American Red Cross Biomedical Services plays a critical role in our nation’s health care system. It is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, collecting and processing more than 40 percent of the blood supply and distributing it to some 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.  In coordination with today's program, Saint Paul Rotary hosted a blood drive at the Crowne Plaza. 

Call to Order 12:30 pm by President Dan McKeown

America the Beautiful was performed by David Laird and Dennis Boom.

Invocation was provided by Dan McKeown.

Kathleen Riley introduced guests:   Visiting Rotarians:  Bill Blackburn from Minneapolis Uptown Club;  Rotarians with Guests:  Jason Tamenan and Jason McCleary; Don Apetz; Jeremy Wells; Abby Speller (outbound student); Thomas and Angela Schwartz.    

Remarks from the President: 

We are looking for a final headcount for the Nagasaki trip; Thanks to Jim Kosmo for filling in last week while President Dan was on vacation.    

Malcolm McLean is hospitalized at Regions.  He’s not up for visitors but we’re sure he would appreciate cards and notes.

Mike Wassenaar is today’s scribe.  Our greeters were Molly Boyne and Michael-Jon Pease.

The Rotary Day at the Saint Paul Saints in Saturday, August 26th.   Tickets are $17.

Thursday’s fellowship breakfast will be a presentation from Ashley Delameter on the Palestinian-Israel Conflict.

Trixie Goldberg introduced Returned Youth Exchange Student Angela Schwartz gave a presentation on her exchange to Nagasaki.  

Al Uniake asked Rotarians to greet the Youth Exchange student arriving this Friday at the MSP Airport.

Vicki Gee-Treft discussed the Friendship Exchange with 10 Rotarians from Taiwan who will be visiting us on September 21st on the river cruise.  All members are invited to join us.  The cost will be $38.  The next outbound trip will be to three cities in British Columbia, and to Idaho May 21-June 2, 2013. 

Todd Kruse talked about the network effect and asked people to think about growing Membership.

(Pictured:  Mike O'Brien donating blood during the club's blood drive.)

ImageProgram:   Geoff Kaufmann and Phil Hanson gave a presentation on the work of the American Red Cross in the Twin Cities.  Phil noted the international spread of the work of the Red Cross since the 1850, and noted the values of the Red Cross and the role of volunteers to carry out the work, which is the alleviation of human suffering in the wake of emergencies.  Some 250,000 people were served across Minnesota each year. 

Most people identify disaster relief and blood donation as key services of the organization.  They pointed out the number of disasters worldwide have nearly doubled in the past 20 years.  45% of the nation’s blood supply is provided by Red Cross collection, first locally and then through national distribution to patients in need of blood supply.  The Red Cross has a need for summer donations, and an emergency need for blood and platelet donors of all types. 

Phil also described the veteran and military service personnel support the Red Cross provides (about 1000 cases of emergency communications in this region every year), as well as first aid and survival and safety training services.  The Red Cross is also working on international humanitarian assistance Imageservices for refugees in Minnesota as part of their support of the Geneva Convention.

Adjourned 1:30 p.m.

Mike Wassenaar
Scribe