President Rachel Woods called the meeting to order on Wednesday, May 10th with a welcome sound coming thru the windows. Rotarian Jeff Doom went to look and behold it was raining! Something we haven’t experienced in a long time.

Pastor/Rotarian Bill Heermann gave thanks for the blessing of the rain and the food that was prepared for us.

The Assistant Song leader Jeff Doom led the group in one verse of “Smile” as it is about the only song we can all sing from memory.

Rotarian Ken Cotton focused on the Rotary Wheel Emblem for his Membership minute. A wheel emblem has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate “Civilization and Movement.” Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus in 1923 the present gear wheel with twenty-four cogs and six spokes was adopted by the “Rotary International Association.” A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a “keyway” in the center of the spoke to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923 the keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.

Rotarian Jordan Weber levied the following fines: $3 to Patty Frei for her phone going off during the program last week; $5 to Jeff Doom for not getting his order straight at the new Taco Johns; $2 to all the farmers in the room for the rain we are getting during the meeting; $5 to Jamie Soukup for selling so much corn to the farmers in the last two weeks, the only happy fine was from Rachel Woods who gave $10 for finally getting her sister married off!

Craig Krsnak was the lucky ticket holder but wasn’t too excited about drawing the Queen as the pot is just starting to grow with a new deck and sure enough, he only drew the eight of clubs. Krsnak did report that the current attendance race is holding at four misses for Jordan’s team and five misses for the Soukup Team.

Rotarian Kathe Henke introduced her program. Connie Kaufman from Delmont, South Dakota who currently works part time at the Wagner Community Hospital and is the current director of the Communities That Care. This is a nation-wide organization that has organized the knowledge on what protects young people from developing health and behavior problems into an easy-to-use strategy that can be easily put into action in families, schools, and communities. Providing young people with opportunities, skills and recognition strengthens bonding with family, school, and community. Strong bonds motivate young people to adopt healthy standards for behavior. This strategy has been evaluated and proven effective.

They have a standardized strategy for identifying the risk factors for health and behavior problems. This survey was conducted in our WCS, and one of three factors stood out: A lack of commitment to school, a perceived risk of drug use, and depressive symptoms. There are also protective factors that were identified: Rewards for Prosocial involvement in both community and with Peers.

Providing opportunities and skills and recognition for students is being implemented slowly among staff and students. This strategy has proven effective. Progress may not be instant and recognizable at first but training in how to use the Social Development strategy during the elementary grades showed much later that it is effective.

The above results of the survey were conducted in the school last November and the Wagner committee is in the process of organizing a board to coordinate with school staff and students in developing the skills and recognition to move the program forward. Connie is the head of the board and committee members will be joining soon. They will be adopting a logo, develop an action plan and implement the rest of the strategies.

Kaufman introduced two phone numbers that are key to development for all. If you need medical help, call 911. If you recognize behavior that can lead to self-destruction or a need for help, call 988. This will be a new number and will be standardized in the State of South Dakota The meeting was adjourned in our usual fashion.