Posted by Jeff Benson on Aug 28, 2018

Maria Klakegg, our Norwegian exchange student, will arrive at the airport this evening.  A group of about ten of us will be there to welcome her.  Nicole Ulrich displayed the “Welcome to Minnesota” banner that she created just for the occasion.  Gerry Tietz recognized new members Paul and Denise Jacobsen for their part in encouraging us to get back into youth exchange.

 

Co-President Cindy Carlson noted that our upcoming Harvest Pack Event will be held on Tuesday afternoon, December 11th.  This will be a joint effort of the Irondale Student Council, Rotary, Lions and possibly the Eagles.

 

Cindy also said that our club’s 40th anniversary is February 22, 2019 and volunteers are needed to help plan a celebration of this milestone.

 

As our club evolves, updates to the by-laws are needed to reflect changes in club structure and policies.  On Tuesday, September 11th, a team will meet to review the current by-laws and recommend changes. If you are willing and able to help, your input at this meeting would be welcomed.

 

Cindy noted that the board has allocated $500 toward a matching grant proposal to provide a security fence around the Daylight School in Kenya and also has approved a $500 contribution to Mounds View’s Festival in the Park.  The presentation of the check will be made at the next City Council meeting.

 

Happy Bucks Summary:

- Beverly is recovering, albeit slowly and Cor’s knee is getting better every day

- Nyle Zikmund was in Hamburg, Germany to attend the wedding of Ineke, his seventh exchange student “daughter”, when he was surprised, and honored, to be asked to walk her down the aisle.

 

Today’s program consisted of new-member classification talks by Nicole Ulrich and Reid Hewitt.  Nicole was the first to speak.  Nicole was raised in Winona, MN and attended college at Winona State.  She and husband, Tyson, are the proud “parents” of 2 dogs, a cat and a fish.  All of the pets are creatively named but the fish, named sushi, must be nervous about its future.  Nicole and Tyson love to travel and explore the outdoors and actively pursue service opportunities at church and in the community. She is currently the secretary of the Lions club and they help with youth musicals and mission trips at Christ the King Lutheran Church.  Nicole is also a talented and passionate photographer.  She joined the staff at Benedictine Care Center at Innsbruck about 8 months ago, working on marketing and social Media, fundraising, photography, videography and the Innsbruck Foundation.  She played a video of a specially adapted bicycle that makes it possible for the elderly to safely experience a bike ride, powered and steered by a strong legged volunteer.  Click this link for a video of Marilyn’s TWOcan Bike in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_g8cv_s3X8&feature=youtu.be

 

Reid Hewitt, Administrator at Innsbruck Care Center, grew up in Brooklyn Park and played hockey and baseball.  He even played collegiate hockey while working on his health care administration degree at UW, Eau Claire.  Reid became the Administrator at Innsbruck about the same time as Nicole was hired.  He previously was the administrator at Texas Terrace Care Center in St Louis Park.  It seems that Reid’s entire extended family is involved in teaching or social service of some kind.  Reid and wife, Miriam, are the proud “parents” of rescue dog named Mr. Finn (named after Finnegan’s beer.  The 90 pound dog sleeps with them every night.  Reid’s passions are golf, sports talk radio, hiking with Mr. Finn, restaurants, breweries and, recently, home renovation.  At work, Reid focuses on finance, marketing, HR, living environment, customer service and risk management, but all these are driven by his primary focus…quality of care. 

Reid and Nicole are pictured below.