The Wednesday Wagner Rotary meeting on August 9th began with a nice ring of the Rotary Bell by President Becky Brunsing. She was complimented on her ring. (Ringing the bell is an art at Rotary and is used as a beginning, a warning, or an object of derision).

The prayer was sung and led by Rotarian Jeff Doom. It was commented that this prayer was an old standard used by Rotarians for years when there was no piano accompaniment.

Song Leader Gerrit Juffer has recently been using his phone to provide us musical direction and we sang R*O*T*A*R*Y. We are still struggling to find the right pitch and tone for our singing, but we are trying!!

Membership Minute Chairman Ken Cotton spoke about programs for young leaders called Interact Clubs. These clubs give young people 12 to 18 years old the chance to work together and have fun while learning about service and promoting international understanding. Each club is required to complete at least two major projects each year, one to serve the community and the other to promote international understanding. Interact clubs are sponsored by nearby Rotary clubs and may be co-sponsored by Rotaract Clubs. Ask a Rotarian how you can get involved if you are interested in working with an Interact club!

There were a lot of fines levied by Sergeant at Arms Jamie Soukup: $1 each to Bill Frei and Jerry Weber for trying to get the Sergeant to answer a phone call which would have been an automatic fine for Jamie; $2 to Jerry Weber for painting; $2 to Craig Krsnak for peeking at the food; $2 to Gerrit and Becky Brunsing for having the most stain on their person at the painting night for the Rotary Shelter; $4 to Jeff Doom for leaving his keys in the door and knocking over a branch at the shelter with his payloader; $2 to Jerry Weber for leaving work early on Tuesday; $1 to Gerrit Juffer who managed to get a ladder and a paint broom in his little Mercedes; $2 to Linda Soukup who was adamant about no rock on the plants; $2 to Ken Cotton for walking on the track during football practice. Happy Fines of $10 came from Craig Krsnak, Bill Frei, and Jerry Weber for the rain; $5 from Jeff Doom for the peach dessert; $5 from Jerry and Kathe Henke for missing something; $5 from Rachel for her oldest child turning 12 years old; and Patty Frei $5 for her and Bills 27th wedding anniversary.

Rotarian Joe Stedronsky held the winning ticket number but only found the eight of hearts in the card deck.

Secretary Craig Krsnak announced that the attendance teams are even right now with four misses for the Juffer and Frei teams. President Brunsing displayed a banner that Rachel Woods made for the club that can be used for events that the Rotary Club participates in around the community. Brunsing also announced that the work on the Rotary Shelter at Wagner Lake is now finished. Members that were able have painted the ceiling, the front of the shelter, and the eaves. It was also decided to place our big Rotary symbol in the center of the front of the shelter.

Rotarian Patty Frei gave a report on the status of our financial grants from District #5610. The improvements to our shelter at the lake and the landscaping around the shelter have been made possible by applying for and receiving grant money from our District. There are still funds available and the club may be applying for another grant for further improvements around the community.

Discussion centered on members volunteering to house and feed members from an Australian Exchange team that will be arriving in Wagner in September.

President Brunsing passed out a “Health Check” for Rotary Clubs that consists of discussion on several topics related to a members club experience. She brought this back from her President Elect Training Session that she attended last year. The members felt it was a worthwhile exercise and discussion followed with several suggestions. We will be doing more health checks in the future. The meeting adjourned in our usual fashion with recitation of the Four-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?