In Review - Feb. 27 Meeting

 
On a warm and sunny day, we were warmly greeted by Ken Andersen and John Mazzara with Ron Erhardt competently helping Becci at the front desk.
 
Before the meeting, I took a poll and asked members, “What was the best part of your winter? …. Hopefully winter is almost over!
  • Susan Johnson – Spring is finally here!
  • Dietrich Nissen – my kid playing in the snow for the first time
  • Barbara Born – mushing
  • David Clynes – good health
  • Susan Stiles – putting Blizzak snow tires on my car
  • Mark Jessen – attending the Outback Bowl in Florida (Go Gophers!)
  • Harold Hanson – trying new and special places to eat
  • Kelley Burnett – skiing
  • Bob Solheim – hiring a Co-Director
 
Our energetic President Josh Sprague rocketed the start of the meeting with a video of Paul Mooty on a chairlift in Beaver Creek, Colorado; he was joined by fellow snowmen, Michael Stanzak and Brad Pearson.  It was the truth that Paul recited the 4-way test in air!
 
 
 
 
 
Dietrich Nissen delivered the invocation and spoke of the need and importance, as social beings, of friendships and empathy.  He challenged each of us to reach out and form an intergenerational friendship and find strength and support in one another.  Jennifer Bennerotte ably served as the club photographer (I’m remembering that she has quite the experience as a sports photographer.)  Don Hutchison introduced our one guest, a friend of Dietrich Nissen from London who is a trumpeter. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
President Sprague announced the results from the high stakes competition at the Edina Rotary event on February 23rd.  He tried to guess what members were thinking as they participated – maybe he was right … maybe he wasn’t!
  • Best Female Bowler – Kelly Sprague
  • Best Male Bowler – Gage Walker
  • Worst Female Bowler – Sandra Krebsbach
  • Worst Male Bowler – Fred Sylvester
  • Best Team - #2
  • Worst Team - #6
I was there and the “worst” bowlers gave it their all and made it a fun time!  It should also be noted that Paul Mooty had a hand in arranging the teams – his team had some ringers, and won.  Paul – was it fair to all concerned?!!  Sutton McGraw put a lot of effort into organizing a great event that was full of fun and camaraderie.  Thanks, Sutton!
 
President Sprague was very proud to announce that at the State of Community address, the Edina Rotary Clubs won a contest with the Edina Chamber, beating them 60/40.  At the address, it was learned that, in addition to English, there are six languages spoken in Edina – Spanish, Somali, Hindi, Russian, French and Chinese.  Dave Hatzung won a beautiful blanket for getting all six right!
 
Scott Blake announced the outstanding news that the Interact Club’s “Skate to End Polio” event collected a record-breaking $1,700.  Well done Interacters!
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROTARY!!!  President Sprague announced that Rotary celebrated its 115th birthday on February 23rd.  Rotary is getting older and better!  Wishing Rotary another 115+ birthdays!
 
President-Elect Sam Thompson spoke about the upcoming Leadership Week with four exciting events to help develop our leadership skills and perspective:
  • The Rotary Foundation will host a Fireside Chat/Open House with RI Director Stephanie Urchick on Monday, March 9th from 5:30-8:30 pm at Tom and Catherine Gump’s home, 4703 Sunnyside Road, Edina.
  • Rotary Leadership Seminar with renowned international speaker, Michael Angelo Caruso on Tuesday, March 10th from 1:00-4:00 pm at Lost Spur Golf and Event Center in Eagan.
As a sneak peek of some of Michael’s wisdom on leadership, Sam shared the 15 most powerful words in the English language:
5 most powerful words:  “I Am Proud Of You”
4 most powerful words:  “What is your opinion?”/”What do you think?”
 
We need to attend the seminar to learn the remaining six most powerful words.  Don’t miss it!
 
  • Sip & Serve with RI Director Stephanie Urchick on Tuesday, March 10th from 5:30-8:30 pm at Commercial Furniture Services, 4301 Highway 7, Suite 190, St. Louis Park.  The event is hosted by the Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans and Edina Rotaract and will include a service project of assembling feminine hygiene kits.
  • Leadership Breakfast with featured speaker, RI Director Stephanie Urchick on Wednesday, March 11th from 7:30-8:30 am at the Interlachen Country Club.
Lots of great opportunities to learn, grow and gain insight as a leader.
 
Sam reminded us that the Tuesday, March 10th meeting will be a joint meeting with the Edina Morningside Club at 7:15 am at the Edina Country Club.  There is no Edina Rotary Club meeting on Thursday, March 12th.
 
Jennifer Hendrickson, Public Image Director, invited us to “Get Social” and help show that we are people of action as the #1 Club in the Universe.  Here’s how we can help:
 
  • Show what we do by using our preferred social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter) to mention club activities and projects.  “Like” photos that appear on Edina Rotary Facebook.
  • Take pictures when we’re at an Edina Rotary events and tag “At Edina Rotary” on the Edina Rotary website.  This helps to connect our own network with the Edina Rotary network to get the word out about the great things we do for our community and the world.
 
Volunteers are still needed to help at the Serve-A-Meal event at Cornerstone from 5:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 3rd.  Contact Nate Wenner or Bonnie Rolstad to help out.
 
“Bucky” (aka Jim) Platt introduced our speaker, Erik Peacock, owner of Puravida Fitness.  Erik is a health and wellness professional who shared his passion and knowledge of how we can discover our fitness potential.  He was very fit and had incredibly good posture.
 
 Erik’s 5 Steps to Transform Your Body and Your Life
  1. Define your goals, motivation, and commitment. He challenged us to identify our “hunting trip” – What are we passionate about that motivates us to want to transform our body and our life? – hunting, family, aging well, travel, business success.  What is your WHY?  Have SMART goals; be specific and monitor regularly.
  2. Get your nutrition dialed in – 70-80% of results come from nutrition; consistency not perfection; take the time to shop, prepare, plan.
  3. Design a complete exercise plan – include strength training (2-4x /week); cardiovascular exercise (2-4x/week), flexibility/mobility; MOVE throughout the day!
  4. Implement – consistent daily action; block time to do it.
  5. Evaluate – regularly review and update progress; short term checkpoints; change it up every 4-6 weeks.
 
Erik believes it’s important to have someone to work with and be accountable to, such as a coach, in order to achieve results.  It takes a minimum of 90 days to see significant results with a defined program and to cement in the new lifestyle habits necessary to maintain them.  No matter where we are today, we have the power to change where we will be tomorrow by the decisions we make.  We need to give ourselves some grace.  This is a journey.
 
Chuck Agan thanked Erik for heightening our awareness of how to be the best version of ourselves by taking the best care of our bodies.
 
President Sprague closed with wise words from Isaac Bickerstaffe, “Health is the greatest asset of all possessions!  A pale cobbler is better than a sick king.”
 
Club Services Chairperson, Fred Sylvester and Rotary Foundation Chair, Susan Stiles
 
New Rotary Club of Edina Member, Peyton Chambers