Important - Check with meeting leaders to confirm date, time and location information for all events below.
Happy Bucks and Polio Pitcher Donations
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 - Betsy Weiner
Chris Carr called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.
Chris Carr did ask us to please reach out to Mac at this time:
Mac Hardin
Minnetonka Rotary Club
12926 Rutledge Circle
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Guests
Beth Schneider
Speakers Clare and Brandon Richards
Invocation
Alexa R. spoke beautifully about Mac’s wife, Cathy, who just passed. She fondly recalled the moments of connection with her along with Alexa’s son, Nolan. Peter 5:10 “...make you strong and steadfast.” Aware of loss, no longer suffering but coming out better on the other side. Asks us to please reach out to Mac to help him and support him as he deals with this most difficult time.
From Alexa R. -
Mac:
As many of you know Kathy, Mac’s wife passed away yesterday after a stroke. today I want to take our invocations time to raise our thoughts, prayers and hearts to the Hardin’s.
The moments, it is the little moments we remember. Sure it is the big moments are important but really it is the little moments that make up a day. It is the 526600 minutes/moments that make up a year, it is those years that make up a life. They are small moments of love making a journeys, a life lived.
I knew Kathy, honestly because of Nolan, whenever Nolan has had something to sell, Nolan has gone over to the Hardin’s to sell. The first time we happened to interrupt a birthday party that Mac and his nephew who many of us have met at the golf event, we’re having. Now that night Nolan sold two extra wreaths because Mac nephew was there but that is not what Nolan remembers, no he talks about the fun party they were having and the socks they gave each other. He remembers they had a cake and the dog. He remembers that Kathy invited us into the party. He remembers the moments.
I remember their smiles and generosity.
After we sold the wreaths we had to deliver them, so Nolan went in and I knew he was safe to go in by himself, we many minutes past and Nolan didn’t return. So I went in to check on him and he and Kathy were just chatting away. Mac was fine and Nolan and Kathy were sharing a moment about their shared interest In baking shows. no one remembers that Nolan went to be late that night; they remember connecting and talking one another’s ear off. Mac has told me more than once kathy kept Nolan’s thank you photo on the fridge - I would guess to remind her of those moments.
On Saturday after hearing the sad news about Kathy, I found myself wishing we had gone and had more moments with Kathy.
So let us take a moment for Kathy, Mac and Kevin. A moment of love, a moment to lift them up, a moment to offer them prayer.
In the words of our own Rev Mac, I will share with you an email he wrote me during a sad moment.
It read:
when I’m really bothered by whatever is going on, I like to remember this verse from the Bible:
1 Peter 5:10: And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
I’ve never been too crazy about that having to “suffer a little while part“ but, it seems to me, if one reads the verse closely, there are four promises in there that one will come out better on the other side.
Kathy is no longer suffering and has come out better on the other side. In the next few weeks and months, Let us each take a minute to reach out to Mac during his suffering to help him come out comforted on the other side.
Pledge
Pledge of allegiance presented by Frank B.
4-Way Test
4 Way Test presented by Bob F. He shared a bit of history of where the 4 Way Test came from (adopted in 1943).
Rotary Minute
Cathy C - history about “who we are”. Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million leaders and problem solvers to unite and take action towards global change. Commitment and vision, over 110 years, using rotary members intelligence and action to move towards bettering our world. We believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on the world’s most persistent issues. 35,000+ clubs work together to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean sanitation and hygiene, support mothers and children, and support local economies.
From Cathy C. - May 5, 2021 Rotary Minute
WHO ARE WE
“Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” RI site.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
WHAT WE DO
Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000 + clubs work together to:
Promote peace
Fight disease
Provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene
Save mothers and children
Support education
Grow local economies
LET’S NEVER FORGET WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.
Announcements
Chris Carr - IN PERSON for the first time since Covid!!
Jennifer S. -mentioned Free bikes for kids coming up. Donuts for everyone in person at Eisenhower
Sara E. - Happy Hour at Unmapped Brewery on May 27th at 5 p.m.
Nancy D. - foundation spent all of their money - working on van for ICA food shelf -
Bob Fink is going to find a van.
Alexa R. - Rundquists were awarded a grant to make birthday bags through Interfaith Outreach. Need help to go shopping for items for bags. Send email to Alexa for info on how to reach out - they would like youth to lead the process.
Mark Magney - Minnetonka rotary cleaning up Hwy 7 on May 15th at 8:30 a.m.
Ron U. - Roaring through Winter - mindfulness/peace program on May 13th
Chris Carr. - Raffle - winning ticket ends in 879 - Cathy won :)
Happy Bucks
Chris R. -$5 District meeting attended - 36,000 clubs, and our clubs in our district is #11 in the world and #2 in North America. Rotary International giving - get check out and get credit for this year. Please send $$ to Chris.
Terry S. - $1 remodeling/drywall - took tub out of bathroom from 1968 and the tub is out. Happy to get it done.
