids, Louisville and Atlanta. This had been a dream of Mr. Jung for which he’d worked the prior 16 years to create. This was the first tour of its kind and brought citizens of North Korea and the United States together with no political agenda. In 2008, on a similar cultural exchange, the New York Philharmonic played the U.S. national anthem in North Korea for the first time.

Today, 39 years after his arrival in Cedar Rapids, Woojin Jung is known as one of the most successful Tae Kwon Do masters in the United States. He runs seven fitness clubs and owns several shopping malls. He operates a 36-acre Tae Kwon Do training site in the Rocky Mountains and is the publisher of the TaeKwonDo Times Magazine.

Woojin graciously furnished complementary copies of his book Eastern Spirit, Western Dreams to Rotarians present at the meeting. I read my autographed copy over the weekend. It is an absolutely delightful read.

Our Next Meeting:

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010
THE CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL
MARCIA ROGERS
CEDAR RAPIDS FOOD INDUSTRY'S ASSISTANCE TO HAITI
We ask that you arrive arrive in sufficient time to be seated by 12:15 p.m.

UPCOMING Rotary Club Of Cedar Rapids PROGRAMS & EVENTS

• March 22, 2010 - Brian Connors - Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing.
• March 29, 2010 - Travis Christopher, Hawkeye Area Boy Scouts of America.
• April 5, 2010 - Rich Patterson, Director, Indian Creek Nature Center.
• April 12, 2010 - Sean McMahon, Executive Director of the Iowa Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
• April 19, 2010 - Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses.
• April 26, 2010 - Shannon Ramsay, President, Trees Forever.
• May 3, 2010 - Kirk Ferentz, Head Football Coach, The University of Iowa.
• May 10, 2010 - Robert Massey, Executive Director, Orchestra Iowa.
• May 17, 2010 - Joe Jennison, Executive Director, Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.
• May 24, 2010 - Charles Swanson, Executive Director, Hancher Auditorium.
• May 31, 2010 - NO ROTARY IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
• June 7, 2010 - John Bloomhall, President, Diamond V Mills.
• June 14, 2010 - Elwynn Taylor, Professor of Climatology, Iowa State University.
• June 21, 2010 - Chris Coleman, President, Better Business Bureau.
• June 28, 2009 - Passing the Gavel and Community Service & Appreciation Awards.

Robin Tucker is a third generation member of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids.

Best wishes to the Cedar Rapids Washington Warrior men's basketball team at State Tournament ...

Washington-CR vs. Ames

The Washington High School men’s basketball team plays Ames in the state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Wednesday, March 10Th at 1:45pm. Happy Birthday to Eileen TODAY and Go Warriors!

Ames is the #1 seed in the Class 4A Iowa high school basketball tournament in 2010. News on the Ames team, follow link. Ames enters the game with a 50 game win streak. Washington is a clear underdog in this game.

LIVE COVERAGE: Cedar Rapids Washington vs. Ames, 1:45 p.m. ... - Iowa Prep Sports
Mar 10, 2010 ... Cedar Rapids Washington takes on top-ranked Ames in a 4A quarterfinal game in Des Moines today at 1:45 pm Jeff Johnson will provide live ...

Robin Tucker

The R&P Report from NWYC for Monday, March 8, 2010 ...

We keep up to date with Washington D.C. and Congress through National Write Your Congressmen. Here's this weeks update for Monday, March 8, 2010 ...

REVIEW

Health Care Reform Bill Vote: President Obama is urging Democrats to push for a simple majority vote, also known as reconciliation, on the health care reform bill. GOP members have expressed strong objections to the procedure that would allow Democrats to avoid a Republican filibuster. The bill is still in draft form. It is expected to be sent to the Congressional Budget Office for a cost estimate this week.

The measure is based on an outline that was posted on the White House Web site and is expected to be voted on before Congress adjourns March 26 for its two-week spring recess. The President told lawmakers that the strength of his presidency could depend on passing the overhaul.

Jobs Bill: The House passed a jobs package by a vote of 217-201 after amending it to follow pay-as-you-go rules. The bill addressed the concerns of the Congressional Black Caucus with an amendment that would direct a portion of transportation funding to small businesses determined to be “controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.”
The centerpiece of the bill is a payroll tax relief measure for businesses that hire new workers. The measure will now return to the Senate for another vote before it can be sent to the President for a signature. (H.R.2847)

Ways and Means Committee Chairman: Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) was named acting chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee after Charles Rangel (D-NY) stepped down amid an ethics committee investigation. Sen. Levin is known as an ally of organized labor and the domestic auto industry.

Punishment in Schools: The House passed legislation by a vote of 262-153 that would establish minimum federal standards on the use of punishment and restraints on pupils in schools. GOP lawmakers voiced objections that the measure would encroach on states’ prerogatives and expand federal power. (H.R. 4247)

Climate Change: In a bid to make Congress the decision-maker on capping carbon emissions, Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced legislation that would impose a two-year moratorium on the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants and other stationary emitters. The bill is now in the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (S.3072)

PREVIEW

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy: Democrats are pledging to put a quick end to the policy that prohibits gays and lesbians in the military from revealing their sexual orientation. It also prohibits military personnel from asking for that information. Republicans and Pentagon officials are urging Democrats to allow the military to complete its study on the policy governing gays in the military before taking action on the issue. To voice your opinion on this issue, go to www.nwyc.com

Regulatory Overhaul: Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) is considering a proposal that would make the head of the central bank's consumer division a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate. The Fed’s board of governors now hires the head of that division. It remains an open question how much independence such a consumer supervisor would have from the Fed’s leaders.

