Wednesday, September 9th, the Wagner Rotary Club met for the first time since March 11th due to the pandemic shutdown across the country. There were sixteen members present; sitting only four to a table to allow for social distancing.

President Bryan Slaba, who should have taken over the office of President on the first of July enthusiastically rang the Rotary Bell to bring everyone to order. Pastor Laurie was asked to give an opening prayer and all members then stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

There are several changes in our usual procedures and reciting the Pledge is one of them. We usually have a round or two of singing but will be refraining from singing for the next several weeks. President Slaba asked members to be respectful of each other and to observe whatever practices such as wearing or not wearing a mask to be their choice.

Slaba gave a brief talk on Covid-19 in our local community. He said the Wagner Community Memorial Hospital has responded well and has exercised all due caution in treating patients and protecting the public while still operating the hospital and the two clinics. He reported that the Wagner Community has had a total of 110 positive cases. Comparing it to the Mitchell Community who has had 125 positive cases the population differential is quite different.

There was a big surge in positive cases when students returned to schools and colleges. That is where most of the increases have come from—schools and colleges. WCMH and the IHS hospital have had lots of requests for testing. Some people have traveled great distances to be tested at the IHS as their testing is paid for by the government and all their positive cases are not counted in Charles Mix County results.

Slaba stressed that this virus will be around for quite some time and possibly even into next year 2021. He advised everyone to take precautions and try to live as normally as possible.

Sergeant at Arms Becky Brunsing still had her tablet showing fines that she had planned to levy on March 13th before we knew we were not going to have regular meetings. She began a new list of fines for the day. $1 each to Bryan Slaba and Patty Frei for phone infractions; $2 to Scott McAdargh for the delicious steak dinner he served to Rotary; $2 to Gerrit Juffer for not paying for his $25.00 ad on the Football Scorebooks; $2 to Bill Frei for not selling his football books and letting his wife do it for him. Happy Fines were offered by Kathe Henke for celebrating another birthday to the tune of $5 and Linda Soukup $5 for becoming a Great Grandparent since our last meeting.

Linda Soukup drew the lucky ticket for a chance at the Queen of Hearts pot but only drew a 10 of Diamonds. We will find out at the next meeting what our total is in the Queen drawing. Secretary-Treasurer Patty Frei reported that we will not be having a team attendance race as not all Rotarians are comfortable coming back to Rotary at this point. We did collect $14.00 for the drawing today.

Rotarians reported that the sale of the football books was very brisk and almost everyone had sold all their allotment. There is still a need for about 6 more books and Becky Brunsing was going to see if she could find some more.

A question was raised about the NFL possible cancelling their season sometime during this fall and what would happen with the football books. President Slaba said that buying a football ticket should be considered just a “donation” as it is used to further our youth activities and our Rotary Scholarships for Seniors at the end of the year.

Slaba passed out the new assignments for committees, offices, and programs. There will be no programs given through the end of September and then the situation will be reassessed. A round of applause was given to Bill and Patty Frei for taking the initiative to get a Rotary Float in the parade and Bill also helped at the Rib cookoff representing our Rotary Club.

The meeting was concluded by reciting the Rotary Four-Way Test. Of the things we think, say, or do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?