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Wally Cole gave our invocation. Dean Monke introduced Jaden Kwapinski, an eighth grader who was chosen by middle school staff as the student who exemplifies the Four Way Test. Jaden's parents are Dan and Abby, with his father a pharmacist at Thrifty White Drug and his mother a school based mental health advisor.  Zack S indicated that Matt S, Dean M and Zack delivered the United Way bags last week and that we have finished our commitment there for this school year. He also reminded us that on Saturday morning, May 20th at 9:00 a.m., Rotarians will gather in front of the Walmart strip mall to venture forth and clean our assigned portion of the ditches along Highway 210. President Ken reminded us to get our Rotary recruitment posters up and about town. He also reminded those with brag and fine cards that they sunset on June 30, 2023, so if you have a lot of blank boxes you better come up with a lot to brag about in the next eight meetings. Anthony N. told us he had just received word that Salvation Army was sending he and his family to Duluth and his last meeting with us will be on June 28th. He described their time in Fergus Falls as a wonderful six years; we know we will miss him. His replacements are coming from Indiana and are Josh and Darby Browyer. There was a Rotary Minute Plus quiz based on pictures in the Rotary magazine for May of 2023, and all two questions were answered correctly! Those who did a little bragging were Steve Andrews, for driving his Bentley to the day's meeting; Mark Bring for having to leave the meeting early and to thank the day's speaker; Ken Harty for the fantastic weather and to let us know he will be gone the coming two weeks and that Zach will be filling in for him; and John MacFarlane for Otter Tail Power stock having gone up by $4.50 the day before. Our speaker was Paul Hicks, proprietor (along with his wife) of Dandelion & Burdock and, since last fall, also working at the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has changed its membership structure, getting away from basing the dues on how many employees a business has or by type of business. The Chamber has also eliminated their ambassador visits. It now holds a monthly membership academy, gearing the education offered to the businesses that have already succeeded, leaving start-up training to Greater Fergus Falls. Recent or upcoming programs include Amy Johnson from Cardinal Consulting who helps get high school students into businesses as interns and Coreen (?) from Behavioral Solutions who will be speaking about mental health and hiring people that may fit on the autism spectrum. First Dollars are still presented by the Chamber, having recently been given to three new businesses in town. Chamber Cafe is now done virtually where you hear from about a dozen speakers who report on what is going on in their organization; attendance if free for members and $10.00 for non-Chamber members. A groundbreaking for a fiber optics project that Park Region is undertaking was also referenced. The Chamber will be at the craft beer fest and will continue to do the annual bowling and golfing event. The golfing event will change a little, however, with a lunch provided but at a small price increase for the golfers. Shop, Move & Groove will be held in Spies Park on July 13th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Lincoln Avenue will be closed then for resurfacing, so parking will be an issue. Paul also referenced a program started by the Downtown River Council, called "Destination Passport." He believe the discount card costs $50.00 and gives the bearer selective discounts at pretty much every business in Fergus Falls. As to Dandelion & Burdock, he said the business has evolved with Fergus Falls, that they now carry suits and shirts and that they also try to bring in environmentally friendly clothing. In that regard, the store carries shirts made of plastic bottles that are somewhat stain resistant; some wise-cracker asked if the bottles were emptied before they were made part of the shirt. Paul summed up the business by saying every year they do better and better. |
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