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Posted on Oct 30, 2018

Our program on October 30th was a surprise because our expected speaker did not show up. Dr. Draayer gave us an impromptu talk ab

out what our club has done internationally in recent years, and told us of the reading program that he is working with. The program gets books to kids at an early age, and gets them “tuned” to learning.

Our club is hoping that the district will join forces with us on this program and make it district-wide.

STRIVE with Tim Litfin on Attitudes

Posted on Oct 25, 2018

STRIVE held its first student meeting with Tim Liftin Presenting on “Attitudes” and as always it was out of sight! We had four more students join the group to bring our total up to 18 students. Tim totally engaged the students with a multi-media presentation emphasizing that it all starts with having a positive attitude in life. He explained happiness and that you start with it and not end with it and how to set-up a “to do list” and how to take the first step to make things become a reality and not to procra

stinate. He spoke about dreams and had the students write down what they wanted life to be like at 30 years old and to stick their dream in a drawer and keep going back to it over and over again. Most importantly he explored famous people that didn’t let failure stop them from reaching their goals. He ended with a competition on their cell phones that asked questions from his presentation and Chinaka Ihekweazu was the fastest with the most correct answers and got the prize. Who said that kids don’t listen. (Photo- Will Carlson, Tim and Gisell Varela)

The Learning Lab with Kate Ingalls-Mahoney

Posted on Oct 23, 2018

Our program on the 23rd was a demonstration-type presentation by Kate Ingalls-Mahoney. She is the director of The Learning Lab whic

h is a service of Augustana Care.

The Learning Lab is located near the International Market Building in Minneapolis and their mission is to connect older Minnesotans and their partners with home health and safety technologies that will help them live independently. Their place would be a fun place to work because they are always testing and evaluating devices that help ease the pains and problems of old age.

Kate, a local resident, brought a number of examples of items they recommend: pressure, time, and sound sensitive items that act as alarms, reminders, or lighting in the user’s home. Their items are usually very simple combinations of items we’re familiar with. One example she had was a pill bottle with a timer on it. The timer shows the time the bottle was last opened helping the user to avoid missing a medication, or double-dosing.

Contact 612-843-6790, or www.thelearninglab.org.

Spiritual Listening with Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer

Our program on the 9th was a talk by Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer who is the director of City House.

City House provides listeners for people who appear to be ignored by others; usually, their clients are homeless or suffering from disorientation from the normal. Their volunteers spend their time listening and talking with people at various shelters in the area. Usually, they are one on one. They don’t offer counselling, but just listen and help give their client a feeling of self-worth.

They work with a number of agencies in the downtown Minneapolis area, and cooperate with other agencies that provide food, clothing and shelter for the needy. Their website is www.city-house.org.

TRIVE Started it 2018-19 year on Thursday, October 11^th with dick Glover give the STRIVE Program Overview and introductions of Mentors. We had 13 students in attendance of the 21 potential possible. The Mentors in attendance were Dick Glover, Don Draayer, Michelle Seets, Lou Graber and Steve Frazier. The kids were very attentive and applauded for each of the Mentors after they spoke. We look forward to another great year with our STRIVE Students. Our next meeting is on Thursday, October 25^th on Attitudes with Tim Litfin presenting.

Highway Clean-up was today (Oct. 16th) but the team of Molly Swenson and Jenny Janson got out early and did there prior to last week’s cancellation of the clean-up due to rain. Stay tuned for this week’s report from Karen Frazier

Brewtarians to Meet at Excelsior Brew on Thursday, Oct. 25th from 5:30 to 7:00

Using DNA to Solve Violent Crimes with Harley Feldman

Posted on Oct 02, 2018

Our program on the 2^nd was a talk by Harley Feldman. Harley is a Shorewood resident, and is active in many local organizations, including the New Year’s Day Swim in Lake Minnetonka. He and his family live on Christmas Lake. Four years ago, his daughter was brutally murdered in Scot

tsdale, Arizona, where she lived.

The crime would still be unsolved if Harley hadn’t intervened. Because of his efforts, the Scottsdale Police were able to use DNA found on the scene to trace the killer. There are family traits shown by DNA, and although there was no record of the DNA found at the scene, the police were able to search for similar DNA, and use that method to find suspects to consider. A close match was found, and it turned out to be the brother of the murderer.

Using this type of search with DNA is not legal in all states, but it is in Arizona, and it solved the crime.

STRIVE Program: The STRIVE Program for Minnetonka Seniors stars this Thursday, October 11^th at 9:04 in the Writing Center with Dick Glover doing the Welcome, Introductions of Rotarians and presenting Expectations – “What we want for you”. The STRIVE Parent-Student meeting was held last Wednesday at the MHS Port-Media Center to outline the STRIVE Program and to answer parent and students questions. STRIVE will basically meet bi-weekly and will continue until April 4, 2019. We are excited to start another year with these students and to be an inspiration to them.