Jamie Larson offered our invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting The Four-Way Test. As the Rotary Minute Quiz, Buzz Lundeen and Keith Olson were identified as possible subjects of last week's e-Round's quiz on what Rotarian provided the answers to various questions, and Buzz was indeed the Rotarian. We also learned that his youth pick-up football games were in the front yard of St. James Episcopal Church, that he is into birding as a hobby and that his favorite school is Macalester College. Announcements included a reminder of tomorrow (Monday) noon's virtual board meeting, the Gathering at the River Wednesday evening at Spies Park, the joint picnic with Sunrise Park at Broadway Park in honor of our Exchange Student Sara on the 30th (no meeting that day), and that there was still time to sign up for the District Conference at Cragun's outside of Brainerd on October 2-3.
For brags, Keith reminded everyone of the Men of Note concert this very evening at OLV starting at 7:00 p.m. (last week's e-Rounds incorrectly reported it was last Sunday); on a more somber note he reported that son Brandon and his wife are expecting a son and that a prenatal test has detected a slight heart defect and, also, that his brother Guy needs a little surgery. Dave Johnson reminded us that this is the weekend for the Lake Region Threshers Show in Dalton. John MacFarland reported his brother in Denver is out of a coma, has left rehab and is now convalescing at a son's home. Katie Johnson told us she may have been spotted in a news piece on WDAY the prior day talking about Lake Region recognizing suicide awareness month and having on display in the Clinic lobby, through September, an art piece reflecting responses received to a survey on the subject and its impact on people we love.
Mary Pettit introduced our program, Michael Ranscht, Executive Director of The Center for the Arts. Michael moved here in May of 2025, grew up in Milwaukee and he and his wife have two children. He described The Center for the Arts as connecting artists and the community and providing cultural and educational opportunities in the process. Part of his job is grant writing, and Michael said he is probably writing about one grant application a week. Since arriving, the Center has put together a group of 15 individuals that meets three times a year to offer advice, as well as a separate community theatre advisory group. The Center Series has been redone, offering nine performances last year and with plans for 14 in the 2026-27 year, including six performing art shows, four tribute shows and four theatrical productions. The Center has also removed the four percent credit card fee one was charged if buying tickets online. Michael solicited suggestions for next year's Veden Trust Concerts at the Kirkbride. A new initiative this month is the formation of an adult choir for those impacted by memory issues and it will meet Friday mornings at Good Sheppard Church. The Center is embarking on a strategic planning process, having just hired a consultant to assist in that effort. The Center's annual budget is currently $630,000, with 45% covered by tickets and memberships, 12% by sponsorships, 22% by grants, 10% by concessions and rentals and 11% by contributions. There are two full-time employees, including Michael, and one part-time employee. He told us that M-State, the high school and The Center for the Arts share their costume inventory, with most of it stored at the high school but the Center also having a storage unit at American National Bank.
If you want to help The Center for the Arts, you can volunteer (every Center performance needs 12 volunteers, 24 if outside), become a member, become a corporate sponsor and/or attend performances.
