Rotary Board Election Candidates 2024-2025

Posted on Dec 01, 2023
Please vote for using the link sent to you via email. Rotarians are alphabetized by first name.
 
 
 
 
 
Becky Esker
 
Running for: 
Membership Chair
 
I joined the Linn County Rotary in June 2020. 
 
I am a small business owner. I own ONE PLACE Organize Move Consign. I’ve owned my own business for 22 years. Up until July 2021, I had anywhere up to 15 - 20 employees on an annual basis. During Covid, and due to worker shortages, I changed my business model, and no longer have employees. Instead I utilize independent contractors as needed. Prior to my organizing life, I worked in the legal and insurance fields. I have 10+ years experience in legal and insurance defense. 
 
I have been actively involved in the community since 1989. I’ve held numerous volunteer leadership positions in various different community organizations. Some of these organizations include: The History Center Board of Directors, Leadership for Five Seasons Class of 2009, Junior League of Cedar Rapids Board of Directors, Children’s Theater of Cedar Rapids Board of Directors,, Linn-Mar School Foundation Board of Trustees,. Linn-Mar School District Long Range Planning Committee, Linn-Mar School District Facilities Study Committee, Linn-Mar Bond Issue Campaign Committee, Linn-Mar School District Football Stadium Committee, Fox Trail Park Founding Member, Celebration Chair of Fox Trail Park Grand Opening, Lovely Lane Weekday Ministry (Daycare/Preschool) Board of Directors, Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Arts Council Board of Directors, and more.
 
I would love the opportunity to lead our Membership committee. Our club is still in its infancy and we have plenty of opportunities to nurture and grow our membership. I have some great ideas I would love to implement. 
Thanks for the consideration!
 
 
 
 
Erin Steffen
 
Running for: 
Secretary
Avenue of Service: Community
 
Erin Steffen is current Secretary for the club. She joined Rotary as a member of the Marion-East Cedar Rapids club in 2016 and later transitioned to Rotary Club of Linn County. She worked in non-profit for 10+ years before becoming a stay-at-home mom in 2021. She stays active as the mother of two boys while also serving as Secretary for a school parent group, Treasurer of a youth baseball team, on the Social Concerns Committee and Cook Team at her church, volunteering for the Marion Food Pantry, and helping out with a variety of other projects in the schools and community throughout the year. She thinks communication and inclusiveness are key characteristics of a good club. She hopes to see new faces on the board but would also continue to serve in a leadership role to assist with the club running smoothly.
 
 
 
 
 
John Schultz
 
Running for:
Avenue of Service: Club
Avenue of Service: New Generations
 
John enjoys a multifaceted career in the music industry. John is founder and president of Schultz Strings which serves the string instrument needs of players, students and supporters around the Midwest and beyond. In addition to leading the company John restores and identifies instruments as well as teaches. He is a proponent of music education and the Suzuki method having taught in his school, the Preucil School of Music, Cornell College and has founded many summer music festivals and several youth orchestras such as the Kettle Moraine Youth Orchestra and the Corridor Youth Orchestra. His students have earned scholarships to major conservatories around the country and have been featured through opportunities such as NPR's From the Top and the National Youth Orchestra. As a performer John has appeared as a member of many orchestras and performed with many chamber ensembles including the Arreaux String Quartet and Corridor Piano Trio. He is a founding member of the Cadence String Quartet. He is a regular recitalist with collaborators and appears often as a soloist. He has earned a BM and MM from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in music studying violin with Myron Kartman. He has studied Suzuki pedagogy with Nancy Jackson, Alice Joy Lewis, Mark Bjork and William Preucil Sr.. John has studied instrument restoration with Mark Messer and David Pope.
 

Through his involvement with Rotary John was first introduced to the organization as a member of a GSE team to Taiwan in 2009. He has served in leadership roles in Rotary Youth Exchange since 2010, including a term and District Chair. He has served as a membership chair at the club, district and regional level including a term as a district Membership Chair for district 5970 and Assistant Rotary Coordinator for Zone 28-29. John has also served in many leadership development roles including serving three times as co-chair for the Zone Future Leaders Program implementing both online and in person events around the country. John had a critical role in development of the District 6000 One Rotary Summit's for many years and assisted in training of President-Elect through the NCPETS training programs as well as locally during his term as District Trainer for District 6000. John is a Rotary Leadership Institute graduate and facilitator and was the curriculum co-chair for RLI Heartland Division. He has served on multiple conference planning teams and has been an advocate for The Rotary Foundation through which he and his wife Rebecca are level 4 Bequest Society Members and Level One Major Donors. In the former Linn County Rotary Club, John has served as President and during his term the club assisted in founding the Cornell College Rotaract Club, helped the club pursue a 100% Paul Harris status.

Mariah Obiedzinski
 
Running for:
Foundation Chair
Public Image Chair
 
Mariah is Past-President of Rotary Club of Linn County. She has served multiple roles in the club, including leadership of service projects and fundraising efforts. Mariah graduated from Mount Mercy University in 2006 with a BA in English and a BA in Communications. She currently works as AVP of Content Marketing at Stamats, a marketing firm in Cedar Rapids.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shari Stoll
 
Running for:
Secretary
Avenue of Service: Community
Avenue of Service: International
Avenue of Service: New Generations
 
My name is Shari Stoll. I am a World Language teacher. I have been involved in Rotary since 2004 in multiple roles but joined Rotary as a Rotarian in 2015 (part of Linn County since I was a Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student in 2006-2007). I helped co-found Rotex in D6000 in 2007 and ever since have been involved in RYE as a counselor, Rotex liaison, and as Outbound Coordinator. The past 3 years I have been the Rotarian liaison for our Washington Interact Club. I am most interested in New Generations because I enjoy working with youth, helping them learn about Rotary and live out the core values, and getting them involved with Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self. However, I'd also be interested in the Community or International Avenue of Service as those fit my interest and passions. I'd love to serve the club in one of these areas.