Past Meeting Notes | Rotary Club of Saint Paul #10

Rotary In Review: Dean Wegner

Posted on Mar 15, 2025

Minutes of lunch 3/12

President Shelly kicked off the meeting at 12:14 with a large crowd, including nearly 50 guests of our speaker, Dean Wegner.

To welcome the extended crowd, we had Michael jon Pease, Susan Schuster, Jason DeKeuster, and John Chandler. Special shout out to Susan Rostkoski, Carolyn Will, and Amanda for assisting everyone with lunch payments and parking validations. It takes a village! Matt and Andrew coordinate the technology for the day. Bob Cardinal provided multiple quotes on the definition and value of love in our lives, followed by the 4-Way Test.

To allow time for our speaker, Shelly asked any visiting Rotarians to stand, both of whom were guests to hear Dean; additionally, she had all guests stand to be recognized and welcomed. She shared a quick introduction to Rotary with a thank you for District Governor Nominee Michael jon for his slides. She highlighted that our District, 5960 has just over 2,200 members in 57 Clubs; we donate $761,000, and impacted more than a million lives last year. Explaining that we are 120 year old organization in over 220 countries that has over 1.4M members, 46,000 Clubs; we have donated $357Million to improving lives, and have impacted over 2.5Billion lives with our Polio outreach. She invited all the guests to take information from the table and come back to join us for another meeting.

Our speaker, Dean Wegner is a Veteran and entrepreneur who once lived in Stillwater and now runs Authentically American living in Nashville. Being from Minnesota, hockey had an important part in his story, including his time at West Point. Dean shared how his experience in the Army along with the book, the Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann, helped set his path and created a desire to do for others. This included adopting a fourth child. His corporate experience at P&G and Mars helped him take a leap to create a manufacturing company to produce high quality clothing that is all made in America. Bringing in many of the audience guests in his story, he clearly illustrated the value of connections and friends in his world, and in the success of his work. He highlighted that he has a discounted price with lower profit for charitable organizations and a goal of replacing China for much of the clothing industry in the US. Due to a glitch in technology, the sound was not working in his presentation, so Shelly will be sending out the PowerPoint to guests, and will include in an email to Club members if you are interested.

Our first 5:01 at the Pool & Yacht Club will be Tuesday, and upcoming volunteer opportunities we highlighted as the clock showed we were running long. Shelly reminded us all that as Rotarians, we take action together to create change in our world and our community.

Rotary In Review: LIFT Program

Posted by Linda Mulhern on Mar 05, 2025

At 5:15 pm on March 4th, Shelly Rucks, the President, called the meeting to order at the University Club. Shelly thanked the volunteers helping at the meeting, Susan Naughton, was the greeter, Heidi Fisher for her introduction of guests and Happy Dollars, Susan Schuster for the Inspirational Minute and Four Way Test, our amazing IT tech, Matt Majors, and the scribe Linda Mulhern.

Susan wanted everyone to know that International Women’s Day will be this Saturday, and she read a stanza from the poem by Maya Angelou called And Still I Rise. She said that we need to be inclusive, because we may find that we are excluded on occasion.

Michael-jon Pease introduced Rick Heidick, an Iowan native, with 3 years in the army while in Germany, retiree from 3M and a member of the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club who likes to travel. Rick spoke about his 13 trips to Nicaragua and wanted to give the annual update on the LIFT program. It is an evolution from the original Fast for Hope project within our Rotary district which started in 2012. The district wanted to address a need and look at causes of poverty, while fostering within the community a sustainable project to improve the lives of people within that community. He noted that Nicaragua has 6.6 million people of which 500,000 have emigrated to either the United States or Costa Rica due to the political revolution in 2018 and the subsequent crack-down by the dictator Daniel Ortega. The Nicaraguan immigrants have sent back receipts to the country to support their families and it has grown 500% since 2018 and the total receipts account for 7% of the total GDP for Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan government has shut down 5600 NGOs in the country because they are considered subversive. The people are living with overwhelming poverty and 2/3 of all the people live on only $120 per month.

The LIFT program which stands for the following:

Listen – gather information from the local community
Inquire – learn about the community strengths, assets and opportunities
Facilitate – scope, launch and deliver programs to enable a community to improve
Transform – the LIFT program loves to hear that they are not needed any longer!

