President Becky Brunsing gave a warm welcome to a club room full of Rotary members and visitors on Wednesday, October 11th at the Clubhouse on Main Street Wagner. Pastor/Rotarian Bill Heermann gave a prayer of thankfulness for the food, the beautiful day, and our Senior Class members. We did a pretty good job of singing “Smile” as our Song Leaders were not present for the meeting.

There were five Seniors from the Wagner Community School present with their High School Counselor Jen Lhotak. Every year the Wagner Rotary Club has welcomed Senior students to attend a Rotary Meeting. We were pleased to welcome five young ladies who introduced themselves: Raelynn Kuhlman is the daughter of Mike and Jamie Kuhlman. Raelynn is thinking of pursuing Athletic Training at Dakota Wesleyan after graduation. Kennedy Kourt is the daughter of Trista and Dustin Kourt and she is interested in attending South Dakota State University and pursuing a career in medicine, specifically flight medicine. Aubrey Medricky is also interested in a nursing career, possibly at Augustana. Aubrey’s parents are Mike and Miranda Medricky. McKenzie Fuchs has her eye on the University of South Dakota and is looking at specializing in business administration. Her parents are Curt and Sherri Fuchs. Sabrina Kreber’s parents are Amy and Mike Blaha, and she is interested in attending Mitchell Technical Institute.

Rotarian Ken Cotton devoted his Rotary minute to “Our Leaders”. Leaders at Rotary exemplify all the qualities that make our members extraordinary: integrity, expertise, and a commitment to service. The executive staff, led by the general secretary, manages operations, including programs and member services, financial services, information technology, polio and philanthropy, communications, strategy, and legal services, at our World headquarters in Evanston USA. Rotary’s president presides over the RI Board of Directors and is elected to a one-year term. The Board of Directors establishes Rotary International’s policies and provides guidance that helps our clubs thrive. The Board of Trustees manages the business of The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of our organization. The RI president-elect nominates trustees, and the Board of Directors elects them to four-year terms.

Sergeant at Arms Jamie Soukup levied the following fines: $2 to Bryan Slaba for a phone infraction and Bill Frei for the same infraction; $2 to Jerry Henke for trying to give Jamie a pre-warning of a phone call; $2 to Linda Soukup for being such a serious driver and ignoring the SAA last week going down the highway. Happy Fines were from Amanda Bechen $3 for being invited to her final year for Parent- Teacher Conferences; $3 from Becky Brunsing for celebrating their 30th Wedding Anniversary.

Rotarian Jamie Soukup was excited that his ticket number was drawn, and he had a chance to win the Queen. He only managed to find the ten of Diamonds missing a $108.00 prize. Secretary Craig Krsnak announced that the Frei Team had perfect attendance for the day while The Juffer Team had three misses.

The Football winners were Adam Stedronsky sold by Joe Stedronsky and John Cotton sold by Ken Cotton. Other business was discussed such as designating a day and time for the club members to participate in a walk around Wagner Lake for World Polio Day. A decision will be made at next week’s meeting. The next meeting date will also be Steak Day with the loser team paying for all the steaks. Rotarian Bill Frei asked for help in emptying the can bin again.

President Brunsing introduced the program which was Rene’ Sorenson, District #5610 RYLA Chair. Sorenson was born and raised in Alaska. After marriage she and her husband moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where they still reside. Her son was a participant in RYLA when he was in high school. He recently called her and reported that he had found his RYLA material after all this time, and he was so grateful for attending the camp. He stated that he had lived his life and now in his career by the principles he learned about at that camp.

What is RYLA? Rotary Youth Leadership Award stresses the fundamentals and ethics of good leadership, problem solving, team building, and the importance of positive self-confidence and self-esteem in their life. A RYLA participant is selected by his or her local Rotary Club to attend a camp designed to build character, leadership, personal development, and good citizenship. The “Award” part of RYLA is the actual scholarship the Rotary Club provides so that a participant may attend camp free of charge. Past participants have had life-changing experiences by attending the camp. Rotary District 5630 has hosted Great Plains RYLA for more than 1,200 students since 1990. It is located near Halsey, Nebraska on the Nebraska State 4-H campground facilities in the scenic Nebraska Sandhills. RYLA has trained young leaders through activities, workshops, and a variety of presentations by speakers in business, government, and education.

The camp is a five-day experience full of indoor and outdoor activities that emphasize teamwork and decision making. In addition, RYLA focuses on service and Rotary’s role in building stronger communities by emphasizing both local and global citizenship.

If you are interested in this experience for yourself, or a family member, contact any of your Wagner Rotarians and they will guide you through the application process. It is limited to Sophomore and Junior High School students.

Our meeting ended with all reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test: Of the things we think, say, or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?