FEBRUARY 16, 2016 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Fire! Fire! (Redux)
Before your President Carla Hauge began the meeting, your Scribe was firing up his computer. The sun shone brightly through the two story windows, and it was evident from the first bell that the day’s program was going to be . . . SMOKIN’!
Bob Jones, banged out a lovely rendition of “God Bless America,” as Ed Coleman led the singers, while bob‑bob-bobbin’ along with the melody. It was good to note everyone appeared to know most of the words. Your Scribe was grateful Ed did not go for verse two, as access to that portion of his memory would have caused combustion of your Scribe’s limited long term memory cells.
The Inspirational Minute.
Carley Stuber was responsible for the “inspirational minute.” Carley channeled her inner Faith Hill, urging all to “Breathe.” This made your Scribe, a periodic practitioner of this black art, approximately 10% Happier.
Drying the Lumber.
Bo Aylin introduced the day’s guests, including one likely new member (from Summit Hill Living). Eventually, President Carla regained the podium, thanking Roger Nielsen and Doug Bruce for their service as door greeters. She introduced your Scribe (Joe Beckman), igniting what credibility she had left as a judge of talent by suggesting his offerings are worthy of anything more than a bonfire.
President Carla next reminded Rotarians of the following:
- Steve Gerber became a first time father on Thursday, February 11;
- Thursday’s Fellowship Breakfast Speaker was Cindy DuPont, who brought everyone up to speed on what is happening at Visit St. Paul. (Clearly, your Scribe had no burning desire to get his summary in on deadline, so by the time this is posted Cindy’s presentation will be in the past tense.)
- New member introduction of Heather Christopherson. Heather is VP for Advancement with People Incorporated. People Incorporated supports mental health and wellness in our community through collaboration and integration of care. Heather has been in fundraising for 18 years, obtaining her undergraduate and masters in Pittsburgh, and is the current president of the Association Fundraiser Professionals in Minnesota.
- John Andrews presented the Elmer Anderson award to Jay Pfaender. Jay, who may have been the youngest full fledged Rotary member when he joined in 1970 (at the age of 8?), actually KNEW Elmer Anderson.
- Next week is “Fast for Hope,” so be ready for bread and soup. (True fact; but because of this the excess of our lunch dollars goes to feed others!)
Next, Ed Coleman reminded everyone for the near final time of the Wild Outing on Tuesday, February 23. Tickets that ordinarily sell for $98 each with $20 of that going to the Rotary Foundation. There are 22 tickets left, with a pre-party at 317 on Rice Park. (President’s note: Please register and pay online as this will not be billable to your Rotary account.)
Bo Aylin again seized the microphone for and “happy dollars.” Your Scribe’s copious notes were destroyed in an ugly conflagration. Here are the charred remains: . . . . . going to Korea. . . . watched his granddaughter strike 5 in her first under 10 fast pitch softball game. . .seven employees . . . attending Rotary Wild game as a thank you for their hard work.
Spontaneous Combustion Averted.
Chad Roberts introduced our speaker, Jim Stolpestad, Developer at Custom House. Jim is an attorney by education and background. In 1991 he started Exter Group. Jim is also on the Board of the Ramsey County Historical Society.
Jim took the audience through several historical slides, including the first (1851) map of the city. (Your Scribe is pretty sure he saw his home was a pig farm at the time. He concluded this might explain the manner in which the teens who haunt the place care for it.)
In addition to several colorized slides going back to the turn of the century, Jim took us through neighborhoods, including down University Avenue. Shortly after walking the audience through Exter’s acquisition of the former Post Office, the hotel was nice enough to announce a test of the fire system. Lights flashed. Computerized voices gave warnings. Jim remained inflammable. 
Moving right along, Exeter removed 10,000 TONS of debris from the building. The remodeled building will have apartments in the upper floors of the tower, with a hotel below it. There will be over 200 apartments, 25% of which are already leased.
(At this point the hotel added strobe light feature as it actually TESTED the system. By the third time the automated female voice sternly warned everyone about the “fire in the building,” your Scribe worried he might transmogrify into “a hunk, a hunk of burnin’ love” for this disembodied model of female perfection.)
Mercifully, the tests concluded, permitting Jim to wrap his speech. At the back, copies of his “Custom House” were available for sale.
President Carla closed the meeting making a donation to the Read With Me Program on behalf of Mr. Stolpestad, as well as a coin with the Four Way Test. She then led all members in reciting the test before ending the meeting in a timely fashion.
JPB, Scribe