Our speaker last week was Joe Barten from the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Joe's talk was very interesting.  He spoke about landscaping for clean water runoff.  Raingardens (see picture below) were also mentioned as a way to retain runoff.  Joe showed pictures of how shorelines are being restored with native plants which grow deeper roots.  Native plants can also be planted in our lawns. (Just ask Alan)  For more information on landscaping for clean water and how to do it at your house, follow this url: https://dakotaswcd.org/services/landscaping-for-clean-water/   Thanks Joe (pictured below) for driving in the snow for an hour to come to present at our meeting!

It's Rotary Roses fundraising time!  Just in time for Administrative Assistant Day on April 27th.  Red roses or multicolor!  Cost is $20.00 per dozen and includes vase!  Pick up your roses at St. Anne's church on Tuesday, April 26th.  Please contact Susan Hommes (shommes@umn.edu) with your order by April 6th.

1.  4th quarter (April to June) dues reduced from $250 to $130 since our costs are lower at St. Anne's.

2.  Bob Gullick reported we have $6700 in cash reserve.

3.  Susan Hommes reported that Rotary Rose sale is underway.  (Editor's note: Please send her your orders!)

4.  Alan Ruvelson reminded us we have Loaves & Fishes on March29th and April 7th and highway clean up on April 16th.

5.  Alan will aid in setting our club goal for the Rotary International Foundation

6.  Approved a $400 purchase of four MATTERBox kits.  Each kit will provide 50 meals to local charities.  We will pack at a future meeting.

7.  Approved Scott Burger's resignation with regret.

8.  Our club will continue to meet at St. Anne's from April to June.

9.  The club is encouraged to think of future fundraising opportunities.