The Wagner Rotary Club began its May 19th meeting with a prayer by Rotarian Laurie Kidd which gave thanks for the rain we were receiving that morning. She asked for guidance for each Rotarian as we go about our Wagner Community.

Club members were excited to begin our group singing once again. Rotarian Laurie played and sang loudly as we all joined in singing Let There Be Peace on Earth and Smile!!

The Membership Minute was next with Rotarian Ken Cotton talking about the Rotary Four Way Test. One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary “4-Way Test”. It was created by Rotarian Herbert J Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago-based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.

Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.

Jerry Henke was the lucky person again and tried to find the Queen of Hearts, but she remains hidden. He only drew a 5 of Spades.

President Bryan announced two business items stating that Craig Krsnak will assume the duties of Secretary/Treasurer for the Wagner Rotary Club next Wednesday at our regular meeting. Slaba had received notification of two winners from the Wagner Club at the District 5610 Foundation Raffle and they were Amanda Bechen and Linda Soukup.

Rotarian Becky Brunsing was Program Chairman for the day, and she introduced our newest Rotarian, Kara Frei.

Kara was born and raised in Mitchell and she graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2004 with a double major in English and Education. She came to Wagner with the intention of staying only one year. She taught 7th and 9th grade English. She assumed some coaching duties with volleyball and was an advisor for the yearbook and oral Interp.

She liked where she was so stayed for six years during which time, she met Mike Frei and they eventually got married. Kara said they both decided that she would be a stay-at-home Mom and raise their children for the ten years or so before they all were in school. After the kids were gone all day at school, she took up the hobby of knitting which led to some people liking her items and wanting to buy them. She gradually began making other crafts and it soon turned into something she knew she wanted to pursue. In March of 2019 she approached Amanda Bechen, a local CPA, and asked her if she would help Kara with starting a small business. Amanda helped her plan her business model and rented out a portion of her own building for Kara to launch her venture. Six months later Kara again approached Bechen, and they decided she needed to start selling clothing as well as her crafts. She moved to the south of Bechen’s building which is located directly across the street from the Wagner Post Office—118 2nd St. SE. By this time, she knew she needed to change her business name from Designs by Kara to Lavender Lane Boutique to encompass all the items she was selling.

Frei now sells women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing as well as her own design work which includes jewelry, leather crafts, bows, headbands, hair clips and earrings. She does all her own work from scratch. You can also find some books, bath and body products, shoes, and if she does not have it, she will be happy to try to order it for you. Kara has also entered the internet world with her business now online.

This has boosted her sales to 32 states and 10 countries. She is listed on Etsy which is an online market for people who sell handmade items and has recently joined a Drop and Ship enterprise where she can offer other items to customers that she herself is not presently selling. Kara stated that the internet has been her biggest challenge, but she is happy with the results and eager to learn more. This made for an interesting program to learn about the opportunities of an online business which also operates a store front.

The club ended the meeting with the recitation of the 4-Way Test:

"1. Of the things we think, say, or do: Is it the truth? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned> 3. Will it build GOODWIL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIA to all concerned.?”

Sergeant at Arms Becky Brunsing levied the following fines:

• $1 each to Jerry and Kathe Henke, Linda Soukup and Laurie Kidd for illegal parking by the Rotary Building and another $1 to Jerry Henke for trying to bribe the Sergeant at Arms out of the fine

• $1 to Linda Soukup for snitching a cupcake from her granddaughters cupcake supply at graduation

• $2 to Ken Cotton for appearing to be afraid of sitting with two girls at Rotary

• $2 to Amanda Bechen and Linda Soukup for being the recipients of two items at the Rotary Raffle held across the 5610 District

Happy Fines were given by:

• Rachel Woods in the amount of $6 for Bryan Slaba turning 60

• Jerry Weber offered $16.15 in honor of Jaden Peters state pole jumping record of 16 feet, 5 and one-half inches