If you're unable to perform the duty assigned above, please find a replacement and report the change to Ramona Lacy at ramona_lacy@rotaryclubofdmam.com by 5pm on Tuesday. Thank you!
"The Nastiest Saloon in Iowa" Program Highlights:
Dave Donovan is a retired lawyer and amateur genealogist, He practiced law most of his career as a litigator with an international firm based in Washington, DC, with a six-year interval as general counsel and chief operating officer for the Washington DC NFL football team.
Rose Donovan is a retired journalist, having worked for decades as a reporter and editor for suburban newspapers in the D.C. area and later the Washington Post.
Dave and Rose grew up in Iowa -- Rose in Des Moines where most of the events in the book take place, and Dave in Carroll. They met as journalism students at Iowa State University, from which they graduated in 1980, and married shortly before Dave started law school at Georgetown University, from which he graduated in 1984.
They have three children and two grandchildren, and they now live in a small town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where Dave serves as a town commissioner.
Upcoming Events
September 30th Club Social DATE CHANGE, see below
October 7 Club Social tentative reschedule date, details below
October 9 Program: Zach Lahn, Republican candidate for Governor of Iowa
Ocotober 9 Foundation Board Meeting following regular meeting
October 16 Program: Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for Governor of Iowa
October 16 Board Meeting following regular meeting
October 23 Program: Annual Rotary DMAM Auction
October 24 Chili Cookoff & Bonfire, details below
October 30 Program: Rotarians in costume
**For more event details don’t forget to check our website!
If you have questions or concerns regarding the above proposed member(s), contact Membership Committee Chair Matt Nuetzman at mnuetzman@paychex.com.
Got News to Share? Let’s Celebrate (and Support) Together!
We care deeply about our members, both inside and outside of Rotary! Based on input from the recent Board Meeting, we are opening up weekly program announcements to highlight individual celebrations, life events, and personal concerns. If you have news you’d like shared with the club, please send a brief email to our Club Administrator so we can recognize it together at our next meeting.
Congratulations Dave Duncan! He received his Paul Harris single sapphire gemstone pin at Friday's meeting. Dave followed up with additional information on Paul Harris Fellow pins, which is posted below **
The Rotary Club of Des Moines AM received an Appreciation Award from the Rotary Club of Kampala South for our ongoing project work that included the completion of Phase I and Phase II of the Kikandwa Medical Center Staff Housing Complex. The recognition was presented on Friday, September 25th by Jimmy Senteza who is an Honorary Member of both the RC Des Moines AM and RC Kampala South. The recognition is for our “generous support and commitment to our service projects during the 2025-26 Rotary Year. Your partnership has been instrumental in our efforts to create change in our community.
Upcoming Club Social DATE CHANGE:
formerly planned for Wednesday September 30th
Due to rain in the forecast, now tentatively planned for
Wednesday, October 7th
at the Des Moines Biergarten Des Moines Water Works Park
We will be hanging out in the Biergarten just to the east of the Lauridsen Amphitheater. There is a parking lot just to the south of the Amphitheater. There will be some picnic tables for seating. Feel free to bring along your favorite lawn chair.
What: Join us for a fun, fast-paced Speed Networking event designed to help you make meaningful connections with fellow Rotary members! You’ll have the opportunity to meet several members one-on-one, learn what they do, and share a little about yourself and your profession.
Come ready to connect, converse, and expand your Rotary network - appetizers will be provided!
Host: Melanie Lane
Vocational Services Chair
You're Invited!
Krista & Anupam Mittra are hosting our 16th annual BIG Oktoberfest on Friday, October 17, 5:30 to 10:30 pm, with German food, four beers on tap, hammerschlagen, and a stein-holding contest that will humble you. Sign up below and see attachment - every dollar goes to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, so drinking a Märzen technically counts as philanthropy. Click the link for more details:
Fresh air, good company and a little friendly competition. Bring your friends and family to Pennie Carroll’s home at 2625 SE Jarvis Lane, Runnels, IA on Saturday, October 24!
1 p.m. — Arrive and play: Fishing, kayaking, volleyball and bags.
4 p.m. — Let’s eat: Chili and plenty of good food.
6 p.m. — Bonfire and s’mores: Pull up a chair and stay awhile.
Think your chili has what it takes? Bring your best batch, take on the Chili Challenge and compete for bragging rights!
Bring something tasty to share (soup, side or dessert) along with a lawn chair and your favorite drink. We’ll have water, tea, ice and s’mores covered!
Your hosts: Pennie Carroll, Barb Steffen and Angie Weller
** Rotary International currently recognizes a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) when a person has accumulated $1,000 or more in qualifying contributions to The Rotary Foundation, either through their own contributions or contributions/recognition credits made in their name. Additional $1,000 increments lead to Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
Here is the progression:
Cumulative PHF recognition
$1,000–$1,999
$2,000–$2,999
$3,000–$3,999
$4,000–$4,999
$5,000–$5,999
$6,000–$6,999
$7,000–$7,999
$8,000–$8,999
$9,000–$9,999
Level
Paul Harris Fellow
PHF +1
PHF +2
PHF +3
PHF +4
PHF +5
PHF +6
PHF +7
PHF +8
What the pin looks like
Standard Paul Harris pin
1 sapphire
2 sapphires
3 sapphires
4 sapphires
5 sapphires
1 ruby
2 rubies
3 rubies
So, for example, if the pin you receive has three blue stones, that signifies the PHF +3 level, corresponding to $4,000–$4,999 in Paul Harris Fellow recognition. If it has one red stone, that's PHF +6, or $7,000–$7,999.
