Jeff Benson opened the meeting with the Pledge and Invocation.
President Gerry Tietz announced that Twin Cities Rotaract President, Chelsea Holub, will speak to the Breakfast Club on February 1st. Also, it looks like Mounds View City Administrator, Nyle Zikmund, will likely be joining the Breakfast club. Lunch club members are encouraged to attend Breakfast meetings as a make-up, to support the breakfast club initiative, or just for the fun of it! Join the fun on Thursday mornings at 7AM.
Gerry also announced that Reid Hewitt, administrator for Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck will be joining the club under the new corporate membership plan. Nicole UIrich will be the Corporate Designee when Reid is unable to attend. Welcome, Reid and Nicole!
Gerry further mentioned that we have two potential members from API as well.
Mark your calendars now for Monday, March 19th, 6-9PM, for a Rotary Wine and Painting Party. Rotarians, spouses and guests are invited to embrace their artistic side by learning to paint. Wine will be provided to reduce inhibitions and increase creativity. Don’t miss it!
Mary Stewart announced that Cindy Carlson’s team was the winner of the first week of the Gold Plate Dinner Ticket sales contest. Her team will be entered in the drawing for the big prize at the end of the contest. Your team captain should be contacting you if they haven’t already done so.
Cindy Carlson brought a Pioneer Press article about this year’s Winter Carnival Queen of the Snows, Jilla Nadimi. Jilla grew up in Mounds View and attended Irondale.
Today’s meeting was a club assembly.
The first item of business was to amend our by-laws to reflect the addition of corporate membership. The proposed changes were approved unanimously by voice vote.
Club Service: Bob Barmore reported on his committee’s efforts, including administering the monthly program committees, events and social activities. Bob will work toward reporting his group’s efforts to RI for club recognition.
Breakfast Meetings: Garry Johnson subbed for Michele Caron, saying that the breakfast club may be changing their schedule to alternating breakfast meetings and 5:01PM meetings to attract more potential members. Breakfast member Chris Ledbeter is working on a financial literacy program for youth which will likely get its start at CPY.
Foundation: Jason Miller reported that the November-December Polio Plus effort brought in $1,900 or $900 more than the $1,000 which was budgeted. Well done Rotarians!
Communications: Mary Stewart has overseen a big increase in local media coverage in recent months. The communications team has also been sending postcards to area businesses to generate interest in Rotary membership. Future efforts will concentrate on directing prospects to our website for up-to-date information about the club. Mary is also working on a strategy to report our service activities to Rotary International.
Due to time constraints, reports by Service Projects, Vocational Teams, Secretary, Treasurer and President were pushed back to next week’s meeting. However, Cindy Carlson reported in advance for the Youth Service Subcommittee of the Service Projects Team by updating us on the Rotary Healthy Youth Foundation. We will be using the Foundation as a conduit for youth oriented donations raised at the Gold Plate Dinner.