NOVEMBER 17, 2015 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Bob Thacker

Club 10 Business Report



 

President Carla Hauge brought the meeting to order at 12:17 p.m. on a raining-cats-and-dogs fall day in downtown Saint Paul. Past President and Past District Governor Joe Kovarik led the assembled Rotarians in singing This Land is Your Land, accompanied by Bob Jones on the piano. Trixie Goldberg provided today's invocation. Michael-jon Pease facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Today's Greeters were Carley Stuber and John Chandler. 


 

There is one more week to complete the member survey according to President Carla. Chuck Whitaker plugged membership. Jim Delamater reminded everyone about Rotary International Foundation and Saint Paul Rotary Foundation month emphasizing RI's commitment to the eradication of polio, especially in India. "Support Rotary International." Jim mentioned that there is an RI sponsored trip to India coming up with details posted at the Club website. Michael-jon Pease provided a Holiday Party promo emphasizing the venue at the newly re-done Commodore (where F. Scott Fitzgerald hung out) and date: Thursday evening, December 3rd. He also asked for auction items. David Dominick promoted the upcoming RI District 5960 and Saint Paul Rotary 2016 Friendship Exchange Visit from the Thailand Delegation, January 28th to February 2nd with twelve people coming to experience Minnesota winter including Saint Paul's Winter Carnival. Ann Frisch presented a Brazil friendship visit flag to President Carla and then promoted the December 8th meeting at which the Nonviolent Peace Force will be the topic (Universal Declaration of Human Rights booklet distributed; please review and think about the rights described in preparation for the meeting.) November birthdays were honored. Michael-jon Pease collected Happy Dollars.

 

Jay Pfaender introduced today's speaker, Bob Thacker, Executive Director of AdoptAClassrom.org. Mr. Thacker's presentation was entitled "Corn-fed Philosophy" and began with a slide picturing his Grandma's sod hut in 1890's Nebraska. "Why would people stop in Nebraska?" Grandma's philosophy: Make the most with what you have. Mr. Thacker was in marketing with Target from the late-80's to the mid-90's. Target was a name sponsor of the restoration of the Washington Monument and decided to hire a prominent architect to design the scaffold system (Michael Graves). His innovation was to illuminate the monument with donated GE lighting. Also, while on a delay during traveling for this project with Mr. Graves, the "democratization of design" was born and became a Target marketing staple. Mr. Thacker later became V.P. of Marketing for Office Max. Through more serendipity, his team developed successful internet viral advertising campaigns like the "Power of the Penny" ad and holiday themed web sites.  His team developed "Elf Yourself" in 2006 (one of the top 10 viral websites of all time) and followed up with a flash mob of four hundred dancing elves in New York's Central Park in 2009. Creating a holiday tradition allows you to have a very long marketing life.

 

In retirement, Mr. Thacker has found more serendipity in joining AdoptAClassrom.org. This online non-profit connects teachers with the resources they need to succeed. It helps the teachers on the front line. It is totally virtual and online. Teachers sign up on the website. Donors sign up. They match up. Donors receive a thank you email. "This is what I need to teach your children." "And they get it. Free." Mr. Thacker urged Club 10 members to go there and find how to make a difference. Final slide in Mr. Thacker's presentation: "No true pessimist was ever a brilliant marketer."

 



President Carla thanked Mr. Thacker for his presentation and noted that a donation would be made in his name to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Reading Together" program. She also presented him with a Rotary Certificate and then led those assembled in a recitation of the Four-Way Test inscribed on it ("Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?"). President Carla then rang the bell to close the meeting at 1:15 p.m.