Today's club meeting was called to order by Todd Kruse who led the club in the Pledge of Allegience and Invocation where he offered a prayer for safety and fun for all Minnesota State Fair attendees and the hope for children returning to school next week to "learn, have fun, and grow up to become Rotarians!" 
 
Guest Introductions:
 
Craig Leiser -  Stillwater Sunrise Rotary and representative for District-5960 international projects
Sandy and Gary Campbell -  Anoka Rotary Club  (selling $10 raffle tickets which offers a $5,000 travel voucher as the grand prize for this club fundraising event!!)
Charlie Hall -  former member of this club now living in Hugo, MN
Sue Schabert - owner of Minuteman Press and guest of Todd Kruse
Gerry Lund
 
President Dana then led the meeting with several Announcements:
 
  • "Pollinator Project" (Give Bees a Chance!!)  information was distributed to club members to gauge our interest in the club playing a possible role
  • Survivor Network brochures are on hand with the club should any members want to distribute to any interested/in need of assistance
  • Mounds View Schools activities calendars were distributed
  • The 10th Annual West Africa Project Fair was noted as being set for November 10 to 19, 2015 in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.  Cost is $1,779 (double occupancy)
  • District Governor candidate nominations for the 2018-2019 Rotary year are due on October 2, 2015 
  • Winnipeg Goodwill Friendship Exchange is set for September 18 which will be the 90th anniversary for this event
  • District-5960 is hosting a Goodwill Friendship Exchange with India scheduled for January 9 and 10, 2015
  • A word of "thanks" was given to club members who participated in the August 25 Sunny Square Park clean up project 
 
Upcoming Programs at Club Meetings:
 
September 1 -  Rod Dummer with Dalco Enterprises based in New Brighton
September 8 -  Julia Donnelly with the 49'ers labor union speaking on "Labor Day" themes
September 15 - Steve Kracht with Bell Pole Company of New Brighton 
September 22 -  White Bear Lake water level overview  AND  11 am board of directors meeting
September 29 - District 5960 Governor Marlene Gargolak  AND 11 am directors and committee chairs meeting with Governor Gargolak
 
October 6 -  Mark Baden and David Cummings,  "Stained Glass restoration work on the Island Chapel on the campus of the University of Northwestern-St. Paul"
October 13 -  Jim Lukaszewski ,  author and consultant on leadership and crisis communications issues
 
Announcements from the Floor:
 
Representing District 5960 Craig Leiser (PDG) presented a $2800 check which was accepted by Cindy Carlson for our club's Niger latrine/clean water project.
 
Fine Master/Happy Bucks:
 
Jim Kadechka happily separated dollars from club members who failed to wear their name badges today but several other dollars flowed into the kitty via several celebrations from club members including;  Sue Ager's grand child on the way, John Risdall's story of his broken arm (he was smiling due to heavy medication it appeared!), Geoff for his Alaska cruise, Glenna memorialized the passing of her husband's step father at age 94, and former club member, Charlie, who was happy to visit the club again. 
 
Birthdays:
 
Nils (September 1st) wants again celebrated his 20th birthday (perhaps 60 years later!) while sharing the story of his family appearing at his front door early in the morning to wish him a happy birthday.   
 
Program:
 
Rod Dummer, our guest speaker from Dalco Enterprises, was introduced by Todd Kruse.   
 
Rod opened his presentation by noting his past visit to the Hopkins/Minnetonka Rotary Club.     
 
Dalco was founded in 1959 in what is now Hubert's Bar (across from the former Metro Dome) by three guys who eventually parted ways for individual ventures.
 
Dalco's culture was resulted in great longevity of employees with one worker recently celebrating 43 years at the company.   Today they have 162 employees focused on a customer base in Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Iowa, and Michigan.  They are the largest privately owned janitorial supply company in the USA. 
 
Rod noted the company utilizes the "traction/EOS process" to help drive excellent company performance (from the book "Traction" by Gino Wickam) and is hosting a September 15 trade show/open house at their New Brighton headquarters from 9 am to 2 pm.  
 
Dalco has experienced substantial consolidation and competition from large competitors like Grainger and Staples.  While Dalco has a wide range of clients it was noted they have numerous health care industry clients plus they sell custom floor mating and  A LOT OF TOILET PAPER! 
 
Rod closed his presentation by noting Dalco's primary challenges to the success of their business:
 
  1. Taxes
  2. Health care costs - they are self-insured
  3. Talent recruitment
  4. Employee turnover is increasing
  5. Technology upgrade costs
 
President Dana presented Rod with a Rotary Club coffee mug as a token of our appreciation for his very informative presentation. 
 
 
Four Way Test:
 
President Dana led the club and we adjourned at 1:35 pm