There was no meeting last Wed. February 19 because we had a Valentine’s Dinner/Silent Auction Fundraiser for the Helping Hands school back pack program on Saturday night, Feb. 22, at Two Spurs. Many attended, couples and singles, and enjoyed either prime rib or shrimp. Wonderful variety of silent auction items were up for bid for the helping hands program. There were door prize drawings as well. Kim Soukup shared beautiful music with us that evening as well. By the end of the evening, $800 had been raised for the Helping Hands program. Thanks to all for being there and giving in many ways!

Rotary Minutes - Wednesday, February 26, 2020

The meeting was rung to order by President Bill Frei. Pastor Laurie led in prayer. Guests were welcomed and introduced: Joe S. guest: Bill Hoffmann, Dave I. guest: Arthur McDonald

Dave I. shared a membership moment on the Rotary 5610 District Conference. This conference will be held April 24-25, 2020 in Hot Springs, SD. Tours will be offered including a drive through Wind Cave with stops at Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore. Friday evening banquet will also include Rotarian awards, recognitions, and a message from Rotary Intl. Rep. Phil Silvers. Western music and history will be the entertainment. Sat. morning guest speaker will be Dr. Fozia AM, who grew up in Pakistan. She is an American trained physician. She and her husband are passionate humanitarians and have organized several health and education-related projects in developing nations, including opening a charity-based maternity hospital in rural Pakistan. She currently runs her foundation, Humanity Auxilium, and organizes medical relief missions. She has been given various awards for her advocacy work including being a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2019 and the 2019 Advocacy Award by Calgary Area Medical Staff Society.

Song leader, Laurie K., led the group in “Wait I’ll the Sun Shines, Nellie” (thankful for the sun today), and “The Rotary 4-Way Test.”

Queen of Hearts tix #83 was drawn and Becky B. was the owner. However, she drew a 2 of spades.

Sect./Treas. Report - Patty Frei reported two make-ups were turned in from Joe S. and Linda S. Pastor Bill’s team had three absent today making his total team absences: 10. Pastor Laurie’s team had one absent today making her total team absences: 7. There was $21 collected for the Queen of Hearts today making the pot total: $337.

Other announcements: Patty F. gave an update on the donations collected from the Silent Auction/monetary donations for the Helping Hands Backpack fundraiser Saturday night. The total is now: $1,011! Amen! Thanks to all!

Raffle ticket booklets were passed out to members - $10 each. Drawing will be at the District Conference in April in Hot Springs.

Program Chair, Dave I., introduced John Archer of Sioux Falls as our program. John is a founding partner of a law firm in Sioux Falls, and past Potentate of the Shrine Temple in Sioux Falls.

Shriners hope to “Make Men Better” through their program. There are 195 temples in U.S./Canada/Mexico.

To become a Shriner you must be a Mason first. They have 1600 members in total. Originated in 1878.

By early 1900’s there were 800,000 members across the States. In 1922, they formed a purpose and that was to help crippled children - at that time primarily polio. First hospital was built in Louisiana, 2nd in Minneapolis. Currently now have 22 hospitals across the U.S./Canada/ Mexico: 19 orthopedic hospitals, 2 burn hospitals and 1 cleft palate in Chicago.

If you are under the age of 18 and you need medical care, Shriner’s will take care of you - free of charge. They will get you TO the hospital, take care of you IN the hospital, then get you home. There are a lot of people who cannot afford this kind of care.

One of the most important offerings they have today is called the Road Runners. These are folks who volunteer their time to take people to appointments, hospitals, etc. Average about 2½ trips a week. Budget over $120,000 annually to fund that expense.

It costs over 8 million dollars a day to run their hospitals so creativity in fundraising is necessary.

He had Shriner’s Circus posters available to anyone to share and hang up for advertising. He also shared plastic cups with information and Shriner stats on them for those who want one. The Shriner’s magazine was also available for the taking.

John then fielded many questions from the group and thanked everyone for being there and the invitation to speak. Thank you, John!

Rotarians were reminded about the recycle bin out back that will need to be unloaded!

With no other business, the meeting was adjourned and we closed in our usual fashion by singing “My Country `Tis of Thee.”

Sgt. At Arms, Becky B., laid down the following fines:

• $2 Jerry W. for “stealing a meal” last week

• $1 Becky B. for phone violation

• $10.20 Frances D. for bales of hay in the ShopKo parking lot (34 bales per load x 3 = 102 @.10 a bale!)

• $1 ea. Bryan S., Laura W., and Scott M. for missing Saturday dinner/fundraiser

• $5 Bryan S. for “construction work” going on in the lobby of the Hospital

Happy Fines

• $1 to every member - except Katie H. - for her 25 years of perfect attendance at Rotary.

• $1 Gerrit J. for attending the Shrove Pancake Supper at the Methodist Church

• $5 Amanda B. for all the Rotary couples attending the Sat. banquet who have many, many years of wedded bliss.

• $10 Patty F. for now having raised two young adults - both over 18 now!