Rotary Rounds May 10, 2017
Rotarians who assembled encountered Wally C at the front desk and in the absence of the assigned greeter, he filled that role as well. Keith M showed up, Pres Kati hit the bell and we sang the National Anthem and O'Canada. Keith O offered the invocation asking the Lord’s blessing on each present, their home, family and work. Hal L led us in R-O-T-A-R-Y, the USA version of This Land is Your Land and Smile. Our president lamented that her objective of a smooth “Smile Rotation” was not close to being met. Hal L offered some consolation in that injuries were down this year. There were no guests.
Pres Kati reminded us of the fireside chat this evening at the home of Bob and Lois R, the June 7th social at the Bret and Laurel N home and noted more support volunteers were needed for the Lake Alice 100 bike event. Keith O pitched the Rotary Golf Open and mentioned he and Jamie L will again lead the peach sale. The Rotary Min was based on last week’s meeting, board meeting and the Rounds. As difficult as the questions were; all were answered correctly. Capt. Linda brought us up to date on here recent travels, including time in the holy land, and informed us that she received orders earlier this month reassigning her to Branson MO. Tim H and John M thanked Capt. Linda for the excellent job she has done leading the Fergus Falls Salvation Army.
Clydene Stangvik was introduced by monthly program chair Buzz Lundeen. Clydene is based in Fergus Falls and serves 12 Midwest states as manager for the Cisco Networking Academy. She has over 35 years of experience in Education and Technology, including 15 as Manager of Administrative services for Lakes country Service Cooperative. In 1998 Clydend became one of the first Cisco Academy Marketing Managers in the US leading grassroots efforts to expand the Academy throughout the country.
Cisco Systems is a multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, CA. It develops, manufactures and sells networking equipment. It is the largest networking co in the world and was the most valuable co. in the world in 2000 with a market capitalization of over $550 billion.
Cisco Networking Academy is a Cisco Systems corporate social responsibility program. It’s mission is to provide IT skills and career building programs at no charge to individuals. This is accomplished primarily by offering a wide range of Cisco developed on line courses through existing institutions. Currently 40 Minnesota high schools and colleges, including Fergus Falls High School and M State Community and Tech College, at least one Cisco course, many for credit and/or certification.
The program began in 1997, since then Cisco Systems has provided nearly $600 million in support to the Academy. Currently programs are available in 20 languages, in 170 countries, 20,000 instructors have been trained and there have been 6.7 million students.
Clydene spoke of the sophistication of courses and design of the learning experience and benefits to students. She also mentioned the explosion in internet connection; today there are about 5 billion devices connected, by 2020 there are forecast to be 50 billion. An example; the analog doorbell button simply rang the doorbell, the online button will be able to record anything that is said nearby-like a young lady saying goodnight to her date or what a home buying couple think of the place.
If all this technical information goes by us traditionalists, baby boomers, and even generation X folks too fast, we must look to the millennials for explanation remembering it was us who once taught each of them to use a spoon.