Past Meeting Notes | Rotary Club of Saint Paul #10

Posted by Dave Dominick on Apr 04, 2024

501 Minutes

President Heidi Fisher called our 501 meeting to order and thanked our meeting volunteers for their excellent support.

Past President Michael-jon Pease provided an inspirational minute centered around peace. Susan Rostkoski welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests.

Past District Governor Ken Crabb introduced our program speakers St. Paul Rotarian Tony Conn and Northfield Rotarian Yogi Reppman. The program was titled “the Peace Pipe Letters”, an informative and inspiring presentation about Rotary letters sent out in 1931 by WJ Fulton. Over 500 letters were type written by him to Rotary Clubs around the world. There was a 40% response rate with letters coming from Rotary Founder Paul Harris.

In 2016, Tony Conn discovered the Peace Pipe Letters in a vault where they were stored. With this discovery, Tony and Yogi published a book in 2019; created a 501c3 organization; presented their Peace Pipe Letters program at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg Germany. Their story has been published in three Rotary magazines in Germany, South Africa and Austria/New Zealand. They have organized a Peace Conference as well. An incredible historical Rotary story was shared to our Club.

Following the program, President Heidi shared ROTARY FAST FACTS. Which three US Presidents were Rotarians. Three mentioned included President George Bush, President Jimmy Carter, and President Harry S. Truman. Brianna Vujovich was the winner of the contest.

There was plenty of Happy Dollars flowing through the group celebrating our program speakers, a Rotarian’s son getting engaged and Rotarians having an enjoyable Easter.

Upcoming Events included Rotation Day on April 9 at Regions; Rotary Community Forum on April 16^th; RYLA being held from April 19-23; RYLA Luncheon with members on April 23 and our Club Foundation Celebration being organized for June 4^th at Camp Bar.

It was a great night to be a St. Paul Rotarian.

Dave Dominick, Scribe.

Rotary In Review: Dave Beal

Posted by Michael-jon Pease on Mar 26, 2024

.President Heidi Fisher called the meeting to order at 12:15 just as the spring snow storm was beginning to abate.

Thank you to greeters Pat Brault and Laura Nichols-Endres.

Susan Rostkoski shared an inspirational minute and led the club in the Four Way Test.

District Governor Nominee Designate Michael-jon Pease introduced guests. Rotarian Rob Mairs, Mairs and Power, introduced today's speaker, David Beal, the author of Mairs & Power at 90, a Ramsey County Historical Society book published in November 2021 about the saga of this unusually enduring and successful St. Paul investment firm. Beale was the executive business editor at the Pioneer Press in the 1980s and a business/financial columnist there from 1982 until 2006. Since then, he has done free-lance writing and special projects and was the treasurer of the Minnesota Committee on Foreign Relations from 2009 until last year. Before coming to the Twin Cities in 1981, he was the business editor at the Milwaukee Journal and earlier worked for newspapers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and New York. He is a past president of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Program: David Beal, Mairs and Power at 90

Mr. Beal started off his program by saying that as a journalist, he loves what this project offered - "stumbling on a good story that no one else knows about." Mairs and Power is the oldest independent investment firm in the state. They have successfully made the transition from family ownership to employee ownership, which is one of the reasons for their success.

The book cover showcases the three important Georges who figure in the company's history: George Mairs, Jr, George Powers, and George Mairs III. Beal mentioned that the name "George" appears in the book more than 600 times! Keeping the family trees straight was a constant challenge.

George Mairs III was known as a super stock picker. His 58 year career and winning picks earned the company a national reputation. Personally, he was a frugal guy who lived modestly and insisted that when the bank deposits were made, all the company-owned paper clips used to sort the money and checks must come back to the office.

Mairs and Power was founded in 1931 during the Great Depression. FORTUNE magazine wrote an article on the Twin Cities that year calling Saint Paul "virtually dead" and Minneapolis "deeply unsettled." The article was sos bad, Saint Paul businesses got together to boycott the magazine.

