Next Meeting January 26, 2022 - President elect Mike G. called the next weekly meeting in person for January 26, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. at Eisenhower Community Center Board Room, Hopkins, Minnesota.
Please see President Nate R.'s upcoming email with the meeting location and mode. Ed.
New Pictures - Send to michaelcglover@comcast.net. Ed.
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 - Bonnie Wittenburg
Meeting called to order by the PE, Mike Glover.
Guests
(Sort of) Our own Patty Acomb, today's speaker.
Beth Schneider (Terry's wife) and her friend and colleague, Nakisa Vaezzadeh, both with Relate Counseling Center.
Invocation
Invocation by Mary Tambornino; she asks us to Live our lives, Love our lives, Laugh and Share our lives.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone.
Rotary Minute
None today.
Announcements
Chris Carr - Next Foundation meeting on Jan 25th. He also invited a recipient, Jamie Belden, to speak about her program. Jamie is a teacher, and has been a Rotary Exchange Student, and a Rotary Volunteer. She now runs programs in Nicaragua and Guatemala, reaching 12,000 kids in these of the poorest countries in the world. She has trained over 350 teachers. with 35 per class. With a $10,000 budget, that is less than $1 per child. Terrific work, Jamie.
Jennifer S. - Our service projects include Highway cleanup, Bikes for Kids, and possibly the Sandwich Man. She also thanked those Rotarians who have supported her Hopkins Education Program. Buy a Raffle Ticket!
Lenny N. - the upcoming TFT (Twins Field Tour) is coming up on Sat, April 16 at 10:00 AM. Lunch at Hopkins Auto Body. The latest data, with Bob, is that we are nearly filled as of today's meeting. We're around 47, and the max is 50. We may have to start a waiting list, as these numbers get more exact.
There will be another tour, at the U of M Athletic Village in June, and if Covid is under control, a likely tour of the TCO Vikings practice facility in the future.
Raffle
Frank B. had our guest pick ticket #255, which made Lenny happy, AND the Joker appeared. WINNER
Happy Bucks
Happy Bucks: and the HBTO, "what is the SINGLE most important thing the MN Legislature should do?"
Char M. - her (daughter, niece?) did two crossword puzzles in 20 minutes.
Bill S - for a fun committee mtg last night, and for an upcoming trip to Machu Pichu with family. Also, a grandchild on the way.
Patty A. - she spoke to the GV Rotary Club, and her two sons are returning to college. Legislature's important thing is 'LISTEN'.
Lenny N. - the committee meeting, and our club donations for Polio are at $1200. He predicts, with matching funds and the TFT, we should be donating $14-15,000 to RI for Polio this year.
Ron U. - re the U of M, at a swim meet, he met a man who was on the first U of M swim team. He was 99 years old when Ron swam with him. and he was happy to still win his age group!
Chris R. - his son Axel is doing well on a 'lousy' team, getting a lot of 'shots on goal' experience. He was also happy to modify the estrogen to testosterone ratio at the usual Cathy/Char table. The Legislature should just do the 4-Way Test/
Beth Schneider - thanked the club for supporting Relate Counseling Center.
Mike G - an upcoming trip to Boston, and the Legislature should support public education.
Floriane N. - she is over Covid and has a grandchild on the way.
Cathy C. - (from the Bahamas) her 16th Golden child is having a wonderful student experience in Florence, Italy and the Legislature should "Read the Book" More information needed there.
Program
Speaker today is Patty Acomb, in her 2nd term as a State Representative. Patty is a life-long 'Minnetonkan', and lives in her original home with husband Craig and has two sons, Jack and Charlie. Her district is re-districting, so her constituents may shift somewhat.
Relationships and collaboration are keys to getting things done in St. Paul. It has been difficult with Covid and Zoom meetings.
Our Legislature meets from Jan to May, and is a biennium. First year is the budget, and 2nd year is policy and bonding. This year there is a surplus.
Bills are introduced, and then debated in the committee process. MN has a divided house and senate, one led by each party.
Because of the divide, collaboration is essential. Bills travel through each house simultaneously. Patty authored 20 bills, and 13 were passed.
Patty's workload is divided into a few key areas; working with constituents, organizations, issues, and collaboration. She described a few examples of her work with medications, PCA's, affordable housing, quality health care for all, the environment, and creating Green Jobs. She chairs or sits on committees for Climate Action and Energy, Preventative Care, Environment, and MN Resources.
Patty really enjoyed her time on the Minnetonka City Council, and puts in a full year as a Representative.
Many, many thanks, Patty, for your service to Minnetonka, and the state.
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