There were plenty of festive ties and holiday pins being sported by about sixty Rotarians in good cheer, when President Michael-jon Pease called the meeting to order at 12:15. Six members of the Club Ten Band had already been playing music for the season, and they went on to perform Frosty the Snowman and eh Yooper version of Jingle Bells with the help of the crowd.
Marvin Anderson provided a reflection on life and what we value, as he shared news of some upcoming major surgery in his own life. Corey Edmunds introduced five visiting Rotarians, including past club presidents and an incoming District Governor. Doug Bruce took a few more minutes to welcome Past President Peter Grayson back to Club Ten, after several years on the east coast where he served as president of two other Rotary clubs.
December birthdays were celebrated in harmony, but not led by Jerry Faletti as he was among the group to be serenaded. Darrell Butterwick then took the podium to introduce new members Rob Mairs – president of Mairs and Power, and Annette Lance – responsible for business development at Mairs and Power. (Rob is a returning member, from the late 1990s.) Sue Katsiotis then introduced Michelle LaFrance as a new member – Michelle owns a web marketing company.
Jay Pfaender next brought Jerry Meigs up to the podium with him for the purpose of presenting the David Fesler Award for outstanding service to Rotary and community. Dr. Ken Crabb received a standing ovation from the group when he was called up to be honored with this year’s presentation!
The program for the day was a series of roundtable discussions focused on new members placed at each table. There were two ten-minute rotations, and the members spoke about their roots, their talents, their mentors, careers, hobbies and then took questions from the rest of the table.
Following were a series of announcements and updates, including Michael-jon’s news that the Winter Spark gala raised more than $31,000 for the Saint Paul Rotary Foundation – triple the goal! Elmer Andersen Fellows were recognized for joining the society, or for becoming multiple members, and observations on the success of the Centennial capital campaign were celebrated, now ten years on.
A pleasant holiday fellowship concluded with the return of the band to the stage, and a sing-along of Here Comes Santa Claus.
Adjourned until 2020.
