Next Meeting December 11, 2024 - President Elect Cunningham called the next weekly meeting in person and Zoom at The Marsh, 15000 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN.
New Pictures - Send to michaelcglover@comcast.net. Ed.
************* See Social and Service Activities Below **************
From the Members and Archives
IMPORTANT UPDATE to Upcoming Events Below
Important - Check with meeting leaders to confirm date, time and location information for all events below.
Please send your Happy Buck and Polio Pitcher donations to Mac H. as follows:
Mac Hardin
Minnetonka Rotary Club
12926 Rutledge Circle
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Rotary International Foundation
Please send your end of year donations to Chris Rosenlund as follows:
Chris Rosenlund
8672 Meadowvale Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Meeting Minutes - Bob H.
Pres Elect Don filled in for Alissa today.
Guests
Terry Johnson, absent from Rotary for 5 years, is back today. We are #1 on her list of clubs to rejoin her Rotary career.
Nancy Gendler, our newest club member, formal induction to come.
Chris Bentley, our speaker today with Wings for Widows.
Invocation
Invocation, with Bonnie; In this busy time of year, let’s change our opinion on those around us.
Maybe the jerk who cut you off has to get home to take care of his family.
Maybe the 19 year-old with ear piercings and tattoos is a struggling college student
Maybe the older couple blocking the grocery aisle is having their last Christmas together
Every day, open our hearts to humanity, give them the benefit of the doubt.
Exhibit patience and love to not only family and friends, but to all with their own needs.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone. “The Magic of Rotary”
Announcements
Bob H. Lunds-Byerlys Carts day, Monday, Dec 23, 12-6:00. After passing the sign-up sheet, we got a FULL HOUSE of volunteers, and 2 or 3 in the wings.
What a Club! Thank you.
Resource West is asking for $25 Target gift cards for kids, toys, and happiness. Bring them to a meeting, drop them off at 13231 Minnetonka Blvs (at Baker Road), or go to resourcewest.org to make a direct donation. Target has 10% off on gift cards Dec 7 and 8.
Chris R. - with his Velvet Hammer talk, about The RI Foundation. Look for an email this morning with info and how you want to contribute this Rotary year.
Our club goal is $30,000; up from last year’s $25,000, but consistent with our pre-Covid goals.
Of all funds contributed, 50% will return to our District for matching grants.
There are several categories of giving through RI; We remain one of the top 4-5 clubs every year.
Last year, $550/member compared to district club average of $246/member.
Paul Harris awards were handed out to 4 members today; Lenny, Patty (not here), Sarah and Mark Marlin
Don C. - our Charter Night celebration is tomorrow, Dec 5 at 5:00 at Thirty Bales in Hopkins. Food covered by the club, drinks are on your own.
There are 2 Letters of Love sessions coming up; (recall the speaker who makes cards for sick children). Thurs Dec 12 at the Ridgedale Community Library; 5:30 to 7:30 and Fri Dec 13 at the ICA office (after our Board Meeting day) 8:30-10:30
We’re having an Art and Dinner night out, to see Bonnie’s daughter’s art. Wed Dec 18 4:00 gallery visit at Weinstein Hammond Gallery, 908 W 46th Street in Mpls. Afterwards, dinner at Brasa, across the street.
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Ticket held by Mike G., but Joker remains hidden. Not many cards next week! Good odds, big pot!
Foundation Award Checks or Thank yous
None this week.
Happy Bucks
Happy Bucks; run by Annika S.
Bill S. - for a Happy TG with family in town
Ron U. - VERY happy for Mary’s recovery from a serious case of pneumonia and hospital stay. Ron says the card(s) that we all sign as a club are extremely helpful. He and Mary are very appreciative.
Mark Magney - for a Phoenix family wedding and TG, and the ‘Axe is Back’ after a U of M win at Wisconsin.
Lenny N. - for a week in NC with family for TG, AND that he and Terry are about to be Grandpa and Grandma.
Frank B. - for attending a Dean Phillips Town Hall meeting. Several hundred were there, and Frank is grateful for those who serve in public office.
Don C. - $20 for a TG visit with his mother, and of course a Michigan win over Ohio St.
Program
Speaker today; Chris Bentley with Wings for Widows (W4W). Chris is an Annapolis Navy grad, a veteran and received an MBA from the U of M Carlson School
He retired from his financial services career, and formed W4W where he now works full time.
Wings for Widows’ motto is ‘When Life Changes, We Change Lives”. The statistics of loss of a spouse (4:1 ratio is widows) are rather alarming; 3000 women become widows every day, average age at death is 59. 50% are living at near poverty level, often no planning, huge income and grief trauma issues.
Social security funds drop by 40%, insurance and taxes tend to go UP
Few are prepared for the loss of a spouse. 85% of widows have not been a part of any financial discussion or decisions.
Widows suffer from Widow Brain or Widow Fog; they just cannot think well in the trauma. Everything is upside-down.
W4W calls itself the Emergency Room for new widows, that is, the first to treat financial trauma. Their goal is to get them back to financial health as quickly as possible. W4W provides trained counselors, all are certified financial planners, and have additional personal training. W4W , and every counselor, provides pro bono help. There are 100 advisors in 32 states; retired CFPs find it a great place to apply their talent and training.
Widows are primarily dealing with fear, loss of identity. No matter the range of financial need, they are all ‘messed up’. W4W helps prioritize their needs, learn, avoid legal problems, reduce mistakes, set a financial floor, reduce anxiety.
W4W has WidowWise University to provide a deeper understanding of longer-term goals.
What can be done before the sudden death and loss? Talk to your spouse, do some planning, be prepared, get organized, medical bills are a big problem, that don’t go away at death. Term Life Insurance is one huge first step.
Family and friends can be ambassadors; go to sessions with the widow, be at their side in both $ and emotional times
Thank you, Chris, for telling of this large, and often sudden, problem and the terrific help you and W4W provide. We’re all more aware of you now, and we know of this first step in getting back.
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