Posted by Jeff Benson on Jun 25, 2019
Our guest today was Ruth Marg-Patton.

 

President Cindy Carlson reported on today’s Board meeting.  Our financial condition is excellent, according to Treasurer John Ordway.  The Board approved a $1,000 grant to Life Prep Academy and authorized up to $250 in donations to the Community Support Center at $10 for every mile NBMV Rotarians walk in the Walk for Your Neighbor fundraiser on Sunday, July 28th.  Geoff Hollimon has presented a District Matching Grant Proposal for farm equipment at E.C.H.O.  The Board authorized a $750 contribution to a Prior Lake Rotary district matching grant for a water project in Gambia West Africa.  Cindy read thank you’s from the New Brighton Area Historical Society, Remember Niger and Feed My Starving Children for our financial and volunteer support.

 

There will be no noon meeting on July 2nd.  Our next noon meeting will be on July 9th.

 

The Flex Group will meet at 7:15 AM, July 15th at the BruHouse.

 

Volunteers are needed to help serve hot dogs to over 200 construction volunteers at the Kaboom playground for the new Global Academy at 3000 5th St NW, New Brighton.  Preparations will begin at 10:30 AM.  Please let Cindy know if you know the location of the Hot Dog cooking pots!

 

Mark your calendars for the Rotary Picnic on July 27th, 2:30PM at John and Marla Ordway’s beautiful home on White Bear Lake.

 

Keep in mind that the Stockyard Days Parade has moved from its usual Thursday evening time slot to Saturday afternoon, August 3rd.  Mark your calendars for a 1:00PM start to the hot dog preparation.

 

Gerry Tietz and Cindy Carlson teamed up to induct Maddison Zykmund (Nyle’s son and the Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Assistant Fire Chief) and Jennifer Fink (New Brighton Parks and Recreation Director).  Maddison will join as a regular member and Jennifer will join as Dean Lotter’s corporate designee.  Welcome, Maddison and Jennifer!  (See photos below)

 

Jed Hamoud’s son’s family will be visiting from Lebanon for 2 months.

 

Beverly Aplikowski was able to be with us today, but she said the she doubts that she will be able to continue her membership for health reasons.  The club responded with a standing ovation to honor Bev’s contributions to the club.

 

Today marked the end of Cindy Carlson’s tenure as Club President.  Cindy remarked that the Rotary International theme for this year was “Be the Inspiration” and said that she thought that it was the perfect theme for NBMV Rotary.  Cindy and John Marg-Patton began the year as Co-Presidents, but John’s passing midway through their year left Cindy at the helm for the second half of the year.  Cindy put together a slide show of the highlights.  John and Cindy’s “Big Three” were Do Good, Have Fun and Celebrate and we did a great job on an all three.  A summary of those highlights follows:

- MaryAnn Bawden became an Honorary Member

- Stockyard Days Hot Dog Feed

- Exchange Student Maria Klakegg from Norway

- Camp Enterprise

- Camp RYLA

- Cultural exchange with Lebanon

- New members and designees, Nicole Ulrich, Reid Hewitt, Ike Graham, Charlie Longbella, Jed Hamoud

- Community Spirit Award from CPY

- Adopt-a-Home Women’s shelter donation

- Community Support Center

- Harvest Pack $ 11,000 Matching grant Project (23,000 meals packed)

- Outbound Exchange Student 2019-20 Sofia Valdez

- Ellen Dunn, Rotary Global Scholar

- Rotary Egg Hunt

- Gold Plate Dinner - over $23,000 raised

- 4th Grade Foresters Tree Give-Away

- Four $1,500 Scholarships to high school seniors

- Feed My Starving Children - packed food and donated $1,000

- Rotary Presidential Citation for 2017-18

- Community Partners with Youth

- Mounds View Festival in the Park

- Ralph Reeder Food Shelf

- Stamp Out Hunger

- Life Prep Academy

- Remember Niger Coalition sponsorships

- 40th Anniversary Party

- 40 year NBMV Rotarians John Risdall, George Winiecki and Jeff Benson

- District 5960 Governor’s Citation 2018-19

- Paul Harris giving level milestones for Geoff Hollimon and Margaret Johnson

 

Whew!  How do we get all that done in one year’s time?  Cindy thanked the Board and all those who help this club accomplish so much in this great community of New Brighton. 

 

Dennis Connolly presented Cindy with a gavel plaque and a Rotary necklace to commemorate her presidency.  Dennis also presented a Rotary necklace to Ruth Marg-Patton in honor of John’s service as co president.  See photo below.

 

Cindy presented Dennis with his President’s lapel pin and ceremonially passed the gavel to Dennis to begin his tenure.  Photo below.