In review

President Ann Platt opened the meeting mentioning the Edina Rotary Foundation Signature Project for 2016–2017—66 West, an apartment complex in Edina for 39 youth that have experienced homelessness. She showed a clip of the facility from KSTP News.

 

Mike Norman handled the front desk at the meeting. Greeters were Gordy Lewis, Jim Platt and Libby Schmit. Keith Benson gave us an inspiring invocation, and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Four-Way Test. Bob Gubrud is writing the meeting notes for The Barker. 

 

Nate Wenner introduced our guests at the meeting:

Keith Benson, chair of the Community Service—Local Funding Committee, asked for help in finding grant candidates. The due date for grant submissions is Oct. 31. Guidelines and applications available on the Rotary website, www.EdinaRotary.org.

 

Mike Opitz announced that sales of 2016 Fundraiser raffle tickets were halfway toward goal and asked that all members raffle ticket stubs and payments be mailed or brought to the next Rotary meeting. 

 

Susan Johnson and Royce Pavelka, co-chairs of the 2016 Fundraiser & Gala Silent Auction Committee, provided a partial listing of Silent Auction items and said that last call for items was this week. 

 

President Ann Platt introduced Jim Ryman, noting he joined Rotary in September 2014 and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Jim introduced our speaker, Dirk DeYoung, editor of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, whose presentation was titled "Marrying Print & Digital" and he also spoke about "what we're watching in the Twin Cities economy." 

 

Jim gave the background on the speaker: Dirk joined the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in 1995, has been editor since 1999, held positions of managing editor, reporter and research director. Prior to joining the Business Journal, Dirk was a reporter in Mason City, Iowa, and Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He received his BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota, is an avid bike rider—including commuting to work on his bike, and loves music.

 

Dirk opened his remarks noting the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal is a member of a chain of 40 print business journals around the United States. The Journal publishes a weekly edition and two daily email editions—a morning edition with 20,000 subscribers and an afternoon edition with 22,000 subscribers. The Journal is thriving by providing a print edition for their core audience of paid subscribers and is transitioning to digital media. The Journal distinguishes itself by providing breaking news before company's issue a press release. National as well as local content can be accessed online. Their webpage makes extensive use of social media.

 

Dirk discussed reporters that cover specific subjects such as investigating political contributions by local business leaders, a feature article on the "Apartment Boom—Bust Ahead?", the most admired CEOs, exclusive data on Top 100 Private Minnesota Companies, information on real estate transactions, new restaurants, hotels, and a People on the Move section.

The Journal also follows activities of individuals in metro area. He mentioned Scott Neal, Edina City Manager, and asked for help from Rotarians to provide news, information for People on the Move, awards and other company events. The editors and reporters of the Journal are watching developments in Edina: apartments, medical offices, orthopedic centers, upgrade of Southdale, the Galleria; as well as activity along the western light rail and the grocery store glut with grocers building new stores. The Journal is expecting a shakeout sometime in the future. He noted following General Mills and the changes in food production in response to America's changing diet. The Journal is also following the soccer stadium in the midway district in St. Paul, and US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, with the resulting development catalyzed by the stadiums.

 

Another trend being monitored are changes in employment by the top 50 Minnesota employers. This includes coverage of where the jobs are, such as top five increases in jobs were in health care—the Mayo Clinic, Boston Scientific, Fairview Health Services, Hennepin County Medical Center and United Health Group. The largest decreases in employment were at Target, 3M, United States Postal Service, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Cargill. He noted the growing need for workers in the metro area driven by retirements of baby boomers. There is also the need to adapt to more diverse workforce creating challenges for employers.

 

He concluded his presentation by indicating the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal is not sure of what is coming in 2017. However, he is confident the Journal is ready to identify, monitor and report to readers to maintain their leadership in providing breaking news and exclusive data on businesses. He then opened the floor to questions before he was thanked for his presentation by Kenny Smith.