Club Corner
When espresso doesn't do the trick, try a 'shot' of Peer Group wisdom. Heritage Clubs features a new club director every month in our Club Corner. From successes to challenges, we can all learn from one another's experiences.
July 2010:
Don and Jan Ruhde
Iowa Falls State Bank (Iowa Falls, IA)
Millennium Club Co-Coordinators
Coordinators for 10 years, since August 2000
*pictured at the Oklahoma History Center Rock and Roll Exhibit- Peer Group 2010
HCI: Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to be club coordinators.
DR: We both retired from teaching in 1999. Jan taught English and served as guidance counselor while I (Don) taught German, English and Spanish. I had led several student groups to Europe during my years as a German teacher. Our bank hired us as a team to coordinate the Millennium Club. We work part-time and our only other work at the bank is coordinating bank events, such as open houses, receptions, holiday gifts, etc.
HCI: Tell us about your most memorable experiences with your club?
DR & JR: Memorable times for us have been when we can lead groups to new countries and new places for them and share new experiences and cultures with them.
HCI: Can you share with us some of the challenges you face with your club?
DR & JR: Deciding what activities and trips to offer, while second-guessing how many will respond can be very challenging. It is also a challenge to include activities that will appeal to younger members from 50 to 65, members who are not yet ready to give up their traveling independence for group travel.
HCI: What words of advice do you have for new club directors?
DR & JR: New directors need to be able to listen to their members to hear suggestions and comments about the club tours and activities. It is good to have an advisory committee in place, so that comments and suggestions can be heard in a committee setting. We think one of the keys to success is to offer as much variety as possible, and continue to offer something new every year.
HCI: What do you consider to be the greatest benefit of your Heritage Clubs membership?
DR & JR: By belonging to Heritage Clubs International, we have been able to establish social identity and friendship with other club directors. We have been given the opportunity to explore new cities and areas of our country – places we otherwise might not have gone to. We appreciate the various Heritage Partners who support our organization and offer travel opportunities we might not have considered. We also like the opportunity to share problems and concerns with other club directors.
end of interview
Club Corner Archives:
June 2010 - MaryJean Hagedorn (F & M Bank, N.A. - West Point, NE) Club_Corner__MaryJean_Hagedorn_June_2010.pdf
May 2010 - Debra Tompkins (Unison Bank - Jamestown, ND) Club_Corner_Debra_Tompkins.May_2010.pdf
March 2010 - Lyn Lundell (Central Bank - Cherokee, IA) Club_Corner_Lyn_Lundell_March_2010.pdf
February and April 2010 -There were no Club Corner interviews.
January 2010 - Peggy LaCounte (Morrill & Janes Bank and Trust - Hiawatha, KS) ClubCorner.Peggy_LaCounte_January_2010.pdf
December 2009 - Melanie Lisk (First National Bank - Fairfield, IA) Club_Corner.Melanie_Lisk_December_2009.pdf
November 2009 - Dena Floyd, Mary Franks, Jackie Larkin, Ardis Johnson (Spiritbank - Sapulpa, OK) Sprirtbank_Club_Corner_November_2009.pdf
September 2009 - Sheila Clary (Central Bank of Illinois - Geneseo, IL) Club_Corner.Sheila_Clary_September_2009.pdf
August 2009 - Larry Blake (Hills Bank and Trust Company - Hills, IA) Club_Corner.Larry_Blake_August_2009.pdf
July 2009 - Amy Bradham (The Patterson Bank - Waycross, GA) Club_Corner_Amy_Bradham_July_2009.pdf
June 2009 - Pam Shyne (Northway Bank- Berlin, NH) - Club_Corner_Pam_Shyne_June_2009.pdf
May 2009 - Patty Paul (First Citizens National Bank-Mason City, IA) Club_Corner.Patty_Paul.May_2009.pdf
April 2009 - Donna Jackson (Umpqua Bank - Roseville, CA) Club_Corner.Donna_Jackson.April2009.pdf
March 2009- There was no Club Corner interview.
February 2009 - Ruth Rogers (First National Banking Company - Ask Flat, AR) Club_Corner.Ruth_Rogers.Feb_2009.pdf
January 2009 - Laura Kammarmeyer (First State Bank -Manchester, IA) Club_Corner._Laura_Kammarmeyer.January_2009.pdf
December 2008 - Kathy Tripp (Ohio Legacy Bank -Canton, OH) Club_Corner.Kathy_Tripp.December_2008.pdf
November 2008- Audrey Bowden and Mary Busch (Castle Bank - DeKalb, IL) Club_Corner.AudreyBowden_and_Mary_Busch.November_2008.pdf
October 2008 - Trudy Cresswell (Eastwood Bank - Rochester, MN ) Club_Corner.Trudy_Cresswell_October_2008.pdf
September 2008 - Karla Hynes (Iowa State Savings Bank - Creston, IA) Club_Corner.Karla_Hynes_September_2008.pdf
August 2008 - Joan Gibson (American Trust & Savings Bank - Dubuque, IA) Club_Corner.Joan_Gibson_August_2008.pdf
July 2008 - Kitty Nash (Home State Bank, N.A. - Crystal Lake, IL) Club_Corner.Kitty_Nash_July_2008.pdf
June 2008 - Val Kelsey (D.L. Evans Bank - Burley, ID) Club_Corner.Val_Kelsey_June08.pdf
