Please let Kathy Austvold know if you will be attending next Wednesday's meeting and if you will have any guests from the Ministry Association with you. It's not too late to reach out to clergy and invite them, but do so today and let Kathy know your numbers as soon as possible. Deanna from Double A Catering will be providing the food, so we need an accurate count.
Peter joined our club in 2004, sponsored by John MacFarlane, having first been a member of the Crookston Rotary Club. He died on November 16, 2025 at the age of 57. His service to his company, our community and through Rotary was exemplary. Visitation will be at The Naz on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, the 24th. the Memorial Service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m. Traditionally, Rotarians with their spouses have attempted to sit together at funeral services but it is not known if the family or funeral home will provide for that.
President Ryan is still looking for responses to the survey he sent out. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete and submit.
On the 12th, two students from M State and return visitors from its men's basketball team were our guests: Braylon Baldwin from Grafton, a point guard, and Carter Clark from Mahnomen, a power forward. Braylon is an agribusiness major and we learned that Carter will be going to Moorhead State next year.
On the 19th, we had three students from the High School were our guests, Hunter Powers, Hannah Johnson and the third whose name I did not hear. Hunter plans to attend the University of Minnesota at Duluth next year majoring in finance and playing baseball. Hannah plays hockey and volleyball and plans to pursue an elementary education decree. I apologize for not getting any information on our third student or being able to clearly hear their parents' names.
On the 12th, Steve Austvold said he and Kathy just returned from 18 days in Vietnam, Bali and Indonesia, while Steve Andrews reported he was back from New York City but enjoyed himself so much (at new restaurants they found) that he is going back in mid-December. Speaking of Steves, Steve Leitte talked about his nine-person deer hunting party and successfully taking three bucks. Hal Leland did not report on a successful deer hunt but told us the prior evening he saw a five-point buck trying to eat out of their birdfeeder. Ken Harty was not only spotted but volunteered a fine for missing our meetings. Wally Cole told us he was wearing a World War II bombardier jacket his uncle David had before his death in a mid-air collision over the bay by Corpus Cristi; in his uncle's honor, seven family members born after him were named David, and the first of them, Wally's brother, passed away after the seventh game of this year's World Series. Tim Hunt reminded us that November 11th was Veterans Day and encouraged us to reflect on our history and remember the president's oath of office is clear as a bell and there are people who want to change that. Brian Tjaden told us he was having ankle replacement surgery on the 17th and would be laid up for a while. Deb Maertens reported she became aware of a Purple Heart Chapter between Dalton and Ashby full of World War memorabilia.
On the 19th, Lisa McFarland imposed a fine on herself for missing the prior week while Deb Maertens introduced Laly and said that she is on the high school's Nordic skiing team. Deb also bragged about having a brand-new grandchild - the 12th and last (she said it), with eight boys and four girls.
On the 12th, a summary of our just completed rose sale was provided, with Buzz Lundeen selling the most roses for the third year in a row. He was presented with a much treasured and sought after certificate for his accomplishments.
Also on the 12th, there was a flyer on our tables from Trilogy Real Estate promoting Neighbors helping Neighbors, encouraging us to bring coats, cash and canned goods to Trilogy on Saturday, November 22nd from 10:00 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, November 25 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., or contact any Trilogy realtor to make a donation. Hal Leland also told us about an effort he and Ken Peters have undertaken to nominate former Rotarian and head of our community college, Wes Waage, for recognition by the University of North Dakota.
Our program two weeks ago, brought to us by Buzz, was Chris Schuelke from the Otter Tail County Historical Society talking about the history of alcohol in Otter Tail County and parallels to what is now happening over cannabis. Voters approved liquor sales in Fergus Falls in the fall of 1959 but over the counter sales were not permitted until the opening of the Holiday Inn. Our program this past week was Deb Maertens and Cody Odland sharing with us the successful build of a school we sponsored in Bolivia and their trip down there to participate in its inauguration last September. They also attending a grand opening of a medical clinic sponsored by the Duluth Harbortown Rotary Club and took in the country and its attractions. Through Mano-a-Mano, the non-governmental agency involved, a total of 15 clinics have been built over the last seventeen years, servicing 63,000 patients a year, as well as two schools, roads and various water projects.
On the 19th, we had three students from the High School were our guests, Hunter Powers, Hannah Johnson and the third whose name I did not hear. Hunter plans to attend the University of Minnesota at Duluth next year majoring in finance and playing baseball. Hannah plays hockey and volleyball and plans to pursue an elementary education decree. I apologize for not getting any information on our third student or being able to clearly hear their parents' names.
