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Stay informed, stay empowered: invest in the journalism that invests in you. DECORAH — On May 23, 2025, Ward Budweg, Decorah Rotarian and district governor of Rotary District 5970, set off on a 1,714-mile journey from Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, to the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Alberta. The journey was organized by John Schultz of the Cedar Rapids Rotary Club. LeRoy Kemnitz of the Madison Rotary Club joined Budweg and Schultz for the ride. Schultz's wife, Rebecca, served as the support driver, and their two children, Charlotte and Graham, traveled with the group and rode parts of several days. The route took the group through the Badlands, the Mount Rushmore area, the Bighorn Mountains, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. The riders tackled climbs with 7 to 9 percent grades and sometimes rode 30 consecutive miles uphill. "I did not walk, but my lungs and legs told me to do so," Budweg said. A major highlight was reaching the summit of Powder River Pass, which sits at 9,600 feet of elevation and required a four-hour climb by bike. Low points included battling a relentless headwind for two straight days in Wyoming and descending Logan Pass in Glacier National Park during a downpour in 35-degree temperatures. "My hands were freezing," Budweg said. Budweg, a longtime cyclist, attended the Rotary International Convention from June 21 to 25, just before officially beginning his term as district governor on July 1. Rotary District 5970 includes most counties in the northern half of Iowa, excluding those on the far western edge of the state. "My personal twist to being a district governor is to engage all members in a more physical manner," Budweg said. "I am super hopeful that during my club visits, members will show their successes to me while on bicycle. Also, I will be giving a pair of work gloves to all members as a symbol of their continued hard work and future work activities." Budweg led a bicycle tour of Decorah in May during this year's Rotary District Conference. The event, held in Decorah, was planned by fellow Decorah Rotarian Shannon Duncan, who was serving as district governor at the time. Having back-to-back district governors from the same club is a rarity. "We were proud to see our past president Shannon Duncan in the role of district governor, overseeing 49 Rotary clubs in northern Iowa," said Decorah Rotary Club Co-Presidents Mike Huinker and Phil Iverson. "As Shannon's year ended on July 1, we now have another past president of Decorah Rotary Club in the role of district governor, Ward Budweg. His energy is obvious and contagious, and we're so happy to have him serving as district governor. It is a distinct honor for Decorah Rotary Club to have two district governors in a row." Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week.

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Decorah Man Bikes 1714 Miles to Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada