February 12 recap

February 12 meeting recap from Rod
 

Announcements

CHILDREN FIRST CHAMPIONS BREAKFAST MARCH 1
  • March 1; 7 a.m., DoubleTree Park Place Hotel
  • Contact Seth Schuette or Becky Bakken to sign up to sit at one of their tables
  • Did you know that Children First Asset Champions are now called Children First Champions?
OTHER CLUB NEWS AND EVENTS
 
CLUB GOLF OUTING JUNE 12-14
Jim Brimeyer has announced our next club golf outing.  We did not do it last year because of the conflict with the International Convention in Atlanta.  The cabins and Hilltop House are currently set aside for arrival on Tuesday, June 12, through departure on Thursday, June 14 at Spruce Falls on Hwy. 61 near Lutsen on the North Shore.  It is time to revive this great tradition that has been going on for over 40 years.  We have room for 12 folks - whether they golf or not. We have until the end of March to confirm, so there is some time. I would like to have some idea of interest soon so I can get back to Tina at Spruce Falls.  Jim returns from his seaside estate in the Bahamas on March 3, so he would like to get close to the final number by April 1.  Course reservations have not been made, but we will likely play a course on the Iron Range and one near Lutsen.
 
Nassau Jim (aka NJ); Jim Brimeyer
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NEW TWIN CITIES ROTARY ECOCLUB FORMING
The Twin Cities Rotary EcoClub is an opportunity to start a new kind of club devoted to environmental issues.  Become a charter member and learn more at an informational meeting April 12, 6-7:15 p.m, at the Nature Conservatory, 1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200, Minneapolis. Contact our own Steve Solbrack at steve@solbrack.com for more information. Flyer available here.
 
PLANT A TREE WITH YOUR ROTARY FRIENDS
Join other 5950 Rotarians Saturday, May 19 for a tree planting event at the Crosby Farm Regional Park as 75 members from our district join Great River Greening and The Nature Conservatory to plant 3,000 trees that day.  This event will be the culmination of the collaboration between 5950 and The Nature Conservatory, and Great River Greening to plat over 25,000 trees in Minnesota this Rotary year.  Email Steve Solbrack to reserve your spot at steve@solbrack.com. Maximum group size is 75.  So far, 36 have registered.
 
HAPPY BUCKS
  • Rod Shilkrot received a Sunday call from Jim Rhodes in Arizona.  He sends his best to all his friends here.  He attends a small club just north of Phoenix.  He will be back in Minnesota after Passover.
  • Tom Harmening mentioned that 1,500-2,000 hockey fans attended the practice session of the Wild, held at the new ROC—an architectural marvel attached to Rec Center on W. 36th.
  • Police Chief Mike talked about a NO OVERDOSE initiative.
  • Thanks Amy Litman for a great off-site meeting at the Cookie Cart on Broadway in North Minneapolis.  Watch for more information soon on a hands-on service day at this non-profit.
 
SPEAKER
 
CARINGBRIDGE
Susan Kerber the Development and Partnership Outreach Director for this Eagan-based organization was our featured speaker.  She deals primarily with hospitals, clinics and pediatric agencies.
  • CaringBridge (CB) is the largest non-profit in the nation dedicated to health.  There are currently no social medium focused on health.
  • It is essentially a family centric website.  It’s free and no ads appear on the site.
  • Why CB? Provides social support as the key path to healing.  Family and friends are crucial to patient outcomes.  Other factors:
    • Clinical care 20%
    • Physical environment 10%
    • Social support 40%
    • Health behaviors 30%
  • It is used primarily by caregivers and patients during health crises.
  • It started 20 years ago in 1997 by a local woman who was attempting to share news about a friend’s premature infant with friends and family.  It grew from this and out of the name CAR FOR BRIDGETTE (the infants name).
  • It’s easy to start a site.  There is also a mobile app.
  • Other features:
    • You can share via FaceBook, Twitter or Instagram
    • You can personalize it
    • Post updates
    • Use photos and artwork
    • Three key buttons: Journal, Gallery and Ways to Help
  • CB has a relationship with Go Fund Me and Hallmark Gift A Wish (gift e-cards)
  • CB offers resources like Story Telling.  She talked about the 21 Stories project involving Dave McLain, famous National Geographic photographer who shot photos of 21 success users of the site.
  • One in 12 use the site as either a patient, caregiver or visitor.
  • Some pertinent stats:
    • 2 billion unique visitors have used the site in the last 20 years
    • 27 million annual visitors
    • 670,000 site pages
    • $60-65 annual donations per supporters
    • Multi-million-dollar company with 40 employees
    • 27,000 active users per day
  • Go to www.caringbridge.org for more details.