In Review - May 16

 

Many thanks to our greeters for the meeting, Dave Hatzung and Jim Ryman and to Chuck Rauenhorst and our club administrator, Rebecca Michalski, who handled our front desk.

The invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Rotary’s 4-Way Test were led by Charlie Barer who gave an inspiring commentary. Scott MacDonald introduced a large number of guests. One guest, accompanied by Dick Teegan, was Jim Hargrave of Sun City AZ who wore shorts and very high colorful socks in honor of our warmest day since last September. Per Josh Sprague, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” Terry Stevens, Chair of our Student Exchange Committee, reported that our chapter is sponsoring a student from Prior Lake High School, Emmanuelle Boschee, as an exchange student to France for one year starting in August. Jody Kern introduced Elise Pearson, daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of Brad and Lloyd Pearson. As our student guest for this week, Elise reported that she is graduating from Visitation High School, an all-girls school in Mendota Heights. She has been very active in school and is thinking of how different the experience will be at co-educational Boston College.

 

Scott MacDonald, Past President, reported that Rotary’s highest honor, Major Donor, was being awarded today to Tom and Karen Bach. This brings our club to the high level of having awarded 58 members this honor. In his acceptance, Tom enumerated many good reasons for their decision to make their contributions to The Rotary Foundation that all wrap up as “No better place to contribute”.

 

Mark Stageberg introduced Deb Oellete of Can Do Canines which trains service dogs to assist people in need. Our club donated $4,700 to it to cover key expenses, including a $2,000 ID card printer. Deb indicated that their dogs are accredited by Assistance Dogs International and have a card to prove it, using the new printer. The card helps to avoid a problem with challenges by some who otherwise don’t allow dogs on their premises. Deb was accompanied by Opal, a dog in training, and spoke on her behalf as greatly appreciative for the card printer. Deb also described the inspiring and difficult role of Autism Assist Dogs who need to deal with very complex situations.

Rick Carlson presented a $1,100 contribution to Carrie Hix of the MDA for use with its summer camp. The camp emphasizes confidence building and has received rave reviews from the under-privileged kids such as its “Better than Christmas!”

 

A team of Star Tribune journalists was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist recently in the local reporting category for a series of stories on Minnesota’s widespread failings in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault. Today, we heard from Brandon Stahl and Mary Jo Webster who, along with Jennifer Bjorhus and Renee Jones Schneider,  were selected as finalists for the nine-part series “Denied Justice,” which has spurred local and statewide changes in how police handle sex crimes. The team analyzed more than 1,500 reports of sexual assault to shed light on the chronic errors plaguing most rape investigations. They learned that the work on the cases wasn’t very active or thorough. Only about 25% were charged and only 10% of all cases resulted in a conviction. Obtaining information was extremely difficult as adequate records generally weren’t made by the police.

Pulitzer judges praised the “illuminating and disturbing” series for exposing how such breakdowns in Minnesota’s handling of rape cases failed victims of sexual assault. The reporters feel their job isn’t done and they hope to continue monitoring performance.

 

The journalists were thanked by Dick Teegan and the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM by President John Flynn after he announced that next week’s meeting will be dedicated to Women in Leadership and the presentation of the annual Chrysanne Manoles Award.