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Dean Monke managed the desk and Steve Andrews was the Greeter for the day. President Lori called us to order and Master Keith Olsen fixed the microphone. Lieutenant Anthony, SA, gave the Invocation and Kathy Austvold led us in song (Roll Rotary, Down in the Valley, Smile). No guests were introduced as they were our program. Dave Johnson announced that our Student Athletes were Nick Foss and Logan Disabella of Hillcrest but they could not attend the meeting. He will deliver their Rotary Certificates of Recognition to them. Student leaders introduced were Hillcrest Student Council President Elise Wutka (active in soccer, basketball, track, and worship committee) and John Vall, Class President (2d generation Hillcrest, active in football and golf).
Announcements by President Lori: (1). The next Wine Down Wednesday is February 13 with the Wahpeton and Breckinridge and FF Morning clubs at 6:00 PM in Wahpeton. (2). The baby photo last week was Pete Wasberg. (3). On the pre-Christmas Red Kettle drive for Salvation Army the overall donations topped last year by $58.00 for a grand total of more that $103 thousand! Rotary contributed more than $11 thousand which included a $5,000 club match. Brags and Fines were led by Dave Peters who will have a grand vacation in Peru. Randy Kempfer talked about a great family time, and this author reported that his wife, Desta, is fast recovering from her weird bout of shingles.
John MacFarlane introduced the three newly elected members of the Fergus Falls City Council. They are: Karoline Gustafson (Ward 4), Krista Hagberg (W1), and Scott Kvamme (W2). Each provided their thoughts and motivations for seeking the office and areas of interest and focus:
Karoline is a native of Fergus Falls. She obtained her Degree in Health Promotion at South Dakota State University. She has worked in this field for some years and is now at Lake Region Healthcare in rehabilitation. She likes the outdoors (hunting and fishing) and time with her two children. Her motivation to run was to represent a different demographic on the council—provide a different view as a young and working mother. As such, she sees child care as very important. Also, she believes wellness and wellbeing of individuals is more than just diet and exercise and entail community and work environments in which people find satisfaction. She likes the idea of a diverse community and a council that works in coordination and collaboration rather than as like-minded people competing for the same limited resources.
Kristen is also a native of Fergus Falls. She is new to the political arena, but gained so much from her campaign experience—especially the “door knocking” where she met so many people with so many ideas. Her motives to seek the office are many the same as Karoline’s but also, she remembers the vibrant downtown that was Fergus Falls and that attracted so many people. She is interested in and her likely focus will be for more activities and generational interests. She would like to see more work in Fergus Falls rather than Fergus Falls be a bedroom community for job sites in other places. Over the years she has worked with many different demographics for non-profits and will continue to work toward meeting their needs.
Scott Kvamme was born in Minneapolis but raised through most of his youth in Dakota. Even so, he is an "almost" native in that he attended high school at Hillcrest here in Fergus Falls! He worked at various jobs as a young person and for many years for Hansen Concession Foods here. He now works for Indigo Signage and keeps his home in Fergus Falls. His motives for seeking a seat on the council are to keep Fergus Falls a vibrant community. He described his concern about how the disposition of the Regional Treatment Center has been handled; why plans always seem to crumble. He says we need to focus on bringing money to Fergus Falls and use the major asset to help the city. The loss of the Hoot Lake power plant was perhaps the final straw that convinced him to run. He agrees with revitalizing the River Front and Downtown. He recognizes the use of public investment to spur and entice private investment. The development of a Comprehensive Plan for the community is useful in providing direction to help in writing and obtaining grants and state public money.
Each of our presenters answered a question asked about the training they received subsequent to their election to prepare them for the job. The consensus of the three was that they receive quite extensive training in processes and procedures and the resources available for them to reference or access. They all commended the city staff in being most helpful and supportive in their preparation for their new responsibilities.
Good program.
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