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The following reports were submitted by Red Wing Rotary Club presidents for each year.

1986 - 1987
Jerry Borgen, Charter President

They enjoyed it. I think their presence for four days caused our Club to gel. They were a perfect match and our members still retain ties with some of these GSE team members.

Kim Paanenan from Sweden was our first youth exchange. Kim was great!

We tried a couple of fundraisers that first year. The first was a sweet corn sale at River City Days in August. We picked the corn in a field near Oronoco in 100 degree weather. The weather in Levee Park was just as hot or hotter. Kyle Nordine fainted and fell into the gravel near the railroad tracks. He had to be transported to the hospital by an ambulance. He suffered facial cuts and bruises.

Our second fund raiser was the Kiddy Carnival at the Red Wing Mall during Shiver River Days. I helped plan it, but missed the event because of heart bypass surgery.  Bruce Tollefson had to run Rotary when I had my brief span in the hospital.

Roland Wilsey was the organizer of our Club and provided the flame that got us going. He provided the money and expertise for our basics and the talent for a good solid base for our Charter members. He brought to our Club each of the District Chairs in the various Avenues of Service.

We started on solid ground with 23 Charter Members - thanks to Roland. We have grown to over 60 members and have achieved a good reputation in Red Wing for great service.

1987 - 1988
Bruce Tollefson, President

My Rotary Year, by Bruce Tollefson
Our second year was an exciting one. We were growing, and the enthusiasm generated in the first year continued to build with new members. Rotary International had voted to admit women. Since we had attached a letter with our Charter application requesting RI Board of Directors to admit women, we were all very pleased. 

The first woman to join Red Wing Rotary during this time was Susan Gillmer. Immediately Susan became active. Other women followed her, Sonia Morphew, an assistant in the Chamber of Commerce office and Marge Truwe, who both joined early on.

We took first place in an ice cream cone building contest during a dairy month promotion at F&D Supply. I particularly believe Susan Gillmer's role in helping us win the trophy. We still have the trophy.

Our second youth exchange student was Carlos Lacuma from Spain. Carlos, like Kim, helped us continue the enthusiasm of Rotary Foundation programs.

While the Australian GSE team from Sweden help gel our Club, the GSE team from Sweden this year taught us more about the international sharing of Rotary. I think, however, we are all still a bit embarrassed over the lunch they were served. Members of this year will recall the 'famous turkey wings' - and the wings weren't the drummy part either! We've had our laughs about that lunch since, but at the time, we just had red faces.

Rotary entered Shiver River Days activities in January by sponsoring Donkey Basketball. As I recall, it was a great addition for this winter celebration.

We also sent students to Camp Enterprise and Youth Leadership and our youth scholarship program. We began promoting outbound youth exchange program.

Gordy Haugen was named a Paul Harris Fellow by his son Jack.

Our Christmas Party was a gala event with spouses. Charter Night Banquet was preceded with golf, and we were on our way to establishing some Red Wing Rotary traditions.

The year went fast and was perhaps highlighted most by our increase in membership and the admission of women members.

1988 - 1989
Todd Keute, President

1989 - 1990
Leland Finholm, President

My Rotary Year, by Leland Finholm
This summary covers all of 1989 and the first six months of 1990. President Todd Keute accepted a position in Virginia, Minnesota and departed our company in early 1989. President Lee Finholm accepted the Club President position in January 1989. At the end of December 1988, the club membership was at 40, which was an increase of 4 members from the start of the year. It has been an up hill battle to get a net gain in membership with the numbers of individuals that are leaving to job changes and/or moves. At the end of June 1988, the membership was at 41 and June 1990 at 43 members, but at mid-year membership was at 47 members.

In January of 1989, Sally Fleming, New Zealand, arrived as our 1988-89 Rotary Youth Exchange Student. Nicole Aiken selected as our first out bound exchange student. She was selected to Italy for the year. In July 1989, we received Izumi Torizawa from Nagoya, Japan as our 1989-90 Youth Exchange Student. It was an extremely exciting time for our club in International Youth activity for the year.

Also in January we sponsored Mutt Races at the Red Wing River Shiver Day celebrations. This was a time for the club to participate in the winter and the community. It was a fun time for all.

In April of 1989, we hosted the GSE team from South Africa. Bruce Tollefson was the coordinator of the activities. The families of Roger Sammon, Rick Adams, Gary Fryer, Leland Finholm, and Tom Stringer hosted the team members. A club event with the GSE team was a family potluck supper.

In the spring of 1990, we hosted the GSE team from Taiwan. The team was made up of four women and a male team leader. We hosted a special evening with them at the Villa Maria where they showed us some of their traditional clothing and art.

The District Conference for 1989 was held in Minneapolis at the Marriott Hotel with Districts 5950 and 5960 jointly. This turned out to be a very successful District activity as nearly 2000 Rotarians attended during the weekend. The Club hosted a hospitality suite with Hastings and Cannon Falls.

In May of 1989, Susan Gillmer and Gene Kennedy coordinated the Rotary effort of sponsoring the Special Olympics at the Athletic Field. Fifteen to twenty club members inflated and handed out balloons. We had a typical Minnesota spring day - COLD!!

In 1989 and 1990, the Club also sponsored a Mississippi Shuffle team in June, coordinated the efforts of the River City Days Parade - chaired by Roger Sammon, had the annual Charter Night Banquets, and the late summer beach party at Friedrich Point. We also sponsored students to Camp Enterprise and Leadership Camp.

The Club provided a $500 Scholarship to Red Wing High School Senior Dawn Wick with the alternate being Maribeth Schwartz. We purchased bicycles for Red Wing Bike Rodeo contributed to YMCA Youth in Government and many other organizations.

1989 marked the year the Club made a commitment to the Foundation by awarding two Paul Harris Fellows annually and made it retroactive. Jerry Borgen, Bruce Tollefson, Rollie Meffert and Roger Sammon were so honored. Gordy Haugen was also named a Paul Harris Fellow in February of 1988 by his son Jack. In 1990, both Todd Keute and I received Paul Harris Fellows. Many other events and activities occurred during the 18 months of 1989-90 and the Rotary Club became stronger.

I have continued to remain active both at the Club and in the District levels.

1990 - 1991
Arne Skyberg, President

My Rotary Year, by Arne Skyberg
We kicked off our first meeting in July with Senator Dave Durenberger and Lt. Governor Joanell Dyrstad (‘Doanell Jyrsdad’ as was printed in the program. In the way of an apology, I introduced myself to the gathering as ‘Sarne Arberg’. To this day, I still get called ‘Sarne’).

The entire community was invited to this event. The newspaper and radio were there and we did get a bit of press.

In August, we said our good-byes to our third exchange student – Izumi Torizawa. Izumi came in July of 1989 and had overlapped about six months with Sally Fleming from Australia. Izumi’s farewell presentation to the Club was not only an emotional one for her, but also for the Club. Both she and Sally came to all of our noon meetings and had become an integral part of our Club. We were to receive a student from Argentina in January of 1991, but for some reason that did not pan out.

We had been looking for a fundraiser when Marge Truwe received information on selling roses. Her enthusiasm for the project got us going and we held our first Rose Day in October of 1990. We chose the opening of hunting season for the sale with the idea that hunting men would feel guilty and buy roses for their wives or girl friends. That first Rose Day proved to be quite successful!

Paul Reding got our Club interested in adopting Pottery Pond Park, a new addition to the community. We planted trees and voted to budget $2,000 per year toward Pottery Pond. This was one of Gordy Haugen’s favorite projects.

We also encouraged Elise Wrolstad (who has since become Lee Finholm’s daughter-in-law) to apply for the GSE team to Australia.  She did and was selected. Lee Finholm was also selected as the alternate team leader for GSE that year.

The District asked us to host the Midterm Assembly and PETS in January of 1991. It was the first time we had done anything this major, but is was in good hands under Rollie Meffert’s chairmanship. We sent Jim Hermlen and Joelle Wyatt to Camp Enterprise. Marlene Kosobucki chaired our involvement with the International Special Olympics in Minneapolis.

By popular demand and after a wrestling fiasco, we brought back Donkey Basketball for Shiver River Days and challenged the Kiwanis and Red Wing 
teachers.

We hosted the GSE team from Australia who gave their presentation at our annual Charter Night Banquet.

We were also awarded with a District Governor’s Citation. The year was a busy one and because of my new position with Red Wing Shoe, I had to rely on Rollie Meffert, President-elect, a lot.  Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to Marge Truwe and me in May.

1991 - 1992
Roland Meffert, President

My Rotary Year, by Roland Meffert
It was a special privilege to be President of the Red wing Rotary Club. I was able to stand in front of the Club each week and look at eager, willing and dedicated fellow Club members. Whenever volunteers were needed for the Parade, GSE, Youth Exchange, Mississippi Shuffle and all of the other club events, our members were the best at raising their hands and saying, “I can help”. The “I can help” became the “We can help” in an instant, which resulted in our projects to be accomplished in a very successful manner. My admiration for our fellow Club members is a great feeling that continues to grow.

