Message from Br 32 Big Sir

Welcome Fellow SIRs,

Here we are already in the month of May.  The weather is finally warming up and it is time to start thinking of summer fun.  May brings a whole list of celebrated holidays.  This month we have: May Day; Cinco de Mayo; National Teacher Day; Mother’s Day; and Memorial Day.  As our past Big Sir, Tony Mazzucco  stated last year, “Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths and flags, and continues today to be a day of remembrance of those who have died in service to our country.”  This month’s luncheon we will be honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country, with American flags proudly displayed on our tables.

I would like to thank everyone for making our luncheons such a big hit.  They are certainly boisterous with great camaraderie and lively conversations.  Make sure to invite your friends to come and join all the fun.

Speaking of fun, our Summer Ladies’ Picnic/BBQ will be held on Wednesday, July 16^th, with the cost of $40.00 per person.  Tickets will go on sale at our luncheon May 14, so be sure to get your tickets early.  You won’t want to miss out on all the fun and great food.  Yes, we will have the same terrific caterer we have had in the past several years, so you know the food is delicious.  And don’t forget, Mother’s Day will be celebrated on May 11^th.  Please take the time to honor all the mothers in your life (mothers, wife, daughters, sisters, and all those blessed to be moms).

Once again, thank you for making Branch 32 a strong and fun Branch.  Keep spreading the word and inviting your friends to join.  Hope to see all of you at our May 21 Luncheon.

Wes Howard, Branch 32 President (Big SIR)

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New March Inductees:

Fred Tierney, Randy Spencer, John Cognetta, Tony Cistulli, Nick Resz, and Sean Campion were inducted at the March 2025 Lunch. Welcome all to SIR.

May 2025 Luncheon Speakers (Zoom)

Around the World Flight

Topic:

Cousins Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels, piloted a single engine airplane around the world in 2023 to raise awareness and money for Rotary’s End Polio Now program. The flight took 90-days, made 37 landings in 19 countries. Only 702 pilots in history have ever achieved this feat, and less than 270 are alive today!

Both Peter and John are longtime Rotarians and members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They are both recipients of two of Rotary’s highest honors, the “Service Above Self Award”, and “The Rotary Foundations International Service Award for a Polio-Free World”. As pilots, they have qualified for the prestigious Circumnavigator Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

Peter and John departed Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5, 2023 in their 1977 Cessna T210M airplane, and successfully returned home 90-days later on July 30. Today Peter and John will share their powerful story of: “Around the World: Flight To End Polio”.

Bio:

PETER TEAHEN

PILOT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Peter is an experienced pilot and has been piloting small aircraft for over 51 years. He is a member of the Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club and of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians.

Peter is a Funeral Director and President of Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids. He is an author, mental health professional, firefighter and EMT, and serves on the faculty of the University of Iowa. Peter is the founder of the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. He was awarded the designation of Diplomate from the National Center for Crisis Management and the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. Peter has served globally in leadership roles on seventy-five major disasters including the September 11th World Trade Center attack, Hurricane Katrina, Indonesian Tsunami in 2004, the Haiti Earthquake in 2010 and the Genocide in the Darfur Region of Sudan in 2007. He is recognized for his work on aviation disasters, critical incident stress management, and the psycho-social impact of disasters.

Peter is the recipient of numerous international and national awards of distinction that includes the National American Legion Auxiliary: National Public Spirit Award. Previous recipients include Ronald Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ann Landers, and Dr. Robert Schuller.

In 2024, Peter was recognized with Rotary’s highest individual honor, The Service Above Self Award. Peter was also recognized as 1 of 9 Rotarians, worldwide, to receive The Rotary Foundation’s Service Award for a Polio Free World.

Peter and his wife Janet have been active community volunteers for many years.

JOHN OCKENFELS

John has been piloting small aircraft for almost 50 years. Along with Peter Teahen, he is half owner of the 1977 Cessna T210 that together they flew around the world to raise funds to eradicate Polio. He also owns and maintains a WWII PT17 Stearman, and has been the proud owner of several WWII war birds.

John attended the University of Iowa before serving in the United States Air Force from 1972 to 1976. John, now retired, spent his career working with his brothers in their family business, City Carton Recycling, based in Iowa City, Iowa, where he served as President then CEO. He is a founding member of the Iowa City, Iowa A.M. Rotary Club, serving as President in 1998-99. He served as District Governor for Rotary District 6000 during the 2014 – 2015 Rotary year. In 2002, John traveled to India to take part in a National Polio Immunization Day event and the International Polio Eradication Summit, in Mumbai.

He has served on many District, Zone, and International Rotary committees over many years. John is a member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians and serves as the North Central Chair for the Americas Region. He is also an adjunct member of the E-Aviation worldwide Club.

In 2021, John was recognized as 1 of 3 Rotarians, worldwide, to receive The Rotary Foundation’s Service award for a Polio Free World. In 2023, John was recognized with Rotary’s highest individual honor, The Service Above Self Award.

John and his wife Deb have been active community and Rotary volunteers for many years.