Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club
 
The mission of every Cosmo member is to contribute to community well-being
through charitable donations and volunteer service with special emphasis on supporting efforts to prevent and find a cure for diabetes.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CLUB UPDATES
Hello,
My name is Becky Simoni-Ryan. Your organization was gracious enough to donate money for my son’s service dog. I apologize in the delay of reaching out to you all. Since returning home it has been a game of catch up, and when writing to you all, I really wanted to be mindful and take the time to truly sit down and say thank you.
 
The organizations donation truly saved us and allows us to reach our goal in obtaining the service dog. We are beyond blessed and grateful for you guys to take the time to listen to our story and donate. Tattle Tails and their trainer KC are amazing. And the puppy has come home to us already knowing “yes and no” and already alerting (in her own way) highs and lows. Our son Jake came home from this trip feeling less alone and more confident. He actually has become more involved in managing his own diabetes and now doing insulin on his own. He has named named his puppy Zelda and calls her his guardian angel. I attached some photos to this email so you can see them together.
 
Lastly, I did not know much about your organization until that night. And later did some research. I love and am inspired by all the work cosmopolitan does for our community. I was wondering, has anyone reached out to local clinics and hospitals to connect with doctors and nurses to help advocate for the T1D community? One thing our family found out very quickly is the lack of competency and education doctors and nurses have regarding T1D. I did speak with the CEO of St. Luke’s and the director of quality of St. Lukes but did not get very far. I got very generic basic responses, with no action, and then silence. I am only one person and do not have many connections in that side of the medical field, so I felt I was not very successful in my attempt to advocate. But was curious if your organization has attempted anything related connecting with clinics and hospitals to help advocate for more education in the treatment of T1D in our community and if you have found any success.
 
Again, our family thanks you all so much in helping our son connect with his guardian angel.
 
Thanks,
Becky Simoni-Ryan
 
Congrats to Cornbelt Federation Rookie of the Year winner Jenna Mc Cabe!
 
 
Congrats to Matt Chilton, Back-to-Back Federation Newsletter Award Winner!
 
 
Congratulations to our 2024 Cosmopolitan Club Award Winners - Cosmo of the Year Todd Mc Cabe, 20 year member Mark Corbin, Rookie of the Year winner Jenna Mc Cabe & our Patrick J Hodgins winner Joe Bousquet! 
 
Life with Diabetes
I remember our first date, when at the end of dinner, my husband said to me, “There’s something I need to tell you.”  Expecting something serious by the tone of his voice, I was prepared to hear about a criminal record or secret family.  He proceeded to say, “I’m diabetic and I thought you should know.”  That was a relief to hear, after what I had prepared for in my head. 
Thirty years later, we’ve built quite a wonderful life together.  I never was really concerned about being with someone who had diabetes.  I quickly learned about insulin pumps, checking blood sugars, counting starches, and the effect of high and low blood sugars and the “warning signs” I needed to look out for.  It wasn’t until a serious reaction at night which resulted in a 911 call that I realized how frightening this condition can be. 
As a juvenile diabetic, my husband Todd wanted to support others impacted by this disease.  He’s a natural leader and one that is active in his community and causes that are important to him.  Early in our marriage we participated in the JDRF Walk and he became a member of our local Cosmopolitan Club.  He loved the fact that the Cosmos supported awareness of diabetes and raised money to send children to Diabetic Camp.  We had the privilege of meeting families with children diagnosed with diabetes and were able to be part of a program that allowed them to attend diabetic camp.  Having three kids of our own, this was something that we really supported. 
We’ve been blessed with three amazing children, and it was Todd’s greatest fear that one of our children would be diagnosed with diabetes, just as he was at the age of seventeen.  It wasn’t uncommon for Todd to test their blood sugars, just to make sure there were no concerns.
On the 4th of July, 2014, his greatest fears became our reality.  While enjoying time at our family cabin, Todd was the one who noticed some tell-tale signs that raised concerns about our youngest daughter, Jenna.  That day, when he tested her blood sugars, they were extremely high.  We quickly got in our car to drive three hours home, only to be told by our local clinic to “wait until Monday” to see our doctor.  This was not an adequate response, so we reached out to some of the families we’d been able to meet through the Cosmos.  We hopped back in the car and went to Sioux Falls, knowing they had a great pediatric endocrinology team.
Jenna was eleven and diagnosed that day with Type 1 Diabetes.  This was a gut punch to us both, but especially to Todd.  To this day, I know he feels guilt about perhaps “passing this down to her.”  The way I see it, I’m grateful that he’s had thirty-seven years of experience and that he’s well-equipped to support her. 
It is not easy being a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes.  We’ve encountered a roller coaster of emotions and experiences due to this diagnosis.  The teenage years are difficult enough, but to add on the additional responsibilities and feelings as a result of a chronic illness only complicate this time in one’s life.   Camp Gilbert became a true blessing to Jenna and our family.  Isn’t it ironic that the concept of diabetic camp was something we supported for so many years, and then to one day be on the receiving end of this blessing?  Camp Gilbert was a place where Jenna could go and feel “normal” with this group of friends.  As parents, we could sleep well at night, knowing that she was well cared for. Camp Gilbert is where she met and made lifelong friends, learned several valuable lessons on living with diabetes, and this last year was able to take on a new role of camp counselor. 
Life with diabetes is hard.  I’m not “living” with diabetes, but every day I live with diabetes.  It directly affects two very important people in my life.  It takes patience and understanding, constant surveillance, and watching for the “queues” of high and low blood sugars.  We never know what curveballs life will throw at us; I guess I’m grateful that this is a curveball thrown my way. While I wish they weren’t faced with this disease, I know that with modern medicine and the ability to support one another, we’ll make the best of it.  Both are amazing individuals with the ability to influence others and be involved in their community.  Despite the struggles we have had, these two treasured family members have been put on this earth by God for a purpose.  They are living full lives with diabetes and will continue to support others who are impacted.  We are hopeful to find a cure.  I’m grateful to have a husband who has persevered and serves as a valuable resource for our daughter.  This is something our family has lived with, is our “norm,” and is just one of those curveballs thrown our way.  
The Inauguration of the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club Camp Cosmo
 
The Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club proudly assists in the funding of the diabetes research centers, such as Cosmopolitan International Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia and the Strelitz Diabetes Center, at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Locally we fund camps for youngsters living with diabetes. Formerly two camps were accessed for our diabetes camps, Camp Gilbert, near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Camp Hertko Hollow, near Boone, Iowa. These camps offer a camping experience for diabetes students, community building of the youthful diabetic campers, further instruction on diabetic diets and using the diabetes tools, such as their pumps. The Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club as sponsored over 100 campers at diabetes camps over many years. The club also promoted some of the participants to be counselors at future camps. The club also gave college scholarships to those counselors. The Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing precautions created a nearly impossible situation for those living with diabetes to camp.
 
The Sioux City Club continues to sponsor camps for diabetics. Our present club president, Todd McCabe, approached the leaders of Camp High Hopes in Sioux City. The club and the camp came to an agreement to have a diabetes camp. In the first six months of diligent planning by President McCabe led to no one registered for the April 2024 camp. You cannot keep a dedicated Cosmo down. President McCabe kept promoting in creative new ways. He persevered when other members were lagging behind. The Club had a Cosmopolitan social event at El Fredo Pizza. El Fredo donated 20% of the proceeds and then gave a significant extra $250 donation to boost the club’s financing efforts.
 
In the last few weeks before the staff of Camp High Hopes would inaugurate the first Cosmopolitan Club diabetes camp, almost single-handedly President McCabe had 17 campers registered. President McCabe reported a lively bunch of campers who had a great Cosmopolitan experience.
The diversity of people with diabetes is vast. People of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds can be affected by this disease. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the United States alone have diabetes, and that number is growing every year. Diabetes does not discriminate and can affect anyone regardless of their lifestyle or socio-economic status. It is important that member of the Cosmopolitan Club be aware of the diversity of people with diabetes, so that we can provide the best possible care and support for those affected.
 
When we become members of the Cosmopolitan Club we learn quickly about the diversity of peoples’ experience with diabetes. We learn that the differences between Type I and Type II diabetes.
 
With diversity in mind, I often marvel at the diversity of the Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club. Some of us have Type I diabetes. Some of us have Type II diabetes. Some of us are not afflicted with diabetes. Nearly all of us have relatives afflicted with diabetes.
 
I continue to be amazed by the diversity of our members. We are fortunate to have young professionals from Sioux City, as well as our three charter members from 1965: Jay, Nick, and Bob. Jay often jokes that he is so old that he was around when God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). If this is true, then Jay is older than Methuselah, who lived to be 969 years old (Genesis 5:25-27).
 
I understand that the Cosmopolitan Club began as a men’s service organization. The Sioux City Cosmopolitan Club is composed of a majority of men. Let me be clear: we are blessed with several women who are key to the success of the club. Having men and women together in our club offers advantages. It allows us to have a diverse range of perspectives on how to best serve the club's mission. Having both genders involved helps us to create a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for members of the organization, which can help to form a sense of community and collaboration.
 
We have members who attend Protestant Christian churches and others who attend the Roman Catholic churches. We have members who attend the synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom. We have at least one member who is an atheist.
 
We have Native Americans in our neighborhoods. They have been supportive of our mission to cure diabetes by participating in some of our fundraising events and have been speakers at some of our meetings. We continue to reach out to provide diabetes education and diagnostic services to all communities and invite any and all to join the club.
 
I am afflicted with Type II diabetes. I am an ordained Roman Catholic priest. I have so much enjoyed being in the Cosmopolitan Club. It is important to me that I assist with raising money for the mission of the Cosmopolitan Club to find a cure for diabetes. Yet, I had no idea how much I would benefit from the diversity of the membership of our club. For an hour each week I get to meet so many good people who have great hearts and are outstanding thinkers. I can spend a few hours each year working side-by-side with a diversity of great people working to end diabetes and care for those who are afflicted with diabetes.
 
Most of my life is taken up with the concerns of the mission of the Roman Catholic Church and their members who are in the boundaries of my parishes. The members of the Cosmopolitan Club have shared their knowledge, interests, concerns, joys and sorrows with me. We are often exchanging ideas and books.
 
I would hope that all members of the Cosmopolitan Club throughout the world would reach out to the many diverse members of your communities not only to find a cure for Type I and Type II diabetes, but to work with, learn from, and live a fulfilled life with the profoundly diverse community that is the Cosmopolitan Club.
 
Father Michael Erpelding

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