The Heat Index was pushing towards one hundred when the Wagner Rotary Club met on Wednesday, June 18th. Pastor/Rotarian/ Musician Laurie Kidd started the meeting with a prayer of thanks for the rain we had a week ago and asked that everyone practice safe measures in this extreme heat. Laurie then moved to the piano, and we sang two verses of “Home on the Range” and a rousing rendition of “Roll Rotary.” We sound so much better when she plays the piano and leads the singing.

The Membership Minute was given by Bryan Slaba in the absence of Ken Cotton.

Women in Rotary

Until 1989, the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International stated that Rotary club membership was for males only. In 1978 the Rotary Club of Duarte, California invited three women to become members. The RI board withdrew the charter of that club for violation of their RI Constitution. The club sued RI claiming a violation of a state civil rights law which prevents discrimination of any form in business establishments of public accommodations. The appeals court and the California Supreme Court supported the Duarte position that Rotary could not remove the clubs charter merely for inducting women into the club. The United States Supreme Court upheld the California court indicating that Rotary clubs do have a “business purpose” and are in some ways public-type organiza only” provision for all of Rotary. The Wagner Rotary Club has seven women members.

Patty Frei held the winning ticket from the can, and everyone held their breath as she slowly chose a card from the deck; but it was only the King of Diamonds.

Secretary/Treasurer Craig Krsnak reported that $38.00 was collected today to bring the Queen of Hearts drawing up to $748.50. Krsnak also reminded everyone to pay their quarterly dues.

President Slaba read a thank you note from Ciaria Nelson for the Rotary Scholarship she received at graduation in May. He also asked for volunteers to sell 50/50 tickets at the races this coming Friday night. A letter of resignation was received from Francis Doom after 61 years of Rotary Membership. He will be missed. Slaba also asked Rotarians to take the handouts from the tables which are the Committee assignments for the coming year and a schedule of programs and lunch delivery.

Slaba also had the program for the day, and he introduced Tiffany Hrdlicka a long-time resident of Wagner who reported on the recent 605 Unity Jam which was held at Wagner Lake this last Sunday. The Jam was sponsored by the Horizons Committee of Wagner which promotes events of this type to bring our multi-cultural population together.

There were representatives from Czech Days, Native American dancers, a kid’s fishing tournament which drew forty anglers and fifteen vendors of food and arts and crafts, and a finale concert from Indigenous a local band from Marty.

This will be a three-year event. The group plans to have more arts and crafts vendors next year and a shorter time period. The extreme heat which South Dakota is experiencing also was a factor but overall, the committee was pleased with the turnout. They are looking forward to more participation from volunteers, vendors, and attendees next year. The club gave Tiffany a round of applause for all her efforts.

The meeting adjourned with the recitation of our 4-Way Test.

Rotarian Jeff Doom acted as Assistant Sergeant at Arms and assessed the following fines:

Bryan Slaba $2 for saying inducing instead of inducting into membership

$1 to Laurie for her prayer

$2 to Kathe Henke for telling Jeff to smash his foot into the garbage can full of our eating containers

$1 to Jerry Henke because he smirked when Kathe was fined

$5 to himself (Jeff) with a short commercial on the wonders of a Yeti Cup for cold water

$1 to Jerry Weber for being present finally $5 to Scott McAdaragh for being a half an hour late for his brother's wedding

$5 to Becky Brunsing for her Minnie Pearl furniture

$1 to every Rotarian who did not help with eating up the extra ice cream cups that came with our delicious meal from Booms