By 1976 (another time when business across the nation was struggling), FORTUNE did an about face, writing that Saint Paul's per capita income was ahead of both the state and the nation. By then Saint Paul was home to an impressive array of Fortune 500 companies.

Between George III's great stock picks and the shrewd recruitment of key talent from failing institutions like First Trust, Mairs and Power thrived while other independents were taken over or closed shop. While it has moved from Midwest only stocks to a national mix that includes Alphabet and Google, the Mairs and Power Growth Fund is a leading growth vehicle.

The club will learn more about the firm's new Venture Capital initiative at a June lunch meeting, so watch the club calendar and the Hub for more details!

Mairs and Power generously provided complimentary copies of Mairs and Power at 90 to all who were in attendance at the meeting (see what you miss when you stay home?)

Michael-jon Pease collected a tidy sum in Happy Dollars from Doug Bruce (in honor of the recently deceased Mairs and Power leader Jon Theobald), Doug Hartford (four photos accepted into exhibitions), Steve Young and Michael-jon himself (Mairs and Powers investment in Pedro Park, Mark Henneman's leadership of the St Paul Foundation investment team and Christopher Taykalo's hard work on a $32M EPA grant for the City of Omaha and his upcoming run in the musical Urinetown at Lakeshore Players).

Saint Paul Rotary Foundation update

SPRF President John Chandler gave an update on the foundation, including a heads up that teams for the St Croix River Dunk will be forming this fall.

He also gave an overview of the Second Century Society for those who have included Saint Paul Rotary Foundation in their estate plans. The club has 49 members on the rolls, but all are welcome. Confirmation letters are going out to those who've indicated membership in the past.

Rotary Fast Facts

President Heidi then led the Rotary Fast Facts game with a question about how much the Rotary International Foundation has invested in Rotary service since its inception. Joel Theisen won the tote bag with the answer of $3 BILLION.

upcoming Events:

Rotation Day at Regions Hospital - April 9th
Apr. 09, 2024 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
18th Annual Rotary Community Forum
6202 Bloomington Road
Apr. 16, 2024 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time

With that, President Heidi adjourned the meeting with five minutes to spare.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael-jon Pease

Past President, District 5960 Governor Nominee Designate

Rotary In Review: Mike Spellman

Posted by Heather Britt on Mar 19, 2024

Rotary Club of St. Paul

March 19, 2024

President Heidi Fisher called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:15 pm. Heather Britt was scribe. The greeter was Michael-Jon Pease. Inspirational minute was Shelly Rucks. Guests, visitors, and happy dollars was Susan Rostkoski. The A/V Tech Team was Matt Magers and Ken Crabb.

Pledge of Allegiance

Inspirational Minutes & Four Way Test with Shelly Rucks

Introduction of Visiting Rotarians & Guests with Susan Rostkoski.

Ken Crabb introducing speaker of the day, Mike Spellman, Rotary International & The Institute for Economics & Peace

Presenter started at 5:24pm --

· Giving this presentation to all 60 clubs.

· Peace is a new theme in Rotary this year – make peace visible is the initiative. Based upon a partnership between Rotary International and the Institute for Economics and Peace.

· IEP = global nonprofit, think tank, headquartered in Sydney, offices all over globe

· Relationship to change way we think about, plan, execute projects all over the world

· What is peace? What is peace made of? What sustains peace? Can peace be measured and quantified?

