Guests at last week's meeting were Proctor Student Rotarians

Gavin Tabbert, and Thomas Barnstorf, Dan Dock from Downtown, and past Skyliner James Lewis.

 

We were pleased to have James Lewis back as a guest and even more pleased that he wishes to rejoin our Club. We are excited to have you back Jim. #43 on the way to 50. 

 

Tim started the meeting talking about guests, projects, and programs. We love having guests. Let Garret or Greg know if you have a project that you think the Club should do. Anyone and everyone can book a program. Just look at the calendar on the Club website. If there is an open date then you can book it or let a Board member know and they will put the program on the calendar. 

Russ introduced David Huntley who is an ECO Rotarian and works for Terch & Associates as a Human Relations consultant. David walked us through the changes in HR laws as a result of the 2023 legislative session. There were many. The following are a brief sample of those changes. Non-Compete clauses are now banned in MN with a few exceptions. Paid Pregnancy and parental leave has now been expanded to 12 weeks. Sick and safe time off has expanded to a maximum of 80 hours. Many of these changes will be rolled into the January 1, 2026 Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. Potential employers can't ask for a pay history. The Department of Labor changed the definition of, "Independent Contractor". 

Thank you to Russ for bringing the program to us and thank you to David Huntley for sharing his incredible HR knowledge with us. 

 

Note that Russ has us scheduled for a "Sweetheart Dinner" (I think that the name was Chris' idea) at the Hammond Steak House on the evening of Friday, February 9th. 
So no meeting that afternoon to save up your appetite for dinner. 

Russ told us that The Winter Out West Festival will be held February 9, 10, and 11 and that our Skyline Biker Group will be assisting with the fat tire bike riding event. Another project towards the 50. Russ is also pursuing ushering at the Playhouse as another project. Kevin is organizing Polar Plunge volunteering and Alex really wants to put a plunging team together. The festivities take place on Friday and Saturday February 16 and 17. Kevin has a sign up sheet.  

 

Sad to see that Jim Raymond, a past Skyliner, passed away last week at the age of 93. Some Skline history. For many years after Jim retired from Skyline he would return to our holiday auction with wooden gifts that he had handmade. I wasn't aware that he had started Reach-All Manufacturing in a Port Authority building on the waterfront. Later a group of investors that included another past Skyliner, Kelly Herstad, purchased the business and eventually sold it to Altec Industries that now locally employs about 300 people.   

 

January is Rotary Vocational Service Month. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the second object of Rotary which calls for Rotarians to encourage and foster: High ethical standards in business and professions, The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and The dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.