 |
A Publication of the |
|
|
The Chaff has a new format : Each time the Chaff is published, it will now be issued as a web page. No longer will you need Acrobat Reader on a PC to read the Chaff. The Chaff will be available on the Fairmont Rotary Web site AND will be sent as a link in an e-mail to each Fairmont Rotarian. The Chaff will now be published only four times a year: January – April – July – October. Upcoming programs and Birthday & Anniversary lists may be sent more frequently. I hope you like the new format. Doug Hall - Editor |
|
Anniversaries
Dick Bowdin 04/01/88 |
From the President: Spring is finally here! The dormant grass, trees, and flowers are coming alive again. We are somewhat like the dormant greenery around us. Our busy time for Rotary seems to be in the fall and it sometimes feels as if we are just waiting for our next “push” for Rotary. We do, however, have Rotary items that need our attention. We are working on grants for our computer program, we have an ambassadorial scholarship application to review, and the district convention is just around the corner to name a few. Rotarians are always busy! Perhaps as we rejoice that spring is here, this may be a good time for each of us to reflect on our contribution to the Rotary Foundation. Do we do as much for the Foundation as we should or as we could? As a club, I know that we don’t contribute what the Foundation would like us to contribute. It is my understanding that the district is going to be asking for more support from each of us in the new Rotary year. I would hope that each of you would think about this and what you would be willing to do for the Foundation. When you think about the fact that your contribution will go toward providing clean water, eradicating polio, educating young people, and generally improving lives around the world, how can you say no? Remember our motto of “service above self”. With that said, I also want to take a minute to welcome all of our new members. It is fantastic to look out at the tables at our Monday meetings and see so many new faces. I would personally like to welcome each of you. Having you join our club helps us to “make a difference” and we are all delighted that you chose to join our Fairmont Rotary Club. Happy Spring to all! Pat |
Cafe:
Since early this year, CAFÉ has been working hard with other community volunteers to prepare PC’s at the CAFÉ warehouse so that they may arrive in Minneapolis for shipment to such countries as Liberia, Tanzania & India.
291 PC’s arrived at the warehouse in late December of last year with the promise of more to come. Thanks to Tom Rosen and Rosen’s Ag, 8 pallets were brought to Fairmont from Global Health Ministries in Fridley.
Community volunteers Mike Foster, Brad Frisch and Cristina D, as well as Café members John Sorensen and Doug Hall gathered at the Café warehouse on weekends to complete the task. Joe Switras picked up PC’s to work on elsewhere.
Doug has been bringing the PC’s to the cities, 20 to 25 at a time, every other weekend. Thanks to Mt. Cavalry Lutheran Church in Eagan, Doug can drop off his load of PC’s South of the cities so he doesn’t have to travel an additional 20 miles through “rush hour” traffic. Members of Mt. Calvary frequently volunteer at Global Health Ministries from where the PC’s will eventually be shipped.
Did you know? 15 of our Current Fairmont Rotary Members have been Club President. You can view the entire list of past presidents by going to www.fairmontrotary.org and then clicking on “History” and then clicking on the picture of George Washington (although George was not one of our club presidents). |
Youth Exchange Our Exchange student from Japan, Mayu, is doing great! She is doing well in school and having fun. She has moved on to her second host family, Steve and Jessica Sovell! Many thanks to Gail and John Diede for hosting her for the first half of the year. |
CAFÉ growing The Uptown Rotary Club of Minneapolis has joined the CAFÉ efforts. Rotarian Magneline Aagard is now the CAFÉ representative Coordinator from the Uptown Club. She and her committee are working a CAFÉ project in Ampur India. The Lake Minnetonka-Excelsior Rotary Club has also joined these efforts. Rotarian Kelly McBride is the CAFÉ representative Coordinator from that club. Kelly and her committee are working on a possible CAFÉ project in Grand Bourg, Argentina. Ken Wolfgram is the representative Coordinator for the Fairmont Club. He and his committee are working on projects in Arusha Tanzania and Slovakia.
FUN FACTS & GREAT TIPS Want to get to know one of your fellow Rotarians a little better? Read on . . . 1. MY NAME: Tom Fiske 3. FAVORITE MN/IOWA RESTAURANT: The Channel 4. FAVORITE HOBBY/ACTIVITY: Summer – Trout fishing; Winter – Downhill skiing; All Year Round – Writing & reading 6. A GOOD MOVIE: St. Ralph 8. A CHILDHOOD DREAM: to be a jockey 9. FAVORITE SCHOOL MEMORY: summer vacation 10. BEST CLASS/COURSE EVER TAKEN: Survival Skills for the Substitute Teacher 11. BEST DECISION EVER MADE – other than “marrying my spouse”: Letting go and becoming a priest 12. MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: obtaining a Masters Degree 13. GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE: When driving on life’s highway, remember: horns – turn right; gravel – turn left. 14. WHY I LIVE IN FAIRMONT: I heard the gravel. 15. FAVORITE ASPECT OF ROTARY: STRIVE and lunch with all of you |
PETS Training On Friday March 9 and Saturday, March 10 I attended the Rotary District 5950 PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) at the Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska. Linda Jewel, District 5950 Trainer and Tammy Laurent, incoming District 5950 Governor were the leaders of this conference. Fairmont Rotary belongs to Area 11 so I was to be grouped with Roger Sauerbrey, our Area Lieutenant Governor and President Elects from Madelia, New Ulm and St. James. Our group was small as Medelia President Elect Colleen Jacobs and her 2008 president elect, Tara, were the only other group attendees. New Ulm and St James did not have representatives attending.
The guest motivational speaker was Larry McKenzie, General Manager and Head Coach of the MINNESOTA RIPKNEES, Division Champions in the American Basketball Association. Wilf Wilkinson, the Rotary National President for 2007-2008 has adapted “Rotary Shares” as his theme for 2007-2008. Tammy Laurent presented her goals for District 5950 for the 2007-2008 meeting year.
Other guest speakers during the training session included: The two day conference covered a lot of territory and at times was like drinking from a fire hose but hopefully I retained enough from this conference to aid the Fairmont Rotary Club as your President Elect. Ken Wolfgram
|
Valentine Party 2007
Good food - good friendship - and the Fairmont High School Jazz Band to entertain us.
A great night was had by all.