September 23rd the Wagner Rotary was called to order at Noon by Bill Frei substituting for President Bryan Slaba who could not be present. Members were asked to stand and recite the Rotary Four-Way Test:

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Rotarian Rachel Woods was called upon to give a prayer in the absence of our clergy who were not present. Rachel gave thanks for the beautiful fall day, our fellowship as Rotarians and asked that all our friends and families be protected from the Covid-19 pandemic. We gave thanks for our fellow Rotarian Jerry Weber being released from the hospital and asked for guidance for all leadership in our country.

Jeff Doom gave a Membership Minute in which he expanded on last week’s Minute about the Rotary Foundation. One of the reasons that the Foundation money is so effective is that the grant money is given to local Rotary Clubs who can manage the money more efficiently than a large organization. He pointed out that Bill and Melinda Gates have pledged $450 Million in a two to one ratio for the next three years. 90 Million doses of polio vaccine are given per year in the fight against polio in many third world countries. In Afghanistan 19,206 vehicles were used for weeks to get the vaccine to all areas of the country.

In the recent outbreak in Nigeria of Ebola 17 cases were reported and the Foundation mobilized and used its network to get medicine to places that needed it and defeated the outbreak with only seven deaths reported.

Sergeant at Arms Becky Brunsing stated that next week she would fine President Slaba for not helping her with the fines. Just during the meal acting president Bill Frei rattled off all kinds of fines for her to use:

$2 to Jerry Henke for reports of a Mountain Lion at the Ft. Randall golf course.

$1 to Jeff Doom for a phone infraction, $2 for spreading rumors about Jerry Weber, and $1 for dropping his ice cream all over himself

$2 to Gerrit Juffer for his beautiful new building going up in West Wagner

$2 to Jamie Soukup for the soybean harvest beginning

$2 to Scott McAdaragh for cooking a great brisket meal

$2 to Amanda Bechen for having A-1 Roofing putting a new roof on her building when her husband is a contractor

$5 Happy Fine from Dad Gerrit Juffer for his daughter Sidney being a Homecoming Queen Candidate at USD

Brunsing then announced last week’s football winners: Craig Bastemeyer sold by Linda Soukup and Jackson Woods sold by Rachel Woods.

Jerry Henke had the winning ticket and tried to find the Queen of Hearts in the deck of cards but only picked out a Jack of Diamonds.

Secretary Patty Frei reported that we had 12 members in attendance and 10 of those 12 presently have perfect attendance. We were unable to pair off attendance teams due to the pandemic, so she asked for any ideas from members about encouraging attendance at our meetings.

Rotarian Gerrit Juffer had the program. During this unprecedented time in our history of Rotary we have dispensed with the usual manner of programs which involved bringing in speakers. We will be highlighting our own Rotary members who will be taking turns at giving their personal biographies to the club for a program. This reporter thanks Gerrit for giving a copy of his life history. It makes it much easier to report than trying to decipher a bunch of shorthand!

Gerrit Juffer was born in Wagner South Dakota on April 22, 1957. His parents were Donald R and Della Jean Juffer, both now deceased. Gerrit’s grandparents came from Holland to the United States in 1903 so he is the third generation to live in America. Gerrit was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church in Wagner. He became an Eagle Scout in 1973 and was the 5th Eagle Scout in Wagner.

He graduated from Wagner Community School in 1975. He developed a strong work ethic growing up and worked odd jobs as soon as he was able. He helped with the farming at the Johannsen and Kreeger Farms, Golden Reh Herefords (Mark Goldhammer), helped Glen Tolliver and Jack Greger with their bee business and did odd jobs at the Dog N Suds Restaurant. (How many people remember that establishment? This is a neat walk down Memory Lane!) As soon as he could legally drive, he drove trucks for John and Sam Greger from South Dakota to California, Heil Trucking from Texas to Canada, Payer Trucking, Wagner Building & Supply and Dale Meyer at the Wagner Livestock. He put on a lot of miles!

The fall of 1975 found him at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion attending Business School and he graduated in 1979. While at USD he became USD ROTC Outstanding Member in 1976. He completed 28 hours of his MBA program and then joined Commercial State Bank where his father worked. Gerrit was at CSB for 18 years. He graduated from the School of Banking in 1986 and received his Insurance License and his Real Estate License as a Broker in 1983. He has Broker’s License #3876 to this day.

Gerrit has been an active community member all his life. He participated in helping start several organizations and businesses: Super 8 Motels, Dakota Splash, Tomahawk Speedway, Lake Andes-Wagner Irrigation District and LA-Wagner Water Systems, Chamber of Commerce, Wagner Rotary, Randall Hills Country Club, Ft. Randall Marina Board and President, SD Big I Board and President, South Central Child Development building in Wagner, Wagner Early Child, Wagner Jaycees, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, FHAAC, Area Wide Business Council, Wagner Native Ethanol, Sand Dollar Cove LLC.

Gerrit married Michele in 1992 and they have three lovely daughters, Jac, Kit, and Sid.

Gerrit established Juffer Real Estate Inc., in Wagner from scratch in Wagner and established offices in Wagner, Parkston, Mitchell, Tea, Gregory, and O’Neill NE. His brother Jeff joined Juffer Inc. in 1999 and they have expanded to include Woonsocket, Huron, Irene, Tea, Sioux Falls; and Blair, Sargent, Thedford, and Atkinson, Nebraska. They have 18,000 clients.

Gerrit does find time for his love of sailing. He is shore certified by the USA Sailing Office Shore. He has sailed the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean, Greek Island, and Virgin Islands; and has also sailed in all but two American cup locations.

Juffer Inc, and the Juffer family have been located on Main Street of Wagner since 1951. He said it will be sad leaving Main Street, but the scope of their business needs more room. They are hoping to move to their new location on West Highway 46 right adjacent to Lake Street. The building has been under the supervision of Scott Doom, General Contractor and they have employed as many Wagner subcontractors as possible. They look forward to their new location and greeting customers.

Wagner and the Wagner Rotary Club feels fortunate to have such an active and contributing member in our Wagner Community. Best of Wishes in your new location.