Minnetonka Rotary Club - The Spoke - July 17, 2024 (Jul. 19, 2024)

Meeting Minutes - Rebecca S.

Guests

Chris – Char’s son – first job washing dishes at Hoagies.

Invocation

By Mike G. - Fred Rogers wisdom – A high school student wrote to ask, "What was the greatest event in American history?" I can't say. However, I suspect that like so many "great" events, it was something very simple and very quiet with little or no fanfare (such as someone forgiving someone else for a deep hurt that eventually changed the course of history). The really important "great" things are never center stage of life's dramas; they're always "in the wings". That's why it's so essential for us to be mindful of the humble and the deep rather than the flashy and the superficial.”

Pledge

Everyone.

4-Way Test

Everyone.

International Theme

Everyone. “The Magic of Rotary”

Announcements

Jerold S. – new member initiation - Mikey

Don C. – “You have a new membership candidate” e-mail. This is an automatic send from the website

Bob H. – Gifts for Monka Beans employees each got married. Helping with coffee for many years. Passed around cards and will give them generous cash gifts

Community service will now be Mike, Bob, and Beth. Expect new projects soon. First up, Resource West Back to School drive (back to school supplies for 1,200 kids). There will be a registry where you can buy requested items. We will be volunteering to fill backpacks as well

Tony N. – Zoom foundation meeting. If you haven’t heard from Tony, reach out to him directly (e-mail or phone)

Chris R. – Golf sponsorships. Get in touch with Chris ASAP. July 27 deadline. E-mail Chris directly.

Mike G. – Golf Committee meeting next Tuesday at Tuttles. Registration site is now live. Golfers should register using the site

Jerold/Alexa – Raffle – sign up to visit other clubs to sell tickets. There is an envelope that contains all the instructions with QR Code. There is a list with all meetings, you should ask first (don’t just show up). Amy has flyers with information about where the money is going. If using VENMO please make a clear note and note “raffle” in VENMO. There is QR code for VENMO and paypal

Alexa R. – July 24 at 5:00 Happy Hour at Luce Line Brewery.

Guy M (former member) is very ill (pass card)

Alissa O. - Board meeting on Friday, July 19 at ICA

New Member Induction

None this week.

Rotary Minute

None this week.

Raffle

Mikey draws a ticket. Kathy has ticket. No Joker!

Foundation Award Checks

None this week.

Happy Bucks

Glen J. – 2 week Baltic Cruise!

Patty A. – Happy for VENMO, last week in NH apartment searching for son – he will live in Lebanon, NH which has a little downtown with lovely improvements from local Rotary (a fountain and music park)

Cathy C. – proud of herself in ordering Mikey’s name tag

Jennifer S. - Welcome new members and celebrated mom’s 93^rd birthday

Char M. – gone for three weeks celebrating her 82^nd birthday. Hooray!

Chris C. – welcome new members. Jerold saved the day and fixed cracked window. Kudos to Pete for providing insurance

Jerold S. – thanks to Chris for the business. Thanks for Mac’s reminder for better parking technique. Thanks to Lenny for the diet reminder. Daughter – national dance competition in Iowa – FIRST PLACE!

Tony N. – dressed up for member drive. Went to a meeting recently with tucked in shirt and it was a hit

Lenny N. – thanks to Jerold and Pete for window replacement. It was really easy – they make it happen

Bob H. – Happy to have power after 48 hours. Son coming in from New York and bringing a friend. Going to play golf at some of the premier courses in town

Alissa O. – For Mikey joining

Paul Harris Award

None this week.

Program

Vocational – Dr. Tyrone Carter

Former member of Excelsior Rotary – very important to his life and proud to be here

Loves music, writes songs, plays piano

Science Teacher – provides free summer camps for kids

Metropolitan Council Member

We have all received some help which created a bridge for us as we’ve gone through our lives. Provided a lovely rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. We all have a spiritual debt and is grateful

Service to Metropolitan Council – District 3 (covers 17 cities – including, Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Shorewood, St. Bonifacius, and Wayzata

What does Met Council Do? – started to try to improve water quality in the metro area: Plans for future growth, Operates Metro Transit, Collects and Treats Wastwater

Protects and Monitors clear water, Developer Regional Parks and Trails, Provides Affordable Housing

America’s Fun Science (owner) – Business and passion. Licensed science teacher. 160+ events per year. 31 programs created and developed marketing and outreach. 20 years

Noticed as a teacher that we are “teaching to the test” and things were getting lost. He decided more science needed to be available. He wanted to put the fun back into science

Affordable, hands-on science enrichment activities and STEM programs at schools, nonprofits, libraries, preschools, community ed & rec centers.

America’s Urban Elementary STEM. Provide summer camps for kids who cannot afford camp. Recalls that he could not afford camp as a kid and really wished he could go. Opportunities to contribute to this program (501(c)3. Includes brother and sister. They are committed to giving back. First camps in 2018. Hoping to be able to provide a camp for summer 2025

Children’s book author (!!!). Realized that there were no children’s science books that included any stories. Started writing. Published the most stolen book in the library (now has a program to donate the book to libraries).

“Tyronne Cater Kid Scientist”

“Girls Know STEM Too, Tyronne” (available in English and Spanish)

Give kids the fun and theory to let them know they can do science. Includes instructions for ‘do at home’ projects

We all burn with a fire of creativity. “Creative Fire”. Tyronne gave us an example of one of his hands on demonstrations

Question:

Southwest Light Rail – when is it going to be completed? Now funded. A lot of cost overruns and unexpected delays

Information about light rail data is available on website/or e-mail with questions and will get you an answer

How about a rocket ship building social and happy hour?

America’s Fun Science – great group fun programs that captivate kids

Adjournment

Submitted by Rebecca S.

Member Submissions