24,700 data sets; from UN, World Bank, World Health Organization and so on
Two concepts: positive peace versus negative peace

· Negative peace = absence of violence or the fear of violence

Start by measuring presence of violence or fear of violence
Highest scores = most violent (least peaceful) in the scoring (from June 2023 report)
- Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, D. Rep. Congo, Russia, Ukraine, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Mali, Cent. Afr. Rep.
Lowest scores = least violent
- Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Portugal, Slovenia, Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Czechia
Global peace index map
- US is 131 of 160something

· Positive peace = intentional creation and maintenance of conditions supportive of sustainably peaceful societies

What are those conditions?
- Well-functioning government, equitable distribution of resources, free flow of information, good relations with neighbors, high levels of human capital, acceptance of the rights of others, low levels of corruption, sound business environment
- Definitions of each of these, 3 indicators for each of the 8 pillars
Dynamic and interconnected system of pillars of peace
- Own effect and interdependent effect on the others

· Comparison of 7 areas of focus of Rotary with the 8 pillars of peace

Peace & conflict resolution, providing clean water, saving mothers & children, supporting education, fighting disease, growing local economics, protecting the environment

· Rotary projects can be designed to affect ONE pillar primarily, SOME pillars more and others less so, or ALL of the pillars

· We benefit from added CONTEXT (customs, practices, institutions, attitudes), AWARENESS (of the broader impact of our actions), INSIGHT (into the factors which might help or hurt the outcome of the project), FRAMEWORK (for sound decision-making)

These yield safe, effective, long-term projects · Attend free IEP course at: www.positivepeace.academy/rotary

· Lots of additional reports available

There is a state by state report for the US
- Where is MN? Maine = #1, Vermont = #2, New Hampshire = #3, Massachusetts = #4, Minnesota = #5
Ecological Threat Registry

Q & A

· US index – 2.448 (we’re in the bottom fifth)

Certificate for Mike.

Happy Dollars: Susan Rostkoski

· Doug – 4 grandkids and their groovy stuff!

· Jim – Centennial scholar update, forum

· Michael-Jon – Ellen Kennedy recognition

· Aaron – kids & wife

· Shelly – owe everyone for banner, notebook

Rotary Fast Facts with Heidi

· What are 3 of the 4 roles for Rotary in promoting peace?

Picture frame with clock and Rotary symbol is the prize
1 = advocacy/advocates
2 = teachers/education
3 = take action -- practitioners
4 = mediators

· Doug wins!

Upcoming events, meetings, service opportunities with Heidi

Saturday, March 23rd

Service Opportunity

Science Museum

10 to 12 or 12 to 2

Tuesday, March 26th

Meeting – noon

Signature Luncheon @ InterContinental

Dave Beal – Mairs & Powers at 90

Tuesday, April 2nd

Meeting @ University Club

Tony Conn & Yogi Reppman – Peace Pipe Project

Tuesday, April 9th

MEETING Rotation Day

Regions Hospital – Sim Lab

Tuesday, April 16th

18th Annual Forum/Meeting 5 to 7pm

Basecamp, Speaker is Bill Doherty, Topic: Polarization – Minding the Gap, Constructive Conversations in a Polarized World

April 19-23

Service: RYLA

Friday, May 10

Service @ 10 to noon or noon to 2

Science Museum

Thank you! Ended at 6:12 pm.

Rotary In Review: Mick White

Posted by Lynne Beck on Mar 12, 2024

Rotary Club of Saint Paul

March 12, 2024

Jason DeKeuster called the hybrid meeting to order at 12:17 pm. Lynne Beck was scribe. The greeters were John Kupris and Scott Van. The A/V Teach Team was Joel Theisen.

Jason DeKeuster led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

For the Inspirational Minute, Anne Rodenberg read the inspiring poem The Human Family by Dr. Maya Angelou. She mentioned that people are celebrating Dr. Angelou’s 95th Anniversary this year. Anne then led the club in the 4-Way Test.

John Kupris introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. Shelly Rucks invited her friend and colleague Joanne Pauley.

What You Don’t Know About Me - John Kupris told about the time he was traveling from Israel to England and stopped in Rome where he attended the audience with Pope John Paul II.

