August 4, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Larry Morgan
Blake Davis offered an inspirational minute on “simplicity in all things” and the silence and majesty of the wilderness. Rick Gobell introduced visiting Rotarians and guests.
President Carla thanked today’s greeters: Mary Britts, YMCA and Linda Mulhern, Collins Electric and scribe Michael-jon Pease, Park Square Theatre.
Don’t forget to sign up for next week’s Blood Drive on August 11, from 10-3 in the room next door to our meeting. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to get your name on the list and make a difference!
Michael-jon Pease will be Thursday’s Fellowship speaker, offering a candid conversation on the rapid changes that led to marriage equality, first in Minnesota and then the nation.
Jim Kosmo encouraged members to sign up for our ROAST/TOAST of Past President John Guthmann on August 26 at the Andy Boss Stage at Park Square Theatre. Food, drink, fellowship and a friendly send up of our erstwhile club leader make for a great end to summer. If you have a good “Judge John” story, please email Jim Kosmo at jimkosmo@gmail.com
Al Zdrazil encouraged members to gather for dinner on August 18th for the Nagasaki-St. Paul Rotary Exchange group of 10-12 Rotarians and spouses from the Nagasaki Rotary Club. Dinner will be at the Pool & Yacht Club and the cost is $45. For more information or questions contact Al Zdrazil at morzil2@tcq.net.
John Guthmann, Ramsey County Court, encouraged members to stay for next Tuesday’s program by historian Steve Osman on Fort Snelling during WWII.
Rick Gobell, Drake Bank, collected HAPPY DOLLARS, as all good bank presidents do.
Chuck Whitaker introduced club member Larry Morgan, TKDA who spoke on the “History of the St. Paul Cathedral;
It was 100 years ago that the first liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral on Palm Sunday March 28, 1915. When considering the simplicity of the tools available to craftsmen in the early 20th century, the Cathedral of Saint Paul is both a work of art and a tribute to the skill and ingenuity of the many craftsmen that helped build it. When it was built in 1910 the average wage was just 22 cents/hour (and coffee fetched 15 cents/lb!). The cost to construct the Cathederal was $1.6 MM and the estimate to build it new today is $2 billion!
Larry’s presentation looked at the construction process and the challenges that were overcome, including a great video of steel workers throwing and catching (in funnels) steel rivets heated to 1900 degrees Farenheit. Amazingly, there was only one fatality during construction. Larry’s firm is one of only four that were involved in the original design and construction still in existence 100 years later. Larry’s firm (Toltz, King, Duvall, Anderson and Associates -TKDA) was part of the original design/construction team and is proud to have been a part of this great masterpiece. His firm’s solution for the heating system wasted no energy and saved $11,000 in construction cost. When the first mass was celebrated in 1915, the interior was plain whitewash. The altar was completed in 1924 and the whole structure was “substantially complete” by 1940. The Cathedral Heritage Foundation is a non-sectarian fundraising entity that supports the preservation of the building. Please consider a contribution or attend the Gala here at the Crowne Plaza on Sept. 25!
Respectfully submitted,
Michael-jon Pease