Wagner Rotary came to order Wednesday, June 14th, Flag Day with President Rachel Woods ringing the bell. President Woods is counting down to the week she hands over the Rotary bell to President Elect Becky Brunsing.

Pastor/Rotarian Bill Heermann offered a prayer of thanks for the sunshine, great fellowship, and asked for blessings upon the Rotarians as they go about their work in our Wagner Community.

Song Leader Gerrit Juffer cranked up his Bluetooth device and we sang America in honor of Flag Day. The tempo was extremely slow so Rotarian Bechen took his phone and tried to adjust the tempo, but it was not to be. Better luck next year Gerrit!

Membership Minute Chairman Ken Cotton spoke about Rotary’s Areas of Focus. Rotarians have adapted and improved the way they respond to needs, by taking on a broad range of service projects. The most successful and sustainable Rotary service tends to fall within one of six areas which Rotary has designated as its areas of focus: Peace and conflict prevention resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, and Economic and community development.

These areas of focus form an integral part of The Rotary Foundations’ Future Vision Plan and the Rotary International Strategic Plan.

Sergeant at Arms Jordan Weber levied the following fines: $2 to Gerrit Juffer for his white shirt and $2 to Gerrit and Amanda Bechen for the sloppy job on the song America; $7 to Bryan Slaba for having to ask seven people before he got someone to give a program; $2 to Craig Krsnak and Bryan Slaba for fighting over the coconut on the dessert; $2 to Jamie Soukup for talking on his phone outside; $1 to Ken Cotton for having three ladies at his table, $3 to Jeff Doom for ordering a special burger for himself; $2 to Amanda Bechen for trying and failing with the tempo of the song. Happy fines came from Gerrit Juffer, $1 for his Great Grandpa on his mother’s side having a birthday on Flag Day; $5 from Patty Frei whose father was born on Flag Day; $5 from Rachel Woods for her son winning the Regatta at the 605 Unity Jam last Sunday; and a whopping $10 from Craig Krsnak whose daughter just got engaged!

Rotarian Scott McAdaragh had a chance at the Queen of Hearts drawing but came up short with a six of Clubs and lost $100.00 Secretary/ Treasurer Krsnak reported that the attendance teams are still at 12 misses for the Weber Team and 11 misses for the Soukup Team.

Rotarian Bill Heermann asked for volunteers to help load more cans into the trailer. His last request for help went unanswered. The trailer will soon be full enough for another trip to Mitchell.

Program Chair for the day was Rotarian Bryan Slaba who introduced his guest and speaker, Darrell Miller, the acting CEO at the Indian Health Service hospital in Wagner. Miller has been in this position since August 2022. He gave a summary of his actions since he arrived. He reported that improved patient flow has been a priority for him as well as providing more education on federal programs, applying for more federal programs, and trying to resolve third party resolutions on Medicaid expansions. His explanation of his position is that of a quality control manager.

Darrell was a resident of New Mexico before moving to South Dakota. He grew up in a family of five children with him being the middle child. He is a member of the Navaho tribe in New Mexico, attended Arizona State University and majored in psychology and eventually centered on quality improvements in health care.

Miller was asked several questions about comparing the Navaho Tribe to our Yankton Sioux Tribe and he replied that they have very similar beliefs, however the biggest difference is the size of their tribes. The Navajos have over 100,000 members, and their government is much larger in New Mexico with more facilities. He said Covid was a big challenge and that they have very few who are being tested now.

He also spoke about the fact that the IHS federal budget does not even begin to cover all the expenses of emergency care. About 80 percent of their budget goes to staff and 10 percent is allowed for the upkeep of the facility and their pharmacy. This is why most emer-gencies have been referred to the WCMH. This brought up the topic of the large monetary shortfall that the Wagner and Lake Andes Ambulance service is experiencing presently.

Bryan Slaba praised Darrell for the job he has been doing and said he and Miller have developed a very positive relationship.

It was an interesting and educational program. Thank you, Darrell, and Bryan.

The club adjourned with their recitation of the 4-Way Test: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?