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Steve Leitte led us in the Pledge of Allegiance while John MacFarlane provided the invocation, much to his surprise but no less quality than usual. We welcomed as our guest Lisa McFarland. Caleb Larson from LB Homes also joined us to talk about Giving Hearts Day, scheduled for this Thursday, February 10th. Local organizations participating this year are Lake Region Hospital Foundation, Inspiration Point Christian Camp and Retreat Center, A Wife Like Me, LB Homes, Freedom Resource Center for Independent Living Inc., the Health Resource Center and Lutheran Brethren Seminary. All donations on Giving Hearts Day will go to the charity of the donor's choice. To find out more about the local charities you can go to the Fergus Falls Giving Hearts Day Facebook page or, to give, go to givingheartsday.org. Since 2008, donors have contributed more than $112 million in funds to charities and nonprofits in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota on Giving Hearts Day. When you give, you are encouraged to write "Giving Hearts Day" in the memo line of your check. It was announced that through the concession stand our Club staffed at the past Saturday's speech tournament, over $1,000 was raised for the speech team. A thank you to volunteers Dave Johnson, Katie Johnson, Randy Kempfer, Steve Leitte, Zach Stach, Jacklin Steege and Pete Wasberg. Those that had been contacted by Anthony Nordan about filling a position as an officer or board member for the 2022-23 Rotary year or anyone else interested were encouraged to contact Anthony. When it was time for Brags & Fines, Steve Leitte was generous in contributing for our good work at the aforementioned concession stand, this writer fined himself for misspelling MacFarlane in the last Rounds, Mary Pettit paid for missing the prior week and having to leave before being able to hear all of the day's programm and Keith Olson was prompted to show us his backyard in Arizona, consisting of a swimming pool, hot tub and a view of palm trees. Fellow Rotarian Wally Cole was then introduced to give us an abbreviated history of Fergus Falls Noon Rotary. Wally first joined in 1972 and has a record of perfect attendance that goes back many years. Wally referenced only Buzz Lundeen and Hal Leland having been in the Club longer than himself. In preparing for his presentation, Wally came up with 20 pages of notes, so he acknowledged he could not cover everything in the time available. As one of the custodians of our club's records, he is very desirous of figuring out how to secure and store all the things he and others have accumulated before they are forgotten, lost or destroyed. Wally talked about Millie Bruvold who published our Rounds from 1948 until 2005 and joined as an Honorary Member in 2006, being named a Paul Harris Fellow in 2000 for service to our Club. Wally regrets he did not propose her for membership in 1987 when women first were allowed to join Rotary (unfortunately it took a U.S. Supreme Court decision to accomplish that). He also talked about how much his wife enjoyed the activities of spouses married to Rotarians in years gone by and missed that now. For our 75th Anniversary we published a 14-page tabloid and our Club consisted of 60 members. Our Charter date was April 1, 1921, and when formed we were part of Rotary District 117. Our Charter Presentation Night was May 7, 1921. Wally told how the 1919 tornado delayed the formation of both our and the Noon Kiwanis Club, with the latter formed about a year after Fergus Noon Rotary. The highest number of members we had at any time was 97. Wally shared with us some stories from past newsletters, including a 1935 bulletin where 13 of 35 members were acknowledged for perfect attendance; a bulletin produced on April 6, 1941, commemorating our 20th anniversary; and a bulletin in the early 40's referencing a 1941-42 budget of $1,087.00. (This year's budget is approximately $66,000 for comparison.) Wally has several proposals on what we should be doing to organize and update our club history and will be bringing his ideas to the Board at its March 2nd meeting for consideration. Thank you for tending to and reminding us of our Club's history Wally. |
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