The monthly Board meetings were a very successful process that led our Club. The Directors and Officers were the inspirational leaders of our Club. As President, it was very gratifying to see the Directors and Officers bring a proposed project to the meeting, formulate a game plan, present it to the Club and follow the project to a successful conclusion. The discussions were beneficial and supportive to other Board members. The Board members made my role as President very easy – be there to call the meeting to order and then close it!

Adrianne Sikorski from Brazil was our Youth Exchange Student, and the GSE team was from the Philippines. Again, both fed into the enthusiasm of our members for these two programs.

Although I was no longer President, one of my fondest personal memories was the District Halloween Youth Exchange Party that we hosted in October of 1992. This was truly going to be a new experience for our members. I volunteered to chair the event and instantly had four others volunteer to serve on the committee. The resourcefulness of our Club members was the catalyst that made this a great event for the students, the District and our Club.

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to Mike Wilson and Gene Kennedy. 

It is an honor to be a member of the Red Wing Rotary Club with the rest of you as fellow members.

1992 - 1993
Kyle Nordine, President

My Rotary Year, by Kyle Nordine
The 1992 – 1993 Red Wing Rotary year was filled with many interesting events. We began the year by touring the newly remodeled Goodhue County Historical Museum. Our first project for the year was the River City Days Parade with over 105 units. Our RCD concession sales went well with pop and peanuts, but does anyone want to buy any fireworks glasses with Randy’s coupons? We might still be able to help out.

August kept us busy with Mississippi Shuffle with our Club sponsoring two teams. We also sent Ruth Howe, Club Service Director, to Guatemala with a Witness for Peace team from Red Wing. At the end of August we held our annual steak fry hosted by Kevin and Ann Florine. August also ushered in our Club brochure. (I told Ruth she couldn’t go to Guatemala unless she got it together before she left.) We awarded Joe Goggin a Paul Harris Fellow, the first non-Rotarian to receive this honor.

We welcomed our Exchange Student, Tina Szanberg, from Sonderberg, Denmark. We assisted with the new shadow program sponsored by Leadership Red Wing. In October we held our annual Rose Day sale. We sent Kate Jarmuz and Veronica Tharalson to Camp Enterprise and we hosted the District Halloween Party for the Exchange Students. The party was held at Twin Bluff Middle School and Rollie Meffert chaired the event. Over eighty Rotary Exchange Students and Roteract had a great time, an event both students and Red Wing Rotarians will remember for a long time.

We began 1993 with a bang and a bunch of stars. We helped to host and volunteer for the first ever Star of the North Games to be held in Red Wing. Paul Reding chaired our committee and the event was extremely successful and cold! We selected Tammy Foley for Japan and Ben Wells for Chile as our outbound Youth Exchange Students.

New members who had joined to date were Mike Dube, Craig Stockel, Sheryl Voth, Steve Perkins, Jim Ferguson, Laurie Smith, Don Rutten and others.

In February, we honored our sweethearts for lunch. We toured the new Republican Eagle building as part of Vocational Service. In May we welcomed members of the University of Minnesota Golden gophers football coaching staff including coach Jim Wacker.

We ended the year by saying good-bye and honoring our fallen fellow Rotarian Gordy Haugen. A pine tree was planted in his memory at Pottery Pond, a project Gordy was very fond of in Red Wing.

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to Rick Adams and me.

1993 - 1994
Gene Kennedy, President

My Rotary Year, by Gene Kennedy
Again, we organized the River City Days Parade and our concessions brought in a few dollars. It was followed by another successful Rose Day in October.

We were fortunate to have two Youth Exchange Students. Martin Jaigma from Estonia and Sabastine (Sep) Pufpaff from Germany. Both were a real fit for our Club and the school. Everyone very well liked them. They both became very active in our Club and attended our noon meetings. We still talk about them and we were sorry when they had to leave. 

Because two of our members had become active with the newly formed Sister City Commission in Red Wing, we were asked to sponsor the official signing agreement with Red Wing’s first Sister City, Quzhou, China. The event was held in the Sheldon and Jerry Borgen was the emcee.

We also got to understand our Saltash, Cornwall – Red Wing Rotary connection better when Muriel Bellingham, widow of Gordon Bellingham, visited our Club. Ruth Howe shared the committee and prepared a Red wing Rotary scrapbook for Muriel. This event was attended by a lot of District people, and Red Wing Mayor Romeo Cyr welcomed Muriel.

