BASE: Free Lunch and Casual Collaboration

Howdy BASE! See what's coming up...

1.
Feed Coralville Kids a Free Lunch!
Thursday, June 26
Thursday, July 10
Thursday, July 24
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Pour milk, wash hands, read books to kids looking for a free, fun, healthy lunch! Interested in volunteering with your fellow BASErs over the lunch hour? Contact getonbase@iowacityarea.com to sign-up.

2.
Casual Collaboration
Monday, July 7
6:00 p.m.
BASEment of Atlas World Grill
127 Iowa Ave, Iowa City

Many in our area have been affected by the recent flooding. Come help us brainstorm how BASE can help our communities recover.


See you on BASE.

Kernels BASEball Cancelled

Just got an email stating that the event planned for June 19th is cancelled due to flooding.

It's going to be quite some time before the physical elements of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are restored. But, that doesn't mean we can't help boost community morale. Of course the immediate thought is to organize relief volunteering. RJ over at Access Iowa contacted me and Lorin to see what we could do as a multi-organizational effort. I think it would be a good thing to collaborate as community-minded young persons and I look forward to the chance to find a way to blend the groups on shared goals.

Throwing it out there: do you think it would be feasible to organize some sort of celebratory event to get everyone geared up for the cleanup process?

I think that we are being bombarded, in a good way, with updates and phone numbers, and aerial shots of damage, but we could really use some sort of "Hey, we're all still here" event. The Iowa City Jazz Festival is just around the corner, so maybe the hard work has been done. I just wonder how we could contribute to the efforts with some trademarked BASE flair.

It's not just about rebuilding, shoveling, and sweating. Help can also be in the form of a little relaxation, community, music, burgers, and sunshine.

Sandbagging and Volunteerism

Brad was right. If you help fill and place sand bags, you are loved.

Being out of town Friday-Sunday, I missed out on the initial drive to get bags filled. So, Monday was a full day down at the Iowa Memorial Union with a great set of volunteers. The coordination of volunteers was exceptional. I heard that we prepped and placed 40 tons of sand on Monday alone. I can't imagine how much was done prior to that, as most of the volunteers I met had worked all day Saturday and Sunday, too.

Responding to Andrew's request for help on Normandy Drive, I worked Noon-6pm on Tuesday. The Iowa City High cross country team was there, bare-backed and bare-footed, doing much of the leg work, pun intended, getting prepped bags over to the levee. With public officials claiming another 5 feet of water over the next 5 days, it's hard to believe that this effort will hold strong. 5 feet of river water where we were standing puts most of the Normandy Drive houses in serious trouble.

There's some interesting data from the Army Corps of Engineers available at the River Watch website showing projected flow rates at the Coralville Reservoir. With local rain in the forecast for the next 4 days, sandbagging efforts may diminish, but the real threat is heavy rain upstream.

If your boss will let you leave work to go bag, take advantage! Check the river watch website for bagging areas where help is requested. I feel a bit of guilt sitting here typing when so many bodies are out scooping. Who knows what will happen?

Too Much Water!

Hey BASErs,

In case you haven't noticed, we have a lot of water everywhere! Also, the reservoir is an inch from flowing over the spillway. They're going to open the gates even further and cause flooding in Iowa City and Coralville.

The City of Coralville is in need of volunteers to help with the sandbagging process. I just spent all of Thursday afternoon assisting at the River Landing. Some of these guys have been putting in really long days and they could REALLY use some help. If anyone is interested, just show up at the corner of E 7th Street and Quarry Road (Coralville River Landing). They told me that they are going to start at 8am and work all day Friday.

They were thankful that I helped and will be very grateful for any assistance that you can give.

Brad

Three ways to get on BASE this June!

Welcome to June, BASE!

Last night's Casual Collaboration produced great results. We have three ways you can get on base this month. Let's get to it!

A Greener Downtown Iowa City:
** New Date: ** Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4th

Weather permitting, volunteers will be in the Ped Mall in the late afternoon and early evening planting hostas. No RSVP is necessary! Just show up when you can (and bring a shovel if you have one). If it rains again, show up on Thursday! Questions? Email our pal Linda at lnschreiber@gmail.com.

Ha-a-ay Kernels!
Thursday, June 19th

Whether you love the crack of the bat or a double-play on words, this Third Thursday - June 19th - we're heading up to Cedar Rapids to watch a Kernels Baseball game. We're going for a group rate, so RSVP to getonbase@iowacityarea.com by Monday, June 16th. We'll try to carpool to save on gas and promote a safer evening. Invite a friend!

Feed Coralville Kids a Free Lunch:
Thursday, June 12th and Thursday, June 26th, 11:45 – 12:45

Pour milk, wash hands, read books to kids looking for a free, fun, healthy lunch! We're looking for 3-4 BASErs to help. Interested in volunteering over your lunch hour? Contact getonbase@iowacityarea.com to sign-up.

Hooray for summer!
BASE


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There are thousands of cool things to do, ideas to think about, and people to meet...but who's going to connect the dots? Who can make it happen?

BASE is that connection.

It's about fun - mixed with purpose and passion. It's a community of interesting and diverse people who want to get "it" done - whatever "it" is.

www.getonbase.org | getonbase@iowacityarea.com