Originally the Fast for Hope program from 2012-2021 was able to provide books, Covid care, a community pharmacy, community development and road repair. With the LIFT program from 2021-23, they were able to complete a water system which is owned by the community and with community water receipts, they were able to repair a pump under warranty that had broken down by renting a crane to remove and replace the pump. They have also worked with teenagers who were able to develop a liquid fertilizer, and they have been able to market around Nicaragua. Currently they are working with 10 farmers in the area to grow turmeric, a “natural” aspirin used by people around the world. Unfortunately, due to the political problems in Nicaragua, RI has cancelled all global grants currently and the LIFT program is operating, but on donations to continue using local agronomists to help nurture the farming communities with new crops. Last year, there was flooding and the farmers lost two crops of beans due to the water, while the farmers growing turmeric were able to net $500 which was a windfall. The LIFT program is working with people in Costa Rica to set up a seed bank and they also work with both Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans to help diversify their crops. A RI Global Grant will be used to build the seed bank in Costa Rica and as political changes occur in Nicaragua, they will help additional farmers and potentially set up a manual processing plant for the turmeric. More information can be found on the District 5960 web site about LIFT as well.

Shelly presented a certificate to Rick for his time at the meeting and a donation will be made to Youth Leadership in his name. There were a number of Happy Dollars from Shelly, Doug and Pat, Kathy and of course, Doug Bruce!

We continue to look for members willing to help at Camp RYLA, which will be April 25-29th this year. We need help with calling clubs to recruit students as well as reach out to parents of the participants for their consent forms. If you are interested, please let Pete Grayson know and we can find an opportunity for you to participate. It is a great opportunity to work with teenagers about leadership while having fun at the same time!

We will also be looking for help with Education Day, the club would like to have members go out to middle schools to show admiration to the selected students and their ability to overcome many obstacles.

We will also have a volunteer opportunity at the Science Museum on March 28 from 10 am to 2 pm and a Career Fair at Central High School on April 17th.

Our next meeting will be on March 11th with Dean Wegner, the CEO of Authentically American USA and he will be coming with 55 guests that hopefully will consider Rotary as an option for their time, so come early and mix and mingle with the additional guests. On March 18th, we will be meeting at our new 5:01 meeting location of the Pool and Yacht club and Joy McElroy and Monica Jones will talk about the impact of our service project on December 31st and the impact on homeless youth.

The meeting was concluded at 6:14 pm.

Linda Mulhern, Scribe.

Rotary In Review: Wish of a Lifetime

Posted on Feb 28, 2025

President Shelly kicked off the meeting just before 12:15 on Tuesday, February 25. She wished all a happy anniversary, announcing that Sunday was the 120th anniversary of the founding of Rotary in Chicago. Appropriately, February 23 is also recognized as World Understanding and Peace Day. St Paul Rotary started nearly 5 years later on February 19, 1910.

We continued with the Pledge of Allegiance and recognizing Susan Rostkoski for welcoming guests upstairs and directing them to our meeting with Laura Nichols Endres greeting us as we arrived. Rob Thomas and Ken Crabb were our tech team.

Michael jon Pease shared inspiration thought featuring the health benefits of stepping away for technology and into the out of doors and areas like our parks. We followed with the 4 Way test.

President Shelly continued the nature theme and shared that Ben Groves, who made 12 butterflies for our Winter Magic, had donated two more and we would auction them with Happy Dollars.

Jason DeKeuster introduced a guest and colleague of Michael jon’s.

Susan Rostkoski and Susan Schuster have worked together and been long time colleagues in previous roles. Known to each as “the other Susan” Rostkoski introduced Schuster for a presentation on her new role, as of November, with AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime. Wish of a Lifetime is a 501(c)3 and was acquired and is supported by AARP. Susan encouraged us all to reflect both on our lives and those we know who may have a “life changing” wish. She shared that the wishes are significant to the individual with opportunities – not “things” – such as connecting with family and loved ones, renewing or furthering passions, or commemorating service. She highlighted that commemorating service is often thought of as military service, yet it can be service such as our service to Rotary.

