Rotarian's faced Brian T at the front desk and Dean M provided a smile and handshake. Pres Dan gaveled us to order and Keith O thanked the Almighty for the day, the Easter Season and remembered our friend and fellow Rotarian David Lundeen who recently passed away, thankful for his service and asking comfort for the family.
Bob R, to the delight of the students present, lead us in “Grandfather's Clock” and “Puff the Magic Dragon” and after setting forth a number of choices to replace the handshake he chose to keep us in our seats and wave as we sang “Smile”. He them turned to the Rotary Minute and quizzed us about minutia from the two issues of Rounds we received during the past week.
Guests: Buzz L introduced his guest Steve Millard as the best birder in the Midwest and Jake H was with us. Brad H acquainted us with two student guests from Hillcrest: Zajen McArton, student body vice president from Minneapolis; he is a senior and plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Abby Strack is senior class treasurer and plans to attend Wheaton College next year and major in communications. Her home is in Rochester but she moved there recently from Japan. Keith O presented the Athletes of the Week, both are multi-sport Hillcrest athletes, seniors, from Fergus and plan to attend Grand Canyon University next year. Anna Rasmussen is the daughter of Eric and Rachel and plans to study behavioral health science. Molly Maguire is the daughter of Matt and Tasha and is going into communications.
Brags and Fines: Steve A was in New York for a visit. Brian W felt he had somehow jinxed the basketball girls with his activities. Bob R was celebrating the identification of a host family for the exchange student. Tim H plans to be in Scotland next week and will provide $5.00 if he gets back without being quarantined. Zack S and Brad H felt guilty about missing meetings.
Program: Buzz L introduced Wayne Perela, manager of the Dunham’s Sports #169 and bird photographer extraordinary. He is originally from Mandan, graduated from Bismark High and attended Bismarck J-C and NDSU. He has lived in Fergus Falls for the last 10 years, been birding for six and photographing for four.
Wayne began by describing himself as someone addicted to taking photos of birds. He tries to get out nearly every day, made it out 278 days in 2018 and 250 in 2019. Most of his 100,000 plus photos are from the area. Nearly every day he posts a new photo to his Facebook page. His “signature photo” of a pileated woodpecker in flight has received over 100,000 hits. The photo appears to have been taken from a point on the birds lateral axis when the wings were crossing that axis. The wings are indistinguishable and one is reminded of a red and white tipped rocket in flight. Three other photos: eagle with goose, barn swallow in flight and American bittern have each received over 20,000 hits.
He went on to show about 60 photos which are beyond the ability of your scribe to put into words. They were amazing and have captured the form, movement, grace, violence and color of the fast paced world around us that we are aware of but can only see when action is stopped by a high speed camera in the hands of a gifted photographer. You had to see it to believe and appreciate it.
Through the presentation we learned most of the photos were taken within 50 yards of the subject and that his favorite spots in Fergus are Oak Grove cemetery, Grotto lake and Hanna park.
Thanks Buzz for bringing us an excellent program.