President Elect Marge Truwe was a lot of help to me that year as were all my officers and directors. Lee Finholm and I also went to the International Goodwill Conference in Winnipeg.

Our Club hosted the farewell party for the GSE team from Mexico.

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to Ruth Howe from our Club and Jim Grantman from the Red Wing community.

1994 - 1995
Marge Truwe, President

My Rotary Year, by Marge Truwe
Initially, I want to say that when I agreed to assume the Secretary duties for a year, I had no idea that there was whole progression of offices to follow. Was I surprised, being a fairly new member that I was in for at least five or six years of duty!

These duties over the years have been fun, and enlightening to the far-reaching projects that Rotary is involved, both locally and on an international level.

The Board of Directors that served with me for the year could not have been a better team! At the risk of omitting anyone, I’ll say that Treasurer Pat Winget worked very hard to develop a sound contribution policy that was clear, equitable and sensible. She also spent many hours on the budget that was within our means and reflected all of the areas that needed to be addressed. Secretary Craig Stockel could not have been better! With his sense of humor combined with the attention to detail and efficiency, this man kept me looking like I knew what I was doing, at the same time keeping the undertakings in perspective. President Elect Ruth Howe kept the Rotary enthusiasm fore front and helped me to not become overwhelmed.

Pottery Pond continued to improve and a sign was designed and presented by the City of Red Wing indicating our Rotary Club had adopted this park. After some intense negotiations, Rotary maintained the honor (and hard work) of putting on the River City Days Parade. One of the major contributors to River City Days wanted to be named THE sponsor of the Parade. We succeeded in convincing the Chamber of Commerce that one entity should be named the sponsor to anyone event or activity.

Once again, Rose Day was a complete success and our Club remained solvent for yet another year!

Elina Berklava from Riga, Latvia, was our inbound Youth Exchange Student. What an absolute joy this young woman was! Elina had a firm grasp on English when she arrived and it continued to improve throughout the year. She was a star pupil and while here, took a test on which she scored the highest anyone ever has! One of her pieces of artwork was selected to be on display at a showing of the ‘Works of Bright Young Artists’ from across the state. It then traveled to Washington DC to be displayed there. Elina truly is a remarkable person. We all hope that she visits with us again some day.

The GSE team was from Sweden and also had their rest break here at the Villa Maria Retreat Center.
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Paul Harris Fellows ere awarded to Kristin Schoffman and Jill Bengs.

All in all, it was an exhausting but very satisfying year - one that could not have been done without the love and support of my family. Thanks, Tom and Ben, for your help and understanding.

1995 - 1996
Ruth Howe, President

My Rotary Year, by Ruth Howe
This year will be remembered as the “M&M” year – money & membership. We led the District in new members with fourteen or more, net gain of eleven. Because of that, I was awarded a Paul Harris by the District – the real thanks, however, goes to the members who got ‘their ASK in gear,’ and to PE Kristin Schoffman who organized membership materials and held a membership meeting. We also challenged the Stillwater Risers headed by Jane Stillman. Jane promised their Club would do something for our members. Bob Burggren helped us keep the Award of Attendance. Without the help of Kristin, Don Rutten, Mike Wilson, Steve Perkins, Ron Herbst, Directors, the chairs of committees and the membership in general, our Club would not have received the Presidential Citation. Thanks to you – the magic of Rotary works!

Sibilla Zambon is our youth exchange student from Rovigo, Italy. When I attended the RI Convention in Nice, I was able to meet Sibilla and her family.

River City Days Parade under Sue Dopkins’ guidance was a big success. Tom Ahern again chaired the Mississippi Shuffle for cancer and despite the heat and humidity and thunderstorms, we did well for the cause. Dave Turner continues to organize Pottery Pond clean up and is working with the City on other projects we can do in this park.

Jill Bengs, Tammy Drebing, Jodi Schultz and Deb Albarado enthusiastically co-chaired Rose Day and led us to another successful sale! Craig Stockel, however, continues to be an inspiration to all of us in rose sales – 150 dozen! Early in the year, we voted to give the Library $2,000 for an environmental beautification project. Jim Ferguson chaired kids fishing contests, which seem to be big hits with the kids and KCUE and KWNG co-sponsor and gave us a lot of air time in addition to cash. It is proving to be a great partnership. Sandy, Steve and I went to International Goodwill Conference and were awarded the Canadian flag.