Wish of a Lifetime was created to spark hope and joy in older adults (65 and older) by fulfilling a hope or dream. The sharing of the stories is found to also create hope and joy in others. They have just granted their 3,000th wish. One of their largest opportunities and partnership is “Cupid Crew” where a rose is delivered to seniors on Valentine’s Day. Over a quarter of a million volunteers deliver roses across the country to nearly 227,000 seniors; nearly a 1:1 ratio! Susan shared examples of stories (check out all stories on the link) including reuniting two sisters who had not seen each other since the Holocaust, helping grandparents meet their grandchildren and see their son’s home for the first time, supporting a WWII vet revisit Kaneohe Bay after 75 years.

Wish of a Lifetime was started, after seeing the strong respect for elders in Japan, in 2008 as an independent organization. The organization became an affiliate of AARP in 2020 and has been

expanding. Susan’s primary role with the organization is to build awareness – which also builds joy and hope. She conducts 90 minute workshops in communities throughout her multi-state region.

It was an excellent and inspiring twenty-five minutes.

Following questions and thanks to Susan, President Rucks shared that our 5:01s are moving from the University Club to Pool & Yacht on March 18th. With the U Club looking for a new owner, the Board voted to move now. At the UClub, our $200 meeting charge had little it brought; at the Pool and Yacht, we will now have $200 worth of snacks provided. The food will continue to only be a snack, it will at least be provided for us and free Amanda from the task.

Jason D collected Happy Dollars and coordinated the auction for two butterflies donated by Ben Groves and brought $60 each to the Saint Paul Rotary Foundation.

Saint Paul Rotary has long considered RYLA and Education Day as our signature projects. There is an opportunity now for everyone to help with these – at a time that works for you. RYLA is currently looking for members who will reach out to 5950 and 5960 Clubs to encourage sponsoring students to attend camp. There is an outline with Q & A and all the details you might need. In early April they will be asking for Rotarians to call parents and complete the consent forms needed. Reach out to Pete Grayson–– if you can assist. There are also needs for counselors April 25-29.

With bussing and meal costs, our Education Day has become too expensive to do as it has been done. Andrew Vincelli and John Kupris have heard from the school district and local middle school counselors that the recognition we have done for middle school students is important and impactful. With that knowledge, reflective of years gone by when our Club delivered dictionaries to third graders in St Paul, two to three Rotarians will represent the Club and recognize these students at a school assembly in front of their peers. More details will be forthcoming; let John and Andrew know if you are willing to assist.

Sign ups were on the tables for these and for assisting at the Science Museum on March 28 and Central High School’s Career Day on April 17.

Our March 11 meeting already has 40 guests scheduled to attend. President Shelly encouraged us all to attend and welcome guests and potential new members. They will have printed nametags if we have received their name prior to the meeting.

We were reminded that Together People Create Change, across the globe, in our community and in ourself and wished a great week until the 5:01 on March 4.

Respectfully submitted

Rotary In Review: Joe Landsberger

Posted by Kenneth Schaefer on Feb 20, 2025

At 5:17 pm on February 18, Past President Heidi Fischer called the meeting to order at the University Club. Heidi led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and thanked the volunteers helping at the meeting:

Beth Naughton - greeter,
Mark Howlett - Inspirational Minute and the Four Way Test,
Micheal-jon Pease - introducing guests and happy dollars,
Our tech team of Matt Magers and Ken Crabb,
Ken Schaefer - the scribe and
Club administrator Amanda Mai.

Micheal-jon Pease led introductions of guests and visiting Rotarians. Beth Naughton introduced multiple guests. Beth Naughton also introduced our speaker. The speaker was Joe Landsberger, a lifelong resident of Saint Paul who has authored a book about the history of Fort Road and West 7th Street.

Announcements:

Community Forum covering AI at Scouting’s Base Camp on September 16th, led by Roseville Club with support of Rotary Club of Saint Paul and other clubs.

Happy Dollars led by Micheal-jon Pease that raised funds for Saint Paul Rotary Club Foundation. Heidi outlined upcoming programs and service opportunities.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm.

Rotary In Review: Mark Nepper

Posted by Lynne Beck on Feb 07, 2025

At 5:15 pm on February 4th, Shelly Rucks, the President, called the meeting to order at the University Club. Shelly thanked the volunteers helping at the meeting, Carolyn Will, was the greeter, Susan Rostkoski for introduction of guests and Happy Dollars, Joy McEloy for the Inspirational Minute and Four Way Test, our amazing IT tech, Matt Majors, and the scribe Linda Mulhern.

