Invocation: Matt Podhradsky
Bob Chinnock and the STRIVE program have been battling cold and snowy weather, so the last two meetings were cancelled.
Wayne Ward is organizing a social opportunity so that Natasha can experience the I FLY (indoor skydiving) adventure. Please contact Wayne (wards1946@yahoo.com) if you’d like to join the group having great fun! Information about I FLY - www.iflyworld.com/minneapolis
Jean Heyduck has been approved as our newest member, and she is enjoying our meetings!
FINEMASTER + HAPPY DOLLARS
Dan Keyport helped us learn about Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), which are digital creations that are purchased with digital funds. Dan performed his computer graphic skills and offered us NFT portraits of Rotarians, who paid for his efforts. Hopefully, we can collect the imposed fines in real currency! Those charged were Ryan Seibert, Vic Benetti, Ken Hiller, Phil Solseng, Andy Haugen, Wayne Ward, Greg Anderson, Sheryl Hough, Kevin Hegland, Keith Payne and Amanda Bloomgren. Happy Dollars were given by Gary Cooper and Matt Podhradsky, and our guest (and possible new member) George Glaros.
PRESENTATION:
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT Natasha Palmelund
Natasha provided slides and commentary about herself and Denmark that kept us interested and sometimes a little amazed! We learned about Denmark’s population (~ 6 million), the location of her small hometown Brande
(pop: ~7,400), her home and her family.
After those bits of information, things got a little more complex…. Denmark has a parliamentary representative democracy (with 13 political parties) and has a constitutional monarch (Queen Margrethe II) and a Prime Minister (Mette Frederiksen).
Natasha described the Danish education system that is significantly different than what we are used to. Kindergarten through 9th grade seems similar, but in 10th grade tests are taken and lifetime choices are made. Schooling then depends on academic, technical and vocational paths. Natasha is committed to a career in business and will have two more years of formal education after she returns. Following internships or similar post-graduate work, individuals typically start full-time employment around 25 years of age.
The Danish economic environment is more understandable, but perhaps less enjoyable. High income taxes and sales tax (VAT) provide Chaska Rotary Club Notes 5 Jan 2023 3 the basis for an equally high level of social 
welfare and free public services, although the unemployment rate is very low. Natasha noted the high toll placed on automobiles, cigarettes and sugar. Staying in school until you’re 25 (and being paid while you’re at it), being healthy (no smoking, no sugar, and lots of bicycling), and free social services have at least one unusual traditional cost – being shot with a load of cinnamon if you aren’t married. While some of us were wondering about the toxicity level of that exposure, Natasha told us about Christiania, a walled-off section of Copenhagen where cannabis use is tolerated, but is still illegal, and photography is forbidden.
We learned about alcohol use that start
s at an early age, driving licenses that are very expensive (and occurs much later than drinking), guns are not allowed (unless you are hunting animals that can’t vote), Denmark is NOT a communist country, soccer is popular, and that it rains a lot in Denmark (170 days per year). A short Question + Answer session closed her expertly given 30-minute presentation.
What USA food will you miss? Macaroni and Cheese!
Speaking of food – early birds at the breakfast buffet were treated to Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage) baked and provided by our speaker.
Thank you, Natasha!
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