Steve Perkins at the February 1995 planning retreat suggested Happy Dollars and Steve’s led the charge at nearly every meeting. The money collected should fairly well cover our wells in India, the World Community Service Project. Sandy Nordmark actively pursues this project and once we complete contacts, we can all be very proud of the work she’s done on this.

Jill Bengs has attended numerous meetings with Goodhue and Wabasha Counties Public Health. We gave $500 for the T-shirt program and encouraged both Wabasha and Cannon Falls clubs to join in. Because Gene Kennedy encouraged Coe Leta Finke to apply for an Ambassadorial Scholarship through our Club, we may have our first Ambassadorial Scholar.

Rollie Meffert chaired the District Midterm Evaluation seminar held in Red Wing and had 15 or more Red Wing Rotarians on the committee. It was well done by our Club.

Again, we sponsored another Sister City signing agreement with the third Sister City, Ikata, Japan. Vocational Director, Roger Palmquist, and Dave Anderson are lining up a teleconference at the Technical College, and we will ‘conference’ with Mankato and Wabasha Rotary clubs. Roger is also coordinated with the high school on Youth Leadership and our $1,000 Scholarship.

Charter members headed by Jerry Borgen have organized the Charter night and Muriel and Heather Bellingham’s visit. Thanks to Roger Palmquist, Roger Sammon and Lee Finholm for helping me bring 10 years of scrapbooks up to date. Tom Feehan has produced a great video and he will add to it. And, the GSE team from Chile arrives the Saturday after the Charter night. Two members will be awarded Paul Harris Fellows. I echo Marge that it has been “an exhausting but yet satisfying year”.

1996 - 1997
Kristin Schoffman, President

My Rotary Year, by Kristin Schoffman
When I became the club president in 1996 I had no idea how it would end in 1997. My term ended in April as I went on maternity leave, a special thanks to president-elect Mike Wilson for stepping in and taking over as club president. Thank you to Craig Stockel, Vice President for keeping the programs interesting. Thank you Patricia Winget, club secretary, Steve Perkins, and Scott Gillmer, club treasurer. 

We began 1996 with Luis Vicente Giay as president of Rotary International. Build the Future with Action and Vision was the theme. The club was awarded a Presidential Citation, by completing projects and activities in all four avenues of service. District Governor was Tom Yuzer and Area Representative was Dave Shafer. 

Membership Challenge Plus was the campaign to focus on membership growth and retention. New members included Marie Bousson, Paul Christensen, Chris Palmer and Kristin Koplin. It was also the year of music. Prior to Paul joining the club we were not much of a singing club. Thanks, Paul for all the enthusiasm you bring to Red Wing Rotary. 

One of the first community service projects each year is the River City Days Parade. Our Grand Marshall was Tom Hughes, this turned out to be a special day for him and his family especially as the float he was riding in, passed his father sitting along the parade route in front of Hughes Shoes, which was once his father’s store. 

Ivan Cok joined our club as the Rotary Youth Exchange student from Croatia. Croatia located on the Adriatic Sea, above Greece, across from Italy, and surrounded by countries as Serbia and Bosnia. Thank you Phil McNairy for your enthusiasm in coordinating the Youth Exchange Program. 

Vocation service included tours of the Minnesota Correctional Facility and the Environmental Learning Center. Thank you Dave Turner, Vocational Service Director for arranging site visits and the coordinating the scholarship program. 

Community service projects included donations to the food shelf, the toys for tots program, adopting a family for the holidays, fielding two teams to walk in the Mississippi Shuffle, fishing contests for children, as well as funding a number of community service projects. Thank you Jill Bengs, Community Service Director.

This year our club partnered with the Rotary Club of Shirva, India to provide funds for a new well in Kalathur India, so they could have fresh water to drink. It is through the matching funds of our district and Rotary International that World Community Service projects can change the world. Thanks to Bill Laidlaw for planting the seed on this project and Sandy Nordmark, World Community Service Chair for taking action so the well could become reality. Funds were a result of collecting happy dollars and pennies for change. 

In May our club was host to the Rotary Exchange team from India. Thank you Roger Sammon, International Service Director, for arranging housing and transportation for the team from India.
 
A special thanks to Jim Ferguson, Club Service Director, Bob Burggren, Sargent at Arms, and Rooter editor, Sister Mary Kay Milne. 

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded this year. 

Rotary is more than creating business contacts it is a group of people genuinely concerned about our community and the members in the club. This year demonstrates the “Service Above Self” that Rotary does for the community, and the world. Thank you for being a part of Red Wing Rotary.