Joy offered a short and important inspirational minute from the Book of Dares, to dare yourself to stand up for someone who is being bullied and also led the group in the four-way test. We also had cupcakes on hand to celebrate the February birthdays of Karin Ciano, Yvonne Ekdahl, Christoper Taykalo and Michael-jon Pease.

Shelly introduced Mark Nepper, a former college roommate of Shelly’s husband. He spoke about his book, “Glory Days in the Rear View Mirror”, a novel about life messages as a person moves forward in life. It is his first book after retiring from a career as an English teacher at West High School in Madison. Mark would often ask his students about Ferris Bueller, from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and what he would be doing as an adult. His students would reply that Ferris would have a fast car and a great job, whereas most of his fellow teachers would state that Ferris would have peaked in high school and not moved forward to an interesting and productive life. The book centers on the character, Cam, as he observes the relationship between his grandfather and father, with flashbacks of high school. Mark wanted people to think about what they had done in high school, what you did or should have done as well as what you did that was forbidden, but you did anyway. Did your life end up the way that you planned? Mark shared many quotes from the book that were very important as well as instructions on how to live your life well. He noted that the characters in his novel use the following mindset of leaning on friends in hard times, there are second chances and family relationships are redeemable.

Mark noted that writing the book took time and it took 6 weeks of pondering the ending for the book but finally thought of the ending while in a crosswalk and sprinted home to finish it. The title is based on Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen. Mark wrote the book because he had something important to say to his audience. As an author, he noted that you must have a purpose for writing the book and know how to finish it. The most difficult process in writing was to give his characters dialogue that encapsulates themselves versus sounding like himself and it took a while to find that voice for each character. Mark has started another book about a family saga that he hopes will be as good as All the Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren that he had his high school English students read when he was a teacher.

The greatest difficulty was learning how to sell his book by using social media to get the word out about the book. Bookstores no longer have author readings done, so leveraging social media to sell the book has been his biggest struggle, although a niece has been happy to help him as directed.

Shelly presented a certificate for his time at the meeting and invited him back when he publishes his next novel!

Upcoming events include the Polar Plunge on Saturday, February 8th at 1:45 pm in Hudson for Susan, Dana and Karin. They are raising funds for youth programing including Camp RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange, so please open your wallets for the “Superheros from St Paul” plunge! On February 11th, we will be having our joint meeting with the Minneapolis Rotary Club #9 and Andrea Roffo from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will be speaking on the US economy and recent policy actions. On February 25th, Susan Schuster, a member of our club, will speak about Wish of a Lifetime from AARP. We continue to look for members willing to help at Camp RYLA, which will be April 25-29th this year. It is a great opportunity to work with teenagers about leadership while having fun at the same!

The meeting was concluded at 6:12 pm.

Rotary In Review: Winter Carnival

Posted by Heather Britt on Feb 07, 2025

Shelly presented a certificate for his time at the meeting and invited him back when he publishes his next novel!

The meeting was concluded at 6:12 pm.

Rotary In Review: Bill Guerin, MN Wild

Posted by Lynne Beck on Jan 17, 2025

Rotary Club of Saint Paul

January 14, 2025

President Shelly Rucks called the hybrid meeting to order at 12:15 pm. The greeters were Jim Hart and Sherry Howe. Lynne Beck was scribe. The A/V Tech Team was Rob Thomas and Andrew Vincelli. Introduction of Guests and Happy Dollars was Bo Aylin. Inspirational Minute and Four-Way Test was Steve Young.

Shelly Rucks led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Steve Young gave an Inspirational Minute. He read a poem by a Vietnamese poet about the basic questions of human life and why bad things happen. He first read the poem in Vietnamese and then told what it means in English.

Bo Aylin introduced a Rotarian guest from the Chanhassen Club. John Kupris introduced his TPT colleague Ellen Muller. Lynne Beck introduced Barry Kempton, the Artistic and Executive Director of the Schubert Club. Eric Rapp, a real estate broker at Transwestern, was introduced as a potential new member.

