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We started our meeting with the joyful singing of 22 members of the Fergus Falls High School Chamber Singers, who graced us with four selections. The 12 boys and 10 girls were well prepared and hit every note under the direction of Dane Froiland, who described them as the top group of talent amongst the school's choirs.  After they left us Jamie Larson offered our invocation and President Zack welcomed our sole guest, Steve Austvold, Kathy's husband. The officer/board slate put together by the Nominating Committee for the 2024-25 Rotary year was announced by immediate Past President Ken Harty. They are: President: Katie Johnson President-elect: Pete Wasberg Treasurer: Brian Tjaden Secretary: Kathy Austvold Board member: Lisa McFarland Board member: Cody Odland Past President: Zack Stack A motion was passed to close nominations; the election will take place at our January 10th meeting. Brian T. put in another plug for James Wedgwood's performance at A Center for the Arts on February 24th at 1:00 p.m., with 12 of 407 tickets having been sold so far. The tickets can be ordered at https://fergusarts.org/ and Rotarians are encouraged to promote the event to our friends and relatives. Keith Olson said a thank you to Brian T. and the other members of Team 3 who have lined up all the programs for January, starting with the aforementioned James Wedgwood at our first meeting back after Christmas on January 3rd. President Zack then presented a Christmas card and funds raised through a freewill donation to our chef, Ricki Moen.  There were many brags and fines to cap off the year. Katie J. contributed exactly $5.50 to celebrate her son graduating at Montana State -- in 5½ years of course. Mark B. commented on how much he appreciated Dane Froiland, who was his son's choir director; he also told us that four of our male singers were hockey players who he described as fine young men. Mary P. also recognized two of the female singers as dancers and gave a shot-out to the middle school choir concert she attended, telling us that 390 students are participating in the middle school's music programs. Wally C. told us he too enjoyed the middle school concert that included a granddaughter, and that the auditorium was jam-packed. Matt S. paid for missing the prior week's meeting to attend a fifth-grade concert that included one of his daughters. Zack S. also contributed for his daughter's participation in the middle school concert and said how much he appreciated the rich music programs offered by our schools; Mary P. appropriately added that much credit should go to Rotarian Dean M. for all the good hires he made to lead it. President Zack concluded the meeting by wishing us all a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year's! Ditto. |
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