AUG 5, 2014 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Bob Senkler, CEO, Securian Financial

Allan Ige and Jon Cieslak greeted Rotarians and guests with 4-Way Test hospitality. President John Guthmann called the meeting to order so that Chuck Field could lead an upbeat singing of God Bless America, Bob Jones at the piano. Steve Young , scribe, gave the inspirational moment with a reading from the Book of Micah that nation should not make war against nation any more on the 100th anniversary of the Guns of August which started WWI.

Dick Zehring introduced guests, including two guests of Past President Al Zdrazil – one from France and the other from the local French American Chamber of Commerce – who had come to help plan a program for our club in Paris.

Donovan Schwichtenberg spoke of next week’s program – on the anniversary of VJ Day ending WWII, Claude Hone, a Navy pilot in the Pacific theater and a Saint Paul Rotarian, will speak.

Geoff Kaufmann reminded members and guests that, next week, in Kellogg Suite 1, blood donations to the Red Cross would be taken. Summertime sees a call for more donations, he said, as students, who provide many of the needed donations, are not in school.

Past President (Club and District) Joe Kovarik presented a multiple Paul Harris pin to Jerry Faletti, remarking that Jerry is not only a multiple Elmer Anderson Fellow but is also a Sustaining Member who has given at least $100 a year every year to the RI Foundation. 

Past President Joe also honored Jerry Meigs and Carole Kralicek for becoming members of the Arch Klumph society for contributions of at least $250,000 to the Rotary International Foundation.

Jon Cieslak graciously accepted happy dollars for a 60^th wedding anniversary (Gil Thoele), magnetic Rotary pins now available, and for Chuck Field and Carolyn Brusseau for helping raise money for a Ronald McDonald guest facility at Children’s Hospital.

Jay Pfaender introduced the speaker, Bob Senkler, CEO of Securian.

Bob thanked the club for its community service. He affirmed that his company has sought to secure communities for 134 years. Company officers serve on 80 non-profit boards. Securian has given out $50billion in benefits and has always had funds to make good on its promises.  Mid-Western values at work he proudly stated.  The company is the 3^rd largest group life insurer with over $1 trillion in policy commitments.

He spoke of ethics – 3 ways to increase the possibility of ethics becoming probable outcomes.  Three ways to avoid going wrong in business.

First is to pick a true purpose for yourself and your company.  For Securian it has been to pay as promised.  Then you work to fulfill your goal. You find a way each day to reinforce your true purpose. Little things are important, like firing the manager who did not wear a seatbelt which was company policy.  Do simple things consistently.

Two is to lead, not follow. Unswervingly commit to keep to your course. Don’t succumb to the blandishment that “everyone else is doing it.”  If that’s your only reason for taking action, you’re making a big mistake.  Consider the mortgage market before 2008.

Three is to do the right thing. If you don’t want it on the front page of the paper, don’t do it.

Securian declined to follow the crowd and go in for undisclosed compensation for its sales force. That would be inconsistent with its purpose and is not a way to treat customers with respect.

Then, Bob passed on what he has come to believe are skills of excellence.

First he noted the need for the leader to help people get it right. People show up at work to succeed, not to fail. Help them do so by looking for solutions to problems.  Celebrate when people bring you problems – you get the truth faster and they are giving you a chance to make things better!

The best way to manage stress is to prepare well and do your best. More than that can’t be expected from you. If you are not having fun in doing your best in a job, do something else which opens the doors to enthusiasm in your work.

Make your life and work one “lifestyle commitment” – enjoy everything you do and have it all flow as one stream of engagement. It’s fun to make a difference, to solve problems.

Steve Young
Scribe