Wednesday, May 5th Wagner Rotary members gathered at the Wagner Community School for their annual presentation of awards recognizing the top scholars in Grades 9 thru 12. Due to Covid restrictions the membership did not serve a meal but held the ceremony inside the school theatre. In the absence of President Bryan Slaba Rotarian Jeff Doom welcomed the students with a short address. Vice President Becky Brunsing called the students forward and awarded the certificates. Senior students were asked to announce who their parents were as well as any plans for further education. Please see the pictures in this edition which were taken by the Wagner Post.

The Rotarians proceeded to go to the club house for their luncheon and regular meeting. Once again Vice President Becky Brunsing presided as well as fulfilling her Sergeant at Arms duties.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the membership. Rotarian/Pastor Laurie Kidd offered up a prayer of thankfulness for all the children at our community school and asked for a blessing on our meal.

Rotarian Ken Cotton gave the Membership Minute on our Rotary Emblem. The wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate “Civilization and Movement.” Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel, with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the Rotary International Association. A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a “keyway” in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft. So, in 1923 the keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.

Jerry Henke was holding the lucky ticket again and tried to draw the Queen of Hearts but came up with a 10 of Hearts.

The rest of the meeting was spent with reminders of the events for the rest of the week taking place in Wagner: Thursday May 5th, National Day of Prayer at the Armory from 7 to 8 PM; Citywide Cleanup on Friday Morning at 8:30 starting at the Wagner Armory. There will be a meal served to the volunteers at the Commercial State Bank after the cleanup behind the bank. Jerry, Jamie, and Bill were reminded that they would be cleaning the Rotary Mile ditches.

The meeting ended with a recitation of the Rotary 4- Way Test.

Sergeant at Arms Becky Brunsing levied only three fines:

• $10.00 to Craig Krsnak for the meal

• $1 to Jeff Doom for a phone infraction last week

• $2 to Kathe Henke, Jerry Weber, Bill Frei, Jamie Soukup, Kara Frei, Michaela Koenig, and Francis Doom for missing out on the Student Scholar program

Happy Fines volunteered by the members were:

• $2 from Amanda Bechen for her two blessings as a Mother since Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend

• $3 to Rachel for her three blessings

• $5 from Ken Cotton for their oldest son turning 41 today

• $10 from Jeff Doom in honor of a very good friend

• $5 from Laurie Kidd for the turnout at her Methodist Church last Sunday cleaning the church grounds and making freezer meals for a family in need

• $5 from Patty Frei for the great turnout at the Wagner Community Cemetery for a cleanup day, and another $5 for buying a fishing license at her husband’s request which cost her $48