Reminder - Due to the present public health concerns and Governor Walz Executive Orders regarding social distancing, President Stacey Q. cancelled our in person Wednesday morning weekly meetings until further notice. Ed.
Next Meeting May 6, 2020 - President Stacey Q. called the next weekly meeting by Zoom video conference for May 6, 2020 at 7:30 a.m.
Please see Stacey Q.'s upcoming email with the dial in / login instructions and links. Ed.
Pictures - Our archive pictures are great but wouldn't you rather see something more current? If you have a picture poignant to the times, to the Rotary mission or just puts a smile on your face, send them to the editor at michaelcglover@comcast.net. Ed.
Continuing the Spoke -For the near future, in the absence of reporting on weekly meetings, The Spoke will instead feature weekly member submitted notes, comments, thoughts, pictures, ideas and other items focused on Rotary ideals, members activities and community issues. This includes Happy Bucks (put your dollar in jar to contribute when we meet again soon), announcements, Rotary Minute and other meeting like thoughts. Please share what you can by sending them to The Spoke editor by email at michaelcglover@comcast.net. You can share anonymously if you like. Let the editor know.
"It's more important to be useful than to be important." Joe Soucheray.
Ed.
From the Archives and Members
Thank you notes from Minnetonka East Middle School.
Thank you notes from Minnetonka East Middle School.
Thank you notes from Minnetonka East Middle School.
Masked raspberry near LTD Brewery and Taproom in downtown Hopkins (from Char M.).
Thank you note from Dow Towers for donations for cleaning supplies.
Polar Plunge 2018.
IMPORTANT UPDATE to Upcoming Events Below
Important - Check with meeting leaders to confirm date, time and location information for all events below.
Stacey Q. - Good Morning Minnetonka Rotarians, "Virtually" at 7:30. I think we're getting good at this.
Ron U. with the Pledge.
Tony with the 4 Way Test.
Guests - 2 prospective members; Allisa Silva and Patty Synikin, with ICA. Welcome to you both.
Invocation - Jim M.
Prayer for a Time of Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
remember those who must choose between
preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our
children when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically
wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving
embrace of God to our neighbors. Amen.
Stacey Q. - Ron L. is taking a few months leave to recuperate from his surgery. Get Well Soon, Ron.
Therese K. - has resigned from the Club as she has too much going on. We wish you well
Stacey Q. - We'll be having a special election to replace her on the Chairs of Service
Polio comments from Mac and Bob on a HUGELY successful year. Thank you to every member.
Mac H. - Meal credits are available to be donated back to the club. It has resulted in $870 for ICA. More big thanks.
Patty Synikin, from ICA, - thanks Ron and Mary for another $250
Mark Forsberg - Program (and Membership?) committee(s) Zoom meeting Friday, May 8 at 7:30 AM.
Mark Marlin - the annual Minnetonka Summerfest has been cancelled for this year.
Scott J. and Chris C. - The annual fundraiser is now in our thoughts, hope it can be done. A Zoom meeting for committee heads, and certainly everyone, Thursday, May 7, 5:00 PM. Contact Scott if you need a Zoom invite.
Nancy D. - there will not be a Hopkins HS or Minnetonka HS Scholarship Awards night this year. It will be virtual.
(Various - The club donated well over $6,000.00 to the polio campaign, exceeding its goal. Mac H. submitted the funds early to be sure they arrived. This amount is before application of the several matching grants, which will gross up the donation to well into five figures. If we only had the "fundraising-o-meter" ... Ed.)
Rotary Minute - Cathy C.
As I said last Wednesday on Earth Day, the Rotarian dedicated the month of April to saving our Earth with many thought provoking articles in the Rotarian April issue.
I would like to use this last April Rotary Minute to remind you of “Some things you can do”, gleaned from this month’s issue.
Some of these suggestions may seem extreme, and some may seem like an echo out of the past but we are in “rethinking” times so let them sink in before saying “not for me”
Pack your own toiletries when you travel, instead of using and taking the small plastic bottles offered in hotel rooms.
Carry a refillable water bottle and decline a free one offered at meetings
Bring take out containers to restaurants so you can avoid using the plastic foam ones to carry home your leftovers.
Check labels and buy microplastic-free sunscreens and cosmetics. Go to beatthemicrobead.org to find out which ones are. Buy soaps, shampoos, and lotions in bar form instead of plastic bottles.
An average load of laundry containing synthetic fabrics sends more than 6 million plastic fibers down the drain. Buy/wear natural fibers instead – a plus for buying used clothing because clothing releases the most fibers the first few times they are washed.
Recycle plastic packaging such as newspaper bags, shipping envelopes, bubble wrap, air pillows, and zip top bags. Check with your waste pick up company for a drop off site or go to plasticfilmrecycling.org/drop-off. Look for “How2recycle” labels on many products for more guidance.
And, buy products with less or no packaging. Buy your fruit and vegetables loose or bring your own reusable bags. Some stores are not allowing that right now, but always check where you shop.
These are just a few suggestions but let’s do our part.
Happy Bucks
Happy Bucks/Good Things
Mary T. and Ron U. - received thank you notes from the MMSE science day, for our serving as students. Never too old...? (See phots above. Ed.)
Jerald S. - (sorry for the glitch)
Mark F. - thank you to Bob for actually enjoying being a reporter.
Ron U. - wondered if the food program during the summer months will continue
Patty S and Mary T. - ICA really needs paper bags. Drop them off if you have them
Program
Speaker; Mitch Reaume from Northern Glass, and also Fight for Something
One of his products is drink ware with Logos, but the main message today to work for things that matter.
He was a pastor, but now all his time is spent with clean water for Haiti, and socially necessary projects.
He looks for creative ways to get companies, and consumers, for donations and profits toward social needs.
He fights for necessary causes; water, kids and foster care, kindness.
He wants companies to donate from their gross, make a real difference.
Some companies claim to give, but not much left at the end.
He credits Rotary with a making a difference; Clean water has big a big priority for many years.
Plastic reduction is high on his task list.
Thank you, Mitch for a necessary viewpoint on where and how we can help.
Closing
Next week, another virtual Rotary meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30.
Submitted by Bob Hersman.
Member Submissions
Nothing this week. Ed.
Club Information
Minnetonka Rotary Club
The Club for Building Responsible Youth
We meet Wednesdays at 7:15 AM
Eisenhower Community Center
1001 Highway 7 in Room 233
( above portico entrance )
Hopkins,
MN 55305 United States of America
