February 5, 2020: Kathy Austvold offered the invocation and Katie Johnson led us in songs. We had multiple Student Athletes in attendance, with Hal Leland introducing Alan Alamodi from M State and Bonnie Denzel doing similar honors for Carlie Meis and Sabrina Fronning from the High School. Alan was born in Iraq but his family moved to Moorhead when he was one year old; he is a sophomore now and a point guard on the M State basketball team, working toward a business degree. Carlie is the daughter of Dale and Sharon while Sabrina is the daughter of Scott and Melissa, both guards on the girls basketball team. They are determined to return to the state basketball tournament.
Keith Olson led off the brags and fines, noting he would miss a couple meetings as he was heading off to the sunny south. Anthony Nordan paid a scooter buck so he could relieve his wife from taking care of a sick child. Both Steve Leitte and Dave Johnson congratulated the girls' High School basketball team, Steve describing them as a "scoring machine." Bonnie Denzel was suffering jet lag upon her return from a wonderful trip to New Zealand with six couples but wanted to thank Ramona Jacobs and Mary Pettit for their work at the Fergus Falls School of Dance, noting that they instilled in her daughter not only dancing skills but also integrity, respect and organizational skills. Kathy Austvold reported that she was leaving for her annual visit to India. Katie Johnson stated she survived the polar plunge, overcoming her fear of water, and thanking the Sheriff Department for their hard work, noting the effort has raised over $67,000 for the Special Olympics of Minnesota. Mary Pettit finished off the bragging by recognizing the three young women who subsequently danced for us.
Mary then introduced Ramona Jacobs, describing her as a "dear mentor, colleague and friend." The Fergus Falls School of Dance started in 1982, with Ramona taking the lead position in 1985, having been inducted a few years ago into its Hall of Fame. Mary joined the School in 1994. Currently it has 10 teachers working out of three spaces -- the basement of the old library, above the Senior Center, and above the Viking. There are 57 classes on this year's schedule, with a total of 67 hours of weekly instruction. That includes adult classes teaching jazz, tap, modern, hip hop and yoga. There are 250 students enrolled, from age 4 to 64, including 11 boys. The School is a for-profit business. Students audition for the various performances in September and then work on their routines in addition to the classes they take, sometimes putting in 10 to 15 hours over a weekend. This past year they performed for over 1400 individuals and Dance for Dessert celebrated its 25th anniversary. The effort is to teach dance as an art form, creating good stewards of it going out in the world. The three students who performed exquisite dance routines for us were Mara Pausch (daughter of Corey and Stephanie), Lindsey Petterson (Jon and Michelle) and Brita Sonmor (Bill and Becky).
August 12, 2020: Last week Tim Hunt gave our invocation while Hal Leland led us in song. We had as our guest our speaker's son, Oscar Nelson, in first grade. President Dan spoke about getting started on our cash raffle and then called for brags and fines, leading off himself noting that he missed two weeks prior (thanking Kathy for filling in) and that he had turned 40 the Sunday prior to our meeting. Hal Leland rose to impose a fine on himself for goofing up his calendar for Athlete of the Week, bringing his student the week before. Brian paid for missing the prior week, down with a virus. Tim Hunt appreciated Wally Cole who came to his aid when his coat zipper got stuck. Mary Pettit paid for having arranged all the programs for the month but having to leave before the day's meeting was over to help with grandchildren. Laurel Nelson paid for "missing so much" and to tell us that on April 22nd we will be addressed by President Teddy Roosevelt, most recently seen in Medora. This writer rose to acknowledge his wife, admitting he may not be the most romantic person when Valentine's Day rolls around.
Mary then introduced Amy Baldwin, the Community Development Director for Otter Tail County. Prior to coming to Fergus Falls, Amy worked in Brooklyn Park. The County started the Community Development Agency in 2018 and it has a nine member board. Its goals are to 1) expand housing opportunities; 2) promote business development; and 3) encourage the development of public-private partnerships. The Agency's intention is to be additive and supportive to all of Otter Tail County. Amy noted a projected 5% reduction in our labor force between 2020 and 2030, with millennials now making up the largest part of it. Nonetheless, the Agency has embarked upon the Big Build initiative, with the goal of adding 5000 new housing units in the County by 2025. As an incentive, the County has adopted a tax rebate program where it will refund the County's portion of real estate taxes totaling up to $5,000 over a five year period for new single or double family housing units. Otter Tail County communities have been encouraged to do likewise with their portion of the real estate taxes, with Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids and other communities already having agreed to do so. School districts have not been asked to participate. There were many questions and comments after her presentation, with Amy agreeing that attention also needs to be given to existing structures needing rehabilitation but noting the County started with the approach that doesn't result in any expenditure of funds -- it is simply giving up taxes it would not collect if there were no homes going up. There was a question about encouraging all these new structures when many are never inspected to insure they comply with the Building Code, and John MacFarlane noted that a recent article in the Economist made the argument that home ownership is not the best option anymore. A complex subject.