JULY 21, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
An Evolving Energy Industry
An Evolving Energy Industry
President Carla Hauge convened the meeting, introducing Sergeant at Arms Michael-jon Pease and Past-President Doug Hartford, on piano, to lead us in spirited reading of “It’s a Grand Old Flag”. Bob Cardinal delivered a reverent invocation followed by Greeter Sarah Kolar introducing Visiting Rotarians and Guests. Earlier, Sarah was joined by Kay Baker in greeting arriving members. Carla thanked John Chandler and Bo Aylin for stepping up to manage the Club’s social media.
She announced that John Overland would be the Thursday Fellowship speaker, addressing the Boy Scouts’ commitment to “Keeping All Children Safe”. Carla urged members to turn in their auto-pay authorizations and recited her “elevator speech” Rotary mantra, “Join Leaders, Exchange Ideas and Take Action”.
Roger Nielsen delivered a fitting memorial to his friend and fellow- Rotarian, John Lampert Fesler. John was a long-standing member of Saint Paul Rotary, an accomplished business leader, and noted philanthropist. John was a combat veteran of the U.S. Army, wounded in action at the Battle of the Bulge. He was preceded in death by his brother, David, also a Saint Paul Rotarian. John’s son, Dan, is a former member of the Club.
Michael-jon proceeded to pre-qualify, virtually, the entire membership for one or more assignments at our weekly meetings. The Club is needful of Rotarians to volunteer, especially to serve as “Scribe”. John Marshall promoted next week’s presentation that Peter Pearson and he will make on the activities of the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. Andy Currie made an urgent plea for Rotarians to register to donate blood to the Red Cross in conjunction with our meeting of August 11. It will be possible to donate either before or after the meeting in a room adjacent to our meeting space. In a rare “trifecta” of Club service Sarah Kolar, again, took the floor to collect “Happy Dollars”, notably from Roger Nielsen, celebrating his soon-to-close gallery exhibition in Lowertown and his seventh wedding anniversary with former Saint Paul Rotarian Vicki Gee Treft.
John returned to the podium to introduce Chris Clark, President of Northern States Power, an operating unit of Excel Energy. Chris, a lawyer and regulatory law expert, rose through the ranks at Excel representing the company at public utility commissions in the upper Midwest. He addressed how the company sought to work together with local communities to achieve a “brighter energy future”. He highlighted the exceptional opportunities presented by the redevelopment of the Ford site in Saint Paul and Rice Creek Commons (the former Twin City Army Ammunition Plant in New Brighton). He announced that the company was committed to making the new CHS Field the “greenest” in the Country. Chris talked about NSP’s long-range strategy, given the changing economics of the industry. By 2030, he expects that 35% of our service will be from renewable sources and 63% of generation will be carbon-free. The Company will become the #1 provider of wing energy in the Country.
President Carla thanked Chris for his illuminating, “electrifying” presentation and adjourned the meeting with a recitation of the FOUR WAY TEST.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Cieslak