Get Your DMAM Rotary Branded Apparel
In partnership with member Tom Triplett and Triplett Office Solutions, we are offering Des Moines A.M. Rotary branded apparel for members to purchase!
Free pickup at Triplett Office Solutions (3553 109th Street, Urbandale).
Direct shipping to your location (additional shipping charges apply).
Questions? Contact Triplett Office Solutions at (515) 270-9150 or email kkinning@tripletts.com.
DISTRICT 6000 & ROTARY INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Click on the blue links to view event details.
Save the date; Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain
June 26-30, 2027. Details & booking here
Celebrating Positive Impact!
from Norlan Hinke 2025 - 2026 District Governor
"As a result of the district leadership team, all the District 6000 Rotary clubs, and all individual Rotarians; District 6000 was selected as the RI Roadmap ZONE 29 Membership winner.
Our district was also recognized overall for the district's achievements with the RI Foundation, PolioPlus, and Public Image.
Congratulations! Thank You! These are accomplishments we should all be proud of, but more so, as they show the commitments, benefits, and positive impact of District 6000 Rotary Clubs on their communities and internationally."
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark your calendars: Iowa Startup Week is a four-day event in Des Moines designed to spotlight and celebrate entrepreneurship in Iowa, running September 28 through October 1. The week will bring together founders, investors, and community members from across the region, capped off by the Best of the Midwest Pitch Competition on October 1st at Hoyt Sherman Place, where finalists compete for a non-dilutive cash prize.
Matt Nuetzman's niece, Maddie Erickson, who is Miss Iowa 2026, visited our club at Goodwill in June. Maddie went on to place 4th at Miss USA, the highest place for an Iowan in 70 years. Maddie is now serving as a Champion of the Year for Best Buddies Iowa, supporting individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. You may support Maddie by attending the gala on Thursday, October 29, at Vibrant Music Hall, or by donating to her campaign. https://www.bestbuddieschampion.org/iowa/supporting/#maddie
submitted by Matt Nuetzman
Des Moines Westside Chamber Golf outing
If anyone wants to help that day or offer a prize or participate, we welcome them.
When: Thursday, October 8th
Where: Waveland on University (Des Moines Westside)
Needed: Volunteers and prizes and golf goodies for 100 participants
The following events* and notes are submitted by Anupam Mittra:
"Five chances in one month to be genuinely useful to somebody in this city. That's a good month. Pick one or join all five if October is treating you well."
*Reggie’s Sleepout: 9th Oct, 12pm onwards
This is an annual overnight fundraiser where participants sleep in cardboard structures at Drake Stadium to raise awareness and funds for homeless youth in Central Iowa. Now in its 20th year, the event honors Reggie Kelsey, whose death in 2001 after aging out of foster care without support sparked a movement that has since raised millions for kids who need it most.
Have a life skill that homeless youth can learn from? Over lunch and dinner there are opportunities to talk to the youth about housing, financial planning 101, solving legal difficulties, communication skills, dressing for success etc.
*DMPS One Run, Saturday, October 17, 10:00 AM, Capitol View Elementary. Run it, walk it, or stand at the finish line and be loud for Des Moines Public Schools kids. All three count as community service. https://runsignup.com/Race/IA/DesMoines/DMPSOneRun
*Big Brothers Big Sisters Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 17, 5:00 PM, ln my home. That's eight hours after One Run ends, which I checked, because I am the sort of man who checks. 4 beers - two German and two American. Plus help raise money for a great cause. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bigbrothersbigsistersofcentraliowa/event/akboec/
*42nd Street Cleanup, Saturday, October 24, 10:00 AM, 42nd Street. Gloves, bags, two hours, other people's garbage. No link, no registration, no excuse. Just show up. Meet in front of the Des Moines Playhouse.
"Reply to me if you're in for any of these and I'll make sure you're not standing in a parking lot alone at 10:00 AM wondering if you got the date wrong.
Cheers,
Anupam"
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS
DMAM Rotarians are welcome to submit corporate and community event information for distribution to members as part of the Monday Memo.
Keep announcements brief!
The submission deadline is the close of business each Friday and must contain only text (no pictures or graphics).
When mailing to the Rotary DMAM Club, use ADDRESS:
Rotary DMAM
c/o Administrator: Ramona Lacy
PO Box 3542
Urbandale, IA 50322
Make Monday Memo submissions to Club Administrator:
Please include Monday Memo submission in the subject line of the email. Information submitted by noon on Thursday will be published in the following Monday Memo.
When: Thursday, October 8 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Where: Wellman’s on Ingersoll (formerly Star Bar)
