The speaker was Marcus Eckhardt, Curator at the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum. His theme was the programs and exhibits planned at the Museum and the Park for 2018.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Steve Wilson-- Guest of Amy Nicholson
Ava Otvadese-- City High Interact
Addy Smith-- City High Interact
Paula Mompio-- Exchange Student
Marcus Eckhardt-- Speaker
Announcements
Happy 65 to Phil Peterson who spent a few days back home in Indiana.
Phil announced that Amanda McFadden and Kate Sojka have signed on to run the next two Trivia Nights which will be set for May and October. The IC area president's group will make some determination of whether there will be a joint effort toward assisting with the RAGBRAI stop in Iowa City.
Liz Nichols announced that the Board approved our hosting an inbound exchange student for 2018-19 school year. She will be contacting West High to see if we can have a spot at that school. Families are being recruited to host. A couple of Downtown Rotary members are considering hosting, but we do need more to volunteer.
Deb Galbraith reminded members to attend the Prairie Lights book talk by her friend from Harvard Medical School and the reception at Deb's house right after next Sunday afternoon.
Deb Ockenfels reminded members to sign up for the District 6000 Toast in Coralville at 11 am on Friday, April 13 at the Radisson. It is one of several Toasts around the District over several days to replace the traditional District Conference this year.
There were many Happy Buck moments shared, several that accompanied large checks for birthday and anniversary celebrations. Roger Christian reminded everyone to watch the full lunar eclipse tonight between midnight and 4 am, if it is not too cloudy. Chris Knapp noted that January 29th was the 29th anniversary of the AM Rotary.
Speaker
Tom Langenfeld introduced our speaker, Marcus Eckhardt, the Curator of the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum. Eckhardt grew up in Iowa City and returned to work at the Hoover Library and Museum 12 years ago after museum and teaching experiences in Wisconsin.
The current exhibit through March 19 is "Farm Life in Iowa" based around historical photographs taken by early 20th century photographer, A.M. Wettach. From April 13-October 28 the exhibit will be "Tall Grass to Knee-High: A Century of Iowa Farming." The holiday season exhibit will be as in the past "Holiday Traditions" with themed Christmas trees.
Eckhardt's research for the farming exhibit has revealed that during the Depression Iowa farms had a greater variety of crops than currently. During World War II flax was grown for fiber and oil. Sugar beets and sweet potatoes were grown. Wheat was more extensively grown. Soybeans did not come in as a crop until 1925 and it wasn't very successful at first. Corn reached its peak of production in the late 1970s.
Other events to be held at the Hoover Library include:
Farm to Table dinner on July 14
Hoover Foundation Farm to Table dinner Aug 4
Farm tours
Sauerkraut making workshop
Canning workshops
Barn Quilt party
Other events:
March 24 is "Food Will Win the War" with Brian Fox playing Hoover
April 21 will be Kites over Hoover
May 28 and July 4 will be performances by the Eastern Iowa Brass Band. Dave Parson is a member of this group and highly recommends their work.
Fees for Hoover attendance is $5 for those 61+; $10 for adults; $5 for children.
In planning for 2019 is an exhibit on the Rosetta Stone which has a round-about connection to the Hoovers because of their translation from Latin to English of an early work on mining by Agricola.