After our invocation, President Lori introduced as our guests Tammy Richards and Michelle Klinnert, whose families have hosted Lulie during this school year. Our outbound exchange student for 1920-21, Erika Lahti, was present, as were two of Lulie's friends, Elissa Lee and Amelia Holmquist. This writer then led those assembled in song, including Lulie's favorite, R-O-T-A-R-Y, a song appropriate for a lawyer (Blowin' In The Wind) and our normal get-up-and-shake-some-hands, Smile. We found out that many guessed last week's baby picture correctly -- our President Lori herself, but that the winner of a prize for being among the correct guessers had not been drawn yet.
We were reminded of the Board meeting preceding next week's meeting at 11:00 a.m., the Rotary Open coming up on June 13, the distribution of Josh the Otter books to public kindergarten classes after the meeting, led by Ben Durbin, and the Duck Derby on July 11th. This writer did a Rotary Minute with Lulie answering all questions correctly or diplomatically, graciously declining the opportunity to out perform our Club's rendition of the Brazilian national anthem at one of her first meetings by singing it on her own. We moved onto Tim Hunt imposing a fine on himself for forgetting his badge at home, Greg Darling contributing for missing last week's meeting when he was to introduce the speaker, and Mary Pettit appreciating her and Bill's 36th wedding anniversary with a hefty donation.
President Lori than called upon Lulie Pessôa to tell us about her year as an exchange student, which began on August 22, 2018, when she flew out of the Salvador, Brazil, airport, arriving in Fargo on the 22nd. On the same plane was Lulie's high school principal, who commented that Lulie was ready for her year as an exchange student, helping to assuage her concerns about the unknown. Lulie expressed appreciation for her host families, first the Klinnerts and then the Richards, and then talked about going from not knowing anyone the first day of school to meeting what became her best friends during the second week of school. She talked about her involvement in volleyball and track (she doesn't like to run but liked track for the relationships it afforded), choir, Young Life and with other Rotary Exchange students from throughout the District at the three times throughout the year they got together -- at a Concordia language camp north of Bemidji in September, at Grand Rapids in November and at the District Conference in Minot in late April; they will remain in life-long contact. She was surprised to be nominated and selected as Snow Ball royalty, enjoyed snowmobiling with Steve Leitte, going camping with the Klinnerts, and going to Duluth with the Richards and seeing the Rotary emblem at the port city's Enger Park. Lulie recalled the Brazilian meal she fixed for us with the assistance of Deanne and Bill, helping with one of our highway clean-ups and going to Pizza Ranch afterwards, the trip to see a Twins game, and carving pumpkins with the Klinnerts for the first time ever. Lulie loved bingo at Applebees, taking in a corn maze, participating in Prom (she took over 500 pictures), and a week long trip to Washington D.C. to see her aunt. She also enjoyed handing out dictionaries to third graders. For many of these activities, Lulie put together a wonderful picture show for us to go along with her comments.
Finally, Lulie thanked everyone at our Club for making her year very special, expressed her strong belief in the Rotary Student Exchange program and recalled the words of another exchange student who said if everyone could be an exchange student there would be no more wars in this world. President Lori presented Lulie with two cards on which many members expressed their personal appreciation for her year with us; members also gave a generous $201 as a parting gift to Lulie. Thank you Lulie, for a great program and great year!