The Week Ahead: The House is scheduled to debate a withdrawal timeline for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. It is expected to continue a holding pattern on jobs legislation. The Senate will take the lead on legislation intended to create jobs. It is expected to continue work on a bill to extend several expired tax provisions (H.R.4213) and other programs, including unemployment insurance, flood insurance and COBRA health care subsidies. Go to http://www.spesend.net/SpeClicks.aspx?X=2R0QE581HVAJA0SK06V9WM to view the floor schedule for the House and Senate.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Our Heritage

We the People of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. - The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America

We the People are the voice of America.

Woo Jin Jung, New Life Fitness World is Program for Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids: March 8, 2010 ...

Happy International Women's Day March 8Th ...

Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker are both members of Rotary International ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Meeting and Program:

Monday, March 8, 2010

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Woo Jin Jung

New Life Fitness World

Robin Tucker

Rotary Programs for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids for the first half of the year:

• March 15, 2010 - Doug Brakham, Manager, ADM.
• March 22, 2010 - Brian Connors - Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing.
• March 29, 2010 - To be announced.
• April 5, 2010 - Rich Patterson, Director, Indian Creek Nature Center.
• April 12, 2010 - Angie Dethlefs-Trentin, Executive Director, Iowa Council of Foundations.
• April 19, 2010 - Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses.
• April 26, 2010 - Shannon Ramsay, President, Trees Forever.
• May 3, 2010 - Kirk Ferentz, Head Football Coach, The University of Iowa.
• May 10, 2010 - Robert Massey, Executive Director, Orchestra Iowa.
• May 17, 2010 - Joe Jennison, Executive Director, Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.
• May 24, 2010 - Charles Swanson, Executive Director, Hancher Auditorium.
• May 31, 2010 - NO ROTARY IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
• June 7, 2010 - John Bloomhall, President, Diamond V Mills.
• June 14, 2010 - To be announced.
• June 21, 2010 - Chris Coleman, President, Better Business Bureau.
• June 28, 2009 - Passing the Gavel and Community Service & Appreciation Awards.

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
• SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
• THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
• FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Avenues of Service

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

• Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
• Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
• Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
• International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

The Four-Way Test

The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
   

Mission

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Diversity and Rotary

Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing membership guidelines, and to endeavor to include the appropriate range of individuals in their clubs. A club that reflects its community with regard to professional and business classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.

Moving toward the future

In 2001-02, Rotary International began developing a strategic plan to guide the organization as it entered its second century of service. In June 2007, the Board of Directors approved the RI Strategic Plan 2007-10, which identifies seven priorities:

• Eradicate polio.
• Advance the internal and external recognition and public image of Rotary.
• Increase Rotary’s capacity to provide service to others.
• Expand membership globally in both numbers and quality.
• Emphasize Rotary’s unique vocational service commitment.
• Optimize the use and development of leadership talents within RI.
• Fully implement the strategic planning process to ensure continuity and consistency throughout the organization.

Robin Tucker

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for Monday, March 1, 2010 ...

We welcome the month of March today ...

Robin Tucker is a third generation member of Rotary Internaitonal ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Meeting and Program:

Monday, March 1, 2010

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Gary Hinzman

Director, Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services

Robin Tucker

Rotary Programs for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids for the first half of the year:

• March 3, 2010 - Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids social at Theatre Cedar Rapids
• March 8, 2010 - Woo Jin Jung, New Life Fitness World.
• March 15, 2010 - Doug Brakham, Manager, ADM.
• March 22, 2010 - Brian Connors - Experiences Living and Starting a Small Business in Beijing.
• March 29, 2010 - To be announced.
• April 5, 2010 - Rich Patterson, Director, Indian Creek Nature Center.
• April 12, 2010 - Angie Dethlefs-Trentin, Executive Director, Iowa Council of Foundations.
• April 19, 2010 - Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses.
• April 26, 2010 - Shannon Ramsay, President, Trees Forever.
• May 3, 2010 - Kirk Ferentz, Head Football Coach, The University of Iowa.
• May 10, 2010 - Robert Massey, Executive Director, Orchestra Iowa.
• May 17, 2010 - Joe Jennison, Executive Director, Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.
• May 24, 2010 - Charles Swanson, Executive Director, Hancher Auditorium.
• May 31, 2010 - NO ROTARY IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
• June 7, 2010 - John Bloomhall, President, Diamond V Mills.
• June 14, 2010 - To be announced.
• June 21, 2010 - Chris Coleman, President, Better Business Bureau.
• June 28, 2009 - Passing the Gavel and Community Service & Appreciation Awards.

The Object of Rotary

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

• FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
• SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
• THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
• FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Avenues of Service

Based on the Object of Rotary, the Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:

• Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the effective functioning of the club.
• Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to practice high ethical standards.
• Community Service covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in its community.
• International Service encompasses actions taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace.

The Four-Way Test

The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
   

Mission

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Diversity and Rotary

Rotary International recognizes the value of diversity within individual clubs. Rotary encourages clubs to assess those in their communities who are eligible for membership, under existing membership guidelines, and to endeavor to include the appropriate range of individuals in their clubs. A club that reflects its community with regard to professional and business classification, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity is a club with the key to its future.

Moving toward the future

In 2001-02, Rotary International began developing a strategic plan to guide the organization as it entered its second century of service. In June 2007, the Board of Directors approved the RI Strategic Plan 2007-10, which identifies seven priorities:

• Eradicate polio.
• Advance the internal and external recognition and public image of Rotary.
• Increase Rotary’s capacity to provide service to others.
• Expand membership globally in both numbers and quality.
• Emphasize Rotary’s unique vocational service commitment.
• Optimize the use and development of leadership talents within RI.
• Fully implement the strategic planning process to ensure continuity and consistency throughout the organization.

ttrco