The Spoke

Meeting Minutes

Meeting called to order by ‘Official’ Pres Ron, after PE Ryan’s admirable fill-in last week.

Guests

Becca Welna from Sojourner and Angelica from Move Forward both here today to receive checks from our Club Foundation. Also, Laura Hetzel, continuing to look our club over. 

Invocation

Invocation; Shauna. She gave her personal witness on the (anti) ICE activities recently. She sees a level we don’t, with detention, over-reach, children and families being affected. No matter your individual position, the ICE behavior is not justified. We need to make a change, listen to each other, and above all, make sure our neighbors are cared for and safe.

Pledge

Everyone.

4-Way Test

Everyone.

International Theme

Unite for Good. 

Paul Harris Awards

Chris R. - another Paul Harris award, today for Amy S. PH +1. Congrats and thanks, Amy

Announcements

Bob and Mark Marlin united to talk about our club response, and opportunities, to the needs of our neighbors caught up in ICE events. 

Having just mentioned it last week, Bob is very thankful for ICA’s help, and our club response. Money and food items are already rolling in, from different sources. 

Mark said that the purchase power of ICA is 20% of retail, so cash is well-used. The ICA website posts the daily food needs, and you can also order food through Amazon and will be delivered right to ICA. St. Gabriel Church in Hopkins has hundreds of families, most staying home. The church volunteers are already making deliveries to 50-60 families 2x/per week. If you give, you can dedicate your gifts to St Gabriel Church, where wheels are in motion. Finally, bring bags of food to our meetings, and we’ll get them to ICA. Well Done, Everyone!

Alexa R. - Club social tomorrow, Jan 29, at Jewelry Works for champagne and fun; 6:00-8:00.

Mike G. - our relationship with the U of M offers us tickets to some games; 4 tkts for hockey on Friday are taken but keep watching for more. 

Ron U.  we have a new Secretary-Elect; James Walton the winner, on a unanimous vote! Thank you, James.  

New Member Induction      

Rotary Minute

None this week.

Raffle

Mark Magney, for his 2nd win in a couple weeks, which is also his 2nd win in 30 years!

Foundation Award Checks or Thank You's

Glenn J.  introduced 2 recipients today. Becca from Sojourner; they have been active in the Hopkins/Mtka area for 47 years. She is grateful for the Club relationship over many years. Sojourner supports victims of abuse, with housing, and safety. 

Angelica from Move Forward, supports people, mostly kids, who are homeless, to different degrees. She is also grateful for ICA’s help with food help. Unstable housing leads to instability, exploitation, mental and physical health; she has outreach workers who find where the problems are. The need is always present. 

Happy Bucks

Frank B. - for Babka pastries here today, and that we are all immigrants in some place and time. He mentioned his Czech (Yeah!) heritage, starting out in a sod hut. 

Amy S. - for help with coffee pick up, and that she appreciates all the Rotarians who patronize KiddyWampus. Her employees always enjoy us for our positivity. The ripples spread out. Also, for the help Pete gave her with her store and heating issues. “As if he’s not busy enough!”

Pete G. - His only Wild Game this year had the home team down 0-3, until they came back for a 4-3 win.

Bonnie W. - very grateful for the Minnesota response to the ICE issues. Her daughter was a neighbor of Alex Pretti. Bonnie read of the essential need to look for and care for our neighbors when needs arise. Stand up when the time comes. Be greater than yourself. 

Mark Marlin - leaving for a week in Florida. He and Shannon haven’t taken a road trip in 47 years. 

Mac H. - happy that Becca’s father was a hardware store owner, who was instrumental in Mac’s career. 

Jennifer S. - happy to be a mentor for Cathy, and going to California next week

Mark Magney - $40 happy today, for winning a couple of raffles, for quick food donations to ICA, for a Paid in Full status of his business sale, and working on his 70 days of skiing in his 70th year.

Phil H. - recalling that he’s been holding signs and doing these peaceful protests for most of his life. He’s thankful for the community who is getting involved. 

Alexa R. - for Nate’s birthday and him taking care of the Pinewood Derby (Scouting)

Nancy D. - it’s very clear that what we do makes a difference. Happy for Rotary connections.

Shauna K. - (can’t quite recall, more on people stepping up?)

Ron U.  yesterday was a Holocaust memorial. He recalls the quote, “when they came for me, there was no left to speak”. 

Program  

Speaker today; our member Rebecca, on How to Run a Successful Campaign, for Mayor. She started with a fun video of outtakes with her video person. She was sworn in 3 weeks ago. Besides her full-time job, she is busy getting started with running Mtka. 

Rebecca commented that we really needed a some of the thoughts today. Our communities are hurting, police are overwhelmed. She is part of a Coalition of Mayors, working on the Federal, State, and Local interactions. Both sides of the aisle need to come together. She especially feels that local government is closest to the community needs. 

Rebecca started with Mtka on a planning commission in 2016. She’s been on the council in 2019, 2023, and now Mayor. Mtka voting percentage is very strong; 39,000 of 56,000 eligible voters vote. She concentrated on this group, with her team of manager, social media, inter, and volunteers. 
Voters like to see who they are voting for, so door-knocking is effective, but time-consuming. The best strategy is connecting, and getting feed-back, for which is she is happy that many residents are quietly pleased with Mtka. 
Rebecca had so much help, including advice from former Mayors. The Rank Choice method is used in Mtka, so she was careful to not slam candidates who she may need on her side later. Her win was with 59% of the vote, a large margin over her opponents. 

She finished by saying that Ward 2 is open, if anyone, or friends, are interested in ‘getting political’ in Minnetonka. Thanks for your time today, Rebecca. You know our club is ready to help when called upon. 

Adjournment

Submitted by Bob H.

Member Submissions

From Mike S. -