Shelly introduced the speaker, Mick White, a former member of the Saint Paul Rotary Club. Mick is the founder of 100 Year Manifesto. He is an international speaker, teacher, and coach who is empathic and deeply authentic. He talked about how being intentional about living your purpose will change your life – for the good. His 100 Year Manifesto framework provides a compass to live life with purpose.

He said that 12 years ago, his life changed. He left the corporate world to commit to a purpose-driven mission. He is elevated by relationships, family, faith and commitment. One thing he committed himself to was call his mother every day. This meant a lot to her as well as to him. His mother loved the color orange and wore it every day. Now Mick is a single parent to his 8-year-old son.

When counseling, Mick asks some of the following questions:

· What do you have control over?

· What commitments do you need to make?

· If you made decisions based on what is really important 100 years from now, how different would your decisions be?

John Kupris asked for Happy Dollars. John is pleased to have the opportunity to be a member of the Air Force Auxiliary. Dayle Quigley is enjoying a year of adventures: a week in France with her son and a week with her daughter. Scott is so nice to put up with it. Shelly Rucks is happy she doesn’t need to give the pie plate back to Mick.

Jerry Faletti won Rotary Fast Facts – What are the 3 purposes of Rotary?

Jason DeKeuster made the following club announcements:

501: March 19

University Club or online via zoom

5:01 – 6:15 pm

March 21, 2024

5:00 pm – Camp Bar

7:30 pm – “A Unique Assignment,” Minnesota History Theatre

March 23, 2024

Science Museum Service Project

Science Museum of Minnesota

10:00 am- 2:00 pm

Signature Lunch: March 26, 2024

12:15–1:15 pm

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom

April 9, 2024

Rotation Day

Regions Hospital

New Clinical Simulation Center to train professionals

April 16, 2024

18th Annual Rotary Community Forum

Fort Snelling Basecamp - $30/person

5:00–7:00 pm

April 19-23, 2024

Camp RYLA

Volunteer counselors needed

May 10, 2024

Science Museum Service Project

Science Museum of Minnesota

10:00 am- 2:00 pm

The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 pm.

Lynne Beck

Scribe

Rotary In Review: Universal Design

Posted by Lynne Beck on Feb 21, 2024

Rotary Club of Saint Paul

March 5, 2024

President Heidi Fisher called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:12 pm. Lynne Beck was scribe. The greeter was Shelly Rucks. The A/V Teach Team was Matt Magers.

Heidi Fischer led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

For the Inspirational Minute, Jim Hart read a devotion about forgiveness and led the club in the 4-Way Test.

Dana Bruce introduced Ian Wiitanen, spouse of Tricia Wiitanen.

Heidi introduced the speaker, Tricia Wiitanen, a member of the club. She and her husband Ian founded and manage Universal Design. Her topic for the program was Universal Design, Aging in Your Home. Universal Design makes environments accessible, useable and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age, ability, and mobility. They make residential homes and other living spaces ADA compliant. She said it is less expensive to remodel a home and make it accessible than to go into an assisted living facility. Plus, you own the property. If you remodel your home, you gain it back and more when you sell.

The two rooms Tricia talked about are the bathroom and kitchen. Some accessible bathroom improvements are grab bars, hand-held shower, lights under the vanity, toilet at a comfortable height, bidet, shower seat, non-slip floor, and rocker style light switches. Some kitchen improvements are raised sink, under cabinet lighting, pull-out drawers, USB pug-ins, and counter tops next to appliances. Tricia meets with clients and works with them to create a design plan that makes their house more accessible.

Dana Bruce asked for Happy Dollars. Dana is happy that her good friends moved across the street. Linda Mulhern’s daughter’s friend, a singer from the Netherlands, is competing in the Voice of Finland. Jim Hart is celebrating Caitlin Clark’s basketball accomplishments. Matt is happy that the Mahtomedi girls’ basketball team will play De la Salle in the high school tournament on Thursday.

Jim Hart won Rotary Fast Facts – how many people received a ShelterBox in 2023.

