FEB 17, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Mark Ritchie

Past President Jim Kosmo presided and reminded all of Sherry’s thank-you party on March 5 and of the second Values Day program on May 19^th at the new Saint’s Stadium in Lowertown, with a tour of the new facility from 11:30 am to noon.

Andy Currie gave notice of next week’s program with Michael Davis of Goodwill Easter Seals, an $85 million in annual revenue enterprise that provides job training and workforce entrance to many. Ed Coleman announced that only 8 tickets are left for the Wild game against the Oilers with a pre-game party at John’s Bar at 317 Washington.

Happy Dollars were gladly collected by Larry Morgan and a pattern of people being happy over music quickly emerged.  Carley Stuber’s 7 year old daughter, for example, took 1^st place in her recent piano competition.  Ed Coleman’s Caribbean Band will play the Bedlam in Lowertown this Friday.  Sara Kolar noted that her father and Paul Verret’s work in World War II with the French resistance was honored during a recent trip to France.

Jay Pfaender introduced the speaker, former Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.  Mark came down from the dais to speak where he could see his power point slides and vigorously presented the vision of Minnesota hosting a world’s Expo in 2023. Frederick Melo of the Pioneer Press was there to cover the presentation and report it in the Wednesday paper of Feb 18^th. The purpose of the Expo effort is to “invite the world to Minnesota.”

Mark spoke first of how his visit to the 1964 World’s Fair had left him impressed with how big and grand the world is and inspired him to seek many ways to serve in that wider arena. He explained that “big” world’s Fairs are held every 10 years with the last in Shanghai in 2010. The next will be in Dubai in 2020.

Every 5 years there are smaller fairs. The next is this year in Milan.  Now, said Mark, Milan is the #1 searched destination on Kayak and has had 1 billion on-line hits.

Expos which are smaller yet are held in the off years and focus on a theme. The next opening for an Expo is 2023 and Minnesota is privately organizing a bid to have it held here.  Such an Expo is expected to draw from 10 to 15 million visitors with 100 countries and from 50 to 100 companies and NGOs providing exhibits.

The value of hosting an Expo, said Mark, is to change how we are viewed in the world.

 Expo events also function as a hub and spoke opportunity for visitors, who visit not only the hub or Expo itself but then go on to visit “spokes” such as muskie fishing or Germans visiting New Ulm to add to their stay and expenditures.

The last world fair or Expos in the United States was held in 1984, after which the US dropped out of the body which coordinates these events.  But now the Bay Area, Houston and Philadelphia are seeking world fairs in the coming years.  The theme proposed for the 2023 Minnesota Expo is “Healthy People, Healthy Planet”.  The theme has been designed to accent Minnesota values and achievements in promoting wellness and well-being for all.

The organizing team is co-chaired by Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Lois Quam with Mark as the volunteer President. The firm of HGA is planning the site and Tunheim is advising on marketing and presentation of the bid. There is strong support from the U of M at the Humphrey School and the Design School.

The bid for the Expo will be submitted in June to the 168 member Council of the Bureau of International Expositions in Paris. In September/October members of the Council will visit Minnesota to later make their decision in November. As of now there is no competition for the opportunity to host the 2023 Expo.

For questions, Mark was asked where the Expo would be located. He replied that a number of sites are under consideration but some like Arden Hills lack sufficient transportation infrastructure. A plot of only some 60 acres is needed. Most likely, there would be a partnership with a developer who would develop the site for a long-term use and lease facilities to the Expo for the summer of 2023.

The possibility of having the Rotary Convention meet here in 2023 was enthusiastically tabled.

The meeting closed with a standing affirmation of the 4 Way Test.