Next Meeting December 18, 2024 - President Olson 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.
President Alissa is back in town, and opened today’s meeting.
Guests
Guests; Our speaker today, David Meissner
Also, technically 2 guests (just barely) as Nancy Gendler has been accepted and Terry Johnson has decided to apply. Wonderful news, can’t wait for their official inductions. Welcome to the club, both of you!
Invocation
Invocation by Mac; We sometimes pray for solutions to problems, but we also simply pray for the many blessings we have been given. We are thankful today for our club, and the day we are given. For our friendships, and what we can do through Rotary together for our community, and the world.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone. “The Magic of Rotary”
Announcements
Glen, for an invite to a FB4K (Bikes) to celebrate their year and than us for our help. The party is on Saturday, Dec 14 from 5:00 to 8:00. The Warehouse, a vacated store in the Southtown Center, 494 and Penn Ave S.
Bob; firming up our volunteer list for the Lunds Byerly’s Cart Corral on Monday, Dec 23. Great turnout!
Also mark you calendars for 2 ‘unofficial’ Rotary meetings at Hoagies in Hopkins.
They’ll be on Christmas (12/24) Eve and New Years (12/31) at 7:30 AM. Look for a club email that you can
RSVP to. That’s important, we’ll try to save seats.
Alissa; for 2 upcoming dates to review Letters of Love, which are then sent to kids with health problems.
Thursday, Dec 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Ridgedale Comm Library
Friday, Dec 13 from 8:30 to 10:00 after our Board Meeting at the ICA Offices.
Come to the meeting to see how our Club Sausage is made!
Also, a night out for Art at the Weinstein Hammond Gallery; Wednesday, Dec 18 at 4:00 PM
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Raffle; Ann not only ran the raffle, but had her ticket punched. 10 out of 14 cards left, but NO JOKER!
Only 4 cards next week, may be one of our biggest pots ever! Bring your gambling money!
Foundation Award Checks or Thank yous
None this week.
Happy Bucks
Happy Bucks, run by Don.
Lenny N. - for an ecstatic call from his father. His sister (?) has not spoken a word for 11 years, but some health issue miraculously brought back her voice! Truly amazing.
Phil, for an older relative who was a very early victim of Polio. She traveled by train to Mpls and then by Steamboat to St. Louis. Health care has greatly improved, but problems exist. A nice connection to RI’s effort to eradicate Polio.
Terry Johnson - who announced that she is joining our club. Hurrah!!
Dr. Carter - for writing and recording a Christmas song, “Christmas for the Lonely” Look for it on YouTube. Nice Santa Hat today, Tyronne.
Alexa R. - for our speaker today, David.
Nate R. - a sad $ for a funeral in ND. A small town on the Canada border, one building has many uses. Lots of relatives, have not seen in a long time.
Sarah E. - saw the movie Wicked recently
Scott N. - he has a free wreath or two to give to one of us. He encourages supporting Scouts.
Pete G. - this is the anniversary week of his daughter’s terrible accident. He is VERY appreciative to all of us who have helped him and his wife Linda get through this for so many years.
Alissa O. - for a great time in Colorado, and Don’s help with filling in for meetings.
Bob H. - his wife Vicki and her sister just returned from a Road Scholar trip, to Havana, Cuba. It was a life-changing trip to meet such wonderful people, living in a very difficult time and place.
Program
Our speaker today, David Meissner, who recently completed hiking the Superior Hiking Trail in 2024.
David is a big fan of nature, hiking, canoeing. He and a friend attempted the 266 mile hike from Canada to Duluth. 19 days, about 14 miles per day.
The details of the trip were incredible. They needed to carry all their food, water, equipment in their 45 to 50 pound backpacks. Besides the distance and weight, the trail was wet, heavy with roots, and lots of elevation changes. They had to get off the trail to pick up more food they had positioned in 2 towns.
Some troublesome days, with rain, bugs, and aches and pains. In fact, his friend had to quit from injury about half-way along. David’s pack got heavier at that point.
Most of the food was de-hydrated protein, and needed to be about 5000 calories per day. They had to find and filter water, carrying 2-3 liters as they hiked. They slept in mosquito hammocks, without a tent.
They, or David alone, went days at a time without seeing a single other hiker. It was lonely, often without any communication. He picked up a Trail Name of ‘Eastwood’ from another hiker.
The trail was well-marked with the Official SHT triangles sprayed onto trees. Despite all this, he got to Duluth to make it!
Thank you, David, for describing your daunting adventure that almost all of us cannot imagine taking on. You inspired us to set goals and persist literally through the twists and turns and the unknowns ahead.
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