President’s Remarks
Board updates:
- The board has established a 60-day membership task force to explore new membership models
- Due to schedules, upcoming board meetings are moved back a week to April 18 and May 16 (at noon, location TBD)
- Speaker recognition gifts will now be made to Treehouse as part of our pledge to end trafficking in MN. Our long support of the Read with Me Program at the St Paul Public Library created great outcomes and we’re excited align our gifts with this new vital mission.
- Grand Old Days Parade June 2. Please join the Rotary parade contingent by contacting Chad Roberts or Elyssa Weber.
Paul Harris Fellows
Brianna Vujovich* recognized three of our new Paul Harris fellows (in honor of gifts made to the Rotary International Foundation totaling $1,000 per person). These fellows earned their points during November Foundation month by making their first donations and being matched by other club members as part of our wonderful “live auction event.”
Honored today were:
- New Member Marvin Anderson
- Dr. Meaghan Johansen
- Jim Hart (getting a multi-stone pin to recognize his 5+ Paul Harris fellowships)
* (President John got that pronunciation correct multiple times today! Way to go!)
New Member Introductions
- Michael-jon Pease introduced B Kyle, the dynamic President and CEO of the St Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and veteran US Army Officer
- Bill Collins introduced John Smith, the new Director of Sales for the Chamber with 14+ years of experience in sales, management and relationship building
- Jim Hart introduced Marvin Anderson, the visionary behind the new Rondo Center for Diverse Expression
Program: Lisa Chesko, President, Twin Cities Rotaract “Where Service Above Self Meets Reality”
Lisa works at 3M and first go acquainted with Rotary when her brother was a youth exchange student, which prompted Lisa to do youth exchange as well.
Rotaract is a Rotary group for young professionals that meets twice a month and has a modest annual membership fee to encourage participation. Their tagline is “Connect. Develop. Serve.”
Rotex is the college Rotary program that often drives membership to Rotaract clubs or directly to Rotary.
The Rotaract name comes from “Rotary in Action” and this club is dedicated to service! Every year they partner with a nonprofit on a signature volunteer/fundraising project. Successful annual partnerships include:
- American Refugee Committee (2018-2019) – starting a Rotaract club in a refugee camp
- Books for Africa (2017-2018)
- Neighborhood House (2016-2017)
- Northside Achievement Zone (2015-2016)
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Rotaract has 10,904 clubs and 250,792 members world wide (fast-growing in Europe and India).
The Twin Cities club has already logged 152 service hours in the past 7 months and accomplished more than 350 service projects.
Why do some younger Rotarians choose Rotaract? It’s a space designed for young people’s schedules, budgets and lifestyles – it simply works best for some.
Rotaract and Rotary support each other by co-sponsoring events, inviting each other to their own events to build fellowship and networks, and through monetary sponsorships. TC Rotaract has cash sponsorships for their service projects in the $50+ range so it is easy to make an impact with projects like supplying laundry supplies to those getting food stamps (which don’t cover these basic life necessities).
And please join Rotaract for their signature fundraiser on March 27, the Spelling BEEr at Summit Brewing company. Come and watch the spelling teams compete, or gather four friends and make your own team to win spelling domination!
Closing
Remember there is no meeting April 30 so that we can all attend St Paul Sunrise Club’s Community Forum on Thursday, May 2 from 7:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. at the Town and Country Club. The topic is climate science.
Register here.
Please register for these great upcoming opportunities:
Rotation Day, Bradshaw Funderal Homes, March 26 (offsite meeting)
Please note that our Regular Rotary meeting on April 9 will be held at 317 on Rice Park (the old MN Club next to the Ordway)
Respectfully submitted,
Michael-jon Pease, President Elect
