I forgot to write down who gave our invocation, but I am pretty sure it was Wally Cole, who also led us in song. We welcomed back Leona Zimmerman and we heard from Josh Heggem who graciously explained why he needed to leave the club at this time. There was a Rotary Minute based on last week's Rounds and whether the editor got it wrong or the club did, we scored 50%. Randy Kempfer arrived to tell us the two Rotary Clubs in town our sponsoring a high school speech event on January 27th (?), and we will be hearing more about that and needing some volunteers for the event later.
The brag and fine segment started out with a tribute to Josh Heggem, with Lori Larson, Keith Olson and this writer thanking him and asking for his rose list, his peach list, and acknowledging fellow Gustavus Adolphus alumnus respectively. Wally Cole rose to welcome Leona back while visiting Rotarian Guy Olson appreciated the Rotary Minute and Wally's compliment to him. Buzz Lundeen then thanked Guy for stepping in when the bidding at the annual Chamber meeting for his plane ride rose above $650, so Guy responded by offering two trips, doubling the money raised for the Chamber. Kathy Austvold then returned to the beginning, thanking Josh and welcoming Leona back, also reporting on Kathy's visit to her parents in Pennsylvania the prior week. Bonnie Denzel finalized things by throwing in Dan Johnson's scooter buck and again thanking Josh.
Our own Lois Josefson Russell then gave the program talking about the upcoming MNwest CEO Forum & Entrepreneur Summit at the Minnesota State Technical & Community College on November 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration is open at https://mnwest-entrepreneur-summit.eventbrite.com. Lois started out by talking about the untapped resources that exist in our community and the courage it takes to start a new business. She quoted Dave Cornell who has stated you can have fear without courage but you cannot have courage without fear. Lois then talked about her belief that every person God created has a "sweet spot," something he or she loves to do and does it well. She noted how important business development is to Otter Tail Power Company, which has hired an economic development person in the last 15 months to serve its huge geographic territory filled with a lot of small towns. OTP understands that "vibrancy can be cultivated."
NDSU has received a $6.5 million grant to advance entrepreneurship and that is becoming the mindset of the entire institution. The endowment fund has been named after the college's past president (and Past Rotary District Governor) Jim Oszbun. Fargo is developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem, calling it the "Emerging Prairie." But development does not have to take place only on the west side of I-29, and the western counties in Minnesota can also be a part of that emerging prairie. Lois is working at putting a less formal structure in place to match NDSU's initiative. Crucial industries are slipping through the cracks, with China the primary beneficiary, as attested to by our speaker the prior week. The metropolitan area is responding, with thirteen counties having now joined together to form "Greater MSP," with the intent to develop a public face outside of their own geographic area to compete for start-up businesses (Google "Greater MSP" for more information).
This should all matter to Rotary because we can contribute to the location and growth of early stage companies, being interested in the welfare of our communities. One of our avenues of service is vocational, and it is also one of the six primary focuses of The Rotary Foundation, economic and community development. What is happening in Bemidji was held up as an example, as in 2016 it welcomed, on average, 60 new families to its community a month, while in 2017, it is on pace for 70 new families per month. She also described Mike Yost, a large farmer in the Murdoch area, as actively engaged in lifting his rural area, suggesting we go to his website to see what one person can accomplish.
Lois said many of us would be welcome and appropriate attendees at the event on November 7th, to meet people who could fit into this community and to describe what we have to offer.
At the end of Lois' presentation, President Steve noted a book would be presented to a local library acknowledging her presentation to us. Lois thought the book, one in the Curious George series, was appropriate, it going without saying, but well known to this writer, that she has an insatiable thirst for knowledge.