May_June 2020

Calendar and Contents

Hello from Connie

Hello Everyone, This is a hard letter to get started with all the uncertainty in the world right now. I am composing this approximately three weeks prior to you receiving it due to printing deadlines. So today (April 13th) we are still taking great care to make the correct decisions about social distancing. By the time you are reading this everything may be returning to normal or we might be facing a few more weeks close to home. Regardless of the timing I think it is safe to say this has had an impact on our lives. I wonder what the most difficult part of this has been for you. I was with my Connections Club members and guests on a trip out of the country when the pandemic worsened, and our plans changed suddenly. We had experienced 14 amazing days in New Zealand and just began talking about Australia. We were looking forward to holding Koala bears, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, buying beautiful opals, and taking home boomerangs for the grandchildren. We had a vision of what our next nine days were to look like and “poof” it was gone. Not only did plans change but lives changed as well. We got taken out of our comfort zone and lost a little sense of control. There was something much bigger going on than our trip. The world was in crisis and we needed to get home. At first, I felt sad and somewhat helpless but that is not like me. In my last Journal I asked all of you not to waste one single second of this precious thing called life, so I need to practice what I preach. I decided to start each day by thinking of what is right instead of what is wrong. I try to think of what I can do for someone else instead of what they can do for me. I get up with a smile instead of a frown and try to do good. It is not always easy but always worth the effort. I try to be realistic and compassionate. The lives lost from the coronavirus will always remain in my memories along with prayers for the families and friends affected. The victims and the heroes will be remembered forever. At MidWest One Bank we practice a tradition called Gratitude Friday. We share things we are grateful for and try to make sure we acknowledge the people and the things they do to make our lives a little better. We are encouraged to share stories and write notes of thanks. I want to share how very grateful I am for all of YOU! Some of you travel with me and truly become part of my family. Some of you support the Club by going to local events and some of you read this Journal and support us in spirit. You are all very special and deserving of my gratitude. Thank you, I truly appre- ciate you and your kindness!

Calendar 2020 May 1-5 Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Outer Banks- Cancelled May 2 DSO Classics 5 with Heartland Marimba/Five Flags Theater- Cancelled June 11 JimMcDonough/Cedar Rapids, IA (p.12) June 14 Matilda The Musical /Grand Opera House (p.6) June 23 South America Travel Preview (p.19) June 24 What Happens In Vegas /Fireside Theatre (p.13) July 8 New York City Travel Preview (p.17) July 8 Ireland Travel Preview (p.21)

July 15 Celebration Belle (p.7) July 19 Brigadoon /Grand Opera House (p.7) July 22-24 Mystery Trip (p.22) August 2 Rascal Flatts/Backwater Stage Q Casino (p.11) August 7 Willy Wonka /Five Flags Theater (p.8) August 13 Beyond the Game an Iowa Baseball Experience (p.9) August 13 Home Free/Five Flags Center (p.8) August 16 Church Basement Ladies/Bell Tower (p.9) August 21 Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (p.10) August 27-Sept 6 Danube Delights River Cruise (p.14-15) Sept 30 Joseph And The Amazing Techni- color Dreamcoat /Fireside Theatre (p.13) Oct 8 Travelers Trek/Kalona, IA (p.5) Oct 11 The Church of DiminishingMarginal Returns /Bell Tower (p.10) Nov 20-24 Holiday Time in New York City (p.16-17) Calendar 2021 Feb 16-27 South American Adventure (p.18-19) April Nashville (p.20) Sept 7-16 Ireland (p.21) Date TBD Grease /Five Flags Theater (p.6)

Contents

Notes from Connie Bulletin Board Dyersville/Farley

p. 3 p. 4 p. 5

Local Events

p. 6-11 p. 12-13 p. 14-15

One-Day Ventures Danube Delights

New York City p. 16-17 SouthAmericanAdventure p. 18-19 Nashville p. 20 Ireland p. 21 Mystery Trip p. 22 Missing Word Contest p. 23

2 Connections Club

Connections Club 3