The meeting was called to order by President Knobloch.  Heidi Huiskamp-Collins gave the invocation.  In attendance were 44 members  and 10 guests including an inter-club from Kewanee.

      There was no song for the day (big sigh of relief) and no Happy/Sad Dollars.  We did recognize April birthdays with a song and cake!

      The House Committee is looking for an additional member to help.  Please contact Bob VanDeVoorde if you are able to help with this important part of the club meetings.

      Gene Smith made his first appeal for Birdies for Charity.  Forms will be available at the meeting for the next few weeks. If you have any questions about how this fundraiser works, get the low down from Gene.

      Please contact any current officer or board member if you are interested in serving your club during the 2011/2012 Kiwanis year which begins in October.

      The results of the NCAA contest are in.  Tom Ketelaar won the grand prize of $20. He was absent at the meeting, obviously enjoying his winnings somewhere.  Marty Katz  won $5 for second place and Lee Schenck will receive an amazing consolation prize $1.00.

      Tom Plechaty and Denise Ormsby are putting the final touch on the Rose Day Fundraiser.  Orders can still be placed this week.  We are currently at 229 dozen sold. A couple of time slots are still available at Zimmermans .  If you can help, please contact Tom or Denise.  Thanks for supporting this fundraiser.

      Interclub Co-Chairs John Califf and Steve Schroder have scheduled a trip to the Annawan Kiwanis Club for their evening meeting on Monday, April 18^th.

      Pancake Day will be resurrected at the upcoming QC Criterium Bicycle Race which is held every Memorial Day Weekend in downtown Rock Island.  More info in the upcoming weeks.

      In Fun and Fellowship, Michael Swartz won the preliminary prize and chose to play on.  Dave from the Kewanee Kiwanis Club won the big prize of $27 and asked that it be added to our scholarship fund.

The excitement continued after our program with the annual "filling of the eggs".  The job was completed after the board meeting on Tuesday.

The Feature Attraction

      Dan Lee gave an interesting view of life in the Rocky's of northwest Montana.  Dan grew up in this area and is now returning there, particularly during the summer months, to build a cabin on the family acreage.  There have been numerous changes over the years with housing developments popping up and big money coming into the area from Los Angeles.  Dan and his brother have chosen to honor their father's memory by establishing a conservation easement  on their acreage.  This will preserve the land and not allow it to be subdivided.  We look forward to future updates as Mr. Lee continues on his quest to complete his Montana retreat.

April 18           Rock Island Basketball State Champs

April 25           Rock Island High School Key Club

May 2              Michael Gullion, Boy Scouts of America, Illowa Council

May 9              Alleman High School Key Club

May 16            Carol Triebel, The Pilot Club of Moline

May 23            John Califf, "My Travels in France, Part 2"