Jay Pfaender introduced the speaker Bill Guerin, General Manager and President of Hockey Operations for the Wild. He is in his 6th season as General Manager of the Minnesota Wild. Under his leadership, the Wild has qualified for four consecutive Stanley Cup playoffs. Guerin spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as playing with New Jersey, Edmonton, Boston, Dallas, and St. Louis. He also represented the United States at three Olympic Games and two World Cups. A native of Wilbraham, Mass., he was inducted into the United States Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Wild and the Downtown Alliance are both involved in the revitalization of downtown Saint Paul. The Wild is represented on the Alliance Board and has made a financial commitment to the Downtown Alliance goals. The Wild is working with partners on improving the Excel Center and the surrounding area. The practice facility, which is in the old Dayton’s building, is a premier facility. He would like to take Rotarians on a tour of the facility.

Bill hired coach John Hynes who has worked very well. They are building the team to compete for the Stanley Cup. He is very proud of the team and the support of the community. Bill talked about the players and how well they are doing, despite the five who are out from injuries. He answered questions about how they are expanding into new markets to grow the game. The World Junior Championship will be held in Saint Paul in 2026, which is a very big event.

The Magic of Rotary

Doug Hartford, 1.1.1990

35 years in Rotary this month

Doug talked about two events that have influenced him as a Rotarian. In 2009 he was attending the Rotary International Convention in Birmingham, England. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was going to speak but had to cancel. Instead, they ever able to have the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon address the convention. That was when he realized how important Rotary International is. When he was participating in the Feed My Starving Children packing event with our club at Summit Brewery, Doug talked to two ladies from Kenya who told him how they had benefited from the food they were packing when they were really hungry.

Bo Aylin asked for Happy Dollars. Michael-jon Pease mentioned 2 events in February: Landmark Jewelers Goth Valentine Ball, February 7, 4-8; and Make Peace Visible Conference at Mystic Lake Casino, May 1-3. Lawrence Kent from the Gates Foundation will be there. The goals will be to address food security, clean water, health, and peace in Minnesota. Susan is happy she is leaving for Hawaii tomorrow. She is also looking for someone to introduce the speaker, Bill Berg, at the next meeting.

Shelly Rucks made the following club announcements:

501: January 21, 2025
University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Bill Berg, Fellow Rotarian representing Thrive People Solutions
Signature Lunch: January 28, 2025 12:15-1:15 pm
InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Winter Carnival, a Saint Paul Tradition!
501: February 4, 2025
University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Mark Nepper, author, Glory Days in the Rear View Mirror
Signature Lunch: February 11, 2025 12:15-1:15 pm
InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Andrea Raffo, Senior V.P, Director of Research, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis – JOINT MEETING with Club 9
Note: Changing of the Guard: Tuesday, July 8th, Signature Lunch

Service Projects January 25, Winter Carnival Parade

February 8, St. Croix River Dunk
April 25-29, RYLA, Adult Counselors, taylorngrayson@gmail.com

The meeting closed at 1:10 pm.

Lynne Beck Scribe

Rotary In Review: Bill Berg

Posted by Lynne Beck on Jan 17, 2025

Rotary Club of Saint Paul

January 21, 2025

President Elect Jason Dekeuster called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:15 pm. The greeter was Dana Bruce. Lynne Beck was scribe. The A/V Teach Team was Matt Magers and Rob Thomas. David Dominick introduced guests and did Happy Dollars.

Jason Dekeuster led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

For the Inspirational Minute, Pat Hartford read the poem “Attitude” by Charles Swindoll about the importance of attitude to a happy and successful life. She then led the club in the 4-WayTest.

There were no visiting Rotarians or guests.

Michael-jon Pease introduced the speaker, Bill Berg whose topic was Be Your Best Self, Everyone Else is Taken. Bill served as a pastor for the last 32 years in Cambridge, Minnesota. This summer he retired from New Hope Community Church which he started in 2004 and grew to two campuses. Bill is presently an Isanti County Commissioner and owner of the business “Thrive People Solutions.” He has been a Rotarian for 27 years and past president. Bill has a B.S. in Health and Psychology and a Master’s in Divinity and a Doctorate in Missional Effectiveness. His passion is to help people and organizations thrive to be their best selves because everyone else is taken.

