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BRANDON L. GLIEM Sergeant Faribault Police Department |
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     Rotary outfitted 185 pre-k through grade 5 local youth with winter boots, snow pants, coats, hats and gloves! We partnered with Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and Stem school. The past 4 years we held a one day event where the community would come in and select from gently used and new outerwear. This worked out really well and the demand was always more than supply but the individuals at the front of the line were able to be fully outfitted while those coming in later only received a few items. This year parents were able to fill out a digital form selecting needed items and many children were outfitted from head to toe! Our hope is to continue to grow this program and expand into early childhood as well as local private schools. Rotary is very fortunate to have wonderful community partners that have allowed us to grow our program each year. It truly takes a community team to pull off a large scale outerwear drive and Reliance Bank allowed us to deliver, sort and pack all items in their basement. Kristen Thiele from Treadway Graphics ordered many of our items, Casie Steeves from the Chamber of commerce designed our flyer linking to our order form and generous financial sponsors like Rotary Charitable Gambling, Allina Health, Hometown CU, Rice County Sheriff’s Association and River Valley Church all gave over $500 to make this event possible. Rotary’s motto is ‘service above self’ and it is awesome to be able to serve our community knowing that each one of us has been given so much. |
 (Reprinted with permission from the Daily News and George) When my aunt Marian was in fourth grade in 1905, her teacher assigned the students topics to report monthly to the class. Marian was the oldest of three children. Her mother, a single parent, scrubbed floors in downtown offices at night and took in washing and ironing in the daytime. Marian, in poverty, was dressed in flour sack clothes. When she reported to the class, the students surreptitiously made fun of her. After two or so times, she said she wasn’t ready to give another report. Her teacher saw what was happening and took her aside and said: “Why don’t you see me after school. You don’t have to go before the class again.” Marian was so thankful for her kindness and compassion that she was inspired to become a teacher. When Marian was a senior in high school, her mother was diagnosed with cancer and couldn’t work. Marian found two part-time jobs so Aunt Ruth and my dad wouldn’t be placed in orphanages and mother in the poor house. Her mother died when Marian was in her second year of normal school. After graduation Marian taught in the Chicago public school system. In 1932 my dad lost his job and moved in with Marian and her husband. During that time students would come over after school and sometimes stay for supper. Almost always on Saturday’s students could come and stay for lunch. During summer it was common for them to come and visit her. One time she took a group on a picnic. Marian retired at age 65 in 1960 and moved to Lake Hubert, about 15 miles north of Brainerd. For 23 years she served the area in many ways, including teaching residents of the Brainerd State Hospital two or three days a week to read and write. At age 88 she was diagnosed with macular degeneration and could no longer driver or live alone. When she left Brainerd, the Brainerd Dispatch headline read “Incredible 88-year-old.” Most, if not all, of the front page was about Marian. I took her to Wisconsin to live with my mother and she died at age 98 in 1993. I was her administrator and she wanted her memorial service in the Lake Hubert area. She was gone 10 years. I thought, who will attend? The church was full. I read a letter from one of her students who went into the ministry. He wrote of the impact she had on his life. I had a very difficult time getting though it and there were many handkerchiefs drawn in the audience. s I went through her belongings I found she was corresponding, with help from my mother, with 65 of her former students. Who was the ‘power of one’ ? I say she was Marian’s fourth-grade teacher. Acts of kindness, compassion, respect, etc. can inspire us to do wonderful things. When I moved Marian, she told me one of her greatest regrets was that she never thanked her teacher for her kindness and the impact she had on her. Each and every one of us has the potential to be the ‘power of one’ in someone’s life. Acts of kindness, compassion and respect can be inspiring and perhaps be a ‘power of one.’
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 (reprinted with permission from the Daily News) Twelve years of dedication paid off for Faribault Rotary Club’s gambling manager, Brenda DeMars. The 2020-21 club president received the club’s Rotarian of the Year award this past week. DeMars has been representative of the club’s Four-Way Test since her joining in September 2010. Throughout the years, DeMars has worn many hats in the club. During the pandemic, she served as the club’s president, often holding events over video calls. Under her presidency, a total of 17 new members committed to join the Faribault Rotary Club. “It was humbling. There’s many that are deserving of it and do a lot for the club,” DeMars said. “Rotary has changed me and become a big part of me. I love seeing what more we’re able to do now.” The Faribault Rotary Club honors what is referred to as the Four-Way Test of what rotarians think, say, or do in representation of the club: First, is it the truth? Second, is it fair to all concerned? Third, will it build goodwill and better friendships? Fourth, will it be beneficial to all concerned? DeMars’ impact on the Faribault Rotary Club extends well beyond her official position. Under DeMars’ guidance, the club accomplished numerous projects and changes. DeMars tackled the club’s dues structure, allowing newer members to afford the club’s membership. eMars was part of the club’s first international project since 2014, which raised in excess of $75,000 for a water purification, garden and entrepreneurial project for children in Cambodia. DeMars currently dedicates her time to a club effort she dug into: pull-tabs. She spent hours, both day and night, taking tests and fulfilling state requirements to receive approval from the city gambling committee in order to operate pull-tab gambling at Boxer’s Bar and Grill. “Should Brenda choose to not be gambling manager I can think of no one who would do what she is doing,” said Rotarian Richard Huston. “Because of her willingness to place service above self we have been able to give the youth of our community tens of thousand of dollars and a giving committee has been created to evaluate the many requests we receive.” In addition to being the club’s gambling manager, DeMars is also co-chair for the Rose Sale, a fundraiser which donates proceeds to youth programs and STRIVE scholarships. She is one of the top sellers of roses. “If anyone’s looking to join a great group, Rotary is it,” DeMars said. “It’s really rewarding for yourself and very giving to the community.” Reach Daily News reporter Josh McGovern at 507-333-3128. |
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 Rotarian David Connelly (left) and Club President Kurt Halvorson exchange flags with exchange student Jean Piyapanee from Thailand. |
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Arriving in Rengo, Chile.  | Family time!  |
Chilean hotdogs:  | Views on the hike near her house:  |
Jean arrived from Bangkok, Thailand in Faribault on August 23rd. He began school at Faribault High School on Tuesday August 30th. He is taking multiple classes and elected to not have a study hall. His favorite class is his percussion class. He is in a band back home. We got him a guitar to practice on since this is also one of his passions. He has taught us a lot about his culture, life in Thailand, and we have even gotten to try some snacks and food from Thailand. Since arriving, he has met many family members, been cat fishing, camping, to a car show and fishing from our dock. He is settling in well but finds he is often bored between 4-6pm when no one is around. The percussion band will likely help with this boredom as football season kicks in. He will be playing during the football games. He gets cold easy which has us nervous for him for winter... we'll make sure he's warm. Here's a few pictures of our adventures so far: | ||||
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 Members of the Faribault Rotary Club collect the $10 admission fee and hand out wristbands at the entrance to Teepee Tonka Park Saturday afternoon. (Kristine Goodrich/southernminn.com) |
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Serve To Change Lives
Faribault, MN 55021
United States of America