Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Darlene Anderson
Today was our Annual Junior Rotarian Day honoring the Junior and Senior high school students who have joined us for the 2024/2025 school year. They were welcomed by President-Elect Zach Walters who invited everyone to join him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and The Rotary 4-Way Test.
President-Elect Zach Walters
Junior Rotary Chair Jeff Fifield's Reflection noted how thankful our club is to have had an active Junior Rotarian program for decades. Over the years many clubs have discontinued this program, but we desire to see it continue and thrive. After the pandemic our students have faced on-going challenges such as social isolation, learning remotely and canceled sports and educational activities. Now we ask each Rotarian to consider what can we do to provide a relevant and meaningful experience that enhances the lives of our Junior Rotarians. After all, they are the future leaders of our community and world.
Rotarians and Junior Rotarians recite “The 4-Way Test”
Tanned and Rested Past President Bill Gravelle
Coming forward to kick the Golden Can was Past President
Bill Gravelle who dropped in $5. He and wife Barb spent the winter away from the cold Minnesota weather by heading to Florida. While there he was able to score his first ever “Hole in One”. Congratulations,
Bill. President-Elect
Zack shared that one of the young people he coaches at his boxing gym has joined a professional boxing league. Alissa Boltz has earned a spot in the
Team Combat League with the Atlanta Attack. She has now competed in two matches and won one. Congratulations to Alissa and Coach
Zack. Proud father
Tom Homan let us know that his daughter Courtney, who studied Chinese in college, has been working overseas with the U.S. diplomatic corp. Now she and her young family have relocated to Washington, DC as she was asked to join the FBI.
Proud “Papa” Tom Homan
Note: there are only two weeks to go until the Rotary Gala on May 8. Past-President
Dean Casperson said reservations are filling up
so stop procrastinating and click on the
email link being sent today and register. If you can't attend, there is a spot on the link where you can donate to the event. Remember this is the major fundraiser for our club programs such as grants, Junior Rotarians, Polio Plus and Youth Mental Health Program.
Chair of the Day Jeff Fifield asks the Junior Rotarians to please stand as he introduced them.
Each year the club conducts a “Four-Way Test Essay Contest”. Any student in our participating schools can submit an essay which is then read, evaluated and a winner selected. This year's winning essay was by Paisley Kleiman from Proctor High School. She won $250 for her Why Is Honesty Key to Success? essay and today read it for us. Here is a sample of what she wrote:
Even small lies can cause great destruction changing your life, friendships and morals. The Four-Way Test is a guide that encourages individuals to evaluate their actions, worth, and decisions. Is it the TRUTH? Having the choice to tell the truth can build trustworthiness and better relationships. Is it FAIR? When you choose between telling the truth or lying, keep in mind how it affects others. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Fairness and the truth build goodwill and relationships helping to create a well-rounded individual. Finally, will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? This question is often overlooked but matters deeply. Telling the truth may feel hard at the moment, but in the long run will benefit everyone involved.
Paisley noted, “The Four-Way Test taught me to value my beliefs while caring about others.”
Four-Way Test Essay Contest Winner: Paisley Kleiman
Another part of the Junior Rotarian program is a contest between the students from each school for Honorarium dollars from the Rotary Club to fund a project that will benefit their student body. This year two proposals were chosen to receive the awards.
Ketura Pop from Denfeld High School highlighted beginning a program of selling items such as bubblers and chips before school. The profits from the sales will be used for scholarships for students who are not able to afford the costs to participate in extracurricular activities. The $750 award will be used to buy the initial supplies.
Proctor High School’s Kelli Joy Manninen
Kelli Joy Manninen from Proctor High School shared that their $1750 award will be used to replace their well-loved but worn out 20-year-old mascot Rowdy. Their first mascot was purchased with Rotary funds, so it is appropriate that Rowdy 2 has been bought with these funds. The new Rowdy is a full body suit that comes complete with air conditioning.
Thank you to each of our Junior Rotarians who make the effort and take the time to join us for our meetings.
Club #25 Junior Rotarians “Class of ‘25”
Our Future Leaders!
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