JUNE 21, 2016 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Tim Marx
On a day that would have been perfect for outdoor fellowship (them's the breaks!), 80 Rotarians gathered at the Intercontinental Hotel for fellowship and a dynamic speaker. Club members drew random tables numbers as they were greeted to "mix up" the seating and get members talking.
Carla Hauge called the meeting to order at 12:15.
Song Leader Michael-jon Pease suggested we sing “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge or “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in honor of Gay Pride weekend, but in the absence of both an accompanist and a disco ball, he chose “God Bless America.”
Erika Schwichtenberg offered inspirational thoughts from Albert Einstein, reminding us all to unlock the our own potential.
Lively fellowship at the tables ensued in lieu of formal introductions.
Thanks to our meeting volunteers: Scott Van, Nancy McKillips and John Chandler (greeters) and Michael-jon Pease (scribe).
Rotarians in the news: Arne Bockstruck and Howard Guthmann were featured in the Pioneer Press in an article about the friendship club Innijiska – founded in 1958.
Next week is the changing of the guard, when we welcome our incoming board members and officers.
Please sign up to work the Rotary booth at Twin Cities Pride in Loring Park this weekend.
Carley Stuber kicked off the recognition of new members: Deborah Lee, Cynthia Sheily, Sophie Rupp, Nancy Brady, Mary Pucel, Matt Halley, Brianna Vujovich, Heather Christopherson, Michelle McManus, Laura Nichols-Endres, Cindy Dupont & Bob Stephenson. Chuck Whitaker will distribute cases of beer from Summit Brewing to each new member and to their sponsors.
Jim Kosmo announced our newest Century Scholarship winner Chloe Peterson. Chloe is moving to China next year to learn Mandarin with the State Department. After her return, she’ll begin her college career at Stanford in 2017.
John Chandler reported on the rainy Fellowship Day at the White Bear Yacht Club. The golf winner was Roger Bonfe. Winning a heated tennis match was John Chandler himself. Thanks to Chuck Whitaker and Dan McKeown for hosting the group at the WBYC!
100 special happy dollars was given by Gerry Meigs in honor of his 50 years with our club! Doug Bruce slipped in $15 in honor of Carla Hauge’s great run as President!
Program
Jay Pfaender introduced our speaker Tim Marx, President and CEO of Catholic Charities.
First off, it’s District Energy tearing up old 6th street in front of the new Dorothy Day Center, not Catholic Charities!
Catholic Charities works with those most in need, regardless of faith, background or circumstance. CC is now the largest human service organization in the area, serving more than 1 MM meals and directly impacting nearly 30,000 citizens. They are a standalone nonprofit,
The Dorothy Day Center was founded 35 years ago and serves nearly 6,000 people per year, serving over 300,000 meals. It was never envisioned as a shelter, only a day center. Due to need, it has been allowing people to sleep on mats during the winter, then year around. In 2011, they had to turn away people for the first time. Camps sprung up outside the center, sleeping in tents and cars (in the summer).
In December this year, the new Center will open to serve more homeless people and serve them with more dignity in keeping with Catholic Charities’ high level of care. Older people and women make up a significant percentage of the homeless population.
Homelessness is decreasing. Catholic Charities’ “Higher Ground” model (the first was in Minneapolis) is a proven solution. It is mixed use, with permanent apartment homes as well as shelter units. The Opportunity Center provides job skills.
The vision for the new Dorothy Day Center is a focus on pathways to permanent housing. Phase II will be under construction soon to provide mental health and job training services. 172 permanent housing units will be added in Phase II.
This is a $100 MM project, with 60% public funds, and 40% from a private capital campaign. Phase II was in the bonding bills that the legislature didn’t pass last session.
This project may well be the largest public-private human resources effort in state history. More than $32 MM have been raised from private sources – only $8 MM to go!
Two of the organization’s innovations are “pay for stay” ($42/week that CC saves to help build up the funds they will need to pay their first month’s rent and “medical respite.” Medical respite is a program to work with hospitals who are releasing homeless citizens from the ER, but who are still vulnerable and in need of some care. By providing dedicated medical respite beds, CC has saved the health care system hundreds of thousands of dollars.
St. Paul Rotarians are encouraged to volunteer, serve as an advocate at the capital, or donate to help make this effort successful.
Carla Hauge closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael-jon Pease