Fort Madison Rotary

Thomas Barker, Director of the Sheaffer Pen Museum in Fort Madison, was our distinguished guest today. During his visit, he provided insight into the life and achievements of WA Sheaffer, the inventor of the self-filling fountain pen and founder of the Sheaffer Pen Company. Thomas highlighted the significant impact the company had on Fort Madison and the world at large. Furthermore, he shared his vision for the museum's future, showcasing some of the remarkable finds in the archives and discussing his experiences at various pen shows. Thomas invites everyone to visit the Sheaffer Pen Museum, which is open from 10:00- 2:00 pm, Wednesday through Friday and Saturday 10:00-3:00pm. Those interested in specialty writing instruments can explore the museum's retail store or visit the Sheaffer website. Sheaffer

It was our honor to welcome Mayor Melinda Blind, who provided insightful commentary on city activities and her tenure in municipal administration preceding her mayoral role. Mayor Blind invited the public to explore opportunities to serve on city boards, driving Fort Madison's prosperity and progress. She discussed notable projects, including the new fire station and ongoing sewer separation effort, poised to revitalize the downtown area. Stay tuned for her 'Coffee with the Mayor' events, fostering community connections and collaborative problem-solving.

Thank you to Sara Sandburg from Southeast Iowa Regional Airport and Susan Skees from Contour Airlines for a great program. It serves as a reminder that we have the ease of connection to anywhere in the world just 20 minutes away- without the long TSA lines! Also, congratulations to Ryan on the “two tails” win for the round trip air service certificate for two to Chicago Ohare Airport from Burlington on Contour Airlines! With 50 aircraft, 30 locations nationwide and over 800 employees make Contour Airline one of the largest regional air service carriers. Plan your next vacation or even a day trip to -or out of- Chicago on Contour Airlines with your choice of two round trip flights daily out of Burlington: 8:45 am or 4:20 pm with return flight options to Burlington 10:50 am or 6:25 pm.