Dave Johnson checked us in, Dan Johnson called meeting to order and Tim Hunt filled in for invocation.
Bob Russell led us in songs. #4 Rotary My Rotary and vs. 1 & 3 of Blowin’ in the Wind. Because of a train causing some to arrive late for the meeting today, he added #49 I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad before we shook hands to #3 Smile.
Announcements:
Speech meet: Anthony said most of the morning slots are filled, but several spots are still open to work between 12 and 3. Everyone is welcome to stay for awards ceremony as well. He will email again tonight with the schedule and request for more workers.
Kathy announced that she made a certificate for David Lundeen’s honorary membership effective January 1st and Buzz will deliver it to David and his family. Tim Hunt added a comment reminiscing about David Lundeen being in charge of membership at the time Tim joined, and about how much the membership grew under his leadership.
Dave Peters passed around a Christmas Card with greetings from last year's exchange student, Lulie.
Brags & Fines:
- Greg Darling - January 16th was the anniversary of the appeal of prohibition and Steel Wheels had a speak easy event. Greg Darling and his wife won the aware of best dressed couple.
- Bob Russell - invited Greg to Brainerd for the District conference this year as there is a speak easy event there as well. He also mentioned he is for heading down to the Winter Carnival Jigsaw Puzzle Competition this weekend.
- Steve Andrews - threw in a Scooter Buck and for the Year of the Rat for Chinese New Year.
- Steve Leitte - encouraged people to respond to Anthony’s plea for help at the speech meet this weekend and for how much fun it is to help with this event.
- Randy Kempfer - chimed in to announce that this year we don’t have to pay for the speech meet trophies, but we still need workers at concessions to keep our Rotary name out there. He also contributed a fine for missing last couple of weeks.
- Denise announced she is going to be a great, great auntie again adding to her 18 nieces and nephews and 31 great nieces and nephews. Also a shout out that she's looking for a temporary and/or permanent job and that she is a kind and resourceful person who appreciate any leads!
Program
Buzz was called on to introduce Ken Harty, whom he sponsored as a member in our club. Ken used the time as a combination Classification Talk and update on the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.
Ken was:
- Born & raised in Breckinridge, MN.
- Went to NDSCS in Wahpeton and then on to Northern State in Aberdeen
- Went to work for Wahpeton Daily News right out of college
- Has been with them and in the business for 28 years doing everything fro carrying papers to selling ads, and was even a press man for number of years
- Has moved around quite a bit during his time there with stints in Louisiana and North Carolina before coming home to be publisher in Wahpeton for 10 years, then on to Williston, ND before moving here to FF
- Appreciates this job brings him closer to his parents on E Lost Lake and his children in Fargo area
Fun Facts Ken shared about The Daily Journal:
- The city of Fergus Falls was founded in 1872 and the Daily Journal founded a year later in 1873
- The Journal was founded by the Underwood Family and they ran it until 1992 when it was sold to Boone Newspapers
- In 2019 Wick Communications acquired the paper
- Wick found the Fergus Falls Journal to be a nice fit for their target markets because it fits their paramenters of:
- Population in core market of about 15,000
- County population of about 50,000
- FF Median age of 43, which fits with age of buying power population
- The newspaper is printed in Detroit Lakes by the Forum companies where they feel they get unbeatable price and quality
- Boone newspapers still owns the building the Journal is in, which is for sale. That building is 14,000 square feet and they only use 25,000 of it.
- The Journal is searching for a property that will better fit their needs which is one that provides work area for 13 people, a conference room, storage and parking, and they are open to buying or leasing.
News things the Journal team is working on:
- Citizen of the Year. Accepting nominations. Ken said they currently have 18 excellent nominations and nominations are open through January 31. Nomination form is available on the website or just call/email Ken. The winner will be featured in the Progress which will come out at the end of January.
- A new App just launched last week. Ken provided a handout about it an encouraged people to download it & check it out.
- The Journal website was re-designed in November and it is dynamic and growing with 530,000 page views in December.
He closed with Q&A from members and a shout out about their Ground Hog Day Promotion. If you buy a new subscription before January 24th and it snows 4 inches or more on Ground Hog day, your subscription is free!
Thanks, Ken for a very informational presentation and thanks for joining our club!