From left to right: Shannon Shepard, Nick Johnson, Gabbie Johnson, Dwight Eiken, Jennifer Donais, Patrick Hatlestad, John Miller, Ken Callahan. (Not pictured-Paul Gilbert & Joann Callahan)
Hockey Night 2020. We volunteered to cook and serve chili at the Teton Hockey game on Saturday, January 25th.
Noel Hanson
This week we lost long-time Rotarian Noel Hanson. Noel joined Rotary on November 1, 1978 and served for 34 years. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 1 at the First Lutheran Church in Williston. Thank you Noel for your many years of service to the Williston Community. In lieu of flowers, we will be donating $200 to the Bethel Lutheran Foundation-Bethel Building Fund in Noel's memory.
4 Way Test Scholarship
The 2019 Scholarship deadline was December 13th. The Board created a Scholarship Committee to review the applications. This year we only received four applications for the five scholarships that were available. Leif Larsen won a $750 scholarship. Jenna Sime, Samantha Ledahl, and Marta Cuartero each won a $500 scholarship.
The Salvation Army-Bell Ringing
Thank you to all of the Rotarians that signed up to ring this year. The Salvation Army was very appreciative that we signed up. They even brought apron's with Rotary's name on them!
In one day we raised $1,067.76. Using the Salvation Army's website, we can track donations at our designated site.
This year the Salvation Army set a goal of $70,000 and raised a total of $92,000. The majority of the donations were received in the last week and a half. They exceeded last years donations, even though the campaign was a week shorter!
Mark Schneider, Rotary Board Member, presenting a check to Travis and Jen Lutz of Bismarck, ND. They were one of our weekly winners on the Football Boards.
Sweet Heart's Luncheon
This year our Sweet Heart's Luncheon is scheduled for February 10th at noon. Please plan to attend and bring your spouse/significant other. We would like to thank them for all they do! If you plan to attend please sign up at our meeting on Monday or let Mark Schneider know.
Banquet West
This year Ashley Wahl has agreed to be our Banquet West Chair. Ken Callahan and Mitzi Bestall have agreed to help with the food prep. We have signed up for four dates this year due to the popularity of this volunteer activity. We will pass around a sign up sheet for each event as they get closer. But for now please mark your calendars for the following dates:
3/22/20
4/19/20
9/13/20
10/18/20
For those that are unfamiliar with the event, Banquet West is a community event featuring a free meal for the community every Sunday at the First Lutheran Church's Fellowship Hall from 5:30-7:00 pm. Each week a different organization volunteers their time to cook and serve a wonderful meal. This is a family friendly event, so bring everyone!
Colleague Appreciation Day (formerly Rose Day)
Thank you to Pat Hatlestad, Mark Schneider, Chelsea Ridge, and Deb Halvorson for agreeing to co-chair this event. This year Colleague Appreciation Day falls on April 22, 2020. We will still need additional volunteers to help prep, package, and deliver. Please reach out to one of the co-chairs if you are able to help.
President-Elect Training (PETS)
Have you considered running for President of the Williston Rotary Club? This year our PETS Training will be held Thursday, April 23rd, the day prior to the start of the District Conference. The registration fee will be waived for President Elects that attend the training. District Conference breakout sessions on Friday will be helpful to incoming club presidents, including sessions on leadership and using the presidential citation for planning a successful year. Please visit with one of the Board members if you have any interest in the position, training, or conference. At this time we do not have a President for the second half of our year. We do not have a President-elect for the coming year either. However, we do have many past Presidents willing to offer guidance as needed.
Foundation Minute of the Week (January 20th)
Submitted by Corliss Klassen, Zone 28 & 29 Foundation
Editor: Olabisi Gwamna
The Eradication of Polio is one of the goals of TRF, and through its Polio-Plus program’s partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it has almost obliterated the disease from the face of the planet. On January 22, 2020, Rotary International and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a renewal of their longstanding joint commitment to end polio. Based on a partnership forged over a decade ago, Rotary is committed to raising $50million every year, over the next three years, to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation. This expanded agreement adds up to $450 million for Polio Eradication activities. In a video message to Rotary volunteers, Gates admitted that his foundation’s partnership with Rotary “… has been vital to fighting polio.” So far, Rotary has contributed more than $2billion on polio eradication, with matching funds from the Gates Foundation.
In another generous gesture, the Gates Foundation is donating $2 for each $1 pledged for the planned Fight to End Polio Flight. Iowa natives and members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, John Ockenfels of Iowa City and Peter Teahen of Cedar Rapids, plan to raise awareness for polio eradication by piloting a single-engine aircraft around the globe. Along their route, they also hope to raise much-needed funds to aid in the complete elimination of the paralytic disease. The 20,000 mile-long- flight which will last 51 days, will take off from Cedar Rapids on March 24. (Stay tuned for updates on this unique event!)
Board Updates
Our February Board Meeting is set for noon
February 27th, at Williston State College's Fish Bowl
Board Minutes and Agenda's are available on our website, willistonrotaryclub.org.
If there is something you would like to see on the website, in the bulletin, or on Facebook please let us know!
Upcoming Programs/Events
2/3/20-Williston Downtowners
2/10/20-Sweetheart Luncheon (bring your sweetheart!)
