Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club - Stillwater, Minnesota

If you are interested in speaking at our club or have an interesting program idea, please send us an email.  We will forward the information to our Club Program Chair, as well as consider posting the message on this page for members to view.

Please note that our club has a long standing policy regarding political candidates as speakers:
"During election season, elected officials or announced candidates may not speak to the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club after June 1 in the year they are up for election."
This preserves the club's "fair and balanced" status amongst our members.  Thank you for understanding.

Posted 12/28/11

I am Rob Stevenson, I am a businessman in Stillwater and am very interested in the work of the Coalition for Impartial Justice. This effort is headed by a number of prominent Minnesotans of both political parties, including former Gov. Al Quie and aims to assure that our Minnesota courts are free from partisan politics (a Minnesota value from our beginning) and provide a "scorecard" for judges who are standing for reelection so that Minnesota voters can be informed and make better decisions about who should be returned to the bench. This will take the form of a constitutional amendment IF it makes it through the legislative session this year.

I am a volunteer and would like to bring a speaker or be the speaker for a meeting to inform your members.

Thanks,
Robert Stevenson
rob@robertjstevenson.com
612-747-7471
The Stevenson Company
14440 Dellwood Rd. N
Stillwater, MN 55082

Posted 10/27/11

As community leaders and problem-solvers, the Pew Clean Energy Program - Minnesota, would like to share a few valuable resource with you as part of their advocacy and outreach efforts.  The Pew Clean Energy Program is focused on accelerating clean energy solutions that improve the economy, national security, and the environment.

• Pew recently released the report, “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?”. The United States has fallen behind in the global clean energy race, but as you may or may not know, Minnesota is working hard to help propel us forward.   
• Also, this month Pew released “From Barracks to the Battlefield, Clean Energy Innovation and America’s Armed Forces” highlighting the clean energy innovation used by the Department of Defense.

We are conducting short presentations across the state highlighting these reports and the work of the Pew Clean Energy Program.  We hope that you will consider allowing us to present a short power point presentation in the next month or two to your members highlighting the effort.  We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further.  Please feel free to give me a call at 612.465.8566 if you have any questions or would like more information.

Thank you and we hope to see you soon!

Cassidy Gardenier
grassroots solutions
2828 university avenue se, suite 150
minneapolis, mn 55414
tel: 612.465.8566
dir: 612.436.1467
fax: 612.465.8565
www.grassrootssolutions.com

Posted 10/25/11

Jamie Renier is a National Collegiate Agricultural Ambassador who is involved in a community service program to help people become more knowledgeable about modern agriculture.

Collegiate Ag Ambassadors are carefully selected and trained as public speakers through the National FFA; many are also pursuing careers in agriculture. Their presentations are being coordinated through the National Pork Board.  The following are the two presentation options:

• Feeding the World: provides a look at how the world¹s continued population growth is driving modern agricultural production practices.
• Issues Facing Agriculture: examines the competition for water, the growth of bio-fuels and developments in animal health.

We hope you find one of these topics of interest for an upcoming meeting.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to call me at 800-711-0747 or e-mail me at: barbara@eidsonandpartners.com

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Barbara A. Dodson
Public Relations Specialist
Pork Board Speaker's Bureau
PH:  816-474-0747 ext. 222
800-711-0747 ext. 222

Posted 7/28/11

Minnesota Farm Bureau and Minnesota Soybean have a great network of local farmers sharing their stories with their communities. We would love to have a farmer come in and speak to the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club and share their farming story, along with economic impact of their farms and answer any questions the group may have about farming today.

Please let me know if this is something we could get scheduled.

Tara Sammon Meyer
Associate Director Public Relations – Animal Agriculture
Minnesota Farm Bureau
speakforyourselfmn@gmail.com
612-756-3226

Posted 6/4/11

My name is John Gross and I'm a sports photographer/editor at KSTP-TV.  I worked for NFL Films for close to 25 years and I've given speeches all over the country.  I did several games with referee Jim Tunney and he used a story I tell in speeches in his book Chicken Soup For The Sports Fan's Soul.  I've also traveled with the Dallas Cowboys during their back to back Superbowl seasons, and I've had stories on the Today Show and Good Morning America.  I'm just getting back into speaking and I'd love to get practice.  I've given a couple of Rotary speeches the past month and loved it.  I would enjoy the opportunity to speak at your club.

Thank you,
John Gross
jgross@kstp.com
651-238-1811

Posted 6/3/11

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is coming to Stillwater! They’ve been around since 1956 - in fact, Stillwater had an FCA program about 30 years ago.  I'm helping the lead person, Sarah Thingvold, network and get this launched.  She's already made a lot of good contacts - so now we're trying to present to some of the prominent groups in the area. 

