friday takeout
October 15, 2021
CUPPA JOE | straight up news.
After setback, Business Administration student Megan Ohm enrolls at the College to pursue career in banking ... feature
Tri-State Emergency Responders Conference returns in person this weekend at Grand River Center ... news
Sports Shooting team loses match against Iowa Central Community College ... news
FACULTY AND STAFF: Stay up-to-date on the College's Strategic Plan and Tracking document in NICC Shared Files!
TRUSTEE TAKEAWAYS
This edition of Trustee Takeaways appears in advance of the Board of Trustees meeting next Monday, Oct. 18, so we can share timely information with the College community.
Dr. Ken Reimer Stepping Down from Board after Nearly 25 Years of Service
Dr. Ken Reimer, NICC Board of Trustees chair, will step down from the board effective at the conclusion of the Oct. 18 board meeting, after nearly 25 years of service to the College. Dr. Reimer represents director District 5. Press release announcing this change in board membership.
If you have questions please direct them to Julia Sollien, board secretary, at ext. 1145 or sollienj@nicc.edu.
Thoughts of my Departure from the NICC Board of Trustees
The last 24-plus years have been a great gig for me. I watched NICC grow from a “sleeping giant” (not my original thought, but that of many taxpayers) to a well-oiled machine providing education and training services to the citizens of northeast Iowa and surrounding areas.
The Board of Trustees has nine members representing districts based on population. The primary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are to act in the best interests of the College through the Board policies and employ the president of the College. I served with four presidents. All four were great advocates of the College with different leadership skills. All of them did a great job in their roles.
Thanks to the board, administration, college staff and our populace for an enjoyable time on the board. It is difficult for me to put in words how much I respect all of the above people. NICC has a presence with businesses and high schools in every community because of the hard work of the staff and public help. Alice and I met many new, lifelong friends in our various activities with the College.
One more thought: I spent six years in college in the late 1950s early 1960s to earn my degree in veterinary medicine from Iowa State, but did not receive an undergraduate degree. So, I took classes at Northeast Iowa Community College and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree. I was exposed to a whole new world of the arts and computer science. Through my education Shakespeare became a good buddy of mine, and I learned 65 year-old people are not senior citizens! … Unless there is a discount.
Dr. Ken Reimer
“It has been my pleasure to serve with Dr. Ken Reimer on the NICC Board of Trustees for the past 20-plus years. Dr. Reimer has been committed to improving the college and providing stewardship to our students. Since 2005, Dr. Reimer also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. We will miss his leadership and guidance and wish him well.”
Jim Anderson
Board of Trustees Vice Chair
"Dr. Reimer is a servant leader who works with his fellow Trustees for the good of our communities through supporting Northeast Iowa Community College's mission. I can always count on him to guide me in serving NICC. Most importantly, he is a consummate friend whenever someone needs a listening ear and/or a helping hand. Dr. Reimer has served northeast Iowa with conviction, compassion, and integrity."
Dr. Wee
WEEKLY FEATURE | good to know.
There's Still Time to Donate Items for the Silent Auction!
If you have not yet made a donation to the Silent Auction, there's still time. New items are being added daily! Have a sneak peek at the site to see what items are posted.
Donate an item to the silent auction! Please complete the Donation Form for Virtual Auction as soon as possible and provide us with your donation by Friday, Oct. 22
Mark your calendars to BID on items Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. through Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.
Not interested in bidding on an item? Skip the bidding and opt to make a monetary donation
APPETIZER | something for your appetite.
South Winneshiek Community School District Planning New High School Next to Calmar Campus
South Winn Board of Education is calling for a special election on Nov. 2, 2021 for the sale of up to $19.1M in general obligation bonds.
South Winneshiek Community School District has a bond referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot. Voters are asked to approve the sale of up to $19,155,000 in bonds to support construction of a new high school next to the NICC Calmar campus. The high school facility would be built on property adjacent to Rezults Driven Fitness and the Child Development Center on the north end of Campus Drive.
A second ballot question will request authority to levy taxes exceeding $2.70 but not exceeding $4.05 per $1000 taxable valuation. Bond referendum vote requires a 60 percent super-majority vote to pass.
If approved, construction would begin the spring of 2023 with completion and move in for the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
“Northeast Iowa Community College is always seeking opportunities to collaborate with our K-12 district partners to support student learning and career planning. On Sept. 13, the NICC Board of Trustees approved a motion to convey several parcels of NICC property to the South Winneshiek Community School District for the purpose of building a new high school facility, contingent on the successful passage of the South Winneshiek school bond referendum in November. This is an exciting and strategic collaboration that is in alignment with our mission and values. I am proud of our faculty, staff, Board, and community and business partners who work together and make decisions that benefit the students and families of northeast Iowa," Dr. Wee said.
WELLNESS 360 | be well.
Pandemic Response Team Update
In an effort to reduce the spread of illnesses, the Pandemic Response Team is reminding employees who are insured through the College’s Wellmark health insurance plan to take advantage of Doctor on Demand. That’s an app that allows you to visit a healthcare provider virtually on your smartphone or tablet. With Doctor on Demand you see a doctor in minutes who can treat common medical conditions and prescribe medication if needed. Here’s the best part: It’s less expensive than visiting an in-person doctor.
Shown at right is information Wellmark provided to us about the number of employees visiting a health care provider and the costs associated with the visit from March 16, 2020, to current. See more information and how to register for Doctor on Demand.
Note: These numbers compare the costs incurred by the College’s plan, not what the employee pays.
GREEN CORNER
Kara and Piper, our Green Iowa AmeriCorps Sustainability Coordinators, will be bringing us regular facts and tips to green your life and make it more sustainable.
Sustainable Halloween Ideas. Hard to believe, but Halloween is just around the corner. The World Wildlife Fund has some great ideas for a sustainable Halloween. And you can check out seven Halloween decorating ideas from upcycled waste here. And though Halloween candy is great, carving pumpkins and then roasting the pumpkin seeds is a delicious, seasonal treat. You may be daunted at the prospect of cleaning the seeds, so this step-by-step recipe is very helpful. It is not as difficult as it seems and the end result is so yummy. Enjoy!
BIG FISH | be amazed.
Verrick Foust
Helpdesk Network Technician | Town Clock Business Center, Dubuque
What is the best parenting tip?
Let your kids fall so when they get up they are stronger and able to move forward. Failure is the best teacher to help your kids reach success as an adult.
Share something or an experience that has changed your worldview.
I was at a Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the Dubuque River Center. I was singing with our choir and after we were done eating, the speaker, Dr. Mohammed from the Multicultural Center, came up to say a few words. He was having issues with the projector setup and a woman stood up and screamed several racial things to him before being escorted out. I went up front and assisted Dr. Mohammed with his projector issue and gave him a hug. No matter who you are, no one should be treated in that manner. He shook my hand and told me he appreciated my help and continued his speech. This was my first experience of raw public racism and it showed me a lot about the issue that still troubles the town and city where I grew up.
What is a person or subject that should be made into a documentary, but hasn’t yet?
Epilepsy\seizures.
Tell us you’re an American without telling us you’re an American.
I criticize other people’s driving skills.
What fictional place would you like to visit?
Star Wars Universe.
If you have input on a upcoming feature, Big Fish, something to celebrate or a suggestion, email us at news@nicc.edu!