2014-2015 President John Guthmann turned the club's gavel over to 2015-2016 President Carla Hauge with a smile and a "Happy Clap." Hauge, the club's fourth woman president, is, like Guthmann, a "legacy" Rotarian. Her father Bob Jones is a past president and current club member.

 

President John Guthmann called the meeting to order at 12:18. Thanks to greeters Doug Bruce and Al Zdrazil.

Thanks to Bob Jones for the pre-meeting piano bar experience. All tips collected will go to the St. Paul Rotary Foundation.

PDG Joe Kvarik led the club in George M. Cohan’s patriotic favorite You’re a Grand Old Flag – twice through with Ed Coleman helping out on the chopsticks. The club sang at two different tempos, so perhaps we should try it as a round next time?

Shelly Rucks delivered an inspirational moment to bless the coming Rotary year and the space between us.

Incoming Sargent at Arms Michael-jon Pease introduced visiting Rotarians and guests, most of whom were Carla Hauge’s loving family.

Our Thursday Fellowship Breakfast speaker July 9 will be Jon Cieslak, reflecting on the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and its influence on our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Next week’s Tuesday speaker will be Mark Gordon, the new dean of the newly merged Mitchell-Hamline School of Law.

Ann Frisch presented the banner from the Rotary International Conference in Sao Paulo, which she attended as our club’s voting member. She spoke to the Rotary Peace Fellows at the Peace Symposium and addressed more than 600 Rotarians in her session on “Peace from the Inside Out.”

2015 President John Guthmann recognized the past presidents in the room, including his father Howard. He also recognized the 2014-2015 board members.

Past President Remarks

Outgoing president John Guthmann made brief remarks, starting with how proud he was to have the opportunity to serve the club as President and exhorting us to be justly proud of the club members who have stepped up to serve on the board. Membership continues to be, and will continue to be a challenge as the economy and the demographics of our community shift.

This year, we successfully met the challenge of saying farewell to Sherry Howe, our full time ED of 27 years. We can’t replace her, but we did bring in Jodi Erickson as the new part time administrator, which her proven skills, talent and enthusiasm. The transition continues to go well.

We embraced the shivering excitement of hosting the Rotary International President Gary Huang.

In celebration of how we club helped “Light up Rotary” this past year, President Guthmann led those assembled in international President Huang’s famous “Happy Clap.”

Outgoing “first lady” Teresa Guthmann presented the ceremonial pendant to incoming President Carla and (since he doesn’t wear ties or cufflinks), a Rotary baseball hat to her husband Tom Hauge. The best part is, he doesn’t have to pass it on, but can keep it to use at the games he attends!

Past President Dan McKeown presented John Guthmann with his past president’s pin and plaque.

Incoming President Carla Hauge recognized the incoming board and made her remarks.

President’s Remarks

Carla opened with how truly humbled and scared she is at the opportunity to serve as president. Her parents have promised to help with her four kids and now that’s on record. Women were invited into Rotary in 1987 and Carla is only our fourth woman president, so she is “taking one for the team” and stepping up as an example to others. She enjoys being part of a presidential family legacy in our club that includes her father, Bob Jones, and outgoing president John Guthmann and his father Howard.

With a business to run and a large family to raise, her first goal this year is survival! (Hint: I see a stunning rendition of “I Will Survive” at her eventual roast/toast event next summer). Her family comes first, so if she occasionally missed a club social event, know that she will be wildly cheering on (and no doubt embarrassing) her kids in one of their activities.Beyond survival, her goals include:

  • Continuing our tradition of excellent speakers (thank you Jay Pfaender)
  • Growing membership
  • Supporting our foundation efforts
  • Keeping Happy Dollars on the agenda as much as possible!

This year’s Rotary theme “Be a gift to the word” represents all the ways we each choose to open ourselves and give to others. Thanks to her parents, Bob and Sandy, who provided a great example of community engagement and “service above self.” May we all find new ways to be a gift to each other and our community this coming year.

President Carla Hauge adjourned the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test and her daughter Laura rang the bell.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael-jon Pease