The Gold Plate Dinner Flyer was distributed at today's meeting.  If you didn't get a copy or weren't at the meeting, the document will be available again next Tuesday.
 
Don't forget the Clean Water Forum, sponsored by the Anoka Rotary Club, on Thusday, February 12th, starting with breakfast at 7:15AM and ending at 10:30AM.  Get more details here.
 
You should have received your Rotary Dues Statement by email on January 20th.  John is trying out the billing function of our new ClubRunner website.  If you did not receive your statement, or have comments about this process, please contact a board member or John Ordway.
 
John Risdall's guest today was Don Eitel, a Risdall Marketing employee.
 
Dana Rebelein's stepdaughter, Janet Ampe, a Rotarian from the Ramsey club, brought Lia Nuuvali as a guest.  Lia is from Columbia Heights and has a strong interest in Rotary membership.  As a reward for bringing us a prospective member, Janet was allowed to celebrate her birthday with us by wearing the much coveted birthday hat. (see below)
 
Dave Hoel announced his retirement from the silk-screen printing industry.  Dave has plans to keep busy in retirement by being a sales rep for energy efficient industrial lighting products.  Sounds like a bright idea to me.
 
Our speaker for today's meeting was Mary Anstett from East Side Neighborhood Services (ESNS).  Organized in 1915, East Side Neighborhood Services is a non-profit human service agency that provides social and other services to individuals, families and communities, primarily in northeast and southeast Minneapolis.  Their purpose is to assist people of all ages and backgrounds in realizing a higher quality of life.
 
ESNS got it's start as a settlement house for immigrants and, over the ensuing years, has blossomed into a wide ranging service organization with 26 different program areas and an annual budget of over six million dollars.  Their services include, among many others, child day care, youth programs, youth and senior employment programs, senior day care and transportation programs and women's programs.
 
Mary was also here to let us know that ESNS's 10th annual "Snow Shoe Shuffle" fundraiser for Camp Bovey will be held in Long Lake Regional Park on February 7th.  The Snow Shoe Shuffle (a snow shoe race/walk) is the primary fundraiser for the summer day camp.  The Snow Shoe Shuffle is actually a Midwest Regional Qualifier for the United States Snow Shoe Association, so it attracts some major talent as well as recreational snowshoe enthusiasts.  The Race starts at 10AM if you want to watch and registration is at 8AM if you want to participate. Check here for more details.  Mary is pictured with Dana below.