Jean Heyduck brought a Rotary chapter flag back from her visit to South Carolina. Old-timers in our club might remember we would attach these flags to sheets that could be hung up at our meetings.
Bob Chinnock updated us with the scheduled STRIVE meeting following the meeting. The topic will be the VALUE OF NETWORKING with a speaker from The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center.
Our members will be responsible to arrange presentations or programs at our morning meetings. Please notify Keith Payne or Michelle Kraus when arrangements have been made. Soon, directions for speakers will be sent to our members. Speakers can be remotely located and still present via our Zoom connection.
Vic Benetti is the point of contact in the search for a President-Elect for our club.
The minutes of the Feb. 21 Board meeting, and the Club’s financial status are included at the end of this newsletter.
FINEMASTER: George Glaros
as Finemaster also reminded us of bygone days when George Washington’s birthday was on Feb. 22. But that was long ago, so many tables paid the fine for the sake of progress. Michelle Kraus was still happy enough to make a friendly donation.
EXCHANGE STUDENT: Viola Bavastro
spoke of her pleasure in watching the movie Mama Mia more than once.
PRESENTATION: Dr. Sara Cooper – Stress Reduction. Link
With a proud introduction by Gary Cooper, Dr. Sara Cooper skillfully changed the mood of the room with a presentation devoted to stress reduction. Believing that physical and mental health are strongly connected, Dr. Cooper explained her chiropractic practice combines attention to both aspects of her clients. Reviewing the differences between sympathetic nervous systems and parasympathetic systems, she offered her view that many of us get stuck in the “Fight – Flight – or Freeze” responses to the stresses we encounter in our routine activities and experiences. Sara demonstrated various physical actions and methods that can reduce the negative effects of these stresses:
Gently pinching the pad at the base of your thumb.
Lightly pushing your hands to press against your eyes.
Pressing on the vagus nerve below your ears. Link.
Brushing your tongue can soothe the vagus nerve also.
Breathing in for 4 seconds, hold that breath for 4 seconds, then exhaling for 8 seconds, then repeating this 10 to 25 times can create relaxation. Many of us tried this.
Twenty seconds of hugging, even by yourself can be calming. No one was watching. Honestly! We all had our eyes closed!
Actions that include exercise, flexing, yoga, meditation, mantras, singing and humming are also considered to be stress reducers.
Present: Cindy Anderson, Gary Cooper, Gary Hardel, Andy Haugen, Jean Heyduck, Erin Kerber, Keith Payne
Absent: Nate Bostrom, Bob Chinnock, Michelle Kraus, Steve Mueller, Matt Podhradsky, Pat Schaffram
OLD BUSINESS
Action items from January
Rotary Shirts (Cindy) – added to website for ordering?
Cindy reported she was about 97% complete. Once she has link, she’ll send it out for the website and make an announcement at a morning meeting.
Charitable Giving Process (Jean) – update on prospective members to join team.
Jean reported she has asked both Jenny Spalding and Vic Benetti to serve on the committee and they’ve both agreed.
Website (Jean/Gary) – update on scholarship information
Gary Cooper reached out to Gary Goeman and Gary G. said he’d send info to Jean when he was back in town. Gary C. will reach out to Gary G. again.
Approve the Minutes of the January Meeting.
Gary Hardel moved to accept minutes; Jean seconded. Minutes were unanimously approved.
ROTARY BUSINESS
Updated 2024/25 Calendar (Keith) – attached.
Added a STRIVE Breakfast (6/13) separate from our Scholarship Breakfast (4/25).
There was discussion about where the calendar could be stored so all members could see it. Keith will investigate storing it in Club Runner; Erin suggested creating a Google Doc that board members would be able to edit that would then be put on CR.
Added Change Over Breakfast – George C Klein Award (6/27)
Change Over Breakfast is an opportunity for current club president(s) to share the year (Club Annual Report) and to induct the new President(s)
Do we want to add the awarding of the GCK to this moment? If no, where & when? (needs to be on our calendar) This item also appears later in the agenda.
This item was tabled until Michelle could participate in the discussion.
Rotary Business Dates – still being worked into the calendar.
Treasurer’s Report – (Kristy)
Kristy was asked to create a tool to share with the club at large sharing our financial movement in the first half of our Presidency.
Kristy provided a financial summary, the Profit Loss Comparison, showing that the Club is in very good shape for the remainer of the fiscal year. However, further discussion of financials was tabled until Kristy can go over them at the next board meeting.
Club and Foundation tax returns were completed and submitted electronically to the IRS. Copies are provided to the Board for review. Permission was granted to pay the Executive Secretary $500 for the completion of both tax returns.
