The Rotary Club of Edina gathered Thursday, Feb. 9, to hear program speaker Dr. Michael McAlpine from the University of Minnesota. An associate professor of mechanical engineering, his talk focused on 3D printing and functional materials. Before we heard from Dr. McAlpine, Rotarian Brandon Azbill gave his classification talk, Keith Benson handed out a local grant to the city of Edina Communications Department, and much more! 
 
Click on the link for more on the meeting...
 
 
 
 
Assisting with our meeting today were:
 
  • Greeters: Jean Morrison, Gary Pedersen and San Asato
  • Front Desk: Scott MacDonald
  • Invocation/Pledge/Four-Way Test: Bob Solheim
Ann Platt opened the meeting at 12:35 p.m.
  
Terry Moore introduced guests and visiting Rotarians:
 
  • Nash Faulk, guest of Greg Yoch
  • Scott Hawkins, guest of Greg Yoch
  • Jeff Schwedes, guest of Greg Yoch
  • Theresa Bea, guest of Sutton McGraw
  • Jordan McKittrick, guest of Lisa Walker 
  • Jim Doudiet, guest of David Clynes
  • Paul Rudd, guest of David Clynes
  • Chris Petti, guest of Andrea Thompson Miller
  • Mark Stageberg, guest of Keith Benson
  • Dick Shapiro, guest and father of Josh Sprague 
  • Sherill Pederson, visiting Rotarian from Aurora Northwest Spokane Club, Washington
Brandon Azbill delivered his classification speech. Brandon’s classification is Residential Real Estate. Wooj Byun sponsored Brandon to join the club in 2016.  Born and raised in Edina, he is in business with his father, David, and the David Azbill Group of Coldwell Banker Burnet. Brandon and his wife, Lauren, are expecting their first child any day now. Brandon has been involved with the Community Service Local Funding Committee and this year's Edina Rotary Foundation Signature Project, 66 West.
 
Josh Sprague spoke about the Edina High School Interact Club’s Skate to End Polio Friday, Feb. 10. Tickets are still available for this event.  
 
David Clynes (TRF Director for 2017–2019) and Jim Roberts recognized the following Paul Harris Fellows for their commitment to The Rotary Foundation through their generous giving in this 100th year of Rotary:
 
  • Ian Colville—PHF
  • Lisa Walker—PHF
  • Doug Johnson—PHF +1
  • Jim Roberts—PHF +1
  • Ann Platt—PHF +5
  • Jack Kennefick—PHF +6
  • Jean Morrison—PHF +6
  • Dan Mott—PHF +7
  • Brad Beard—PHF +8
Community Service—Local Funding Director Keith Benson introduced Scott Denfield, who accepted a $1,350 grant on behalf of the city of Edina's Communications Department. The local grant from the Edina Rotary Foundation will be used to purchase new LED lighting for the department's increasingly popular videography work.
 
Ann Platt introduced Brad Beard, whose classification is Hospital Administration. Brad joined the club in 2006 and was sponsored by Mike Norman. Brad introduced our speaker, Dr. Michael McAlpine.
 
Dr. McAlpine heads up the McAlpine Research Group at the University of Minnesota, where he is the Benjamin Mayhugh Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.  He leads a team that is researching and developing 3D printing applications using functional materials. 
 
Dr. McAlpine is scary smart. Brown University. Harvard. He showed us a video of a lab rat with an injured leg, and with the help of an implanted 3D electronic device, Dr. McAlpine's team was able to restore a high level of function in the rodent. I checked it out online, where this is described as:  “… the regeneration of bifurcated injuries across a 10 mm complex nerve gap in rats showed that the 3D printed scaffolds achieved successful regeneration of complex nerve injuries, resulting in enhanced functional return of the regenerated nerve.”   The U of M says Dr. McAlpine has 3D-printed everything from three-dimensional electronics to a soft bionic ear embedded with a conducting silver radio antenna. People suffering from nerve damage from disease, an accident or even from a battlefield injury are among those whose lives Dr. McAlpine hopes to improve as 3D printing with functional materials evolves.  
Greg Yoch thanked Dr. McAlpine for his remarkable presentation.
 
Ann Platt closed the meeting at 1:30 p.m. with a quote from John Wooden, famed coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team: “I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession.”