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We gathered at the Otter Cove Children's Museum and after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test our invocation was offered by Hal Leland. We then launched into Brags & Fines: Keith Olson said it was his son Brandon's birthday that day and that Brian Tjaden turned 60 the previous Monday, July 12th. This prompted the resurrection of an old club tradition with Rotarians Brian, Pete Wasberg and Buzz Lundeen in attendance all identified as celebrating birthdays in July. We sang Happy Birthday and the Rotarian sitting immediately to the right or left of each of the honorees were asked to contribute a dollar or mark a spot off their Brag & Fine card. Randy Kempfer then reported the day was the 15th anniversary of Tara saying yes to his proposal (to become optometrists together?). Anthony Nordan happily noted his daughter's fourth birthday and Zach Stach said the following day would be his 15th wedding anniversary -- he was happy too. Finally, Jamie Larson reported he was celebrating his four day anniversary. Katie Ganoe, Executive Director of the Otter Cove, then talked to us about the opening of the Museum and what was going on at it. Originally scheduled to open in April, 2020, the pandemic delayed that to a limited opening last September, only getting to full capacity as of this past June 1. From September 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 (all of which save June were at limited capacity), there were 8682 first time visitors, representing 21 states, 115 zip codes in Minnesota and 178 zip codes nationally. This past June saw 1400 visitors alone, and that is not including anyone who came back after their first visit. The daily admission rate is $7.00 per person, while a family membership for four people costs $150 a year; each additional person is $10. The Museum also has raised sufficient funds to award up to 53 family memberships to those that cannot afford to pay. Right now 320 family memberships have been issued. A parent or guardian is required to accompany a child. The building capacity is 140 and they reached it one day the prior week. The ultimate goal is to occupy all three floors, with the Masons having moved out this past June; the building is owned by Richard Smedstad. We did a walking tour of the building and saw a new exhibit, consisting of four components, sponsored by Otter Tail Power incorporating state of the art technology; it is called "Discover Energy," with the intention that it will help children understand that our energy supplies are not infinite. Otter Cove is also partnering with the Science Museum of Minnesota this fall to host 15 minute modules on renewable energy. The space occupied by the Museum includes the work of 12 local artists. There are seven part-time workers and Katie. Museum hours are currently 9:00 to 1:00 Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 3:00 to 7:00 on Thursdays, 9:00 to 4:00 on Saturdays and noon to 4:009 on Sundays; it is closed on Mondays. They are hoping to expand hours. This week five different restaurants in Fergus Falls have promised to make a donation to the Otter Cove if you visit on a certain day. They are Taco John's today (15% of sales from 11:00 to 7:00); Perks Coffee on the 20th ($1 per car), The Viking on July 21 (10% of sales), Dairyland on July 22 (10% of sales), Uncle Eddie's on July 23 (10% of sales) and Union Pizza on July 24 (10% of sales). Katie herself is a Fergus Falls native, 2008 graduate of Fergus Falls High School and a NDSU graduate; she previously worked for seven years with a child care referral agency in Fargo. Katie's husband is a Cobber and, if I understood correctly, they have one child. |
