Practice makes perfect, and President John Guthmann called the meeting at precisely 12:15:00.  Was this because of yesterday’s snow froze his internal clock?  Was it because today is Veteran’s Day?  Given his successor finally got it right, does Jim Kosmo care what was the reason?

 

Joe Kovarik led the group a patriotic song.  Bob Jones (piano) pounding out the same melody that Bill Kansas played on October 25, this time a tune that matched the announced song!

Jean Vukas Roberts delivered the invocation.  President John thanked Jimmy Francis and Michael Hernandez for their service as door greeters.  John introduced your Scribe (Joe Beckman). 

Kathleen Riley announced the guests.  This included a guest with 80 marathons under his belt.

President John reminded Rotarians of the following:

This Thursday’s New Member Happy Hour (November 13) at Camp’s Bar

The Rotary Holiday party on December 4.

Tickets are still available; and the Club is still looking for additional Silent Auction items.

The Friday, January 9 joint lunch meeting with the Minneapolis Club, featuring Rotary International President Gary Huang.  There is also a dinner the night before at the St. Paul Hotel.  If you register for both, there is a discount!

Tuesday, February 24 Wild outing.  Tickets that ordinarily sell for $100 each are $75, with $20 of that going to the Rotary Foundation.  We need to sell 100 tickets to qualify, so check your calendars and open your checkbook. 

November Birthdays: Beth Naughton, Steve Young, Bob Hoyle, John Fesler, Donovan Schwichtenberg, Ann Frisch, Jeff Otto, Bob Jones, Jim Delamater, Dick Zehring, Sue Cammack, Ken Peterson, Doug Knowlton, John Brodrick, Carol Bufton, Mark Stutrud, Howard Guthmann

Bob Jones was emcee for “happy dollars.”  He raked in the same, including thanks for the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall, a Rotary exchange student who enthusiastically shoveled off the entire sidewalk, driveway, etc, and a promotion for Meals on Wheels at Cretin on Thanksgiving morning (contact Bill Foussard of White Bear Lake Club).  To volunteer contact Bill at bill@whitebearcountryinn.com.)   

Carla Hauge continued the “Foundation’s month” promotion by noting that the St. Paul Rotary Foundation not only sponsors international ones, but the Cleveland Circle project, Camp RYLA, …. Also, remember to support the Foundation on Give the Max Day.

Steve Gerber – Spoke about Camp RYLA, a major annual Club sponsored activity.  That’s coming up in April, folks!

Jay Pfaender introduced our speaker, Prior Lake resident Terry Hitchcock.  Terry, a Type II diabetic, showed up and spoke 20 minutes despite an off the charts blood sugar measure today of close to 900.  Talk about never giving up and demonstrating an ability to achieve anything! 

That is exactly how Terry has lived his life.  Over his career in business, Terry has he created or helped establish more than 80 companies, creating over 1,500 new jobs.  He has raised more than one hundred million dollars in investor capital in the process.

Terry, however, is not just an entrepreneur.  He is both motivated and a motivator.  Terry firmly believes human beings can accomplish anything they put their minds to, and that all they need to get started is someone to show them it’s possible. 

Terry credits his grandfather (his grandparents raised him) with imbuing this into him.  He doesn’t only talk the talk; however, he walks the walk.

More precisely, he “walks the run” . . . literally. 

In 1996 he ran the equivalent of 75 marathons in 75 days, finishing this 2,100 mile journey at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics!  He’s not fleet of foot, but he has an indomitable spirit and persistence.  Not to be outdone, he and a friend ran across the Mojave Desert (anyone remember Death Valley?) in 2014 to honor our veterans.

To think, Terry is NOT a runner.  He is an achiever and an inspiration!

More proof?  Terry has written (self published) A Father’s Odyssey.  Moreover, no less than Billy Bob Thornton has narrated a documentary entitled My Run.  Copies of each may be ordered from Terry’s website.  Proceeds go to Imagethree charities very close to Terry’s heart: Breast Cancer, Diabetes and Asperger’s Syndrome.

President John closed the meeting by vowing to run all the way home.

JPB, Scribe