Jacob M. - $1 Coffee with Pete G! Fun to hang out in person!
Bonnie W. - $5 - Trees are in bloom and Spring has sprung. Happy and loves this time of year.
Jerald S. - $5 - grateful to other rotarians for the car incidents :)
Chris C. $2 - Hopkins auto glass and Hopkins auto body - wife hit a grouse and he is grateful to get the car fixed.
Lenny N. - $5 - happy to see everyone - going to see his Mom and Dad - said that for only the second time in 60 years, his parents said they miss him- ha!
Bob F. - $20 - Happy and sad - he is moving to Monticello - thank you to everyone and moving on to Rotary up in Monticello.
Bill S. - $2 - happy to see everyone in person and for donuts.
Jim M. $5 - mountain bike accident where he hurt his shoulder last year, then a ski accident this winter where he hurt his shoulder but, good news: the shoulder only needs physical therapy!
Unknown - $1 - meeting Alissa in person.
Glen J. $5 - record number of times going to the hardware stores to do work on his cabin.
Alissa $5 - lunch with Char and parents are in town.
Ron U. - $5 - May 20th going fishing with 100 year old Uncle.
Mary T. $5 - She never reads the business section but saw Lenny Newman in the paper.
Chris Carr. - total of $108 raised today for Happy Bucks. $6 for the Raffle.
Program
Alexa introduced speakers:
Clare Richards and Brandon Richards
Talking about their company Impacks
Started St Cloud Rotaract in 2015
Talked about one of their earlier projects called The Backpack Project. Some kids come to school on their first day with nothing in the way of school supplies. Some teachers had to use their own personal money to buy these supplies. Coming to school on the first day without school supplies is very difficult and emotionally fraught for kids. Their Rotaract club worked with the local United Way to pack hundreds of backpacks with school supplies for kids. This was the impetus to start Impacks.
They created a platform for schools to fundraise while offering a convenient and quality school supply shopping experience to parents. They wanted to make sure that every student has what they need, as well as support the schools in how they spend their funds. They really wanted to help lower the price of yearly cost of school supplies in some way (price is very high at roughly $117.49 per student per year). School supply lists are often very specific and very lengthy.
They offer the fundraising platform for free to each school. They work with vendors to get the prices as low as possible for school supplies. They give the partner schools estimates for each grade. They have a portal available to the parents, and then parents can use this platform to not only purchase the supplies at a lower cost, but also the option at checkout to donate, and Impacks matches the first $5. The supplies are shipped directly to the school. Impacks is the ONLY company that offers a fundraising match for schools while also offering convenience for the parents. Average pack of supplies is roughly half of what the national average is ($50 vs. $117). Impacks is now looking at options where businesses might partner to offer more of a match (this could mean $20 match or more!).
Relationships with vendors are part of Impacks. Their competitors are not as focused on the fundraising piece. Parents find Impacks the easiest way to not only get school supplies but also to not have to have their kids going door to door selling things for their school! Avoiding the early inoculation and introduction to MLM.
Mission is to create a world where every student has what they need to succeed in school. They are looking for referrals such as school superintendents, principals, School Board Members, etc.
Their organization was inspired by Rotaract. Partnered with United Way and it was mutually beneficial for both organizations. Raised over $6000 for the schools in their area! Quick pitch for Rotaract.
Questions:
Ron U - How does Impacks make their money? - they make a profit off of the margin.
Bill S - couldn’t hear the question and the answer was equally unclear - sorry!
Bob H - are you only in St Cloud? - how far out is your reach? - most of their partnerships are in Minnesota. Reach is national - hope to have significant partnerships outside of MN.
Bob F - Standardized pack or specialized for each school? - some packs through United Way were standardized. Mostly it is specific to each school and each grade. Asking schools to standardize is challenging.
Mike G. - who buys Impacks? - Ultimate deciders are school principals or superintendent. Does not have to be district wide. Many of the introductions are through the PTA or PTO. They also connect with educators to support them and their desire to see equity in the classroom.
Polio money was also being gathered LIVE :)
Next Meeting
Next meeting is May 12th at 7:30 a.m.
Adjournment
Chris Carr - First meeting back was “decent” - big thanks to Jennifer. Chris adjourned the meeting at 8:30 a.m.
Member Submissions
1. From Patti S. and Ron U. - Fundraising - Entertainment Package
Tickets: All links can be found right on the club’s website: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3776. You just have to scroll down a bit and hit the “read more” button. All the link are then displayed.
Stevie Ray’s Improv Comedy Show All done. 5 stars!
February 11, 2021 | 7-8 pm
A whole hour of interactive family fun and laughter.
Meditation and Mindfulness with Betsy Weiner Tickets selling fast. Hurry!
May 13, 2021 | 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Spend an hour with Certified Meditation and Mindfulness teacher, Betsy Weiner as she guides you to bring more peacefulness, calm, and relaxation to your life.
All levels welcome and no prior experience necessary.
