Wagner Rotary gathered on a cool, windy, and rainy Wednesday for its October 20th meeting. Members were treated to a nice warm club room. President Bryan Slaba had a new thermostat installed which will regulate the temperature more efficiently than the old system. There were always two thermostats, one for AC and one for heat that were installed back in 1976 when the clubroom was remodeled from Piroutek Insurance to the Wagner Rotary Clubhouse. Members were forever choosing which thermostat to turn off or on, but these will not need adjusting and they are off limits to anyone!

One guest was present, Christina Ymker courtesy of Amanda Bechen

Rotarian Laurie Kidd gave thanks for the rain and the fall weather we are having and the gift of life that our Creator has given us. She went right to the piano and led the members in “Singing in the Rain” followed by “Sing Out a Song of Rotary.”

The meeting was our First Quarterly Steak Meeting with the Brunsing Team paying for all members steaks having lost the attendance race for July, August, and September.

We do not have programs on Steak Day, and Rotarian Ken Cotton who gives a weekly Membership Minute was not present. So in lieu of a formal program Rotarian Patty Frei gave a report on Polio that was given at the annual Rotary Conference in Deadwood last weekend. Patty and Bill Frei, who is the Assistant District Governor for our region both attended the conference.

DISTRICT 5610 POLIO PLUS, 2010-2021

This was a banner year for Polio Plus in District 5610 as the Total District Giving was $90,465. That is by far the largest amount ever raised. This total amount was matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so it was turned into $271,895.00 for polio elimination. What a figure for a Midwest District! I also want to especially thank the Foundation Raffle Committee. They are how the DDF is raised that we get back to use for Polio Plus each year.

There is one Club that gave beyond the call of duty. This Club has always generously supported Polio Plus. It is Marshall Sunrise Club that gave $48,000. Because of Marshall Sunrise the District hit $55 per member for the first time. More than meeting our goal of $40 per member for the first time. To me they are the District 5610 Polio Plus Crown Jewel.

Worldwide even with Covid putting polio vaccinations on hold, the year is looking good. There has been only one wild polio virus case each in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan is now letting in our teams to vaccinate in the Mosques, so we are very hopeful there. Around the world (in war zones where vaccines cannot be given) the type 2 vaccine derived polio virus has become ugly and paralyzing again. The result is the number of vaccine derived polio cases increased last year to 959. Vaccine derived polio however has now dropped to about a fourth since last year. The numbers this year are 195. A newly developed type 2 polio vaccine will finally aid us in controlling the vaccine derived polio cases. I see the end of polio coming. Thanks for every Rotarian helping in the past, but we still need help. Remember every dollar we raise is matched by the Gate’s 2 for 1. Willis Sutliff MD, Polio Plus Chairman

Sergeant at Arms Jerry Weber was highly active while eating his steak as he managed to put down an extensive list of fines:

$3 to Gerrit Juffer for vacationing in the British Virgin Isles

$4 to Craig Krsnak for vacationing in Cabo

$5 to Linda Soukup for parking in the reserved space for the food delivery

$2 to Jerry Henke for whining about the new thermostats

$2 to Bill Frei for coming in so happy

A warning was given to Rachel Woods and Kara Frei for not acknowledging the Sergeant at Arms when they arrived

$1 fine to every member who used steak sauce on their steak including Scott MacAdaragh who received an additional dollar fine

$2 to Jordan Weber for his comments about his father’s combining skills

$2 to Pastor Bill who knocked a Rotary banner off the wall and did not put it back up

$2 to Scott MacAdaragh for applauding himself when members acknowledged his steak grilling ability

$2 to Pastor Laurie who sang the loudest on the songs especially the high notes

$2 to Patty Frei for giving such a good report on the Rotary Convention

Amanda Bechen paid the only Happy Fine of $2 for the entertaining skills of Kathe Henke

Jerry Henke was lucky again to get a chance at finding the Queen of Hearts in the deck, but he pulled a five of spades.

Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak reported that the football book winners were Jeff Doom (book sold by himself) and Hank Bok, book sold by Kathe Henke.

The Brunsing Team had three misses and the Woods Team had two misses resulting in a total of three for Brunsing and seven for Woods. We collected $38 today bringing the Queen of Hearts drawing up to $117.00

The rest of the meeting was spent discussing details of the club members serving the Fellowship Feast next Thursday at the Methodist church.

Gerrit Juffer gave an outline of his vacation trip in the British Virgin Islands.

We adjourned with members reciting our 4-Way Test.