• Fall Fireside Chats are this week and next, including the first one tonight! Invitations have been sent and this is a wonderful way to get to know your fellow Rotarians in a casual setting.  We encourage everyone to register.
• Camp Enterprise is Oct. 27 to 29 and volunteers are still needed. Contact Sam Thompson or Kip Peterson to sign up.
• A musical evening out is set for Nov. 19, with dinner before a St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert.
• Thanksgiving baskets will be prepared for those less fortunate on Wednesday, Nov. 23.  We encourage all members and their family members to participate.

This is a photo of Ali Abas, a former STRIVE student, who graduated in 2012. He was Jerry Potter’s mentee [while in the program]. Ali currently attends Lower Columbia Community College in Longview, Washington, where he is studying Diesel Technology under an Opportunity Grant (a state-funded program for students in a technical program to prepare for a high-demand career). He will continue to study for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Diesel Technology at Centralia College.

 

Ali is visiting relatives in Minnesota this weekend and after landing in Minneapolis this morning, his first stop was Edina High School where he planned to see Heidi Howard. I was a mentor in STRIVE when he was there and Ali saw me in the hallway and called my name. We also met with Kathleen MacLennan, another mentor, and Ali will spend the day meeting with students and previous teachers as well. I experienced an inspirational and emotional morning with him as he told us about his life and his plans.

 

Ali talked about the impact STRIVE had on him, especially Jerry, who truly took Ali under his wing. Ali wears a large watch because “Jerry taught me that time is valuable and important."  He knew Jerry was always there for him and we assured him Jerry was proud of him today, even though we all wish Jerry was here to say it himself. Ali talked about how Heidi has made a difference in his life and he knew she was always there for him. When he got into some school trouble as a sophomore, the Assistant Principal told him Heidi would be disappointed and that changed his behavior because “I did not want to disappoint Heidi."

 

Ali has committed to finish his program without a break because he remembers how much Jerry focused on “commitment."  

 

He told us stories of being the only black student in his classes in this small town in Washington, and how an Aryan Nation student was in his class. His classmates, who were initially skeptical of Ali, stood up for him and Ali said he knew he would have no trouble with that guy. He said he has to trust people, and when Heidi said that is a way to get hurt sometimes, he said “yes, but that is life." He was grateful for learning how to ask for help in STRIVE, and that his teachers and the school are very supportive. He had a great story about taking a sauna with the city council leaders at the local YMCA [in Washington] and how one man was spewing anti-Muslim statements. After some time passed, Ali politely said “Sir, I am Muslim, and I am not going to shoot at you.” And of course the man stopped spewing his hatred, at least around Ali.

 

He is patient and kind and wise for his years. We are proud and wanted to share this good news with Rotary and all those who believed in Ali and so many other students. It may take awhile, but sometimes the seeds do take root! Ali Abas is an inspiration to me to continue to show up for our students at Edina High School.  

 

 

 

President Ann Platt opened the annual joint meeting with the Edina Morningside Rotary Club with her usual charm and good humor, thanking the full house of attendees for their dedication and commitment as representatives of the Edina community to the Rotary International organization.

Edina Morningside Rotary Club President Tom Gump led us in a thoughtful invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Four-Way Test. Steve Slyce introduced the guests and their hosts, including:

 

Announcements and volunteer opportunities included:

 

Mary Younggren introduced the guest speaker, Joe Puishys, President and CEO of Apogee Enterprises, Inc. 

Apogee Enterprises designs, engineers, and manufactures window systems for commercial and security buildings. They also manufacture glass for the auto industry, film coatings, picture framers and others. Their commercial glass can be found on buildings around the world, including the tallest building in the western hemisphere, One World Trade Center in NY and our own US Bank Stadium. 

Joe provided an inspiring speech, talking about influential people he has met throughout his business career providing him with valuable lessons he hopes to instill in his employees. He told the story of a slightly intimidating boss he had early in his career asking him for a one-on-one presentation. After preparing a full presentation including visual aids, his boss pushed the presentation aside and said "I just want to talk." Joe, to this day, does not believe in presentations and warns his employees, "You are going to hear me talk." Judging from his short time at our meeting, I’m sure his employees look forward to hearing him speak anytime.

Sue Spalding thanked our speaker.