In review
Posted by Larry Doty on Jul 14, 2016
Club President Ann Platt called the meeting to order by sharing some recent updates of Rotarian participation in the community. Recently club members have participated and supported the groundbreaking of 66 West in Edina, the 2016–2017 Signature Project for the club. And Paul Peterson performed at the Peter Frampton concert, with more than 60 Rotarians in attendance to support Paul. A pre-concert cocktail party for Rotarians at Rock Bottom Brewery was also well attended.
Dan Mott attended the front desk, while Wayne Harmon, Ian Colville, and Tom Cook served as greeters. San Asato provided the invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Four-Way Test. Skip Thomas introduced and acknowledged our guests in attendance, including:
- Roberta McNellis, wife and guest of Tom McNellis
- Shelia Asato, wife and guest of San Asato and daughter of Tom McNellis
- Howard Cocks, guest of Bill Milota
- Lexi Reed Holtum, executive director of the Steve Rummler Hope Foundation, guest of Ann Platt
Sam Thompson, 2016 Fundraiser & Gala Co-Chair, provided an update regarding this year's event. The Gala will be Oct. 1, 2016 at the DoubleTree Hilton. The club is fortunate to auction off two tickets to the Ryder Cup as a fundraiser prior to the gala. Because this event is in the near future, the auction will be held July 28. If you cannot be in attendance, you can email Sam directly to place a bid on the tickets.
July 28 is also Prospective Member Day. Rotarians are encouraged to bring a guest to the meeting who may be interested in joining the club. Prospective members are not charged for their meal on Prospective Member Day.
Libby Schmit, a member of the Community Service—Local Funding Committee, announced a grant to t
he Edina Police Department. Edina Police Detective David Linen thanked the club for providing the Edina Rotary Foundation grant to the department this spring. The funding was used to acquire a software package that allows imaging of digital technology without altering evidence. This is extremely important knowing how technology evidence is now part of many legal cases.
he Edina Police Department. Edina Police Detective David Linen thanked the club for providing the Edina Rotary Foundation grant to the department this spring. The funding was used to acquire a software package that allows imaging of digital technology without altering evidence. This is extremely important knowing how technology evidence is now part of many legal cases.Abdi Ali sha
red his experience from Camp RYLA. The Rotary Club of Edina sponsors students each year to the camp in Wisconsin, and Abdi was one of those students in 2015. Abdi stressed how much the camp helped him develop relationships and leadership skills for the future. He learned that knowledge is a path, and wisdom is a purpose. He was grateful for the opportunity to attend the camp and grow as a leader.
red his experience from Camp RYLA. The Rotary Club of Edina sponsors students each year to the camp in Wisconsin, and Abdi was one of those students in 2015. Abdi stressed how much the camp helped him develop relationships and leadership skills for the future. He learned that knowledge is a path, and wisdom is a purpose. He was grateful for the opportunity to attend the camp and grow as a leader.
The Rev. Thomas Cook gave his classification talk at the meeting. Rev. Cook’s classification is Ministry. He has spent 19 years in the Episcopal Church. His service in the church is aligned with the principles of service to human kind that Rotary represents. Tom was raised in Florida and is a 1989 graduate from the University of Florida. Early in his career, he was a lobbyest for the State University System in Florida. He was later called to service in the ministry of the church. His father, Robert Cook, was a founding member of the Rotary Club in Tavares, Florida. Tom has three children. His oldest son is in the restaurant industry in Pittsburgh. His other son, the middle child, serves as an Army Ranger, and his 15-year-old daughter plays hockey for Edina and is preparing to get her driver's license. Rotary has been a part of Tom’s life since he was a boy and he continues to enjoy the values of Rotary as an adult.
Tim Murphy introduced guest speaker William Moyers. Moyers, vice president of public affairs and community relations at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, spoke about "Broken: My Story of Addiction and Recovery."
Moyers joined Hazelden in 1996 and has dedicated his career to eliminating barriers to recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. As Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's vice president of public affairs and community relations, he carries the message of hope, health and healing to policy makers, the media and communities across the nation.
Moyers is also the best-selling author of “Broken: My Story of Addiction and Recovery” and “Now What? An Insider’s Guide to Addiction and Recovery.” He has appeared on Larry King Live and Oprah and is a regular contributor to Good Morning America. As a former journalist for CNN, his work has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today and Newsweek.
Moyers joined Hazelden in 1996 and has dedicated his career to eliminating barriers to recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. As Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's vice president of public affairs and community relations, he carries the message of hope, health and healing to policy makers, the media and communities across the nation.
Moyers is also the best-selling author of “Broken: My Story of Addiction and Recovery” and “Now What? An Insider’s Guide to Addiction and Recovery.” He has appeared on Larry King Live and Oprah and is a regular contributor to Good Morning America. As a former journalist for CNN, his work has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today and Newsweek.
William shared that nearly 20 years ago he joined the Hazelden Foundation. Years ago, he prepared a speech for a group of Rotarians about addiction in the workplace. As he began to speak and share statistics and expert opinion, he soon realized the need for personal connection. William shared that he is an addict in recovery. He was living proof that anyone can be susceptible to addiction and that an individual's brain processes addiction differently. While we are all wired differently, there is a solution—personal responsibility. It took William four stints in rehab for his addiction to go into remission. The Minneapolis/St. Paul community serves as a crossroads in America for recovery and support. The problem of addiction has never been more serious, and it is important to understand empathy and support for people who struggle with personal addiction.
Scott MacDonald thanked Mr. Moyers for his moving and genuine message with a club donation on Moyers' behalf to Edina Give & Go. Club President Ann Platt adjourned the meeting.