Heidi Fisher made the following club announcements:

Signature Lunch: March 12, 2024

12:15–1:15 pm

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom

Mick White

March 19, 2024

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Alary’s Bar

Volunteers raise funds for Rotary – tips and % of sales

March 23, 2024

Science Museum Service Project

Science Museum of Minnesota

10:00 am- 2:00 pm

April 9, 2024

Rotation Day

Regions Hospital

New Clinical Simulation Center to train professionals

April 16, 2024

18th Annual Rotary Community Forum

Fort Snelling Basecamp - $30/person

5:00–7:00 pm

April 19-23, 2024

Camp RYLA

Volunteer counselors needed

May 10, 2024

Science Museum Service Project

Science Museum of Minnesota

10:00 am- 2:00 pm

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 pm.

Lynne Beck

Scribe

Rotary In Review: Rotary's Paths to Peace

Posted by Laurie M. Murphy on Feb 21, 2024

At the noon hour on Feb 27, Past President David Dominick opened the meeting. He began by thanking the meeting volunteers: Greeters Melissa Musliner and Michael-jon Pease, scribe Valdi Stefanson, and visiting Rotarians/guests/happy dollars Bo Aylin. Also, a special Thank-You to the technical team of Andrew Vincelli, and Ken Crabb.

Susan Schuster provided the inspirational minute, which referenced current conflicts in the Ukraine and Gaza. How can this be reconciled with Rotary’s Positive Peace mission? She started with a reference to Mother Teresa, who always began with a smile as an empowerment tool to participate and find peace through personal inspiration. Also, quoting John Lennon --- “We can all be dreamers”.

Next up were introductions of three new members:

Andrew Webster is the owner of Master Framers in Lowertown (Recall that Roger Nielsen was the previous owner.) Andrew continues the tradition of framing, restoration and guilding.

Heather Britt is Executive Director of Wilder Research at the Wilder Foundation. Heather’s role is to better understand community and community change over time in order to steward program evaluation of Wilder Foundation activities, and impact ongoing Wilder programming.

Ann Rodenberg is the Director of Individual Giving at Wilder Foundation. She leads efforts to engage individual donors whose charitable support enhances the well-being of families, children and seniors.

Michael-jon Pease introduced today’s speaker, our own member Dr. Ellen Kennedy. She recognized that February is Rotary’s Peace-building and Conflict Prevention Month. Her Pathways to Peace message was punctuated by the presence of a Minnesotan Rotary Peace Scholar.

Ellen’s message spoke of the long tradition of peace missioned by Rotary International, starting back in 1921. Then partnering with UNESCO peace programs, and all the way to a pivotal role in the formation of the United Nations. There’s a ROTARY DAY at the United Nations. Rotary is committed to Positive Peace – to create and sustain peaceful societies. One way is through Global Grants that include the seven Areas of Focus. The Rotary Foundation states “Everything we do promotes peace”.

But today we learn more about Rotary Peace Fellowships and Peace Fellows. Going all in, Rotary has established five Master’s programs and two Certificate Programs in universities in continents throughout the globe.

Rotary provides a full ride to these recipients who are young adults and non-Rotarian. A rigorous vetting protocol brings some 50 candidates forward each year. We can be proud to recognize seven recent Minnesota Peace Fellows.

Ellen then introduced Guled Ibrahim. Guled enthusiastically described the value of his Rotary Peace Fellowship at University of Queensland in Australia. His thesis project was a stint at the United Nations in New York. He got a full-access and in-depth experience there – a lifelong dream come true. Today, Guled is an attorney at the Minneapolis Dept of Civil Rights. He is also on the board of World Without Genocide.