The Club and Foundation books are kept on Quickbooks Desktop. This product is being eliminated in 2025. Intuit is requiring all customers to move Online. Typically subscriptions are very expensive, at about $50 per month for each company. However, the Foundation, as a 501(3)c is eligible for a discounted subscription through TechSoup for a total price of $75 for the whole year. The club, as an affiliate of the Foundation, can get a discounted rate but it will be $20 per month. I need permission to begin the process of moving both companies to the online version.
Erin wants to talk more with Kristy about this issue, so the topic was tabled until the next meeting.
Membership Updates:
Nate Bostrom is stepping down from the board but will continue to be an active member of the club.
Steve Mueller is resigning from the club due to a move to Plymouth.
ITEMS NEEDING ACTION
Charitable giving: It was agreed upon that going forward we will follow the new charitable giving procedures. When all requests are sent to Keith and Michelle, they also should be forwarded to Jean so she can contact them and share with them the process. (Kristy, please forward contact info to Jean for the First Responders and St. Hubert.)
Christmas in May request - attached.
The question arose of whether we have already donated to this. Kristy, can you please check?
ITEMS FOR UPDATE OR DISCUSSION
Bingo
Keith shared that Bingo Bedlam will take place during the month of March, each Thursday starting at 6 p.m. Artwork is being created to promote it (banners, flyers, etc.). Keith will forward artwork to Jean for website.
At the Thursday, February 15 meeting at Patron, Keith asked those present to volunteer to help during March bingo evenings. There are three folks lined up for three of the four Thursdays. Additionally, the idea of having a greeter was presented. Keith will ask for more volunteers at the Thursday meeting.
Breakfast Member Poll
Gary C. has been busy with the closing of Cooper’s, so he hasn’t had a chance to work on this yet.
Fundraising Update on Miracle League Field (Matt)
Chaska Rotary Foundation dba Miracle League Field for donations?
Tabled until next meeting since Matt was absent.
Leadership Plan
Need President Elect – Vic B. shared he is going to reach out to past presidents and put together a committee to start “courting” members for this role.
Michelle has completed Roles & Guidelines Document that details committees, job descriptions and roles flow chart. Keith has reviewed it and it is now with Erin K. & Matt P. for review. Will come to the board in March.
Exchange Kids coming July 2024
The kids are scheduled to arrive the evening of July 19 and depart either the evening of July 21 or the morning of July 22. Erin is handling the activities and financials and is working on getting a 15-person van. Erin has secured five Rotarians to host the kids: Dan, Greg, Jean, Gary C. and Michelle. She will make an announcement at the next meeting to get several more hosts.
George C Klein Award
Tabled until the next meeting.
Scholarships/Scholarship Breakfast
Keith will reach out to Celi Haga to check on the status of this.
Christmas in May
Tabled until next meeting since Matt was absent.
Rotary Leads the Way in May
Keith and Michelle will chat about this and update us at the next board meeting.
Gary C. suggested that we also focus on membership in May – bring a friend to a meeting. Erin suggested we put together a packet to give to all Chaska businesses for them to sponsor one or two employees as Rotary members for a year or two. We all agreed that these were both great ideas.
Erica has started Cinco de Mayo planning.
May 30th Service Meeting (Keith/Michelle)
Working with MATTER to either pack snack packs (food items) or hope kits (personal care products) during our morning meeting. We can cancel our morning breakfast and use that money for the donation to MATTER to do this ($500??). Tami (with MATTER) would come and do an introduction, show us how to pack the kits and work with us to find people in our community to distribute them to.
Other Business
3rd quarter lifts
Service project – Hooked on Books (met district literacy ask)
Social – Happy Hour after Hooked on Books on Jan 11th.
Fundraiser – Bingo
4th quarter lifts
Service Project – Christmas in May & Adopt-a-Highway.
Social – Schram Social
Fundraiser – tabled until next meeting.
UPCOMING DATES
February 29 Service Meeting – Mike Jernder teaching a CPR Class @CCC
March Madness Bingo Blitz – March 7, 14, 21, & 28 @ 6:00
April 25 Scholarship Breakfast
May 2 Cinco de Mayo Breakfast
May 4 Christmas in May
May 22 Adopt-a-Highway & Schram Social
May 30 Service Meeting – MATTER with Tami Hedrick
June 13 STRIVE Breakfast
June 27 Change Over Breakfast
Meeting adjourned 7:53.
Upcoming Invocation
Note from John Roebke: Invocations can be a faith traditional prayer, or a meditation, or inspirational verse or quote. Brief 20 – 30 seconds. Light-hearted is okay. Option: focus on our Mission of Service Above Self. Need an idea – Google Rotary Invocations. Not a personal talent? Don't wait, tell me NOW, 612-790-7067, john.roebke@live.com. I will be glad to name another. If I forgot that you told me not a talent, please forgive me. Remind me. If not a good DATE, trade with a mate.
.png)
