The Rotary motto Service Above Self conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterize Rotary worldwide.

News Update: Rotarian wins $1,500 scholarship to attend leadership program - Click here to read the article!

LOCAL SERVICE PROJECT COMMITTEE
Focus: Hunger Eradication

Co-Chairs: Lawrence Cunningham and Ben Rempe. Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month.
Current Project(s):
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
December 19th ath the Hy-Vee at Valley West Mall

Adopt-A-Family project
Collecting cash and gift donations to make the holidays bright for a local family

Rotary Garden
Proposal still in committee

Women's Clothing Drive
February 2010

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT COMMITTEE
Focus: Polio Eradication and promoting peace and goodwill

Co-Chairs:  Matt Olson and Kristie Bell. Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month.
Current Project(s):
Ukrainian Orphanage Toy Drive
Haitian Disaster Relief 50/50 Raffle - February, 2010

Future Project(s):
India Calcutta District
Australia District 9790

PUBLIC IMAGE COMMITTEE
Focus: To promote club projects to the local media through press releases.

Co-Chairs:  Matthew Gardner and Sadie Trytten

Greater DSM Rotary Club's Fall, 2009 Events
About 30 members and friends of the Greater Des Moines Rotary Club attended that newly chartered group’s fall social at the Des Moines Social Club. President Rita Perea, who founded the club in December 2008, greeted several special visitors at the October event, including PDG Susan Herrick and husband, Bob; DGE Gary Welch and wife, Colleen; DGN Don Patterson and wife, Becky; and Youth Exchange Committee Chair Chris Knapp and wife, Vanette. A performance by Circular Revolution and several varieties of Fong’s Pizza were highlights of the evening. The Greater Des Moines Rotary Club for Emerging Leaders, the first new charter in District 6000 in more than 10 years, was officially recognized by Rotary International on March 26.

On Oct. 10, the Greater Des Moines Rotary Club kicked off its first International Service Project with a Target shopping spree intended to meet the needs of a Ukrainian orphanage. President Rita Perea, Vice President Joseph Jones, International Service Project Committee Chair Matt Olson, Public Relations Committee Chair Todd Razor, as well as club members David Hoffmann, Lynn Poschner and Michelle Lickteig, shopped for $276 worth of toys, clothes and school supplies for children at Teply Dim (House of the Warm Heart). Photos of the event were submitted to the Rotarian magazine for possible inclusion in that publication’s feature, “A Day in the Life of Rotary.”