It was a beautiful spring day for April, and I happen to check into the meeting just as Joel Jennings was arriving and checking in. What a delight to have Joel back in our presence and enjoy his warm and positive energy. Welcome back Joel! We look forward to seeing you again very soon. The program speaker at the meeting was Lee Anderson, General Mills Director of Issue Management and State Government Relations, and Frank Cardarelle's nephew! Youth Exchange student Justine Onana gave her country talk, telling us all about Belgium. And the final results of the The Rotary Foundation Bowl were announced! 
 
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Our meeting was called to order promptly at 12:41 p.m. by our president, Ann Platt
 
We were warmly greeted by Michael Stanzak, Scott Hawkins, Jen Tregarthen and Lisa Walker. Terry Stevens manned the front desk with the ever capable and effervescent Jen Garske. Susan Johnson and Jim Platt helped check in Prospective Members.  Mike Hagen provided the invocation, pledge and Four Way Test. We enjoyed having many guests for Prospective Member Day, including our Rotary Youth Exchange students Claudio and Justine, hosted by Mike Kallas.  Our guests included Beverly Peterson and Colleen Sarenpa, hosted by Jody Kern; Nancy Ott-Pinekaers, hosted by Hannelore Brucker; Alex Barnett and Carla Marroquin, hosted by Jon Barnett; Lois, John and Elizabeth Cardarelle hosted by our favorite Rotary historian Frank Cardarelle; Margaret deJonge, hosted by Ann Platt; newly approved member Mike Anderson, hosted by Dave Hatzung; another newly approved member, Heather Edelson, hosted by Josh Sprague; and Maura Schnabach, hosted by Gary Pedersen and Josh Sprague
 
As Rotary celebrates the 100-year anniversary of The Rotary Foundation, our club has worked hard to get 100 percent participation from all members. TRF Director for our club, Sue Spalding, provided an update on our progress. It was a lively rivalry between team captains Tim Murphy (blue) and Sandy Schley (gold), with Tim’s team winning by a nose at 91 percent participation. Sandy’s team was close behind with 87 percent participation. A huge shout out to the teams that had 100 percent participation—Bob Perkins, Jody Kern, David Clynes, Sonja Tengdin, Bill McReavy, Rick Carlson, Melinda Inman and Nate Wenner. This compares to last year’s club participation rate of 60 percent. Go Rotary Club of Edina!!! Truly the No. 1 Club in the Universe. 
 
Although our contest may have ended, we are still striving to reach 100 percent club participation, and have a few more weeks to get there. If we reach our goal of 100 percent this year, Jeff Ohe has promised his four kids will make an encore appearance and lead in the pledge and Four Way Test! I know we can do it! 
 
Justine Onana is our Youth Exchange student from Belgium. She gave her country talk and we learned that Belgium is a country of 11 million people in a country that is 7 times smaller than Minnesota. They speak three languages—Dutch, French and German. Belgium is famous for many things in the world, including, but not limited to, waffles, chocolate, Belgium fries (contrary to popular belief, they are NOT FRENCH fries!), soccer and BEER. Justine recommends Bruges and Brussels as “must see” stops on your tour of Belgium. And of course, you must stop by to visit Justine and her family (she has three brothers!). 
 
Justine arrived here on Aug. 12 last year, and since that time has stayed with three wonderful families and had an opportunity to travel, attend sporting and other events, and enjoy Minnesota life. Justine is on the rugby team at Edina High School, and sings in the choir. 
 
Our speaker was introduced by our very own Joe Christensen, a 16-year member of our club, and resident “tinkerer." Joe likes to spend time at his cabin in Brainerd, and can be most often found with “his head under the hood” of one of his various toys. Joe introduced Lee Anderson, General Mills Director of Issue Management and State Government Relations (and Frank Cardarelle’s nephew!).  Lee is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, and William Mitchell Law School, and has been at General Mills for 17 years. 
 
In 2016, General Mills celebrated their 150th Anniversary. From the first flour mill, built by Cadwallader Washburn in 1866, to today’s international presence serving the world by making food people love, General Mills has had a significant presence in Minneapolis. That first mill blew up (what a mess of flour dust that must have been!) and was rebuilt bigger and better. If you visit the Mill City Museum, you can see the ruins of the flour mill and learn more about the history of the flour mill. One little known fact is that Cadwallader Washburn founded the Washburn Center for Children as an orphanage for those children left without parents as a result of the flour mill blast and fire. 
 
The replacement mill was built even bigger than the original and in the late 1800s, flour was being shipped internationally from Iceland to Cairo, Egypt. They started acquiring other mills, and in 1928 became known as General Mills. 
 
For more than a century, General Mills has practiced philanthropy throughout the world. From the initial orphanage built as a result of the fire that killed 18 people, to today’s commitment to Riverfirst, a multi-million dollar gift to the city of Minneapolis in 2016, General Mills is giving back in meaningful ways. Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis will be renovated using the General Mills gift. 
 
Since 1996, General Mills has sponsored “box tops for education." This program has returned $800,000,000 to schools in the United States. Wow! General Mills current CEO Ken Powell founded “Partners in Food Solutions,” a 501©3, in 2008. This organization is headed by Rotarian Jeff Dykstra of Edina Morningside Rotary Club. They are committed to doubling organic acreage by 2019 in the United States and other worldwide initiatives.
 
Today General Mills sells products in over 100 countries on six continents with more than 100 consumer brands ranging from Yoplait to Haagen Dazs. No free samples of ice cream were provided, and there were no sightings of Betty Crocker. However we are negotiating to get Sandy Schley and Tim Murphy on a commemorative box of Wheaties!!
 
Did I mention that we were so happy to see Joel Jennings again? 
 
And that we are striving to get to 100 percent participation for The Rotary Foundation? Please contact Sue Spalding with your pledge, or better yet, your contribution, before June 15.
 
The meeting adjourned promptly at 1:30 p.m.