President John Flynn (our 64th Club President) kicked off our meeting on this sunny, warm (finally), first full day of spring. We were warmly greeted by Heather Hansen and Terry Stevens, and Fred Sylvester and Becci Michalski handled front desk duties admirably. Kaylin Eidsness handled photographer duties. President Flynn presented us with videoed Rotary inspiration talks from Terry Stevens and Tim Murphy which were – well – inspiring! Dave Kunz introduced the guests, including Mary Poppins from Party Pals, and a trifecta of Morning Club members promoting their flower sale supporting Polio Plus. Forest Green gave a succinct classification talk and told us he is in the mortgage lending business with a focus on affordable housing. Renee Harberts told us about the social committee “Bunny Bingo” event coming up on Sunday, April 7th (4-7 p.m. @ ECC).
David Clynes gave us a pitch for TRF giving and introduced District Governor Irene Kelly who informed us that our club is a leader in TRF giving and has received a Rotary Presidential Citation for exceeding goals for membership, annual TRF giving, Polio Plus giving, and service hours. After confiscating the microphone from Clynes, President Flynn told us next week’s meeting is a joint meeting with the Morning Club Tuesday morning with Mayor James Hovland as the featured speaker.
Jody Kern introduced Sgt. Grant Snyder of the Minneapolis Police Department. Grant has worked for over 23 years with the Minneapolis Police (now working past his retirement date by choice). For the first 20 years Grant focused on human trafficking which led him to focus more recently on the complex problems surrounding homelessness, and to his current position as the Department’s liaison to the City’s homeless. Grant opened our eyes to many of the realities and problems (particularly heroin and other opioid addictions), and other complex and intertwined problems involving homelessness. When considering charitable responses to homelessness, Grant encouraged us not to give money, but to start with relationships, and give practical things like bus tokens, bottled water, beef jerky, energy bars, etc. Grant also invited us to join him for a ride in his Polaris Ranger when he is making his rounds in and around downtown, or hosting cookouts and barbeques for the homeless population in public parks in or around downtown.
At the end of Grant’s talk there were questions from the audience, including what Rotary can do to help support his mission. Grant answered by saying there are things we can do, and invited the Club to enter into a longer-term conversation with him about that.
Gordy Lewis warmly thanked Grant for his talk and President John Flynn concluded the meeting at 1:30 p.m. sharp with a reminder about the joint meeting with the Morning Club next Tuesday.