1997 - 1998
Mike Wilson, President

My Rotary Year, by Mike Wilson
My year as President of the Red Wing Rotary Club came a bit early as out previous President Kristen Schoffman asked me to take over for her so she could concentrate on the upcoming birth of her baby. After my P.E.T.S. training in Chicago, I met with the board consisting of Craig Stockel, Don Rutten, Bill Laidlaw, and Scott Gillmer.

We laid out our plans and goals and started down the road to a very successful year. We had a membership increase, we had our Ambassadorial Scholar, Coe Lita Finke, go to South Africa, and we also were able to have to new Paul Harris members. New for our Club was the organization of the Interact Club at the Red Wing High School with an outstanding job done by Susan Gillmer and Tom Feehan.

The River City Days Parade was another success along with Rose Day and, of course, out continued work at Pottery Pond. Our Exchange Student, Rattpoo (Tony) Kothcapong, from Thailand, gave our Club the International Flair for the year.

1998 - 1999
Craig Stockel, President

My Rotary Year, by Craig Stockel
The year I was privileged to be this Club’s president was filled with ‘the usual’ as well as the ‘not so usual’. By ‘usual’ I mean that as a Club we observed such favorite traditions as the late summer steak fry where a good time is always had by all, Pottery Pond clean-ups replete with a meal after, and the annual rose sale that was our major fundraiser. Of course, the rose sale allowed us to do projects in the community and the world.

By ‘unusual’ I mean that it was the year we instituted a vocational award to local firefighters and law enforcers, a practice that continues today. And I remember sitting around the table discussing the possibilities of a band extravaganza. It happened the following year as a community service thanks to the efforts of many, but primarily at the lead of Kyle Nordine.

It was on my watch that we welcomed Ana-Maria Raluca Marila (Ralu for short) from Romania as our inbound exchange student. It was that same year that we sent Lee Finholm off with two other worthy local candidates – Ann Barsness and Lisa Marty – to learn the fine art of becoming sherpas in Mongolia (not really- but they did go to Mongolia as Lee headed up the GSE team that year).

And who can forget the perseverance and energies of CoeLeta Finke, who brought us back ideas from her ambassadorial year in Grahamstown, South Africa, for a worthwhile effort as we sought contributions from other clubs for what became affectionately known as “CoeLeta’s Project”. For that project, we secured a gift of $21,350, which included financial matches from the District and the 
Rotary Foundation.

While the year as Club President was fantastic in itself, the opportunity to attend a Rotary International meeting was incredibly revealing to me of the internationality of Rotary. We speak of our international membership, but to experience it first-hand in Indianapolis was a fantastic experience. It was a wonderful benefit that the Club offers for incoming presidents, and I truly appreciated that opportunity.

Although I have become active in another Club, the Red Wing Club will always be my ‘home’ club. It was indeed my honor to be in service with they members of Red Wing Rotary Club, and especially to serve as its president. I think the Club exemplifies the saying: “The hands that serve are infinitely more powerful than the lips that preach.”

1999 - 2000
Don Rutten, President

My Rotary Year, by Don Rutten
The Red Wing Rotary Club began this Rotary year with the challenge from District Governor, Steve Wilcox, to make our club stand for something that would be readily recognizable within the community. Our Club was already known to be the host of the annual River ity Days Parade in August, for Rose Day sales in the fall, and for sponsorship of Pottery Pond.

This year we conceived the idea of hosting a marching band competition for high school bands around the region and so in late June, 2000, the first annual Red Wing Rotary Band Classic was held. The weather was nice, the crowd was large, and the competing bands all said that was one of the better band competitions that they ever attended. The ‘Band Classic’ thus became a community service event for which our Rotary Club is known.

Our Club is also known for its international service and in the 1999-2000 Rotary year we continued to sponsor the Grahamstown, South Africa project started the year before. In addition we sponsored one outbound youth exchange student, Stacey Veek from Red Wing and hosted an inbound student, Hristina Dojcinova from Macedonia. Our club absolutely enjoyed getting to know Hristina. She had a wonderful personality and still keeps in touch with many of us in the Club.

Paul Harris Fellows were awarded to two deserving club members, Phillip McNairy and David Turner, and to one worth community leader, Dr. David Harris.

All in all, it was a good Rotary year; one that I will long remember and I hope one that shows that Red Wing Rotary stands for something.

2000 - 2001
Bill Laidlaw, President