NEXT UP: Details at our website: https://www.stpaulrotary.org/

· 5:01 Meeting: March 5th 5:01 PM - 6:15 PM

Universal Design, Aging in your Home

· Lunch Meeting: March 12 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Purpose Elevates with Mick White

· Mar. 21, 2024

Rotary Night Out at the History Theatre: A Unique Assignment

· March 23, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

· May 10, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Volunteer Opportunities at the Science Museum of MN

Respectfully submitted,

Valdi Stefanson

Rotary In Review: Michael Olesen

Posted by Laurie M. Murphy on Feb 21, 2024

Rotary Club of Saint Paul

February 20, 2024

President Heidi Fisher called the hybrid meeting to order at 5:15 pm. Lynne Beck was scribe. The greeter was Joy McElroy. The A/V Teach Team was Matt Magers.

Heidi Fischer led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

For the Inspirational Minute, Shelly Rucks talked about the upcoming 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore and the 8 colors of peace and led the Club in the 4-Way Test.

Ken Crabb introduced two new members, Tony Conn and Mark Howlett. Tony has a distinguished history of work and non-profit involvement. Mark is the Global Portfolio Director at 3M and Board Chair of Park Square Theatre.

Ellen Kennedy introduced Michael Olesen, one of our newest members. His topic was A Love Story and a Dream in Northern Guatemala. Michael is a retired registered nurse, spanning many decades of work in critical care and the healthcare industry. He has spent time in third world economies and providing education to healthcare professionals, primarily in the field of organ transplantation.

Hearts in Action is a non-profit organization founded by Mario and Suzanne Babarczy in 1993. Located in northern Guatemala, the organization’s goal is to interrupt the cycle of poverty through education and job creation. Residents of this part of the country have an illiteracy rate of 90% and an average income of $4,500 per year. With funds from grants and other sources, the couple bought 300 acres of land in the Peten, the poorest department of Guatemala, and built a school in 1996. Over 5,000 students have attended the Jungle School and the literacy rate has been reduced by 90%. Also, youth crime has decreased, 57,000 trees planted to replace those cut down, and one million meals provided. The school provides values-based education and vocational training for youth of all ages.

Hearts in Action has transitioned into developing enterprises and created 105 jobs in 2023. A recent enterprise is Itza Wood, a woodworking company. Local workers are trained to create quality wood products to sell. The company has 30 employees who are able to stay in the area and support their families. They currently need to raise $20,000 to upgrade the woodshop. St. Paul Rotary awarded them a $2,500 grant and they raised another $2,500 through a GoFundMe campaign.

Shelly Rucks asked for Happy Dollars. Amanda Mai, a local actor, is sad that the Old Log Theater is closing after 84 years. Joy McElroy is going on a mission trip to Guatemala in April.

Heidi Fisher made the following Club announcements:

February 21, 2024

Celebrating Students of the Month

Gordon Parks - 8:30 am

February 21, 2024

Feed My Starving Children

Eagan - 7:00–8:45 pm

Signature Lunch: February 27, 2024

Ellen Kennedy and Guled Ibrahim - Peace Fellowship

InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront or online via zoom - 12:15–1:15 pm

April 9, 2024

Rotation Day - Regions Hospital

April 16, 2024

Annual Rotary Community Forum

Fort Snelling Basecamp - 5:00–7:00 pm

April 19-23, 2024

Camp RYLA

May 10, 2024

Science Museum Service Project

Science Museum of Minnesota - 10:00 am–2:00 pm

The meeting was adjourned at 6:22 pm.

Lynne Beck

Scribe

Rotary In Review: Susan Brower

Posted by Laurie M. Murphy on Feb 14, 2024

At 12:16 pm on February 13th, Heidi Fisher, the President, called the meeting to order at the Intercontinental Hotel. Heidi led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and thanked the volunteers helping at the meeting, John Kupris was the greeter, Ken Crabb for introducing guests, Michael-jon Pease for the Inspirational Minute and Four Way Test, our amazing tech team, the scribe, Linda Mulhern, and our club administrator Amanda Mai.

After his trip to Hawaii, Michael-jon used various Hawaiian words that reflected the Rotary Four Way test including Mahalo, which means to live in thankfulness for the abundant blessings in life, along other words that with meanings of stewardship and integrity.

