In Review...

The June 9, 2016 meeting began promptly at 12:25 p.m. after all were greeted by Michael Eckert and Toni Gerard. The front desk duties were handled by Jack Kennefick and Mary Hustad. President Jennifer Bennerotte welcomed a full house and shared with us her own personal adventure in "Entrepreneurial Land." While in elementary school, she and a friend grew $2 into $100 as part of a class challenge, donating the proceeds to a charitable cause. Nice work Jenn! You can handle my portfolio anytime.

Jean Morrison offered a memorable invocation using a Gandhi devotion. During this, all attendees formed circles at the their tables by holding hands during the reading—a very special time. Bob Stehlik introduced the 15 guests and three visiting Rotarians who chose to be with us on this day. Our former Youth Exchange student Kat Fink then shared her time in Denmark (in the 2014–2015 Rotary year) with us and thanked the club for the opportunity.

Keith Benson, Community Service—Local Funding Director, presented a grant check from the Edina Rotary Foundation to Fraser. Fraser is Minnesota's largest and most experienced provider of autism services. Fraser also provides services for mental health and other developmental disabilities for children and adults with special needs through healthcare, education and housing. 

TRF Director Sue Spalding presented our newest and multiple Paul Harris Fellows as follows: 

• New PHF: Renee Harberts, John Mazzara, Kelly Sprague, Charles Sprague and Mary Swendsen
• Multiple PHF: Dan Hennen, Sonja Tengdin, Bill Carter, Keith Benson, John Flynn, Skip Thomas, Joe Christensen and Tom Pirsch

Wooj Byun (limited to one minute!) succinctly reviewed his time in Seoul where Rotary's international convention was held and he was a featured speaker. He encouraged all of us to try to attend one of these gatherings.

Finally, at this very busy portion of the meeting, our 170th member, Ian Colville, was inducted into our club by our firest female club president, Patti Ellingson-Solheim.

Michael Eckert introduced our program speakers with a slow poetic version of "Splish, Slash, I was takin' a bath" followed by a vocal rendition of "Rubber Ducky." Nice job Mike, but don't give up your day job. :)

Our club was treated to a lesson in entrepreneurship by two young girls: sisters Caroline and Isabel Bercaw. They surprised the most successful members of our club with their story of launching a company selling homemade "bath bombs." Their business has now grown to 320 stores in 30 states. Not bad for sisters ages 14 and 15 years.

Their story is best read online at www.dabombfizzers.com. We wish them continued success in their endeavor. They were thanked by Erick Ries and the meeting was adjourned at 1:32 p.m.