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TUESDAYS ARE FOR ST. PAUL ROTARY
JOIN US FOR LUNCH, AT 5:01 PM OR ONLINE!
 
Lunch Meetings: Noon at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront, 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101 (2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays of the month)
Parking: $5 vouchers for the hotel ramp available in the meeting room
 
 5:01 Meetings: 5:01 PM at the University Club of St. Paul, 420 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102 (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month). Free on street parking
 
Online: all St. Paul Rotary events are hybrid with a Zoom option
Rotary In Review: John Vaughn
Posted by Melissa Musliner on Sep 21, 2023
Rotary In Review: John Vaughn

Rotary in Review:

September 19, 2023

Speaker John Vaughn, Fresh Energy

At 5:15, President Heidi called the meeting to order.

She thanked the meeting volunteers: Peter Rosendale and Pat Hartford, Greeters; Susan Rostkoski, Happy Dollars/Visiting Rotarians; Pete Grayson, Inspiration Minute; Melissa Musliner, Scribe; Ken Crabb, Nobel Orji, and Al Zdrazil, Tech Team; and Amanda Mai, Club Coordinator.

We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Pete Grayson reminded us that, even as things change over time in Rotary, service remains constant, and Rotary changes lives. He quoted Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Pete led us in the Four Way Test.

Paul Meekin introduced the program speaker, John Vaughn of Fresh Energy.

John has been working with Fresh Energy for 4 ½ months. He was drawn to the word “bold” in the organization’s mission statement: Shape and drive bold policy solutions to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies. John works on two projects:

Green Bank

The 2023 MN Legislature passed bills to create and fund the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, or Green Bank. We are the 31st state to create a Green Bank. The Green Bank can provide loans or grants, with up to 25% seed funding. It will use public dollars to leverage private investment to demonstrate the performance of clean energy projects in our market. The State of Connecticut has done $100B in loans and grants.

White Earth Tribal & Community College, in partnership with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance launched a solar training certificate program during the pandemic. This is the state’s first solar training program. This summer, the program’s participants were offered an additional opportunity of paid on-the-job training with Minnesota Power. One participant started a native-owned solar business. We will see more small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Neighborhood Electrification Projects

The State’s goal is to be carbon-free by 2040. John’s focus is the housing sector. There are more than 2 million housing units in the state that all need to be carbon-free in the next 15 years. He has to find two cities/neighborhoods to pilot electrifying all of their homes. This will include adding solar grids, weatherizing, and adding heat units. The City of Crookston might join because they have to do a big infrastructure project right now. It has been done other places, like Ithaca NY. Duluth has already done an analysis of their housing units to determine what they would have to do to be carbon-free. The State of Minnesota Department of Commerce is creating 30+ programs for funding. Some funds from the Federal government are supposed to go to MN Environmental Justice Communities. These include Metro areas like North Minneapolis, Frogtown, the East Side, and Brooklyn Park, as well as large swaths of Northern and Northwestern Minnesota, including Ojibwe reservations.

John invited us to the Fresh Energy fundraiser on October 12 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the St. Paul River Centre to hear the new Executive Director, Brenda Cassellius, and video guest Stacy Abrams. More information can be found at www.fresh-energy.org.

Paul Meekin talked about the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group and encouraged us to become involved through local service projects. He shared projects other clubs have done and asked for ideas from our club. Two suggestions were to clean up Lowertown and add an EV charging station on Summit Avenue. Paul would like to get a group of interested St. Paul Rotarians together to explore next steps during the second half of October. If interested, please contact Paul at paul@couderay.com or 651-247-9332

Heidi asked the trivia question: In what year was the Rotary bell first used and why? The answer was 1922. It resulted from an attendance contest and was given to a club in New York.

Susan Rostkoski collected Happy Dollars.

Heidi introduced Sam Thompson from the Edina noon club, who is chairing our bid to host the International Convention in Minnesota in 2029. We are competing only with San Francisco at this point.

