Wagner Rotary met on Wednesday, June 15th with President Bryan Slaba back in the saddle again. Rotarian/Pastor Laurie Kidd led us once again in prayer asking for protection for all those who have no shelter from our heat wave that is coming. Thanks was given for our food and fellowship. Laurie asked the members to pick out the songs for the day. “Smile” and “Stodola Pumpa” were chosen.

Rotarian Ken Cotton expounded on the International Responsibilities of a Rotarian for the Membership Minute. As an international organization Rotary offers each member unique opportunities and responsibilities. Although each Rotarian has first responsibility to uphold the obligations of citizenship of his or her own country, membership in Rotary enables Rotarians to take a different view of international affairs.

A world minded Rotarian looks beyond national patriotism and considers himself as sharing responsibility for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace; Resists any tendency to act in terms of national or racial superiority; Seeks and develops common grounds for agreement with peoples of other lands; Defends the rule of law and order to preserve the liberty of the individual so that he may enjoy freedom of thought, speech and assembly, and freedom from persecution, aggression, want and far; Supports action directed toward improving standards of living for all peoples, realizing that poverty anywhere endangers prosperity everywhere; Upholds the principles of justice for mankind; Strives always to promote peace between nations and prepares to make personal sacrifices for that ideal; Urges and practices a spirit of understanding of every other man’s beliefs and a step toward international goodwill, recognizing that there are certain basic moral and spiritual standards which will ensure a richer, fuller life.

That is quite an assignment for any Rotarian to practice in thoughts and actions!

Sergeant at Arms Jerry Weber made it to Rotary just in time to eat and write a whole page full of fines:

$3 to Jeff Doom for walking all around the rooms during the meal

$2 to Ken Cotton for humming instead of singing the songs

$1 each to Jamie Soukup, Jeff Doom, Bill Frei, Jordan Weber, and Scott McAdaragh for talking constantly. They were banned from sitting together before and now will have to be separated again.

$2 to Bill Frei for interrupting the Sergeant at Arms; $2 to Joe Stedronsky for just being too nice of a guy; $2 to Jordan Weber for getting a haircut to match Bill Frei’s; $2 to Jamie Soukup for not knowing what was going on; $2 to Jerry Henke for bringing us a picture to be hung

Happy Fines were: $5 from Kathe Henke for the article about Jamie Soukup and our American Flag in the newspaper; $5 from Rachel Woods for her son winning the Cardboard Regatta at the Unity Jam on Sunday.

All attention turned to the Queen of Hearts drawing: Scott McAdaragh had the lucky ticket and tried to find the Queen, but she is still hiding. Scott drew the seven of Diamonds.

Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak announced that the Queen of Hearts is up to $607.00. The Woods Team had no absences today, but the Brunsing Team had two which leaves the totals at ten for Woods and twenty-two for Brunsing.

President Slaba announced the decisions made at the Board of Directors Meeting prior to the regular meeting. Rachel Woods has graciously moved to the position of President Elect and Becky Brunsing has resumed a position of a Director. This became necessary as Brunsing has a new work position which will require her to travel. Brunsing will resume as a President Elect the following year.

The Board also met with Rotarian Linda Soukup and decisions were made about ordering shrubs and flowers to landscape around the Rotary Shelter at Wagner Lake. An evening of planting instead of a regular meeting at noon will be held soon.

Slaba read two letters of resignation from Kara Frei and Laurie Kidd. Rotarian Frei has determined that her business does not allow her to attend all the meetings that she would like. Rotarian Kidd has been reassigned to Hettinger, North Dakota United Methodist Church effective June 30th.

Rotarian Brunsing introduced her program which was Jeff Doom. Rotarian Doom is an avid reader of current events and history. He is presently reading San Fransicko by Michael Shellenburg and had already read Shellenburg’s previous book titled Apocalypse Never. The present book was written concerning the drug problem in the United States. 93,000 people die of drug overdoses a year. This is compared to 37,000 deaths by car and 16,000 deaths from gun violence.

Doom also addressed Radon and provided some facts concerning the testing of several homes in Wagner. A test kit can be purchased at any hardware store and placed in your basement for a radon reading. Some Wagner residents have had readings as high as 34 and 37.

A high reading is fixable. Radon comes from a mixture of water and shale and is found all over the nation in different amounts. A high Radon gas reading can be dealt with by pulling the basement air to the outside. Most homes built with drainage tile do not have a problem. Older homes constructed before drainage tile came into being are more than likely to have problems and especially if you have had problems with water in your basement.

The meeting adjourned with our recitation of the 4 -Way Test.