APRIL 17, 2017 ROTARY IN REVIEW: Larry Morgan
President Chuck Whitaker called the meeting to order at 12:10 pm. Michael-jon Pease led the members in singing Edelweiss, accompanied by Doug Hartford, piano. Nancy Brady’s inspirational minute was an inspiring story about daffodils. Jason DeKeuster introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. The greeter was Linda Mulhern; the scribe was Lynne Beck.
Next week’s meeting will take place at the Doubletree Hotel. Thursday’s Fellowship program will be Ron Reimann talking about Cold War submarining and national intelligence, Legislating an end to railroad bankruptcies, Global Volunteers service in the former USSR, and service and volunteerism as an American value.
Carley Stuber reported that 4 new members have joined which brings us closer to our goal of 10 by July 1. Sponsor Tom Shalitzky was the winner of the drawing for 2 tickets to La Boheme.
Sarah Kolar introduced the Second Century Society. It was started during our 100th Anniversary; $800,000 was raised for the endowment. Members can give in a variety of ways. Funds from the endowment paid for the Feed My Starving Children van and for college scholarships. It also provides sustainability for our projects. Sarah, Jim Kosmo, Jim Delamater, Darrell Butterwick and John Andrews told how they gave and encouraged members to sign up to join the Society on the forms on the tables.
Brianna Vujovich gave an update on RYLA. Everyone is invited to the BBQ on Sunday at 4:00 at Camp St. Croix. They are looking for people to drive the students to and from the camp. The GSE team will be there too.<
Jim Kosmo introduced Rotarian Larry Morgan who followed up on his presentation last year on the St. Paul Cathedral. A 40-year veteran of TKDA Engineering, Architecture, and Planning, Larry’s topic was TKDA’s 106 Year History.
Founded in 1910 by German immigrant Maximilian Toltz as Toltz Engineering Company in Saint Paul, the company played a significant role in designing the city’s landmarks, including the Como Park Conservatory (now Marjorie McNeely Conservatory), iconic Hamm Building, St. Paul Athletic Club, St. Paul Union Depot, Eileen Bigelow’s residence at Gem Lake, and the Robert and Wabasha Street bridges. Throughout the decades, the company has designed the areas’ roads, bridges, railways, mass transit stations, airports, parks and trails, sewage treatment plants, as well as buildings and facilities for companies, schools, and government buildings.<
Today there are 240 employees in 9 offices around the country. The St. Paul TKDA Headquarters, which has moved three times, is now located in UBS Plaza. The working environment has changed from pencils, paper and drafting tables to technology and digital equipment.
Over his 40-year career at TKDA, civil engineer Larry Morgan has worked in different departments of the company, but primarily in the area of water resources. He said the Max Toltz’s favorite quote was “Build Relationships not Monuments.”
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 pm.
Lynne Beck
Scribe