October 29, 2019
President Hu Beaver called the meeting to order at 12:15pm. The meeting was held at the Kwataqnuk Resort. Steve Bauer led us in song. Rob Turner gave the invocation.
Announcements are as follows:
Polson Rotarians are encouraged to make a donation to the local food bank. Town Pump will match the club and member donations.. The Club has collected $350 toward the Club match of $ 500. An ANONYMOUS member has pledged up to another $ 500 on top of the Club match.
“Happy bucket”: Hu, Dave Fansher, Dick Kriedel, Dave Abell and Ron Bone.
Matt O’Neill won the drawing and gave the money to the food bank.
Dave Fansher reported on the literacy program. Dictionaries has been distributed to elementary schools in Ronan, St. Ignatius, Valley View, Dixon and to the Mission Valley Christian Academy. They will be delivered Monday to Dayton and will be taken to Charlo Pablo and Linderman elementary school in Polson.
Toni Young introduced guest speaker, Polson School Superintendent Rex Weltz. He spoke on the upcoming school bond levy. The Polson Community vote is December 3, 2019. Mail-in ballots are due then. They will be mailed out on November 13, 2019. Rex said the combined bond levy is for $61, 124,000 for the high school and elementary district combined. That averages to about $37 a month for a $300,000 home. Rex said the levy request addresses children’s safety and providing secure buildings. The money would also be used to better the health, safety and security of children and teachers. Rex mentioned the remodeling would allow kindergarten through 2nd graders to be in Cherry Valley and 3rd through 5th to be in Linderman school. Rex stressed this is what would help students succeed in school.
He said the high school levy, if passed, would remove the temporary buildings currently at the high school and allow all students to be inside a safe, secure building. Rex said a portion of the levy would be used to build a 4500 seat community event center at the high school that would be used for such things as trade and boat shows, concerts and an indoor walking facility for community members use. He mentioned this portion of the plan would be between $10 and $11 million or about $2.97 a month on a $100,000 home.
Rex said the bonds would mature in 25 years. Rex said he is no longer willing to settle for the way things have been. He said the children deserve better. He said he is tired of kicking the can down the road and he also knows it is a big ask of the community. He said call him if you would like a tour of any facility and if you’d care to find out more, there will a community education opportunity on November 12th at Sweet Bliss.
The next Polson Rotary meeting will be Tuesday, November 5 at 12:15pm at the Kwataqnuk Resort.
Jim Ofstad has the program.
November Assignments:
Invocation: Steve Bauer
Justice: Bret Richardson
Song Leader: Doug Wold
Sergeant at Arms: Marilyn Roberts
November Programs:
November 12: Dennis Duty
November 19: Birthday talks
November 26: Martin Olsson
November birthdays: Dick Christopher, Bill Gregg, Gayle Siemers
