President Jamie Soukup welcomed the Wagner Rotarians to a weekly meeting on Wednesday, November 5th which seemed much like an early fall meeting with the weather being sunny and warm! The harvest is almost completed with a huge pile of corn evidence of the weather the area experienced this past growing season.

Rotarians gave thanks for the meal by reciting our Rotary Grace prayer and all were relieved when President Jamie announced that there would be no singing due to the fact that the song leader was not present, and he could not find anyone else to take her place!

Rotarian Patty Frei brought the membership up to date on the news that November is Rotary Foundation Month. In 1917 Rotary President Arch Klumph announced his idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world.” With this short statement, Klumph inspired the establishment of The Rotary Foundation. Today, The Rotary Foundation helps clubs and districts work together to provide meaningful, sustainable service. Our top-rated, award-winning Foundation has spent more than $4 Billion on life-changing, sustainable projects that help people in need around the world get clean water, medical care, literacy classes, and other essentials.

Our members’ and others’ contributions to the Foundation allow us to bring sustainable change to communities in need.

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home here in Wagner and around the world.

The WCS students present at the meeting were: Octavian Kocer, Guardians Patrick Belling, and Kesa Alexander; Johnny Redlightning, Parents Chris Redlightening; and Cord Kreeger parents Jasmine and Jeremy Kreeger. Octavian is planning right now to attend Iowa State University for the veterinarian program; Johnny Redlightning is currently undecided about his future; and Cord Kreeger is planning to attend a technical college to prepare for a future as an electrician.

Sergeant at Arms Gerrit Juffer insisted on singing the Happy Birthday song to Rotarians Patty Frei, Jeff Doom, Margaret Doom, Tim Thaler, and Deb Houseman who are all celebrating November birthdays. Juffer fined himself $5 for working for Cord Kreeger’s grandparents and great-grandparents in the early 1970’s. The only Happy Fine came from Jeff Doom who had experienced a rotten morning, but everything came together for him just in time to get a program, bring a dessert, get meals, etc.

The wait is over. Josh Christensen drew the Queen of Hearts from the remaining cards and won $716.00 He may need that cash to entice his team to improve their attendance score. Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak announced that the Woods team has five misses, and the Christensen team has ten misses. Krsnak also announced the football book winners from the last two weeks. Jared Kocer and Jerry Henke and Karen Schneider and Lucy (Gerrit Juffer’s dog).

President Jamie Soukup then asked Deb Houseman to come forward, and he gave an induction speech to make Houseman an official member of the Wagner Rotary Club.

Rotarian Jeff Doom introduced his program for the day which was Rosezena Zephier. Rosezena and Leon Flying Hawk both members of the community started working together to support members of the Native American community who have an alcohol or opioid addiction. Flying Hawk started working with members fifteen years ago and Rosezena began helping him when she saw the benefits to the program. Zephier spoke frankly about her addiction to alcohol and opioids and the difficulties she has experienced. They now have about six to eight members coming to their meetings. They also cooperate with other tribal groups to reach people wherever they are in their path to become addiction free.

Rosezena also works at the treatment center at Lake Andes, and together with Leon they work at other centers and reservations taking their message that you can beat your addictions. They have a prayer group that comes in after every recovery meeting, which helps them also. She is also a college student who would like to get her degree in counseling and become a therapist.

Zephier’s testimony was sincere, and her story is very compelling. She answered several questions from Rotarians about the use of drugs in the community, and replied that yes, she does believe it has become worse in the last five years. Rosezena was given a round of applause for her information and testimony.

The meeting was adjourned with our Four-Way Test: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?