Des Moines Sertoma Club

The month of May brings flowers along with other wonderful days to celebrate: May Day , Cinco de Mayo , Mother’s Day , Armed Forces Day , Memorial Day , and great SERTOMA Speakers !!!!

On May 1st our speaker is Rob Denson, the President of DMACC who was appointed on November 1, 2003. He grew up on a farm near Homestead, Iowa, south of the Amana Colonies and graduated from high school in Marengo, Iowa. He is the first native born Iowan to be President of DMACC. He will discuss the continuing growth of DMACC and its programs.

Our May 15th speaker is in the workers and we will update the group once we have confirmation.

The month of April brings spring showers but a lot of fun and interesting happenings such as April Fool’s Day , Good Friday , Easter , Earth Day , Arbor Day , and great SERTOMA Speakers !!!!

Our first speaker on April 3rd is Gene Meyer who is he Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

The position will support the Partnership’s roles in implementing the region’s strategic vision plan, “Capital Crossroads: A Vision for Greater Des Moines & Central Iowa,” and in elevating the alliance between business and education in central Iowa, and in developing strategic direction for the next phase of the Partnership’s work..

On April 17th Former University of Iowa basketball star Al Lorenzen who is the chief executive officer of Wildwood Hills Ranch, a Madison County operation that serves at-risk children.

Lorenzen, 44, has headed the sports arm of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau for the past four years. The Cedar Rapids Kennedy star played for the University of Iowa 1984-88, and later played basketball professionally for six years in five countries.

The State Fair Committee has had their first meeting – if you would like to join the committee please contact Bob Simons.

March the month of Daylight Saving Time, St. Patrick’s Day , the First Day of Spring , and great SERTOMA Speakers !!!!

Our March 6th speaker will be Thom Guzman, Director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center, under the Iowa Department of Economic Development umbrella, currently focusing on the Main Street program. The Main Street program fosters “Community Revolution” communities band together to reclaim the charm and function of their main streets and historic resources, creating a favorable business climate and sparking new spirit of community.

On March 20th, our speaker will be Diana Weiland, President & CEO of the The Wallace Centers of Iowa. The Wallace Centers of Iowa’s two locations include the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient and the Wallace House in Des Moines. Both sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With a broad mission of "Building Community by Engaging Citizens in Meaningful Conversation and Active Learning," the two historic sites provide a variety of non-partisan, educational programs and community services focused on civility and sustainable agriculture.

Remember Our Evening Meeting this March - Please let Joe know if you would like to attend:
Iowa Energy Basketball vs. Canton Thursday March 29, 2012 at 7:00pm

February the month of Groundhog Day , Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday , Valentine’s Day , President’s Day , Mardi Gras , and great SERTOMA Speakers !!!!

On Tuesday, February 7th, Brian Brown is in his ninth year as an assistant coach on the Drake staff working with the high jump and horizontal jumps. He currently serves as the Director of the Drake Relays.

Under Brown's guidance, junior Tyse Samani was the 2010 MVC Indoor women's high jump champion while 2009 graduate Marcus Gaines was the 2008 MVC Indoor long jump champion and set a new indoor school record of 25-3.25. Gaines also qualified for the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Outdoor Regionals.

Brown, who owns the Drake Relays special invitational high jump record of 7-7 set in 1997, was an NCAA Indoor high jump champion for Northwestern State, as well as a medalist at the U.S. Indoor and Outdoor Championships. He was ranked seven times on the top ten U.S. high jump list during his distinguished career as well as No. 9 in the world in 1998.

A 1990 graduate of Northwestern (La.) State, Brown also received his masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri in 1995 and 2005 respectively. Brown and his wife, Natasha, have a daughter, Elexandria (11); and two sons, Quinton (9) and Kristian (8).

Our speaker on Tuesday, February 21st is Susan Moritz,President of IPTV Foundation. She became the first president of the newly formed Iowa Public Television Foundation in 2001. IPTV works to "educate, inform, enrich and inspire the lives of Iowans" serving 1.5 million viewers every week. Nine of 10 Iowans use IPTV content each month.

Prior to her current position, Susan worked with the American Lung Association of Iowa, Wesley Retirement Services and a consulting subsidiary of Wesley, The Grand Group. Raised in Blue Grass, Susan graduated from the University of Iowa. She served on the international board of AFP, the PBS Foundation board and on the board of education for the West Des Moines Community Schools.

Our first speaker on January 3rd;
Amy Stephens is in her ninth campaign as head women's basketball coach at Drake University. Since her appointment in 2003, the Bulldogs have won 133 games and a Missouri Valley Conference championship, in addition to earning an NCAA Tournament berth in 2007 and three WNIT berths.
Under Stephens' direction, Drake became the Valley's most successful team during the last decade (Jan. 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2009). The Bulldogs amassed a conference-best 191-119 (.616) record during that time.

Our January 17th speaker is MD Isley,
Executive Director of Bravo Greater Des Moines Regional Arts Council (Bravo), a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the metro area's arts and cultural community as a key element of a world-class quality of life.
Bravo provides a collaborative focus to nurture and grow the arts by increasing funding through public and private sources.

