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 June 17, 2020 - President Stacey Q. called the next weekly meeting by Zoom video conference for June 17, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. Ed.
Please see Stacey Q.'s upcoming email with the dial in / login instructions and links. Ed.
Pictures - Thank you to several of you sending in pictures of local landmarks and, of course, your kids. If something finds its way onto your phone you think would interest the rest of us, please end it to michaelcglover@comcast.net. Ed.
"It's more important to be useful than to be important." Joe Soucheray.
Ed.
From the Members, Speakers and
Archives
From today's speaker, Fire Chief Dale Specken, Original Hopkins Fire Department Station.
From today's speaker, Fire Chief Dale Specken, later Hopkins Fire Department Station.
From the meeting archives - Member Darlyne E.
IMPORTANT UPDATE to Upcoming Events Below
Important - Check with meeting leaders to confirm date, time and location information for all events below.
Meeting called to order and presided by our very own Stacey Quinn at 7:30 a.m.
Invocation
Ben M.
Pledge
Char M.
4-Way Test
Chris Carr.
Guests
Hopkins Fire Chief Dale Specken and Alissa Silva.
Announcements
Stacey Q. - Roger J. leaving the club to care for his wife.
Stacey Q. - Tony Newman elected to the leadership chain as secretary-elect.
Mark M. - Fundraising meeting recap.
Rotary Minute w/ Cathy Carlson: “What is Rotary?” survey says 40% of the population has no idea at either an international or local level. Rotarians must share our story of all our past, present, and future successes and projects so the world knows Rotary and it’s 6 pillars of focus. Today’s challenge – share your Rotary experiences with 2 friends or colleagues and encourage them to further discover Rotary.
Induction
Ron U. - Induction of fellow Rotarian-daughter Betsy Weiner, Betsy delivers great acceptance speech, welcome multi-generation Rotarian Betsy!
Rotary Minute
Cathy C. - “What is Rotary?” survey says 40% of the population has no idea at either an international or local level. Rotarians must share our story of all our past, present, and future successes and projects so the world knows Rotary and it’s 6 pillars of focus. Today’s challenge – share your Rotary experiences with 2 friends or colleagues and encourage them to further discover Rotary.
From Cathy C. -
What is Rotary? When someone asks you this how do you answer?
Do people in our community know about our continuous club’s work?
An international survey found that 40% of the public has never heard of Rotary. Another 40% said they recognize the name but don’t know what Rotary does. This means they don’t understand all that our club has achieved in our community. Or how together, we have tackled global challenges. Like German and Sri Lankan Rotarians rebuilding a maternity hospital after the 2004 tsunami, so mothers and their children can be healthy and strong. Or Austrian Rotarians welcoming refugees to their small town. Or clubs in Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras working on sustainable ways to bring clean water to more people every day. And our own club here in Hopkins/Minnetonka area contributing to and/or taking on so many humanitarian projects, local and abroad.
Look what we have done for polio alone. We have been a part of the goal to end polio.
But, we need to share our story. Every Rotarian brings something distinct and indispensable to our community, whether it is personality, passion, or professional experience. This multidisciplinary perspective from our group allows us to see and solve challenges in ways others can’t. Yes, we represent our local communities but tackle projects of every scale and on every continent. We are people of action who are tackling our communities’ most persistent problems with fresh ideas and enduring solutions – not to mention hearing other points of view, exchanging fresh ideas, and forging lifelong friendships. These life changing experiences are why people stay in Rotary.
So here is today’s challenge – Share your Rotary experiences with two friends or colleagues over the next month – in person, on social media, or at the office, and encourage them to check out Rotary, either on line, or a meet up with you.
Happy Currency / Happy Bucks
Jim M. – drivers beware, his son got his license! Jim, call Pete and Jerald, in totally related business.
Mary T. – granddaughter graduating college in Colorado.
Ron U. – Mary and Ron celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary yesterday.
Darlyne E. – doing well after surgery, recovering well, so happy to hear the well
wishes from fellow Rotarians.
Pete G. – tried to solicit an election bribe from secretary-elect Tony, but Tony’s too pure of Rotarian to accept. Happy to go fishing with the Judge this weekend. Plug for Jerald.
Chris Carr. – happy for daughter’s 5th grade graduation and makeshift ceremony, looking forward to middle school.
Floriane > – happy to have a morning bev from her Minneapolis mug. Sad that the president of Burundi passed away from covid-19 and what that might bring to the region’s social-political environment.
Glen J. – happy to have a child joining Rotary in Washington DC.
Sam S. – happy to have all the grandchildren together last weekend for 6 year old grandson’s birthday party. Bittersweet to have the AZ crew leaving tomorrow.
Stacey Q. – enjoyed a trip to the Arboretum and plug for the local peony farm.
