In Review

Posted by Brad Beard 
on Mar 31, 2016
 
Jennifer Bennerotte opened the meeting at 12:36 p.m. with a resounding ring on the Edina Rotary Bell. Scott MacDonald followed with an inspiring invocation, the Pledge and the Four-Way Test. Bob Solheim introduced our five guests including: Mark Dascolas, Abby Hafner, Beth Landers, Dalton Crum and Hunter Stanek, along with our three visiting Rotarians: Bill Kuhlman, Mary Ann Heine, both from Minneapolis #9, and Ryan Murphy, Eagan Rotary and Tim Murphy's son. Probably the best-looking guests and visiting Rotarians in some time for our club.
 
Happy Birthday wishes were given to Jennifer Bennerotte (pcitured accepting her birthday flowers from Bob Solheim and Marty Kupper at the meeting) and she was able to hear the Edina Rotary faithful sing off-tune.
 
Jim Ryman, a member of the Community Service–Local Funding Committee, then introduced Abby Hafner of Edina Give & Go and Dick Crockett, Edina Morningside Rotary Club member and executive director of the Edina Community Foundation. Edina Give & Go provides resources for economically disadvantaged children. The Edina Rotary Foundation grant of $2,650 will go the Access Program, which will  assist 50 students to prepare for the ACT test and with post-secondary college planning. Abby and Dick graciously accepted the gift from our foundation.

Hugh Hadlund and Lisa Walker announced the date for one of the Rotary’s favorite summer events—the Rotary Family Picnic Tuesday, June 14, at Bryant Lake Park in Eden Prairie. There will be a planning meeting Thursday, April 7, at 5 p.m. at Bunny’s in St. Louis Park. Please come and join this committee. See you on April 7!
 
Rotarian David Aase gave his classification talk, and shared his reasons for joining Rotary with the group: to serve others, to live in gratitude, give back to the community and create new friendships. In addition, David shared the two most influential books he has read—Rich Dad, Poor Dad and 4-Hour Work Week.
 
Steve Buettner had the honor of introducing his brother, Tony Buettner, our program speaker who shared his research on the Blue Zones. Tony is the organizational leader at Blue Zones and he shared several concepts relating to the Secrets of a Long Life.
 
  1. Move Naturally: The world’s longest-lived people don’t pump iron or run marathons. Instead, their environments nudge them into moving without thinking about it.
  2. Purpose: Why do you wake up in the morning? Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.
  3. Down Shift: Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major-age related disease. The world’s longest lived people have routines to shed that stress.
  4. Eighty Percent Rule: “Hara hachi bu,” the Okinawans say this mantra before meals as a reminder to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full.
  5. Plant Slant: The cornerstone of most centenarians' diets? Beans, they typically eat meat, mostly pork, only five times per month.
  6. Wine @ 5: Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers, especially if they share those drinks with friends.
  7. Belong: Attending faith-based services four times per month, no matter the denomination, adds 14 years of life expectancy
  8. Loved Ones First: Centenarians put their families first. They keep aging parents and grandparents nearby, commit to a life partner and invest in their children.
  9. Right Tribe: The world’s longest lived people choose or are born into social circles that choose healthy behaviors.
The results of living in a Blue Zone include: increased well being, decreased healthcare costs, increased productivity, decreased tobacco use, decreased obesity, increased economic vitality, increased physical activity and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Brad Pearson thanked Tony for an outstanding presentation, both inspirational and educational. Jennifer Bennerotte closed the meeting with a wonderful example of service above self and being a gift to the world by sharing a touching story about Brad Pearson providing exemplary service and compassion to a patient in the hospital. A great finish to a great meeting.