Rotary Club of Saint Paul
September 24, 2024
President Shelly Rucks called the hybrid meeting to order at 12:15 pm. The greeters were Chad Roberts and Heidi Fisher. Lynne Beck was scribe. The A/V Tech Team was Matt Magers and Andrew Vincelli.
Shelly Rucks led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ken Schaefer gave an Inspirational Minute. He listed 3 guiding principles from William Bennett, author and former Secretary of Education: Keep an open mind; The moral power of examples; and happiness is like a cat – if you don’t pay attention to him, he will crawl into your lap. He then led the club in the 4-Way Test.
Jason DeKeuster introduced visiting guests Ben Axelrod and Esteban Castillo of Colores, The Wearable Coloring Book organization.
Shelly Rucks introduced two new members: Jeff Sulzbach, Director of Major Gifts at the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and Judy Hawkinson, Director of Philanthropy and Communications at Rethos: Places Reimagined. Both of them have a relationship with Rotary. Jeff belonged to Minneapolis #9 and the St. Louis Park Club. Judy’s father was a member of the Edina Club.
Shelly led the everyone in the Club Assembly. It was an opportunity to exchange ideas and share information about issues that are important to the members. Members were invited to discuss 6 questions. They expressed some of the following ideas:
Question #1
What do members and participants want that the club doesn’t currently provide?
- Invite community members to fundraisers
- Social times outside the regular meetings
- Showcase projects on a regular basis at meetings
- Engage more young people (9th-12th grade) in our projects
- Members talk about their businesses at meetings
- Tell what the foundation is doing on a regular basis
Question #2
What are some club processes or procedures that the club can end?
Question #3
What does the Saint Paul community need that we could address through service projects?
- Meet with the mayor and other officials to learn what the City needs
- Give people a reason to come downtown – things to do
- Youth homelessness
Question #4
Why aren’t we attracting and engaging a more diverse group of members?
- Need to each reach out to ethnic communities
- Be involved with their celebrations
Question #5
Who are community members we should be including in our activities, and why?
- Think about the whole city not just downtown
- Social opportunities to meet outside Rotary meetings and projects
- Connect with Hmong and Black Chambers of Commerce
- Engage in shared service projects
- Give people a concrete benefit to joining Rotary
- Look at partnering with faith communities
- Bring back Rotation Day – to ethnic businesses
Question #6
What are some innovative ideas the club can test, and how might we do that?
- Mentorships with young people
- Engage more with Rotaract
- Explain how we select service projects and how we make them happen
- Talk to people and organizations that are new to St. Paul
- Connect with schools to let them know about Rotary
Members were invited to submit other ideas and turn them in anytime.
Jason DeKeuster asked for Happy Dollars. Shelly was happy that the hotel accommodated us at the last minute since we didn’t reserve the space. Judy Hawkinson invited everyone to “The Wrecking Ball” event on October 9 at Landmark Center to support Rethos. Dayle Quigley celebrated the end of her term as District Governor by getting a tattoo. Michael-jon Pease talked about the One Summit learning session that he, Shelly and Christopher Taykalo attended. He encouraged people to attend the next one this Thursday in Stillwater. Dana Bruce announced the fun winter event will be on December 5. It will be at Union Depot, catered by the Lake Elmo Inn and include a silent auction featuring mostly activities. Amanda Mai is in rehearsal for “Rent” at Artistry Theater. Ellen Kennedy asked everyone to read the article in the latest Rotary Magazine about Fraidy Reiss whose photo is on the cover. It talks about fighting child marriage. Minnesota is one of 10 states that has a law against child marriage.
Shelly Rucks made the following club announcements:
- 501: October 1, 2024 University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Stephen DiMenna, Executive Artistic Director, Park Square Theatre
More theater returns to Saint Paul - Signature Lunch: October 8, 2024 12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom
Kerry D’Amato, Executive Director, Pet Haven
Animal Welfare and the first rescue organization in Minnesota, 70 years - 501: October 15, 2024 University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Josh Sprague, Edina Rotary
Guatemala Water Project Highlights and May Visit - Signature Lunch: October 22, 2024 12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom
Polio Plus - Signature Lunch: October 29, 2024 12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom
Joe Nathan and Khaliq Rogers Center for School Change - November 5 – No 5:01 due to elections
- Service Projects
- November 7 – Build dressers for Bridging in Roseville, 9:00 am – 12 pm.
- October 18 - Science Museum of Minnesota, 10 am – 2pm
The meeting closed at 1:20 pm.
Lynne Beck Scribe