President Todd Nicholson called the meeting to order at 12:15 pm. President Todd reported that Rotary member Jon Cieslak had passed away and asked for a moment of silence.
He then thanked the day's greeters Jeff Baidoo and Susan Rostkoski, the scribe Bryan Donaldson, and the AV tech team for their work during the day.
Rita Dibble offered an inspirational minute by way of a short poem call Every Child's Place. She then lead the group in the four-way test. Rita also offered that she leads the Global Services Project and Awards Committee and is in need of more members. President Todd echoed Rita's call for people to get involved in Rotary committees.
Heidi Fisher helped welcome guests and visiting Rotarians Ellen Kennedy, Maureen McGinn, and Jim Frisco. Heidi also introduced Ruth Petermann, Rotary's new membership Director. Ruth is the former President of Hudson Daybreak Rotary and she has been involved with Rotary for 7 years.
Ken Schaefer introduced the day's speaker Bao Vang from the Better Business Bureau. Ms. Vang welcomed BBB coworkers in person and online. She said she was proud to call St. Paul home, where she was born and raised. She detailed how her family came to America as Hmong refugees and how Lutheran churches sponsored Hmong families when they came to Minnesota. Her father then opened the first Hmong-owned grocery store in Twin Cities, but died when she was three, she said. Bao talked about how her mother gave them hope that education making their lives better. She talked about she went on work in local television news in Wisconsin.
She then talked about how her career evolved to helping teach diverse journalism students at the University of St. Thomas, which then led her to her current career at the BBB. She is now proud to be the spokesperson for one of the most recognizable brands in the country.
Ms. Vang answered questions from the attendees including one from Ken Crabb on what she is doing to help others at this time. She said she is really focused on raising responsible children, and sharing what she has learned with others.
President Todd thanks Ms. Vang and said Rotary would make a donation in her name to Cherish All Children.
