In Review - May 9

Posted by Doug Drake
The meeting was opened and chaired by Past President Ann Platt in President Flynn’s absence. Our invocation and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tom Bach, who provided an inspiring commentary. Based on John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s quotation on the need for public service which mirrors Rotary’s  4 Basic Tenets.
 
Introductions were then done of 6 visitors and hopefully future members. Beth Blaisdell, a former Minnesotan, was introduced coming from the Tyler, TX. Club. Special announcements were made of the recent Feed My Starving Children event which was very well attended.
 
The Club was given an excellent report on the Guatemala Service Team’s trip funded by our Club and other local clubs. 600+ water filtration units were issued to local villages. The highlight of this RTF mission was a visit to the 48,000 gallon water tank which was previuosly funded through Rotary International and our club. This is a great example of why to donate to the Foundation. A special thanks to Josh Sprague and all the team members who traveled so far to serve the needy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jon Barnett introduced and awarded gifts on behalf of the Club to our latest major donors—Gerry and Karen Norton. Jerry spoke of their belief on the need for constant giving by all of us to further the Club’s goals of eradicating polio and providing clean water to the world. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mike Sitek presented the Club’s grant check to Better Futures, an agency that trains homeless people and released prisoners to re-enter  society.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Peterson presented a major grant to Ruth Kwitech whose group funds 4 centers and camps for the disabled of all types of handicapped young and old including Camp Courage.
 
 
 
The Club had the privilege of hearing from two graduating Edina HS students—Luke Jesson and Jessica Wilkening. Both of these young people were strong student leaders and athletes. Luke will attend the U. of Minnesota (Go Gophers); Jessica will attend Wheaton College. Mention was made of the largest number of Advanced Placement Courses in the area is at our own EHS. Good luck to all of the graduating Seniors!
 
 
 
 
Our featured speaker today was Lynn Casey, CEO of Padilla Corp. who was introduced by Patti Ellingson- Solheim. Ms. Casey’s address was “Servant Leadership”. She gave an excellent address on the need for leaders in business and all acts of life to act not only as strong leaders but as servants of those they lead. She argued strongly to be a humble , listening leader who promotes ideas from all in a business not just “the cult of the personality”.
 
The meeting was adjourned promptly at 1:30 p.m. by Past President, Ann Platt.