We had no visitors today.
Dave Hoel said that the Irondale Choir concert and carol sing-along will be at Risdall Marketing on Tuesday, Dec. 18th.
Co-President Cindy Carlson read a thank you from Peacemakers Minnesota for our continuing support of their anti-bullying program. We are also invited to participate in their annual cribbage tournament in April. Watch for details here when they become available.
Ralph Reeder Food Shelf thanks us for our help with the Holiday Baskets last week, as well as for all that we do during the rest of the year. We should also be aware of the largest challenge grant in their history. Bell Lumber and Pole and St Odilia Catholic Church have partnered to match, dollar for dollar up to $25,000, new and increased giving to the food shelf until December 14th. Contact the Food Shelf for more information. www.ralphreederfoodshelf.org 651-621-6280
The Board allocated $500 to Blaine/Ham Lake Rotary’s Adopt-a-Home matching grant project. Julie Jeppson spoke to our club recently about this project to provide transitional housing for those moving out of homeless shelters.
Our big Harvest Pack event, in partnership with Irondale students, Eagles and Lions will take place on Tuesday December 11th. Our portion of the packing will start at 3:20 PM, but you can come right after Rotary if it works for you. A sign-up sheet will be circulated soon and you are welcome to bring guests as long as you sign them up ahead of time.
Next Tuesday, December 4th at 11AM, the Gold Plate Dinner Planning Team will have its first meeting. All are welcome to attend. Your input will make this the Best Gold Plate Dinner yet.
It’s time to start thinking about the Rotary Christmas Party. Talk to a Board member with your ideas and/or a willingness to host the party.
Mark Beisswenger and David Hoel had birthdays this past week and they were each quick to point out the other’s advancing age (apparently Mark is slightly younger than Dave). Dave and Mark supplied cake for the occasion to be sure we had enough energy to sing them the Birthday Song (we did).
Past-Presidents are asked to stay after next week’s noon meeting to nominate a president-elect.
Watch your email for a draft revision of our club by-laws for review and comment. Thanks to Dennis Connolly for his work on the revision.
Ed James had to be badgered into admitting that he was recently engaged. The lucky bride-to-be may be travelling here from her home in England to be with us at our 40th anniversary celebration. Congratulations, Ed!
Cindy Carlson introduced Ike Graham, her co-worker and friend at Western Bank for the past 13 Years. Ike is a NBMV Corporate Designee from Western Bank and today he was presenting his classification talk.
Ike grew up in Brooklyn Park and graduated from Park Center High School. After a year of ski-bumming in Vail, Colorado, financial reality hit and he returned to the University of Minnesota to study Finance. He worked at Wells Fargo in the Brokerage Operations division for five years before taking a job as a Credit Analyst at Western Bank. Somewhere along the way he got his Masters in Real Estate by taking night classes at St. Thomas and he eventually became a Commercial Real Estate Banker at Western Bank. Based in the Twin Cities, Western Bank has $500 million in assets and is part of American National Bank, which has $4 billion in assets. Ike handles a variety of commercial loans including, construction, multifamily, industrial, senior living facilities, hotels, office, retail, as well as short-term bridge loans. In addition to Rotary, Ike volunteers as a board member and treasurer of Community Child Care Center (CCCC) and also volunteers in many capacities at Bel-Air Elementary, where his oldest son is a 1st grader.
Ike is married to Jennifer and has two sons, Louis and Monroe. They live in New Brighton, along the 2nd hole of Brightwood Hills Golf Course. Their choice to live in New Brighton was based mainly on the quality of the school system. When he’s not working, Ike likes to golf, fish and spend time at the cabin.
Cindy and Ike are pictured below.
