JANUARY 29, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Winter Carnival Royalty Visit

Club 10 Business Report

President Dan McKeown brought the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. on a Winter Carnival Tuesday in downtown Saint Paul.  David Laird led the assembled Rotarians in singing God Bless America, accompanied by  Bob Jones on the piano.  Jean Vukas Roberts provided today's invocation. Dick Zehring, King Boreas LII (the 52nd in 1988), facilitated  the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests.  Today's Greeters were Jason DeKeuster (West Wind 2011) and Molly Boyne (member of the Winter Carnival Board of Directors).

President Dan asked President-elect Jim Kosmo to report on last week's Rotary Large Club Conference held in Beaumont, TX.  Sixty-five large Rotary clubs from the U.S. and Canada were represented.  Jim said the conference schedule was packed and that the information exchanged was valuable.  At the end of his comments Jim presented next year's Club 10 President-elect, Hon. John Guthmann, a t-shirt publicizing the 2014 Large Club Conference to be held at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN.  

Assistant District Governor Alan Ruvelson presented President Dan and Club 10 a District Award for exceeding the Club 10 goal for contributions to the "Polio Plus" campaign.

Kay Baker made an appeal for three host families for the student exchange visits the week of April 15 to 19.  Blaine Niven, Membership Committee, asked that members bring prospective members to upcoming meetings, with special emphasis on the March 5th meeting featuring University of Minnesota Head Football Coach Jerry Kill.  

Bonnie Holub introduced new member Pat Brault, a past Rotarian of three other clubs.  Sarah Kolar collected Happy Dollars.

Jay Pfaender, a past Winter Carnival Prime Minister (1974), recounted for Club 10 those Club members who have reigned as a past King Boreas, served as Prime Ministers, the Four Winds, and as other Winter Carnival dignitaries.  Jay then introduced the Prime Minister of the 2013 Winter Carnival, Matt Wallace.  P.M.

Wallace introduced the members of the Royal Family:  King Boreas LXXVII (the 77th) Ted Natus; Aurora, Queen of Snows, Melissa Hoffbeck; Titan, Prince of the North Wind, Mike Maranda; North Wind Princess, Jill Volkert; Euros, Prince of the East Wind, Mike Canine; East Wind Princess, Shannon O'Brien; Zephyrus, Prince of the West Wind, Ryan Rutzick; West Wind Princess, Carrie Paetow; Notos, Prince of the South Wind, Chris Stout; South Wind Princess, Megan Erickson; Klondike Kate, Anita Mack; Guard Captain, Bryan Johnson; Guard Sergeant, Christopher Villella; and Guards Tom Kreuser and Jeff DeKuester.  P.M. Wallace then conducted the traditional knighting ceremony in which Taichi Mizuno (Rotary Exchange Student), Rick Gobell and President Dan were inducted into the Realm of Boreas.  Last, but certainly not least, Klondike Kate ventured deep into the audience to serenade Rotarian Dick Nicholson as a special treat for the assemblage!

Past P.M. Jay introduced Beth Pinkney, the outgoing CEO of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival (a/k/a The Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation) to provide a state-of-the-Winter Carnival report.  

Ms. Pinkney has headed up the Winter Carnival and the Foundation for the past six years.  She recounted the founding of the Winter Carnival in 1886 in response to bad press for the City of Saint Paul by the New York Times, the infamous "...another Siberia, unfit for human habitation in the winter..." description which City fathers fought to dispel by putting on a winter extravaganza.  This 127-year-old brand started primarily with sporting events.  

Over the years, ice slides, hot air balloon races, car races on ice, softball tournaments on ice, ice castles and even an NHL All-Star game have celebrated winter during the run of the carnival.  The Carnival has a $7 million to $10 million impact on the East Metro economy each winter with an estimated 350,000 visitors.  

The Winter Carnival is in good shape,as new events have again been introduced this year including the Beer Dabbler (sold out!), the first time partnership with the Red Bull Crushed Ice downhill skating event and a Mozart's birthday celebration.  Ms. Pinkney's successor CEO has also been identified and is ready to lead the effort going forward.  Ms. Pinkney urged all in attendance to GET INVOLVED to ensure the continued success of this civic treasure. 

President Dan thanked Ms. Pinckney for her remarks and noted that a donation in her name would be made to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Read With Me" program. President Dan then asked former Winter Carnival P.M. Jay Pfaender for the Call of the Guards to lead the recessional of Winter Carnival royalty to a rousing ovation from Club 10.  President Dan adjourned the meeting at 1:32 p.m.

Chuck Standfuss, Scribe