President Lori called the meeting to order. Bob Russell provided the invocation with a call to Wisdom to guide our better lives. Hal Leland led us in songs: #12 – “Roll Rotary”; #54 –“Give My Regards to Broadway”; #58 – “The Happy Wanderer”; and, “Smile.” (Before we sang, “Drill Sergeant” Lori had us all line up for a happy and successful way to shake everyone’s hand during the song. Very good and efficient!) Our man Pepe was our guest one last time before returning to Mexico.
For announcements, President Lori thanked Katie for filling in for her last week. She also gave our soon departing Pepe her personal accolades for his contributions during his time here. President Lori noted that there are eleven female members of our club and seven of them received votes as to the identity of the baby picture last week. None of the seven were correct. The baby picture shown was of Anna W.! Cute kid!
Further announcements: On 8 August the YMCA is redoing the carpets in the meeting room so our meeting that date will be in another room. Watch for instructions. Don’t forget that the meeting on August 15th will be pot-luck at the Rotary shelter at Roosevelt Park. Wally informed us that former Rotarian Dr. Harlan Jacobson died; funeral was this past Friday. Bob Russell did not have a Rotary Minute but did announce and call for volunteers to do the Rotary Rounds during the month of August. That is close! The first August meeting is this very next meeting – Aug. 1st.
Brags and fines: Bob Russell will be serving on the Executive Finance Committee of our Rotary District. Lori Larson will be serving on the District Nominating Committee. Keith Olson thanked Pepe for providing such a good and cheerful year. Dave Peters is pleased that his retirement sale is going well. Randy had a good vacation with family at the lake. Wally attended a family reunion with Marci’s family.
Our program was introduced by Bonnie Denzel. She introduced Nick Leonard, the Communications and External Relations Director for Otter Tail County. He is responsible for county-wide economic development, legislative affairs, public relations and external partnerships. His experience includes as researcher and professor at the University of Minnesota—Morris, and co-owner and Vice-President of an area resort and property management company. He has a background in Strategic Planning, Organizational Management, Recreational Development and Destination Planning. Nick said his desire to be in Otter Tail County began when he was a very young 5 year-old. His family, living in a small rural town of 1200 in north-east Iowa, decided to vacation at a lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It was such a great experience (not the drive to get here the first time) that they thereafter vacationed in Otter Tail County every year. And this is the segue to the topic of today’s program: Economic Development in Otter Tail County.
Regarding economic development. formerly everyone thought the pursuit and gaining what he referred to as “smoke stack industry” or giant corporations to locate to your area—create jobs and people will come was the mantra. Now, with good reason, economic development is more about bringing in people. Why is this important? The demographics tell the story: the population of workers in various age categories in OTC over a 20-year projection shows:
Ages 20 – 29, entry level workers, population increases 12%
Ages 30 – 44, established workers, population increases 18%
Ages 45 – 65, experiences workers, population decreases 52%
Further, the desire of the millennials has changed. It is not just about jobs, but equally the quality of life. Mr. Leonard expressed it as the Three Degrees of Freedom: (1) they want to work at something they like; (2) they want to live where they like; (3) they want to make enough to be satisfied with this. So, luring back that crucial 25 – 39 age group is the goal. How this is accomplished is through: (A) removing barriers by (1) ensuring the availability of child care; (2) ensuring good housing (currently 27% of the OTC workforce does not live in OTC); and (3) ensuring broadband is available. (This is absolutely essential!); (B) by fostering community development in the form of (1) creating diversity and engaging millennials. [Note: there are not enough Scandinavians around to fill all the jobs needed]; and (2) developing amenities. Art, culture, restaurants, pools, etc., and millennials are not afraid to pay taxes to pay for them; and (C) promoting -- both through advertising and tourism. They are synergistic, if people see about us and come to tour or vacation here, the more likely they are to want to return and to settle here. Tourism is an exponential exposure because happy tourists return and tell friends and neighbors.
Thank you, Nick, for a very good and very important program. Also shows why where we are, Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County, is a great place to live!
Respectfully submitted,
Tim Hunt
