President Jordan Weber called the Wagner Rotarians to order on Wednesday, September 18th at Noon. Weber gave a blessing to the club members and guests who were present.

There were six Seniors from WCS present again. Janessa Powers, parents Enessa Roberts and Jason Powers. Janessa hasn’t picked a college yet but does know she will be going out of state to study Business and Cosmetology. Aliyah Fobb, Grandmother Nancy Cooke; and she wants to join the National Guard and study Criminal Justice. Cadee Nelson's parents are Mark and Laura Nelson. She is headed to the University of Wyoming where she will study Zoology. April Hollingsworth’s parents are Melissa Ulmer and Christopher Hollingsworth, and April will attend Black Hills State University. Charles Kocer, parent Charles Romaine Kocer; and Guardians Patrick Bellingham and Kesa Alexander. Charles plans to go to California and study Marine Biology. Robertson’s parents are Jen and Randy Robertson. Madison plans to become a Power Lineman at Mitchell VoTech.

This week's WCS students as well as those who visited last week were very friendly and talkative students. The visitors are asked to split up with a student or two at each of the tables. They are interested in the Rotary club and have asked questions of Rotarians during the meal shared by all.

Membership Minute Chairperson Patty Frei welcomed the Seniors and gave them a summary of what Rotary is. Rotary is a worldwide service organization with 1.2 million members in 45,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary members volunteer locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

The Wagner Rotary Club was chartered on June 25, 1943, giving eighty years of service to the Wagner Community. We have twenty members that meet every Wednesday in our Rotary Club Room. She directed the Seniors to look at the banner displayed on the walls of the club room. They signify that a visitor to our club or club members that have visited other clubs have exchanged banners. There are over one hundred banners stored in our “vault closet” that we no longer have room to display. The most visual display of a local project is the Rotary Shelter that was built at Wagner Lake and our aluminum can recycling project that allows us to offer scholarships to graduating students each spring. The club members also sell Football Books as soon as Monday Night Football begins which results in three winners each year of hundreds of dollars.

Rotarian Frei also announced that Rotarian Amanda Bechen has ten years of Rotary membership to her credit which drew a round of applause.

The Queen of Hearts drawing was won by Wanda Weber, guest of her husband Jerry but she only drew the five of Diamonds.

Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak was absent but Rotarian Patty Frei conducted his Treasurer duties and she announced that the attendance race has only gotten worse. Jamie Soukup is left with thirteen misses at this point and Becky Brunsing and her team only have eight misses. Sixteen dollars was collected for the Queen of Hearts drawing, bringing the grand total to $321.00.

At this point SAA Jerry Weber introduced his program for the day, which was his wife, Wanda. Wanda started the craft of making stained glass items after leaving the workforce after thirty-nine years. Her introduction to the hobby was made through her mother and a sister who had worked with the materials for years and had the tools. Wanda went to Sioux Falls for classes at Dakota Sky Glassworks where she received more formal training in the art of glass cutting and designing.

She gave us a visual of her latest project which is the head of a ram. This will be placed on the door of an old barn and is a custom ordered item. She explained the various steps of design which begin with a drawing, then sectioning off various pieces of the object. Each glass piece has its own pattern, then is cut and the edges are smoothed by grinding. The pieces are all numbered and fit together like a puzzle. She has several tools which perform a different function when it comes to putting on the foil or lead. The soldering iron is the last tool she uses which heats up to 410 degrees. Each piece is soldered front, back, and the sides with silver or she can use a black patina also.

Wanda plans to display her items for sale at Sioux Falls Glassworks, Hill City, South Dakota, and she will be exhibiting at the Wagner Community Craft Fair. She also plans to build a website. Weber will do custom orders which sparked an interest in the Rotary Club.

The meeting was adjourned in our usual fashion by reciting the 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 & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?