NOV 5, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Paul Douglas
President Jim Kosmo opened the meeting with the disappointing news that Hannah Montana would not be available to lead us in a patriotic song. Fortunately, Miley Cyrus was not available either.
Seriously, President Jim invited Joe Kovarik to channel his inner Mormon Tabernacle Choir and belt out America the Beautiful. Doug Hartford took the piano, resisting the urge to “twerk” during his performance. (Lucky us. The guy is a one man Wrecking Ball – link not for the faint** hearted!)
Carol Bufton delivered the invocation. She did so in a manner the Minnesota Safety Council would approve of (and for the fear of ending this sentence with a preposition, your Scribe adds a gratuitous parenthetical.)
Trixie Golberg introduced the several guests. The roasted brussel sprouts clearly brings them to the table, even when the table is next to the pool in November.
John thanked Dick & Kathy Warren for their service as door greeters. President Jim further acknowledged your humble scribe (Joe Beckman). Maybe he was thankful that Joe was on the other side of a high steel fence when Jim acknowledged him.
Jim added a shameless plug to “like” Joe on Facebook . . . or maybe he meant to like Club 10. He also reminded folks of the Wild hockey game on Friday, November 15 against the Panthers. Remember, $20 of your $65 ticket will go directly back to the Rotary Foundation! (A direct link to purchase here, use the special code “Rotary.”)
Doug Bruce did not talk a bit about the McKeown Roast. That event occurred at the end of August at the Town & Country Club. Your Scribe includes this to check who is still reading.
The mood moved to participation and fund raising. Michael‑jon Pease talked about the December 5 Holiday Party and Silent Auction. Mike O’Brien talked about Foundations Month. Jerry Faletti made a Paul Harris Fellow presentation to Andy Currie. Kathleen Riley did not talk as much as she took action – filling the kitty with Happy Dollars.
John Overland introduced our speaker, Paul Douglas, weatherman and entrepreneur. He began by guaranteeing no snow until Thanksgiving, a short winter, and quality output from your Scribe. Or, as Bert Blyleven might say, we are going to strike out on three pitches . . . looking.
Paul observed that his years in the profession and related study leave him convinced that climate change is real. Climate change is not, he noted, a political issue. Paul pointed out he is a Christian, Republican, Eagle Scout, member of a military family, and (not surprisingly) politically conservative. That noted, he observed 97% of climate scientists concur that climate change is real, and what is lacking to combat it is political will.
Paul also led us through his career as a serial entrepreneur. This included weather technology that garnered Paul a recurring relationship with Steven Spielberg (you can let us use your technology, then tell people we used it) and even a walk on role in a movie.
Paul closed by inspiring the crowd with quotes from sources as varied as Eleanor Roosevelt and Thomas Edison. Paul was, not surprisingly, engaging and entertaining throughout. President Jim thanked Mr. Douglas, made a donation in his name to the Read with Me program of the Saint Paul Public Library, and bestowed on Paul a coin on which the Four Way Test is minted.
See you next week!
Joe Beckman, Scribe
** Your Scribe has not yet managed to wrap his head around either Ms. Cyrus’ exhibitionism or the “twerking” phenomena. In a conversation with the teens who occupy your Scribe’s personal residence, he wondered whatever happened to cause a move away from the type of classy and restrained conduct celebrities of yesteryear such as Ava Gardner or Janice Dickinson displayed in their heyday? The two promptly dismissed your Scribe as “out of touch with reality.”