Nancy Brady was asked to talk about herself as well as to let us know what we do not know about her. She is planning on retiring on 5/31and is actively looking for a successor for Neighborhood House. She will be traveling to Switzerland in March for skiing and a trip in August to Norway. She is active with the Montessori Board of Minnesota and how to help various communities incorporate this type of learning into their schools.

Ken Schaefer introduced our speaker, Dr Susan Brower, the state demographer. She talks with legislators, business owners and non-profit organizations around the state about the state demography. She noted that the metro area, in particular, Ramsey and Hennepin counties have grown substantially within the urban core over the last 10 years. Normally growth is seen on the edges of a large metropolitan area, but the core cities have seen tremendous growth. St Paul has added 26,00 people. They did find that during the pandemic and afterwards, the migration has been outbound however.

The change in labor is now a challenge for employers. People are aging, particularly the Baby Boomers (1946-64) are retiring and the adult working population is not keeping up. It used to be that 70,000 people would retire annually, now it is up to 250,000. This will create work force shortages and added stress for the health care system. From the 1970s forward there was growth in working age adults, but now there is no growth in the work force numbers. Currently there are 200,000 open jobs and there will be an ongoing labor shortage. Employers will need to take greater risks to employ people. They will need to look at skill sets to help people transfer to new job possibilities offered by employers. It should be noted that not all of the 200,000 jobs available are good jobs. Often, they are in retail, food service and health care support. As a state, Minnesota has the highest work force participation within the country.

Migration to Minnesota does not work except for international moves. Any migration within the United States is toward the coasts or larger cities rather than the Midwest, so other states in the area are also facing the same problems with labor shortages. Dr Brower has talked to the Minnesota Emergency Management Force and has told them to look at flexibility with workers, but it is difficult to recruit people that are needed for longer shifts, so a new mindset must be looked at for recruitment. Currently 3 million people work in the state with approximately 1 million school age children and 1 million retired/non-working adults. The other metro areas within Minnesota are all growing except for Duluth. Trying to recruit older adults to continue to working is difficult and most will stop working at age 65. Currently only 10% will continue working into their 70s and 80s. Migrants are mostly young adults that are here to go to school or recently finished their schooling and older adults often stay here rather than moving to other states with lower tax rates.

Heidi gave Dr Brower a certificate with a donation going to Cherish all Children.

Ken received several happy dollars including Doug Hartford, who has pictures at two locations, John Guthmann’s daughter has had an article published and has been invited to work on a Smithsonian article, Al Zdrazil receive very good health care in New Zealand when suffering from a heart attack and was charged only $12,000 for his health care. Ellen Kennedy wanted to everyone to know that February is Rotary Peace Month and would like to have everyone attend the Museum of Russian Art on Monday, February 19^th from 6-8 pm to write letters in English to prisoners in Russia. The letters will be translated and sent to them to lift their spirits.

Ken Crabb won the “Rotary fast fact” as to the first donation to the Rotary Foundation in 1917 was $26.00 (the actual donation was $26.50). Please consider a donation to the Foundation!

Upcoming meetings include the meeting with club #9 in Minneapolis on Friday, 2/16. Please call Heidi if you would like to attend and need a ride. The 5:01 meeting on 2/20 will feature Michael Olesen and his work in Central America. On 2/21, there will be a service project at Gordon Parks school to recognize students of the month and that evening, there will be a Feed my Starving Children packing event with Rotaract. Please consider attending the service events on 2/21. The Rotary community Forum will be on Thursday, 4/16 at the Boy Scouts Base Camp from 5-7 pm called Minding the Gap: Constructive Conversations in a polarized world.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:17 pm.

