Sixteen current and former club members attended the memorial service for Rotarian Del Ploen on Aug. 5. Del’s commitment to Rotary’s Service above Self were noted on the remembrance table: his Air Force pilot wings, George Klein award plaque, club president gavel and the Chaska Chamber of Commerce award.
Michelle Krause and Keith Payne asked for us to reserve the date of September 20 so we can all work to make the Chaska Cares Music Festival a successful fundraiser for the Miracle Field. Volunteers will be needed between 4 and 10 PM to collect donations and beverages. Link.
Erin Kerber happily announced $3200 profit from the beverage sales at River City Days.
Keith Payne, Greg Anderson and Neil Wingert donated Happy Dollars. No Finemaster today.
PRESENTATION:Solar System Ambassador – Ron Schmit (Link)
For more than 25 years, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors program has been a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and discoveries with the people in their communities. This program has more than 1,100 dedicated volunteers reaching more than 11 million people through both live and online events in their communities.
Illustrating his presentation through superb slides, Ron discussed the relative sizes of our solar system’s planets, the sizes of Sol and other stars, distances from Earth and specific characteristics that signify the variety of celestial bodies that are visible and some that aren’t. Some of the remarkable points within Ron’s talk:
· Sirius is the brightest of the stars we can routinely see (in the Northern hemisphere) and is 8.4 light years from us, and 5th closest.
· Arcturus is also usually identifiable and can be found by following the curve of the handle within the Big Dipper. It is a massive Red Giant star, but it is dwarfed by Antares – a SUPER Red Giant that is 700 time the size of Sol.
· The center of our spiral Milky Way galaxy cannot support life as we know it because of the high level of radiation present.
· Holding an upright pencil an arm’s length away, its tip will cover about 10,000 galaxies!
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.
Illustrating his presentation through superb slides, Ron discussed the relative sizes of our solar system’s planets, the sizes of Sol and other stars, distances from Earth and specific characteristics that signify the variety of celestial bodies that are visible and some that aren’t. Some of the remarkable points within Ron’s talk:
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