Rotary Club of Saint Paul
October 29, 2024
President Shelly Rucks called the hybrid meeting to order at 12:15 pm. The greeters were John Chandler and Al Zdrazil. Lynne Beck was scribe. The A/V Tech Team was Andrew Vincelli.
Shelly Rucks led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. She then announced longtime Rotarian Chuck Roach is in his final days of life.
Bob Cardinal gave an Inspirational Minute. He read some inspiring quotes from British playwright George Bernard Shaw and led the club in the 4-Way Test.
Bo Aylin introduced a Rotarian from the Forest Lake Rotary Club.
Susan Rostkoski introduced the speakers Khalique Rogers and Joe Nathan. Khalique was recently named by the Twin Cities Business Journal as “one of 50 African Americans you should know in the Twin Cities.” A graduate of Gordon Parks Academy and St. Paul College, he was named a member of the Humphrey Institute Policy Fellowship. He has used his experience as a homeless youth and this issue to co-author articles in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and MinnPost. Rogers has testified in the Minnesota Legislature and helped convince legislators to allocate millions of dollars to reduce homelessness. He was recently named Executive Director of the Center for School Change. Joe Nathan was been a public school teacher, administrator, researcher and advocate for more than 50 years. He has testified numerous times in the Minnesota Legislature and coordinated a project led by then Governor Bill Clinton and Governor Lamar Alexander. He helped write the Charter Public School legislation. Nathan was a columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press for many years and has appeared on more than 300 radio and television shows. He’s founder and now Senior Fellow at Center for School Change.
Khalique and Joe presented an interesting program called “Optimism and Opportunity in Public Education.” They talked about how they worked on moving through legislation that provides millions of dollars to help public schools create and expand programs in which students learn construction skills as they build homes for low-income Minnesotans and those who are experiencing homelessness. They showed photos of homes that students from GAP high school built and renovated. These projects teach workforce development skills, benefit the community, and transform the lives of the students and recipients of the houses. Many corporations and nonprofits are sponsors of and partners with the program.
Khalique gave a personal example of how he led a project that was a transformative experience for him. When he was a student at Gordon Parks Academy, he noticed some land behind the school that was not used for anything constructive. He worked with others for years to design and raise funds to transform the empty space into a playground and park called Midway Peace Park for the community. This lesson taught him how to get things done to achieve goals.
Now he works with students to help them learn how to write and pass bills that benefit the community. As a result, now schools can apply for up to $100,000 from the Minnesota Housing
Association to start a program tailored to their particular situation. For example, Anoka-Hennepin High School is using funds to build a house. We need to encourage schools to apply for funds. Another important piece of legislation is the Consumer Action Service which mandates that all 9th graders take a class in financial literacy. There is strong data that students who take these classes have a better chance of graduating and attending college.
The speakers discussed some opportunities for Rotarians to encourage and assist young people. For example, we can publicize that grants are available to produce homes or sponsor students for the November 23 meeting at the State Capitol with Legislators.
Magic Moment: John Andrews was inspired by Past President Chuck Roach. When he moved to St. Paul to become the CEO of the Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts, he had no choice but to join the Rotary Club of Saint Paul. There has always been a strong connection between the two organizations. The council and the club were both founded 97 years ago.
Bo Aylin asked for Happy Dollars. Bo’s son’s cross country team made state. Jerry Meigs, former Past President and Rotary International board member, is recovering from a stroke and doing well. Ken Crabb announced that this is the last weekend to see the play “Holmes/Poirot” at Park Square Theatre. There is a Rotary group going Friday November 1, and dinner at Wrestaurant at the Palace, for those interested.
Shelly Rucks made the following club announcements:
- November 5 – No 5:01 due to elections
- November 7 – Build dressers for Bridging in Roseville
9:00 am – 12 pm. - Signature Lunch: November 12, 2024 12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom
Tom Fisher, Impact of Pandemics on Cities - 501: November 19, 2024 University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Camp RYLA and the impact we have on students - Signature Lunch: November 22, 2024 12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom
Abul Sharah, International Village Clinic
The meeting closed at 1:14 pm.
Lynne Beck Scribe