Our Evening Meeting:

Drake Women’s Basketball vs. Mo State on Thursday February 2, 2012 at 7:05pm

Drake Men’s Basketball vs. Southern Illinois on Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 7:05pm

Iowa Energy Basketball vs. Canton Thursday March 29, 2012 at 7:00pm

The Des Moines Sertoma Club is looking forward to a great Thanksgiving!!!

Our first speaker November 1st is Dr Elwynn Taylor, agricultural meteorologist and Iowa State University extension climatologist, is well known across the state for his analysis of weather influence and concise explanations and often humorous anecdotes. Dr. Taylor was a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Alabama before moving to Iowa in 1979. He was educated in botany at Utah State University and completed his doctoral studies at Washington University in St. Louis in 1970. In his youth he lived among thousands of sheep and worked with sheep producers.

On November 15th, our speaker will be Craig Block General Counsel and Cheif Operating Offier of the Iowa Department of Economic Development to discuss Iowa’s approach to current economic issues and it's plans going forward.

The Des Moines Sertoma Club

Our first meeting is October 4th, with speaker Kent Sovern, Executive Director of AARP Iowa - he will discuss his organization and issues of interest at AARP.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people age 50 and over have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole, ways that help people 50 and over improve their lives. Since 1958, AARP has been leading a revolution in the way people view and live life.

Saturday, October 15th Sertoma Club will be participating in I-235 Beautification Day that starts at 7:45am – 10am. If you are able to help, please email Craig Randall at craigrandall@iowarealty.com

On October 18th our speaker will be Pam Carmichael, CEO of Home, inc. Which stands for Home Opportunities Made Easy Inc. (HOME Inc.), helping people with low incomes rent and buy affordable homes is important. So is making sure they’re well-educated about living in rental housing. Founded in 1967 as the first private, nonprofit housing organization in Des Moines, HOME Inc. runs a property program to develop or rehabilitate homes and a community housing services program to try to help people find housing either through its own home ownership model or through private rentals. The group provides educational classes as well as a place to call with general rental questions.

Des Moines Sertoma is keeping busy in September

Des Moines Sertoma Club starts our first meeting with Drake’s Football Coach, Chris Creighton together with a student athlete – they will discuss the team, the upcoming schedule and the summer trip to Africa. Make sure you join us on September 6th to hear the great things happening with the Drake Football team.

Our Inauguration Dinner will be on September 17th at the Salisbury House in the Great Room from 5pm to 9pm.
We will start dinner at 5:30pm and will start our meeting at 6:30pm, there will also be tours of the Salisbury House after our meeting. Please RSVP for the dinner with Minda at mbarr@bankerstrust.com or on the signup sheet that will be distributed at our September 6th meeting – email or mark: if you will have a quest, your choice of entrée of Salmon or Sirloin and choice of drink, soft drink or coffee.

Our September 20th speaker has changed to Dr. Nancy Sebring, the Des Moines Superintendent of Schools, giving a general report about the health of the school district.

Kent Sovern of Iowa AARP ended up with a big conflict and will be our October 4th speaker.

August in Review:
On August 2nd, Eric Tabor, the Chief of Staff to Attorney General Tom Miller. Spoke about the activities of the Attorney General’s Office and the many great benefits this office has brought to Iowans.

On August 16th, our speaker was Rob Schweers, Senior Communications Consultant from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. He discussed issues of health, health care costs and health insurance.

Des Moines Sertoma is Heading to the Iowa State Fair!!

August is bringing the Sertoma Club an opportunity to show their volunteering spirit!!! The Iowa State Fair is a great opportunity to spread the word about Sertoma and get people interested in ways to save their hearing…

Email or see Bob Simons if you are available to volunteer at the fair.

We start our first meeting on August 2nd, with Eric Tabor, the Chief of Staff to Attorney General Tom Miller. He will bring us up to date on the activities of the Attorney General’s Office and discuss the many great benefits this office has brought to Iowans.

On August 16th, our speaker will be Rob Schweers, Senior Communications Consultant from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. He will be discuss issues of health, health care costs and health insurance.

The Sertoma Club's evening meeting will be a tour and dinner at the Embassy Club West on August 23rd. Please sign up at our upcoming meeting or email mbarr@bankerstrust.com with your RSVP.

July is bringing us a heat wave, but the Sertoma Club is always up for fun in the sun!!

We start our July 5th meeting with speaker Mary Kramer, who was an Iowa State Senator, an US Ambassador to Barbados, who worked on both Bush campaigns for president, and is on the board of several charitable organizations. She also has written “More than a walk on the beach,” a book about her experiences as a diplomat.

On July 11th, we will have our evening meeting at the Camp Dodge Gold Star Museum at 7105 NW 70th Avenue, Johnston.
Dinner will be provided, please RSVP with Minda at our meeting today or via email (mbarrr@bankerstrust.com) on the number that will be attending with you.

Our last meeting of the Month, July 19 bring us speaker Jan Fleming, Historic Preservationist and Author of “Grotesques in Des Moines…Iowa and Abroad. This will be an interest topic on the Gargoyle’s of Iowa.


The State Fair Committee is working hard on preparing for the State Fair and is meeting every other week, please remember to sign up for some booth time!!

June in Review:

We had speakers, Dean Kayser , audiologist and Bill Stowe, the Des Moines Public Works Director and enjoyed a cubs game!!

New member update, Melissa Stover from Bankers Trust has joined our group. We have Jeri Lee Henry to thank for this excellent addition.