The 2018 Winter Carnival Royalty joined Club 10 members at the weekly luncheon. Special guest Dan Stoltz, President of Spire Credit Union, recounted the story of resurrecting this year’s Ice Palace from the set back of apparent failure and five management lessons learned from the experience. Past Members who served as Boreas Rex, Carnival Prime Ministers and Princes and Princesses were also recognized. It was a regal day at the Tuesday luncheon.
Club 10 Business Report
Past-President Jay Pfaender, Winter Carnival Prime Minister (1974), announced the arrival of the 2018 Winter Carnival Royalty at 12:10 p.m. on a cloudy Winter Carnival Day in downtown Saint Paul. Past-President and Past-District Governor Joe Kovarik led the assembled Rotarians in singing When the King Comes Marching In! accompanied by Doug Hartford on the electric piano. After a brief interlude to allow the royal party to get lunch, Vice-President Trixie Golberg called the meeting to order at 12:22 p.m. Bob Cardinal provided today's Inspirational Minute (“my health is my spirit in adjustment”). John Kupris facilitated the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Today's greeters were Heather Christopherson and Paul Meekin.
Vice- President Trixie repeated the announcement that the Tuesday, February 13th meeting is being replaced by a joint meeting with Minneapolis Rotary Club #9 on Friday, February, 16th. Guests are welcome. A bus will be running from Saint Paul for a cost of only $10; please register online now.
Past-Prime Minister Jay Pfaender returned to the rostrum and reminisced about growing up in the Highland Park area of Saint Paul, coming to work downtown, getting involved in the Winter Carnival and then meeting lifelong friends and business associates in all parts of the City as a result of his association with the Winter Carnival. He encouraged others to get involved for these reasons. It is a great way to establish business contacts. Jay applauded King Boreas LXXXI Jason Bradshaw, for committing to and making 500 appearances and national events. Jay then reminded the Club of the historical commitment of the Saint Paul Rotary Club to the Winter Carnival. He noted that eighteen (18) past Boreas Rex, eight (8) Prime Ministers and many Carnival princes and princesses were Saint Paul Rotarians. He then introduced the 2018 Prime Minister from the Royal House of Fortune Financial and Twin Cities Wellness Collective, Christine Quandt to introduce the members of the 2018 Royal Family:
• King Boreas LXXXII: Tom Leonard of White Bear Lake, sponsored by Fury Motors.
• Aurora, Queen of Snows: Jilla Nadimi of St. Paul, sponsored by Party Time Liquor.
• Titan, Prince of the North Wind: Bob Flood of Hugo, sponsored by Haas Financial.
• North Wind Princess: Elizabeth Mark of Vadnais Heights, sponsored by Rice Street Festival.
• Euros, Prince of the East Wind: Bill Wearn of St. Paul, sponsored by Rosedale Center.
• East Wind Princess: Heather Westling of Hopkins, sponsored by Quality Insurance Service.
• Zephyrus, Prince of the West Wind: Daryl Wahl of Woodbury, sponsored by Boars Head Leathers.
• West Wind Princess: Dani Ross of Hudson, Wis., sponsored by White Bear Country Inn/Rudy Red Eye.
• Notos, Prince of the South Wind: Steve Doody of South St. Paul, sponsored by Edward Jones Investments.
• South Wind Princess: Jacquelyn Chatelaine of Lakeville, sponsored by Alpha Financial Services.
• Captain of the Guard: Jeff Dekeuster of Roseville, sponsored by LCS.
• Royal Coordinators: Cheryl Peterson of South St. Paul and Kathy Zwieg of Lino Lakes.
• Klondike Kate: Natalia Hemingway of St. Louis Park, chosen Jan. 10.
Past-Prime Minister Jay returned to introduce Dan Stoltz, President of Spire Credit Union. As Jay put it: “When Dan heard that the 2018 Ice Palace was not going to happen, Dan simply said: ‘We have to have an Ice Palace!’” Mr. Stoltz is the only person to ever serve back-to-back as King Boreas and the Minneapolis Aquatennial Commodore.
Mr. Stoltz provided historical highlights from the 132 year history of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, noting that no other community festival in U.S. has run this long. The Carnival started after a report in 1885 by a N.Y. reported after a wintry visit to Saint Paul reported that “that place is not fit for human habitation.” Railroad magnate J.J. Hill took the challenge to “show them.” Thus, the Winter Carnival concept was born.
Mr. Stoltz then addressed the question: Why take on the challenge of an Ice Palace in 2018? He said that building the Ice Palace demonstrated the achievement of five management goals:
- Chase your dreams. Walt Disney once said: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” The Ice Palace “dream” has been achieved.
- If you need your dream to work, you need teamwork.
- Failure is not fail. “What is Plan B?” Always be ready with the next plan.
- Life is about giving not getting. Giving Back, Make the community stronger, “The Giving Tree.”
- Be a go-getter; be a go-giver. Make a difference.
King Boreas LXXXII Tom Leonard led those in attendance through the Rotary Four Way Test ("Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?"). Vice-President Trixie thanked King Boreas/Tom for the attendance of the Royal Court. She thanked Mr. Stoltz and presented him with a Club 10 recognition certificate. She noted that a donation would be made in Mr. Stoltz’s name to the Saint Paul Public Library's "Reading Together" program.
Vice-President Trixie then rang the bell to close the meeting at 1:12 p.m.
Chuck Standfuss, Scribe