Chris C. -  One of the holes at the Chili Open in Wayzata is up for donation to a local group.  We would have the opportunity to host the hole for the event on Feb. 8.  This could be an opportunity for Polio and to have a Rotary presence in the community.  

 

Dr. Bob - We hit our Polio goal!

 

Bonnie - Foundation thank yous from Many Hands Many Meals, Infant Mortality Project, Sing Play Learn, and Resource West.  Also, thank you to Ryan Johnson for arranging meeting space at the Moline.

 

Terry - Next week is State of the City.  Thanks for President Stacy's address.

 

Jerald - Special Olympics Polar Plunge.  March 7 in Eden Prairie at Lake Riley.  If you raise $50, Hopkins Auto Body and Land Home Financial Services will match it so that will be a total of $150!

 

Jerald   - As part of the Membership committee he encourages all of us to invite people to Rotary!

 

Stacey Q - Colleen Reistad of North Star Youth Exchange recently lost her battle with cancer.  

 

Stacey Q - Days for Girls Service event is Feb 9 - joint effort with Orono Rotary Club.

 

Stacey Q - There is a position open at the District.  Let Stacey know if you are interested.

 

Gary Schoener - one of the founders of Walk-In Counseling.

 

Walk-In Counseling was founded in 1969 during the Vietnam War.  The community had problems and many people couldn't access help due to cost or stigma.  At that time kids with problems were separated into institutions that today no longer exist.  Now, our kids are mainstreamed, but the challenge is that it requires a lot of services to keep things going.  There is still a lot of work to be done.   

 

Walk-In Counseling is based on volunteers that consists of mental health professionals and graduate students.  The center has about 170 professionals a year donate time.  A group of counselors sees anyone and has a team meeting at the end of the session.  

 

They are the largest and only clinic that survived clinics like theirs.  Most places die out due to the high demand for volunteers.   Many volunteers report that this is the best experience in training.  

 

Most mental health places focus on the mental health problem.  At Walk-In Counseling they are able to get past labels and focus on why the person is going outside their own friend and family group for help.  They see a variety of problems.

 

Walk-In Counseling was the recipient of the Gold Achievement Award which is the highest in the field.

 

Schoener reports that our job is to catch people earlier in the problem which is a lot more effective.  He has found with their model, people tend to come in earlier.  

 

The main clinic is in Minneapolis.  All someone has to do to be seen is walk in and ask to see a counselor.  The clinic just turned 50.  The challenge is to keep going, because there is still a need for the service.  

 

The clinic is funded on donations and foundation grants.  They track over $1 million in donated services.