The committee is coming here next week. We need a big turnout of Rotarians to impress them. There is a reception at the Nicollet Island Pavilion on September 27 from 6 to 8. Mayor Frey is expected. On September 28, the Edina club is hosting an all-Rotary lunch and speaker program, with Marilyn Carlson Nelson. Please join in.

Other upcoming events and announcements:

Please vote for the luncheon venue.

We have a new pin tin – please feel free to borrow a pin for a meeting.

Habitat for Humanity – 9/20/2023

Board Meeting – 9/20/2023

Luncheon program on health equity with Maykao Hang – 9/26/2023

Ken Crabb described the upcoming Rotary training opportunities:

One Summit and Conference of Clubs

Winter Spark will be held December 7th at Metro State. There will be a pre-party at the home of Dayle Quigley and Scott Arndt. Details to come.

President Heidi adjourned the meeting.

Submitted by Melissa Musliner, scribe

Read more...
5:01 Meeting September 19: John Vaughn
5:01 Meeting September 19: John Vaughn
Please join us at the University Club on September 19th as we hear from guest speaker John Vaughn!
 
John Vaughn is the new Managing Director of Community Development of Fresh Energy, a 30 year-old nonprofit based in St. Paul that works statewide.  Fresh Energy’s mission is to shape and drive bold policy to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies.
 
2022/23 have been extraordinary years for new and accelerated clean energy funding at the state and federal levels. It is a complex, interrelated web that will deploy transformational funding for challenges from growing the nationwide electrical transmission infrastructure to rebates for electric vehicles.
 
John will describe the new Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, aka Green Bank, which has a huge upside for clean energy capital acceleration, how it is required to serve environmental justice communities (including what environmental justice communities are), and will discuss some possible strategies local communities may want to embrace in order to access green bank and other funding opportunities, including the much anticipated upcoming direct federal rebates.
 
Before joining Fresh Energy in May, John was a nonprofit executive director for 25 years in community and economic development on St. Paul’s Eastside, in Northeast Minneapolis, and recently with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) in Backus, Minnesota. He is a former Leadership Fellow at the U of M’s Humphrey Institute and while working for RREAL was a Central Lakes Rotary member!
 
At the end of John's presentation, Paul Meekin will introduce the idea of the St. Paul Rotary Club forming a Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT) to work on environmental and climate issues.  Exciting possibilities for our club!
 
Join Zoom Meeting  
Meeting officially begins at 5:15 PM

https://zoom.us/j/8251848268?pwd=a0thQ0NqWi93aXpyeFBGT1JRNHlTUT09

Meeting ID: 825 184 8268

Passcode: 643825

Or, join by Phone:  (312) 626-6799 or (346) 248-7799
Habitat for Humanity Women Build Service Project - September 20th
Please join your fellow Rotarians for a day of service on Wednesday, September 20th!  Help build housing for those in need AND get to use all the tools in the toolbox! The event runs 8:30 am - 2:00 pm at 525 Pullman Ave St Paul Park 55071.  You can learn more and register to participate HERE.
Lunch Meeting September 26: Health Equity - How Do We Get There?
Lunch Meeting September 26: Health Equity - How Do We Get There?
Please join us on September 26th at the InterContinental Hotel as we hear from guest speaker Dr. MayKao Hang!
 
The University of St. Thomas has put a stake in the ground within higher education to create a college fully dedicated to advancing health equity through whole person care and reimaging how we can teach and train our next generation of leaders differently to address health disparities. Dr. Hang will speak to the major forces that can help drive change that she is working on through the college and over the years of her leadership in the community.
 

Dr. MayKao Y. Hang is Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and Founding Dean, Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas. The University of St. Thomas is the largest private university in Minnesota. She is former President and CEO of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation where she spent ten years, leading the organization through transformational changes to improve its impact. At St. Thomas, she successfully launched the Morrison Family College of Health in 2019, an interdisciplinary college dedicated to educating our next generation of health care leaders and change agents to reduce health disparities and advance culturally relevant whole person care.

