MAY 6, 2014 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Rotary Education Day in Review

Jim Field, accompanied by Dennis Boom on the piano led the room in singing Gold Bless America.  Ken Peterson gave today’s invocation, a simple blessing of thanks; we all appreciate the opportunity to share this special day with the Rotation Forward Award recipients.  Keevan Kosidowski facilitated introductions of visiting Rotarians, club members and their guests.   The Saint Paul Public School Board was well represented by Club 10 member, John Brodrick and fellow board members, Jean O’Connell and Louise Seeba.   Today’s greeters were Bob Jones, Scott Van and Tom Tolbert.  Thanks to Scott House and Katie Grace for registering our student and their guests.

President Jim returned to the podium and shared what it means to be a Rotarian – Service Above Self – and the day included a recitation of the Four-Way test.  Rotary also has a history of helping to support the leaders of tomorrow by advancing education through our Rotary Scholarship program.   A nice segueway to call past president and past District Governor, Joe Kovarik, to the stage to promote the Values Day Lunch on May 13, 2014 in partnership with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.   Joe outlined the days schedule and announced keynote speakers, Marilyn Carlson Nelson and Stanley S. Hubbard.  There is still time to register and participate in helping build a better Saint Paul and enhance values in your life and workplace.  Register today!!!

Doug Hartford gave a report on this year’s Feed My Starving Children packing event which wrapped up a 5-year commitment to this organization.  585 volunteers helped pack 185,958 meals, enough to feed 509 kids for one year.  All told from May, 2010 through April, 2014, 2,760 volunteers helped to pack 737,793 meals, which fed 2,000 kids for a year…and we were able to complete this feat in the comfort and ambiance of Summit Brewing Company.   Doug thanked Mark Stutrud and crew for hosting all of our packing events!   Club 10 also would not have achieved these totals without the support of clubs in Winona, MN as well as Rice Lake and New Richmond, WI.  Since November, 2009, Fancy Nancy has trucked to 142 packing events in 16 states.  170,000 volunteers, half under 18 years of age, packed a total of 38.3 million meals, enough to feed 105,000 kids for one year.  While the club met all of their stated goals in the past five years and can feel good about accomplishing our mission, the work of eradicating hunger is not done.  Doug announced that the club has renewed their support for FMSC and he welcomed Doug Bruce and Patrick Brown as the Co-chairs of the 2015 packing event…stay tuned for more news on this.

President Jim asked Mike Anderson, of the Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation to step to the microphone to begin the presentation of the recipients of this year’s Rotation Forward Awards.  After saying thank you and job well done to all of the young scholars, Mike proceeded to announce the 14 schools represented, and their individual teacher/spokesperson introduced the 120 student award recipients.  Each of the winners chosen embodies the truths of our Four-Way Test and received a copy of the May 6^th Pioneer Press newspaper with their names printed, a certificate of merit and a $25 gift card from Target Corporation.  Mike shared several inspirational quotes received from teachers about these 7^th and 8^th grade students, their achievements, their personal victories, obstacles overcome on the road to becoming productive, positive students in school and citizens in our community and world.

Lynn Beck introduced the 2014 Saint Paul Rotary Teacher of the Year, Jody Rohweller, from Highland Park Senior High.  Jody grew up in Perham, Minnesota and was a Rotary Scholarship winner in high school.  Her acceptance speech was very heartfelt and inspirational.  She commended Rotary for our “international mightiness”, for our volunteer service work around the world; values she was proud to say are shared at Highland Park High School.  Her love of learning and teaching our kids was evident throughout her acceptance speech, as well as her gratitude to all the mentors, colleagues and administrators in the district who have helped her during her 15 year tenure.  She closed with a Russian proverb saying, “Education is light.  Lack of it, darkness.”    Today was Jody’s birthday and she was regaled by the crowd with a singing of Happy Birthday!

President Jim brought Superintendent of the Saint Paul School District, Valeria Silva, to the podium.  She too congratulated Jody, as well as all teachers who have passion and commitment to our next group of leaders.  She has been Superintendent since 2009, but working in the district for 25 years and while originally from Chile, is proud to call Minnesota home, “you betcha.”   The students in the audience, she proclaimed, will be our future teachers and well as choosing many other professionals, and they will continue to succeed because they chose to be educated.
 
President Jim recited an inspirational quote of his own, “the only people who don’t make waves, are those that aren’t pulling hard enough.”  Aye, aye Captain!  He also shared that a donation would be made in Superintendent Silva’s honor to Saint Paul’s Read with Me Program.   He closed the celebration proclaiming “our future is in good hands.”  The meeting was adjourned at 1:11 p.m.

Beth Naughton, Scribe