Linda Mulhern

Rotary In Review: F. Scott Fitzgerald's Saint Paul

Posted by Dave Dominick on Feb 09, 2024

President Heidi Fisher called our February 6^th 501 meeting to order with twenty-eight happy Rotarians and guests. She shared the exciting news about being Minneapolis being chosen as the 2029 site for the International Convention. Sherry Howe shared an inspirational moment from F. Scott Fitzgerald and led the group with the 4-Way Test.

Dick Nicholson introduced guests and visiting Rotarians plus did a great job introducing his son-in-law Mark Taylor our 501 speaker. Mark is a talented writer shared the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life growing up in Saint Paul. A very interesting program.

Dick Nicholson is the master collector of Happy Dollars taking funds from many happy Rotarians. President Heidi shared a Rotary Fast Fact on the upcoming 2029 International Convention.

Upcoming events and service projects were shared. A shout out to John Chandler and Karin Ciano for jumping the river raising funds for our Club’s Foundation.

It was a great 501 meeting.

Dave Dominick, Scribe.

Rotary In Review: Salute to Winter Carnival

Posted by Laurie M. Murphy on Feb 01, 2024

Rotary Minutes Jan. 29, 2024

It was Royal Family Day at Rotary today! President Heidi Fisher opened the meeting at 12:15. Greeters were Shari Howe and Christian Weinhagen. John Bennett did the visiting ROTAIANS and Guests. Linda Mulhearn introduced her guest as Sophia, our foreign exchange student. Sophia is a star Basketball player at Highland High School. Sandy Pappas was a guest of Rotarians also. Jason Bradshaw did the Inspirational minute and 4 way Test. The Tech team today was Matt Majors and Noble Orji. Ken Crabb introduced us to our New Member: Helen Wagner. Helen served at 3M for 40 years! Her special areas of interested are children and the Arts.

Then Jay Phaender introduce the new Prime Minister of the carnival: Dani Ross, who then introduced the Royal Family of 2024. They Royal Family entered with a flourish!

King Boreas LXXXVII: Stephen Doody of South St. Paul, sponsored by Edward Jones

Aurora, Queen of Snows: Jennifer Westerhaus of Chaska, sponsored by All Inc.

Prime Minister: Dani Ross of St. Paul’s East Side, sponsored by Fury Motors

Titan, Prince of the North Wind: Eddy Wiegert, sponsored by Minnesota Navy League

North Wind Princess: Katy Jo Johnson, sponsored by Long’s Auto Place

Euros, Prince of the East Wind: Ron Mikolai, sponsored by Dungarvin and Ron Mikolai Home Team with Keller Williams Premier Realty

East Wind Princess: Michelle Boris of St. Paul, sponsored by Bungalow Inn of Lakeland

Zephyrus, Prince of the West Wind: John Omodt, sponsored by Kelly Bros. Vosson Plumbing,TC Brick

West Wind Princess: Amy Lyn Johnson of St. Paul, sponsored by Remax Results — Greg Kuntz

Notos, Prince of the South Wind: Jamie Rued, spons Inver Grove Ford and Bennett’s Chop & Railhouse

South Wind Princess: Madalyn McGarry, sponsored by LCS Co.

Captain of the Guard: Greg DeKeuster of Roseville, sponsored by LCS Co.

Sergeant of the Guard: Mark Friend of Ham Lake, sponsored by Wabasha Street Cave

King’s Guard: Kevin DeKeuster of Inver Grove Heights, sponsored by NPF Benefits and Mama T’s Castle

King’s Guard: Tyler Lowthian of Bloomington, sponsored by 90 Degree Benefits

King’s Guard: David Szulim of Oakdale, sponsored by Eagle Ridge Partners

Then Sophia and Heidi were knighted by the King. Sophia was given the title “Duchess of Dunk” and Heidi was the “Lady of Grace”.

The Rotary question was: when was the First Paul Harris Fellow? It was 1957.

Next up is the Polar Plunge on Saturday Feb. 3. All proceeds go to the Youth of Hudson.

Laurie Murphy, Scribe