Bill talked about how 85% of people are not comfortable with themselves. They either don’t like how they look, their intelligence or their performance. Bill was born with Bell’s Palsy so was always self-conscious about how he looks. He later realized that he was created to be his best self and others were too. Everyone has had different experiences. Some words that influence him are:

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
“Be your best self, coveting will crush you.”
“Envy damages relations, disrupts teams, and undermines organizational performance. Most of all, it harms the one who feels it.”
“Be your best self. You have valuable work to do.”
“Be your best self. Let your life finish.”

One person who has influenced him is Willian Booth, a smart, religious man who founded the Salvation Army in 1829. The organization has helped people during disasters like Katina and the California fires by providing meals, health care and shelter. He ended by challenging everyone to “Live Our Life and Be Our Best Self.” David Dominick asked for Happy Dollars. Doug Hartford is excited to travel to Colorado Springs to see their granddaughter compete in the Synchronized Skating Nationals. Dana Bruce is looking forward to taking the flower arranging class from David Dominick.

Jason Dekeuster made the following club announcements:

Signature Lunch: January 28, 2025
12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Winter Carnival, a Saint Paul Tradition!
501: February 4, 2025
University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Mark Nepper, author, Glory Days in the Rear View Mirror
Signature Lunch: February 11, 2025
12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Andrea Raffo, Senior V.P, Director of Research, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis – JOINT MEETING with Club 9
501: February 18, 2025
University Club or via zoom 5:01- 6:15 pm
Pending
Signature Lunch: February 25, 2025
12:15-1:15 pm InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront
Our own Susan Schuster, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP

Service Projects

January 25, Winter Carnival Parade
February 8, St. Croix River Dunk
April 25-29, RYLA, Adult Counselors, taylorngrayson@gmail.com

The meeting closed at 6:02 pm.

Lynne Beck

Scribe

Rotary In Review: Service Project With StreetWorks

Posted by Dave Dominick on Jan 02, 2025

Our last Club meeting of 2024 impacted 132 youth as 33 Rotarians came together for lunch and service. President Shelly kicked off the December 31st meeting with the clanging of the bell. Meeting volunteers included Scott Vann and Susan Rostkoski as greeters; Dave Dominick as scribe; Matt Magers, Ken Crabb & Andrew Vincelli as our Tech Team; Amanda Mai, our awesome club coordinator; Laura Nichols-Endres providing the Four-Way Test and Inspirational Minute; and Doug Hartford collecting Happy Dollars and introducing guests.

Laura Nichols-Endres shared a message from the late President Jimmy Carter when he received the Nobel Peace Prize reflecting on PEACE.

President Shelly indicated that our Club and Club 9 represent 115 years of Service. Our join Club meeting will be on Tuesday, February 11^th in Saint Paul. More information to come.

Our Club wrapped up the meeting by completing a service project for StreetWorks which partners with Cherish All Children where Club members assembled 132 hygiene and bath kits for homeless youth.

It was a great way to end the 2024 Year and halfway point of our 115^th Rotary Year.

Rotary In Review: Dane Smith

Posted by Heather Britt on Dec 19, 2024

Rotary Club of St. Paul - December 17th, 2024

Jason DeKeuster called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:09 pm. Heather Britt was scribe. The greeter was Lynne Beck. Inspirational minute was Susan Schuster. Guests, visitors, and happy dollars was Dave Dominick. The A/V Tech Team was Matt Magers.

This is our birthday event! Dave, thanks for the cupcakes!

Inspirational Minutes & Four Way Test with Susan Schuster:

Joy from a blog …. Stay alive!
Don’t forget about the four (five!) way test!

Introduction of Visiting Rotarians & Guests with Dave Dominick.

No introductions, just a beautifully decorated University Club!

Birthdays!

Presenter started at 5:14 pm – Dane Smith, retired journalist and public policy expert.

Dane was a reporter for 30 years, leader of Growth & Justice, and working on a great series in MinnPost.

Dane’s Dad was a Rotarian!

Fascination with similarities and differences between the states. Dane moved to MN from Texas 50 years ago. He’s a Texas native and ancestry is all Southern. He grew up in Alaska. He served in the Navy, married a Navy buddy’s sister. ‘Good life in Minnesota’ on cover of Time (1973) when he moved. Re-evaluation of his beloved North Star state. ‘The Book of America’ 1983 concurring.

