Our guests today were: Honorary Rotarian MaryAnn Bawden, Japanese exchange student Nanase Hirama, exchange host Denise Jacobsen, T.C. North Chamber president, John Connolly, Arden Hills Shoreview Rotarian Marian Zachary, Jason Helgemoe, Andrea Murphy, Mike Scholl, Andy Aplikowski and our guest of honor, Beverly Aplikowski.
Twin Cities North President John Connolly updated us on the Interstate 35W construction and invited us to check out the MnDOT website for all the latest information.
Cindy Carlson asked our guest of honor, Beverly Aplikowski, to join her up front as she reviewed the many ways that Bev has served the NBMV Rotary club and her community. Bev joined our Rotary club in 1994 and over the following 24 ½ years played a very active role in club activities and administration. Bev lived out the 4-Way test in her business and personal interactions, serving as an ethical role model for this writer and many others in the club. Bev was a board member for many years and served as club president from 2003-2004. Bev’s event planning skills helped keep our annual Gold Plate Dinner fundraisers running smoothly and growing steadily for many years. Bev has also hosted our annual holiday celebrations at her home for as long as I can remember. Bev’s recently declining mobility has prevented her from continuing her active membership in the club, but today we made her an Honorary NBMV Rotarian. Many thanks go to our other Honorary Rotarian, MaryAnn Bawden, who provided a delicious homemade cake to celebrate the occasion. Although Bev may not be able to join us as often as she would like, she will always be a part of the club and her contributions will not be forgotten. Dennis Bev and Cindy are shown below.
Dennis is strongly promoting “One Rotary Summit” which will be held in Stillwater on October 26th from 9-1PM. These Summits are a great way for all Rotarians, but especially new ones, to increase their knowledge about Rotary. Please consider attending.
On Tuesday October 29th, the Board will meet at 11AM, followed by District Governor Paul Perez’ official visit to our club. It’s important that we have great attendance for his presentation so please mark your calendars now. DG Perez is asking us for topics or questions of interest to our club. Please contact Dennis if you have something you’d like the District Governor to talk about.
The annual Rotary Foundation Dinner will be held on November 2nd at the Delta Hotel in Minneapolis. We’ve always had a sizeable delegation of NBMV Rotarians at this meeting and it looks like this year will be no exception. Contact Cindy to add your name to the growing NBMV delegation.
Our Japanese exchange student, Nanase (pronounced ᴵNah-nah-say), has settled in with the Jacobsen’s. She loves ice cream, chocolate, pizza and hamburgers and she’s willing to try new things. She especially loves the outdoors. Make a point to do something with her soon. Her email is: nanasan.buddy@gmail.com and cell # is 651-925-6012.
On Thursday, November 22nd from 7-9PM the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf will host a free Thanksgiving concert by Rubber Soul, a Beatles tribute band. The concert will be held at Peace Church, 5050 Hodgson Rd, Shoreview. No admission fee or registration needed. A free will offering will benefit The Ralph Reeder Food Shelf.
CPY Game Night is Friday November 1st from 6 to 10PM at the New Brighton Community Center. In addition to the games, there will be live and silent auctions and a cash bar. Reserve your place now by clicking here.
Mark your calendars now for the Irondale Choir Christmas Concert/Sing Along at our noon meeting on December 17th. As in recent years, we will meet at Risdall Marketing in Roseville.
Check out this Star Tribune article about the Community Support Center.
Due to holiday conflicts the club will not meet on December 24th and 31st.
Geoff Hollimon announced that our District Matching Grant application to provide a 2 wheel tractor for E.C.H.O. has been approved. Great work, Geoff!
Garry Johnson proudly announced the birth of his new grandson. Mother and son are doing well!
Mike Neeley introduced our speaker, Christine Noonan, from the Minnesota State Fair. Christine said that the Minnesota State Fair is the largest state fair in the nation, this year breaking the all time total attendance record at 2.1 million, besting even the Texas State Fair which runs for 24 days. The Fair draws attendees from all over the U.S. and even internationally. The Fair had its beginnings as a territorial fair in 1854, two years before Minnesota became a state. Its purpose was to attract people to Minnesota. After Minnesota became a state in 1858, the territorial fair became the Minnesota State Fair in 1959. It had been held in several locations around the state until Ramsey County donated the 210 acre poor farm property which would become the permanent home of the Fair. Since that time, the Fair has expanded to its current 322 acres. It’s interesting to note that the Fair is managed by the Agricultural Society and is completely self-supporting, receiving no government funding or taxpayer dollars of any kind. This year’s fair grossed $57 against expenses of $48 million. Since the fair duration is limited by the fair circuit schedule and the fair is landlocked with no room to expand, improvements to the Fair can only occur by improving facilities and services. For that reason, $6-7 million of the net goes to improvements and maintenance of existing facilities and programs each year. The Fair also draws revenue from approximately 150 events that are held on the Fairgrounds during non-Fair time. The economic impact to Minnesota is estimated to be $268 million annually. Christine and Mike are pictured below.
