JUL 9, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Changing of the Guard
Held on the good ship Betsey Northrup, the meeting was called to order by today’s MC Past President and immediate Past District Governor Joe Kovarik with a long toot on a whistle, indicating that we are moving ahead. Greeters were Kathleen Riley and Sarah Kolar.
A special invocation was in order in the form of a song, the words and music written by Alex Cirillo, Jr. A very talented expression of the Rotary spirit of service set to a notable melody, Alex’s composition brought great credit to his skill and to Rotary. The words are set forth in this newsletter so that all may appreciate his latest and very unique contribution to our Club. For sharing his talents, Alex was then presented with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Outgoing President Dan McKeown introduced an impressive array of past Club presidents. Guests were introduced, including 4 of incoming President Kim Kosmo’s 7 daughters.
Steve Young presented President Dan with a banner from the recent Rotary International Convention in Lisbon, Portugal, whereat Steve and Jerry Meigs had lead a session on Rotary’s Four-Way Test.
Incoming President Jim presented our third Centennial Scholar, Chidyaonga Shalita of Highland Park High School, his Mother and sister. He will be attending Macalester College, majoring in biochemistry. His scholarship is made possible by the Club’s special fundraising effort for its 100th anniversary. International youth exchange student Taichi Mizuno was introduced for his remarks before he returns home to Japan. His appreciative disposition was reflected in his thanks to all those who had helped him learn English and experience America.
The 2012-2013 Officers and Board were introduced to a round of applause in thanks for their dedication and contributions to the Club.
Outgoing President Dan spoke of his thanks to his wife Heidi, to Sherry for her steady support day in and day out, and to all the officers and Board members who had “lightened his load” of care and concern for the Club. He recalled the highpoints of the past year from the programs on ebook libraries, with Mark Weber, and Marilyn Carlson Nelson, to volunteer programs, the dedication of the Peace Statute, and the line for happy dollars at the Christmas Party.
President Dan then spoke of the Rotary concept: to take meals with friends, to share personal stories, to learn from great speakers, to commit to volunteering for the community, to reach out to like-minded people who share the Four-Way Test – who trust and give resources in a leap of faith in others.
The Officers and Board for 2013 – 2014 were then introduced. Incoming President Jim Kosmo then got up to present outgoing President Dan with his gavel. It was then discovered that Past President Tom Farnham had taken the said gavel into his personal custody as a graduate of St. John’s to protect it from “mayhem” on the part of St. Thomas graduates in the room. Suffice to say, no “mayham” was afoot and the gavel in proper shape was duly presented to outgoing President Dan.
In a tradition unique to Club 10 and started by Jerry and Jean Meigs in 1980, the special pendant for the President’s wife was passed on to Shelley Kosmo by Heidi McKeown.
Incoming President Jim was introduced and spoke eloquently of his vision. Jim learned from river pilots that your first obligation is to maintain headway. This he intends to do at Club 10. The Club is in good order and needs to keep on course. His second intention is to listen to the members – it’s their club.
His third intention is to avoid stagnation as there are bends in the river of life. We live, he said, in a changing society.
President Jim will convene a visioning/strategic planning session for the fall of 2013. He is concerned that Rotary is too invisible in the community.
He plans to introduce a new award – a “Mark Weber Service Above Self” award to bring forward examples of the Rotary Spirit we value. He will look into opportunities for earning multiple Elmer Andersen Awards for contributions to the Club’s Foundation. And, he will focus on membership for a club which is a force of St Paul community leaders.
Finally, President Jim as his major initiative will work on having a Value’s Day, an idea that has been around for a while but which was 
crystalized by Marilyn Carlson Nelson in her recent remarks to the Club.
President Jim recommends the theme of incoming Rotary International President Ron Burton: ”Engage Rotary; change lives.”
Steve Young,
Scribe