Contrast, the 20teens and early 2020s, the story of Minnesota malaise.

Bottom line of his series – a state in progress and in process. Looked at rankings mentioned originally in the Time article. Emphasizes benefits of diversity in these articles. On the basic numbers, suggests Minnesota is not in decline.

‘5th best state to live in’ … according to US News & World Report data. Now climbed to 4th in most recent rankings. Still a significantly better place than most.

Continue to look at the mega data. Rose colored rear view mirror.

Shaping forces – Native American original peoples (Dakota, Sioux, Ojibwe – their original values being increasingly appreciated), Yankeedom -- abolitionists, evangelical humanists, public institutions, common good [reform model built around equality]. Scandinavian influence – 1.6M Minnesotans with Nordic ancestry (radical leaders fleeing Scandinavia). Two complementary streams – this culture replicates itself, it endures. Strong women, strong LGBTQ rights, egalitarian exceptionalism (most diverse DFL in history – house and senate). 20% of the legislature! Focus on erasing disparities remains of utmost importance.

Rural metro shifting divide – from 1970 to 2010 to 2022. Divisiveness percolating in the 70s….cultural gap widened over time. Growing blueness in suburban areas, Rochester. Rural Minnesotans are better off than rural people in other states – dampens the furious rage and resentment that seems to be driving politics.

EnvironMNtalist mentality chapter. From exploitation to conservation to environmentalism to climate action. Best state and local park systems!

Amazing arts and entertainment in this state! Penumbra, Hjemkomst Center, Meander, Minnesota Science Museum, First Avenue, Minnesota Opera Center. Investment complementing the private patronage. Rich local arts scene in every corner of the state – important to economic development and livability and people’s willingness to come here. Epicenter of arts in the Midwest!

For business, great. CNBC 6th best, #3 Fortune 500 per capita, #12 millionaires/capita, #7 patents/capita, #10 workers rights index, #8 diversified economy, #5 value of ag products

‘Liberal Sore Thumb’ – progressive outlier in 1912, no to Reaganism in 1980 – 1984, no to MAGA in 2016-2020-2024. Consistently blue. Longest streak in the USA of voting for a Democrat, since 1972. Lucy with the Blue Dress On! History of governors who really invested in people, workforce, healthcare, pollution control. That stamp has remained with us.

What we can do better? Redesign education systems focusing on schools with low-income students. Reprioritize public safety, especially in transit systems. Campaign finance and good government reforms. Double down on emergence as ‘the health care state’. Stay the course on racial equity and climate change.

Essence of Minnesota exceptionalism – 10 things: Egalitarian, communitarian, moralistic (in a good way), open-minded and humanistic, innovative, pragmatic solution-seeking, value education and expertise, independent streak, environmentalistic, worldly/internationalist.

‘We are all God’s children.’ This is Rotary, all of this! Reminder – global network of more than 1.2M neighbors, friends, problem solvers who see a world where people unite to take action and make lasting change. Promote peace, fight disease, hygiene, grow local economies, get involved….

Minnesota Equity Blueprint from Growth & Justice. Amazing Minnesota from Lee Lynch. Degrees of Freedom from William D. Green. Daedalus: Minnesota, A Different America.

His bio:

Dane Smith is a retired journalist and public policy expert with almost 50 years of experience in Minnesota's public affairs. As a reporter from 1977 to 2007, he covered government and politics, working alternately for the Minnesota Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press. From 2007 to 2022, he served as president and senior policy fellow for Growth & Justice, a think tank that advocated for a more equitable economy in Minnesota. He continues to write commentary for news outlets in Minnesota, including a recent 10-part series for MinnPost, entitled "Reappraising Minnesota."

Happy Dollars: Dave Dominick

Upcoming events, meetings, service opportunities:

New Year's Eve Lunch and Service Project
Intercontinental Hotel
Dec. 31, 2024 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Service - Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota
Jan. 03, 2025 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Service - January 6-7 - MN HOSA judging
Virtual
Jan. 06, 2025 – Jan. 07, 2025
Rotary Board Meeting
University Club
Jan. 09, 2025 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Student of the Month Breakfast at GPHS
Gordon Parks High School
Jan. 10, 2025 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Thank you! Ended at 6:12 pm.