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Nils Friberg led us in Pledge of Allegiance and offered the invocation. Our guests today were Smiley Rebelein and Eric Ordway. Jason Miller had the pleasure of awarding Jim O’Brien with his Paul Harris Fellow +2. Jason noted that we each have the option of making additional contributions to the Foundation via our quarterly statements. Let Jason or John Ordway know if you’d like to take advantage of this easy way to give to the Rotary Foundation. President Gerry Tietz had great news to share about the Governor’s Awards which were presented at the Conference of Clubs this past weekend. The NBMV Rotary Club was named the medium-sized “Club of the Year in both Public Image and Service. We were also runner-up to Club of the Year in International Service. But most exciting of all was being named the Overall Medium Sized Club of the Year for the entire District (tied with Rochester). What a testament to Gerry’s Leadership and the tireless efforts of our Board of Directors and all of our members. A celebration is planned for June 26 at our noon meeting. Check out all the certificates, below. Cindy announced that our incoming District Governor, Mike Becker, will be installed on Tuesday, June 12 at the Spam Museum and Paramount Theater in Austin, Minnesota. Social Hour is from 5:30-6:45 at the Spam Museum and the installation will start at 7:00PM at the Paramount Theater. More details are available here. We will have a Rotary exchange student this coming year! Flex member Paul Jacobsen and his wife, Denise, will be hosting along with the Johnson family. One more host family will be needed, so let’s find one soon. Our 4th Grade Foresters tree give-away takes place this Friday afternoon, April 27th, starting at noon. If you are able to help, please contact Ed James ASAP! The Peacemakers Cribbage Tournament Fundraiser is this Sunday, April 29, from 5:30-9:00PM. It’s being held right here in New Brighton at Adagio’s Pizza Factory. Click here to participate. We will once again be helping with the 2nd Harvest Heartland food collection in conjunction with the Postal Service. Our location will again be at Cub Foods on Rice St. near Hwy. 36. The homeless students from Life Prep Academy will join us for the collection. Mark your calendars now for Saturday, May 12th. More details to follow. Board News: -We are working on a district matching grant proposal to hold a really big Harvest Pack event next year. -$500 has been allocated for medical supplies for Bolivia -$720 has been committed for continuing sponsorship of our Remember Niger students, Maman and Charifa. Paul Fournier reported that John R. is making progress in his recovery and welcomes visitors after 3:00PM. After this week he will be moving from Langton Place to another facility near University and 694. Cindy reported that Kevin’s new hip is working well. We thought he was pretty hip even before the surgery! The tally is in for the Gold Plate Dinner and we managed a $23,800 net! Sincerest thanks for all the hard work that went into making the event such a big success. John Ordway introduced our speaker, Jim Markoe. Jim has spoken to the club in the past regarding the low water levels in White Bear Lake. He last spoke to the club about the lawsuit that the White Bear Lake Restoration Association and White Bear Lake Homeowners Association had filed against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Jim was happy to report to us today that their lawsuit was successful and that, subject to the DNR’s appeal, help for the lake and its homeowners is likely within two years. The judge ordered sweeping changes in the practices that were draining the aquifer and, consequently, the lake. She also ordered direct replenishment of lake levels via a pipeline. Jim believes that the judge’s findings will be upheld by the Appeals Court and the Supreme Court, ending what will, by then, have been an eight year battle to restore White Bear Lake to its normal level. Jim is joined by fellow WBL Homeowners board member, Eric Ordway, below. |
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