The Wagner Rotary Club met at the clubhouse on Main Street last Wednesday at Noon. Members were surprised to find the meeting room in disarray. The “Rotary Building” originally was the Barkl Building and consisted of three levels. The top level was home to the Duggan Hospital at one time and later was turned into apartments. The second or main level has hosted many business enterprises over the years, but The First State Bank was the first business to begin in the Barkl Building. There was an artesian well flowing on Main Street in front of this building and a watering trough was placed there for watering horses. The last occupants of the portion of the building which now houses the Rotary was Don Piroutek and his father Emil who conducted an insurance business there for many years. Don was a Rotarian, and he deeded the building to the Wagner Rotary.

The Rotary club room was vacant for almost the entire past year except for meetings that were held there in September and October. An unused building acquires a lot of dust and cobwebs, so members were confronted with a cleaning operation in progress.

President Bryan Slaba called the meeting to order, and Pastor Laurie offered up a prayer in thanksgiving for our laughter, fellowship, and food.

Rotarian Roger Wiltz gave a brief Membership Minute on an article from the March issue of The Rotarian magazine which brought up the issue of many small communities in the United States not having the financial means to offer clean water to citizens of their towns and cities. The article asked What Can Rotary Do about this problem. Rotary needs to become aware and identify and work for changes in our infrastructure to correct this problem, if clean potable water can be created for those who fly in space for weeks at a time, why cannot ordinary citizens expect the same in their communities.

Sergeant at Arms Becky Brunsing levied only two fines:

$2 to Jeff Doom for not being nice to her

$1 to Jamie Soukup for asking if the sanitizers on the tables contained moisturizing elements

Happy Fines: $6 from Becky Soukup for Michelle Juffer becoming Wagner’s new Economic Development Director

$5 to Roger Wiltz for Roger and Betsy being named as Labor Day Parade Marshalls

$10 from Kathe Henke for the wonderful job that our Rotarian medical people, namely Jordan, Bryan and Michaela have done in the community

$5 from Rachel Woods for our boys’ basketball team making it to the SoDak Sweet Sixteen Finals

$12 from Bryan Slaba for every month that we have behind us in the Covid Pandemic. He is incredibly grateful for the cooperation from the community this past year.

Amanda Bechen had a chance to draw from the Queen of Hearts but only drew an Ace. We had no treasurers report, so we are anxiously awaiting find out what the total in our Queen Drawing is.

President Slaba asked members to sign up for one month for picking up our meals at the catering establishments and taking the containers back if necessary. He purchased two large bags that will hold the packaged meals for members. If everyone volunteers, we will only have to take our turn about once every two years. Becky Brunsing is taking care of March, so members were asked to sign up for April, May, and June. Desserts were again a topic as all Rotarians love having dessert after their meal. Scott McAdaragh volunteered to have a dessert made and brought to the club every week as well as ice cream and/or cookies. That drew a round of applause.

Roger Wiltz will be gone for his program on April 7th, and he asked to switch programs with someone. A new list of programs, meeting dates, officers, etc. will be forthcoming.

Rachel Woods reported that the new baseball shelter that was built with Rotary Grant Funds is now finished and ready for baseball season. Discussion then began on choosing a new service project for the Wagner Community. Becky Brunsing passed out pictures of the Rotary Shelter at Wagner Lake and the surrounding picnic area. It was decided that we would apply for another Rotary Grant to get funds to beautify the area. It needs new landscaping plants and a general overall sprucing up. The club wants to install new electrical outlets so that the shelter and the lake can accommodate larger groups.

There is going to be a Unity Jamboree on Sunday, June 13th at the Lake and it will only be possible if we can enlarge our electrical capacity. We will work with the City of Wagner on all the details. Workdays will be coming!

Other discussion was held on the interior of our meeting room. It was decided to retire the old gold drapes and purchase some new modern blinds to accent the old woodwork in the room. Jeff Doom is going to see what he can do about our lighting which is deteriorating.

The Club adjourned with the Rotary Motto? In all the things that 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?