Posted by Luther Amundson on Nov 01, 2018
 
The program speaker at the Nov. 1 Rotary Club of Edina meeting was Jill Renslowe, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Mall of America. 
 
Past president Bob Solheim ran the meeting in the place of President John Flynn, who was at Rotary Camp Enterprise. Bob also took part in the annual Thanksgiving Baskets skit, this year featuring perennial skit superstars Jean Morrison and Dave Hatzung.
 
Edina High School students joined us to share their high school experience and future plans. 

Click on the link below for more on the meeting...
 
 
Bob Solheim, past president of this great organization, officially began the meeting, since President John Flynn was with other Rotarians at Camp Enterprise. Introduction of guests was by Sam Cote.  Kristen Haley, banquet manager for Edina Country Club, thanked the club for the inspiration Rotary has given her and Rotary’s dedication to serve others, all of which has motivated her in personally and in her position at ECC.
 
Fred Sylvester gave the invocation, requesting that we all take time to address and reduce the negativism of our time, to be grateful of both the opportunities and challenges in life, and be mindful of those who need our help and guidance.
 
Of special note, we were given the chance to hear from two Edina High School students, Isabel Bercaw and Ethan Emmons. Isabel gave us an inspirational speech regarding her and her sister’s start of their business, Da Bomb Bath Fizzers, and her desire to concentrate her future, including a psychology degree when she goes to college. Isabel and her sister, Caroline, spoke at a Rotary meeting a couple years ago, and also spoke at last year's Camp Enterprise. Ethan fascinated us with his background on the robotic team and programing. He will be concentrating on cybersecurity in his college career.
 
We were then entertained by a delightful discussion regarding the saving of a turkey and the imposition of lutefisk. Bob Solheim did a magic show with lutefisk that turned into a turkey. It was all to remind us of Thanksgiving, that others are in need and that volunteers are requested for the Thanksgiving Basket Assembly, scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 21 at ECC. Please be there.
 
Kelley Burnett gave the introduction for Jill Renslow, the Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Mall of America. Ms. Renslow has a BA in marketing and a Masters in Business and Marketing. She has been with MOA for 20 years. Ms. Reslow provided insight into the psychology of marketing leading to effective innovation for a business like MOA.
 
Reminding us of Einstein’s comment “In the middle of difficulty lives opportunity," she noted that bringing MOA to Minnesota was a difficult but incredible opportunity for the citizens of Minnesota, starting with the August 1992, opening and resulting in today’s economic engine for Minnesota. MOA currently has 40 million visits per year, of which 60 percent are from the local population and 40 percent tourists. This includes over $1 billion in sales, resulting in a total economic impact of $3 billion. And $2 billion of that is to local businesses.
 
During the last Super Bowl, there were over 1.5 million people at MOA over a 10-day period. Over the years, MOA has greatly expanded it’s market to include not only shopping but dining, hotels, entertainment, attractions and a quality personal experience. The future includes a 5-6 acre expansion for a year-round waterpark, which will be either the largest or second largest waterpark in the world. After the completion of plans and permits, build-out is anticipated by 2021.
 
Her discussion provided an analysis of MOA identifying a meaningful brand to provide personal memories in a purposeful way, while embracing the unexpected. Of course, she also emphasized a more specific analysis: “Follow your gut."
 
Jennifer Shinners thanked the speaker and identified the purpose of Rotary.
 
The Rotary meeting, after closing remarks, was then concluded.