Join Zoom Meeting  
Meeting officially begins at 12:15 PM

https://zoom.us/j/8251848268?pwd=a0thQ0NqWi93aXpyeFBGT1JRNHlTUT09

Meeting ID: 825 184 8268

Passcode: 643825

Or, join by Phone:  (312) 626-6799 or (346) 248-7799
2029 RI Convention Bid Events
MN & WI Let's Shine for 2029
 
imageRI Convention in Minnesota? 
 
Have you wanted to go to a Rotary International Convention, but it was too expensive? too far? 
 
Well, guess what? The 2029 RI Convention could be in Minneapolis-St Paul! Would you like that?
 
Then register for the Thursday, September 28, 2023 Special All-Rotary Lunch and Rally: https://edinarotary.org/stories/2029-ri-site-review-rally-sept-28-registration.
 
The 2029 RI Convention Site Review Team will be visiting the Twin Cities September 25-28. Let’s show them how enthusiastic we are about hosting the 2029 International Convention. 
 
We are hoping to have 300 Rotarians Thursday, September 28, 2023, Special All-Rotary Lunch and Rally, 11: a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Edina Country Club. $25.00
 
image
 
Join us for a beautiful evening Fellowship Reception at Nicollet Island Pavilion. We’ll shine the light on Minnesota and showcase our Rotary enthusiasm at a premiere historic Mississippi Riverfront venue. It’s got the best views of Minneapolis bridges and skyline. (REGISTER HERE)
Help Out at a Meeting!
Interested in helping out at a meeting? Please click HERE to sign up to be a greeter, scribe, or one of our other helpers at an upcoming meeting!
Camp RYLA 2024!
Camp RYLA 2024!
Interested in volunteering for Camp RYLA 2024?
 
We are looking for volunteers for two Camp RYLA committees:
 
1. Marketing Committee - We need your expertise to make our Camp RYLA website (www.campryla.org), social media, and other avenues grab the attention of students, schools and sponsoring clubs.  If your hot skills include marketing, communications, web/graphic design, or social media, this is the place for you!  Plan on a time commitment of one 60 min Zoom meeting per month now through Oct. in addition to 1-2 hours/month to execute tasks in your area of expertise. 
 
2. Curriculum Committee - Camp RYLA continues to foster young leaders but with changing generations, teaching methods and the lasting impacts on students of distance learning it is time to refresh our tried and true curriculum.  There are many resources available from Rotary International and hundreds of other RYLA programs we can learn from.  If you are interested in helping to modernize and upgrade the Camp RYLA curriculum, we have a place for you!    Plan on a time commitment of one 60 min Zoom meeting per month now through Dec. in addition to 1-2 hours/month to execute tasks, research, or curriculum workshops.  If you have experience or interest in this area, we could use your talents!
 
For more information please reach out to the 2003-2004 Camp RYLA Chair, Pete Grayson at graysonlaw@mac.com or 612-598-5907.
Find Past Meeting Notes Here
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Events
  • Lunch Meeting: September 26
    InterContinental Hotel or Online via Zoom
    Sep 26, 2023
    12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
  • 5:01 Meeting: October 3rd
    Oct 03, 2023
    5:01 PM - 6:15 PM
  • Lunch Meeting: October 10
    Oct 10, 2023
    12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
  • 5:01 Meeting: October 17
    Oct 17, 2023
    5:01 PM - 6:15 PM
  • Lunch Meeting: October 24
    Oct 24, 2023
    12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
  • Lunch Meeting: October 31
    Oct 31, 2023
    12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
  • 5:01 Meeting: November 7
    Nov 07, 2023
    5:01 PM - 6:15 PM
  • Lunch Meeting: November 14
    Nov 14, 2023
    12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
  • 5:01 Meeting: November 21
    Nov 21, 2023
    5:01 PM - 6:15 PM
  • Lunch Meeting: November 28
    Nov 28, 2023
    12:00 PM - 6:15 PM
View More...
Rotary Club of Saint Paul and St. Paul Rotary Foundation | PO Box 600065, Saint Paul, MN  55106 | Phone 651-356-8096
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