Meeting Minutes - Bob H.
President Ron opened the meeting at 7:30.
Guests
Our speakers today, Bruce Morlan and Ed Marek. Also at their table were Ruth Lunde and Kathy Morlan.
Other guests are Dan and Ken from Mobility World Wide, Mtka Mayor Brad Wiersum, and his guest, Tom Alexander.
Invocation
Invocation by Alexa; recalling the party last night for Annika and Dan’s wedding, Alexa finds our club to big in friendship, service and networking. We can share Rotary with others every day.
Keep talking Rotary and tell people all the good that it does.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone. “The Magic of Rotary”
Paul Harris Awards
None this week.
Announcements
Bob H. - kicked off our 2025-26 Community Service calendar as our year begins. Resources West is starting the Back to School Backpacks drive, where we will be involved. Forest Hills Elementary will re-start the mentoring program soon. We took part last Spring, and expect a full year of participation.
The Sojourner Project is having a fundraiser on Monday, July 28 at LTD Brewery in Hopkins. From Noon to 9:00, 20% of all beer and growler proceeds will go to Sojourner. There’s also a raffle sale for a 90’ massage.
Jerald S. - raffle tickets are in your hands by now; Get out there and sell MORE than your 2 books per member.
Ron U. - a letter of thanks for a donation from Loaves and Fishes was passed around.
Cathy C. - Silent auction with her and Amy is underway. Please have all donations in their hands by the end of August.
Ann W. - get your contributions to Ann for the Baskets, Bins and Bags.
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Jim Martin had the ticket, AND the Joker showed itself. Winner Winner!
Foundation Award Checks or Thank You's
Club Foundation, with Glen. Dan and Ken are here to accept a $2000 check from our foundation. Mobility World Wide will ship 212 heavy-duty carts to Uganda this year. They are very thankful for our club; the seeds that we plant grow in so many ways. Our members help it go further; Glen and his Men’s Shed connection, Ron with legal advice and shipping, Mark Marlin with many connections to other clubs, and getting District 5095 more involved.
Dan and Ken say the future looks very strong for MWW. Thank you from the club for the work you do.
Happy Bucks
With Jerald
Annika S. -for the fun party yesterday. 80 jars of spices were donated to ICA.
Bill; for his friend Tom Alexander here today, for the wedding party, and up to the cabin.
Frank B. - for Scott Brink taking part on a bike ride across Iowa.
Terry S. - for a new Great Grand-daughter, who is joining 2 other GGD’s.
Jim M. - happy to share part of his raffle winnings, for kids home for the summer.
Mark Marlin - for the work of Mobility WW, and for Tom here. They are choir members.
Char M. - for the fun shower party, giving to ICA,
Mayor Brad - for his daughter with a developmental disability, starting work. (or a new place to .ive?) He reminds us all to consider hiring people with disabilities, as they need jobs too.
Glen J. - for a great dynamic with Mobility WW, and for Alex adding closed captions to our meetings. It really helps to hear the meeting better.
Alexa R. for the party last night, Also, happy that Jerald helped someone find their car in a parking lot.
Pete G. - for regular meetings at Clancy’s Pizza in Jordan, where G and T’s and bottles of Dewar’s seem to magically just appear.
Program
Program today: Bruce Moran and Ed Marek of Braver Angels.
Bruce has a military career background, a Rotarian since 2015. Ed Marek has been with Red Cross, traveled quite a lot, has been in 4 different Rotary Clubs, and 2X District Governor.
Braver Angels is an Alliance of state and local groups, whose broad goal is to create a more peaceful world. The name comes from Lincoln’s speech ‘better angels’ but with our society becoming more sharply polarized, ‘braver’ was used as it has become difficult to find common ground these days. It’s a big cost to society, especially in politics.
Lincoln also said, “I don’t like that man, but I would like to get to know him better” BA wants to include both the ‘Red and the “Blue’ points of view. People tend to build their side up, and tear the other side down. “”We have the right ideas, and they are just evil”. In truth, we all have more in common than we are different. The task is to meet and talk about ideas calmly, see where we
can find agreement.
BA’s mission is to bridge the partisan divide, unite, and take action that can lead to lasting change. They ask that we start with curiosity, humility, have the courage to speak honestly, and finally commitment. Try to understand the other side. Red and Blue may still uphold their values, but we need to create a house united. Finally, as Lincoln said, “with malice toward none, with charity for all”
BA and Rotary are starting to work together.
The first Rotary/BA workshop was in 2016, and the 1st Rotary District to adopt BA was #5950. Rotary is now a Braver Network. The 4-Way test stands out as long-standing goal of Rotary that fits with BA’s vision. Bruce and Ed have spoken
to dozens of Rotary Clubs to pass their word.
Questions included why are politicians so reluctant to ‘work across the aisle these days, and why does the media sensationalize the extreme edges of talk and opinions, instead of looking where we might agree’.
Today was a powerful discussion of what one group is doing to narrow the gap.
As they said, grow bravely, pair up bravely, experience bravely”
Change points of view and look to increase collaboration. It’s not easy, but Rotary may be the best place to start with 1.5 million members seeking common ground.
Thank you, Bruce and Ed; it’s very thought provoking.
Adjournment
Meeting ended at 8:30
Submitted by Bob Hersman.
Member Submissions
Nothing this week.
