November 26 2019

 President Hu Beaver called the meeting to order at 12:15pm. The meeting was held at the Kwataqnuk Resort. Gayle Siemers led us in song. Dave Abell gave the invocation.
Announcements are as follows: 
 Town Pump food challenge ended. Polson Rotary and its members contributed almost $ 2,200.
Bret Richardson won the Cat/Griz contest. He also announced the Guatemala Grants was awarded at approximately $88,000. 
 “Happy bucket”: Hu, Matt, Bret, Marshall, Jens and Martin Olsson.
 Dick Christopher won the drawing and gave the money to the food bank
The Polson Rotary Christmas party is Tuesday, December 3, 2019 starting at the Perfect Shot Tavern and moving to Blodgett Creamery.
Mrs. Laud’s 3rd grade class made a surprise visit and shared their experience at the pool and distributed hand-written thank you letters. Mission 
Valley Aquatics Director Kris Sampson spoke about the benefits of swim lessons and swim passes provided by Rotary.
.Martin Olsson introduced guest speaker, Sam Belandger, Chief Operations Officer of Green Ridge BioSolutions.
Some facts from the presentation:
1. Green Ridge BioSolutions US Inc. is relocated its headquarters to Ronan to facilitate the expansion of its hemp 
processing and manufacturing in October 2019. They are occupying the old Ronan Sports and Western location.
2. Green Ridge is one of the only hemp CBD product manufactures capable of producing high-quality hemp extract from 
its on farm in volumes that an meet significantly increasing market demand. 
3. They have approximately 30 employees.
4. The 2018 farm bill took hemp off the federal government’s list of controlled substances, removing barriers to 
production. Producers and processors are required to be licensed by the State of Montana.
5. Montana is the largest producer of hemp with a reported 542 acres planted in 2017 and 22,000 acres planted in 2018 
and 45,000 to 50,000 acres planted this year. 
6. Sam stated the company is seeking the flower of the hemp plant for their specific CBD products. 
7. Sam stated yield per acre is $1,500 to $2,000 gross. 
8. The CBD molecule is known to get into the muscle receptor and reduced inflammation.
9. Sam stated in his opinion the best guide for dosing is from a Vanderbilt study if the consumer is seeking more 
information.
10. Sam recommended reading the packaging / labeling on the products purchased. Look for 3rd party testing to 
accurately verify the amounts of CBD in that specific product.
11. Green Ridge will work primarily was an extraction lab and packaging warehouse for wholesale distribution. Retail 
purchases for the public will be limited to a few specific times of year.
The next Polson Rotary meeting will be Tuesday, December 3rd. The Polson Rotary Christmas dinner.
December Assignments:
Invocation: Dick Christopher
Justice: Jens Gran
Song Leader: Jake Baumann
Sergeant at Arms: Bret Richardson
December Programs:
December 3-Christmas dinner
December 10-Toni Young
December 17- Birthday talks
December 24 and 31-no meetings
December birthdays: Dick Beighle, Roger Grimes, Greg Hertz, Jim Oates, Jeff Tuttle