Mark Marlin – happy for Patti and Betsy as brand-new Rotarians willing to jump into the fundraising efforts.
Program
Introduction by Bob H. -
First, I want you all to know that Lenny called Dale to speak to us today, but he graciously said he’d allow me to introduce him. Thanks, Lenny.
Dale and I, his brother Dave, and our families are long time Hopkins. Our parents and even our own kids were all friends. 3 generations of us have spent time between 10th and 20th Ave in Hopkins. My Dad used to joke that he never got very far in life. Yes, Hopkins is a small pond but it has some deep water, and some big fish. Dale is one of those big Hopkins fish, who has made a difference here in Hopkins/Mtka.
Growing up, we all loved sports, and Dale and Dave would become the main umpires and refs here for 20 years. Kids, and coaches like me, knew every game would be fair to all concerned.
Dale would follow in his father Joe’s footsteps as he was a volunteer with the Hopkins FD for 27 years.
Dale joined the Hopkins Fire Department (HFD) in 1981, and it wasn’t long before his leadership skills were evident. As time went by, he went well outside the Hopkins city limits, to coordinate and train other surrounding fire departments. In 2006, he was named the HFD Chief.
Dale was a representative for the MN Fire Chiefs Assn, and in 2009 was the President of the Hennepin County Fire Chiefs.
For these and many other qualities, in 2010, Dale was named the MN Fire Officer of the Year. This is a great honor, as it is a recognition by his peers. Not bad for 4 years as the Chief.
Dale is now approaching 40 years with the HFD. Beyond all those duties, he also directs Hopkins emergency preparedness, administrates the State Chemical Assessment Team, and is on the State Fire Chiefs Board of Directors.
Pretty impressive; but in 2019, Dale AGAIN received the Fire Officer of the Year award, again a tremendous
Honor from his fellow firemen and Chiefs. He is the first ever to receive the award twice.
Guys like Dale are gracious, and then will humbly move on, and get back to work. But we’re fortunate to have this Kid from Hopkins take some time today to tell us more of what we should know about, him, the HFD story and fire safety.
Please welcome, my friend, a Hopkins Rotarian for 14 years and a big fish in a BIG pond, Dale Specken.
Mr. Specken's Presentation -
Both Dale and Bob H. are multi-generational Hopkins residents, also a brief career background summary for Dale’s 40 yrs as a fire fighter including multiple fire fighter of the year awards.
History of Hopkins Fire Department – has been a Specken family tradition.
Established in 1893 (as West Minneapolis).
Incorporated on Oct 16, 1902.
All records from 1893-1903 were destroyed in a fire at the Smetana Drug Store.
Henry F. Moore was the first Chief (Sup of Minneapolis Threshing Company) 1893-1935, passed away April 16th, 1936.
Station Locations: 1st station north of Excelsior (Mainstreet) between 8th current LTD site, 2nd station 1010 1st St S (1965) current city hall site, 3rd station 101 17th Ave S (2003).
Alerting firefighters – 1893-1927 by a person who got to the Methodist church or the bell at city hall. 1927 a siren was placed on city hall and Hopkins Dodge. 1950's had both sirens and telephones would ring at the firefighters’ homes and some restaurants and businesses. 1970's used pagers. 2010 moved to smart phones.
Original bell in the lobby of current fire station.
Staffing – 1858 was 37 volunteers, 1906 – 20 volunteers, 2014 – 41 paid on call, 2020 – 36 paid on call and 4 full-time.
Response Area – Hopkins covered the city limits of Hopkins. Village of Minnetonka until 1923. They also covered the city of Eden Prairie to the Chaska and Chanhassen border. Mostly farmland at that time.
Fire Department Vehicles – have obviously come along way with technological advances. First hook and ladder between 1893 and 1903. 2 horse carts in 1904. First motorized truck came in 1917, second truck in 1920. First ladder truck in 1955, most recent in 2010 for $890,000.
Major Hopkins Fires – quite the list of notable locations and pictures.
Accomplishments – 1989 Fire Dept of the Year, 2007 Life Safety Award, 2013 Life Safety Award, continued emphasis on tradition and fire prevention education.
Q&A: 1st year firefighters spend the entire first year training and there is a tremendous amount of ongoing training throughout career.
Q&A: current recruiting is at 36 firefighters but should be at 41, ongoing recruiting can be difficult. Currently have 1 female firefighter and once had 3.
Q&A: firefighters need to live within 8 minutes of the station.
Q&A: budgetary pressures during covid-19, currently on a hiring freeze, expected to have a deficit of $500k-$1m.
More pictures:
Next Meeting
Chris Carr’s vocational!
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned by Stacey at 8:30 a.m. and members go about their Rotarian ways!
Respectfully submitted by Nate R.
Member Submissions
None this week!
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