If you'd like to know more - please call my cell phone; 651-343-8919.  Otherwise email me at jrosell@ges.com

Thank you for your consideration,
Jeff Rosell
Stillwater, MN

Posted 4/25/11

Kara VanderKamp is Executive Director of "Remember Niger Coalition" which builds elementary schools, offers children scholarships or sponsorships as well as young adults to attend teacher training colleges in Niger, Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world.  "RNC", a nonprofit NGO, partners with a small Christian denomination in Niger on this school project.

If interested in scheduling Kara as a speaker, please contact Ruth Jones, Secretary of "RNC"

ruthcmjones@gmail.com
651-275-3700
Boutwells Landing
Oak Park Heights

posted 3/16/11

I'm a Rotary member and a former high school English teacher and boys' tennis coach here in Northfield.  Because of my long involvement with tennis in the state of MN, when I retired I decided to write a book about the sport.  It is called Tennis in the Northland: a History of Boys' High School Tennis in Minnesota (1929-2003).  The book is a comprehensive survey and includes chapters on the singles and doubles champions, Hall of Fame coaches and other prominent coaches, dark horse teams, dynasty teams such as Edina and Rochester, important tennis families such as the Wheatons, bad weather stories, and even one on girls playing on boys' teams before Title IX.  The book has been out for over two years now and I am trying to tell my story to other audiences, not just the usual tennis people.  So I have spoken to the Northfield Rotary Club and I am hoping to be invited to present at other Rotary groups such as yours.

Of interest to your members might be stories about Stillwater coach Chuck Anderson and his 1997 State championship team--in a chapter called "All in the Family."  In addition, there are a number of stories about players and coaches from area schools such as North St. Paul and Mounds View; and players from your area are mentioned if they lost to a champion in the State Tournament.

I should also mention that I just returned from viewing a pro tournament where I had the privilege of watching Eric Butorac from Rochester play doubles (see attached photo).  He and his partner Jean-Julien Rojer are currently the #4 doubles team in the world.  I could also talk about this experience--or the pro tennis scene in general--if that would be something you would be interested in.

For more information about my book, you can go to my website at www.jim-holden.com.  If you would like information about the speech I gave to the Northfield Rotary Club, you could contact Northfield Rotary president Chris Weber (www.northfieldrotary.org).

I expect your program schedule gets filled up pretty quickly, but I'm writing now because the boys' tennis season is coming up soon and a speech such as mine might be timely-- I would tailor the speech to your community audience, and I would also bring books along if anyone would like to buy a copy.  What I did at Northfield was to offer the book for a nominal price (say $10-20; retail price was $34.95) and then to donate $5 from any sale to your club. 

Finally, I'm making a first contact with you, the club presidents, but if you think this message should go directly to the program chairs, would you please send it on?  Thanks very much for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Jim Holden.

Posted 3/10/11

During fall 2010, I was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Egypt, sponsored by district 5950 (although I live in Falcon Heights). I'm hoping that I'll able to speak to your club, both about my experience and the current situation; would this be possible sometime this spring? I am currently in the U.S. and will not be going back to Egypt for spring 2011 due to the current revolution, so I'm free most days. I see that your schedule is rather booked, but if there's any day I could come in before May 8, that would be great! I'd definitely be open to any cancellations that come up.

Thank you and I hope we meet soon!
Laura Kwong
kwon0072@gmail.com

Laura visited our club on 4/12/11 and gave an excellent presentation.

Posted 2/1/11

Tony Signorelli, author and entrepreneur, speaks to small business groups around the Twin Cities on the New Rules of Self Employment. His audience is anyone in small business--whether they be a store owner, a freelancer, or a niche marketer.

Tony's Bio and Speaker information is available on our website: www.newrulesofselfemployment.com

I can be reached at dori@signorelli.biz or 888-828-3666 ext. 2.

Thank you,
Dori Haugen
Marketing Coordinator
dori@signorelli.biz
888.828.3666 ext. 2
www.newrulesofselfemployment.com

Posted 1/20/11

You may have read about the new Stillwater Area Foundation (SAF), which is an affiliate of the St. Croix Valley Foundation.  The Board of SAF is eager to tell their story to Rotary clubs in the greater Stillwater area, and wondered if you might have an opening in the upcoming weeks.

SAF was established about a year ago and has already made grants in the Stillwater area.  Members of the Board include:  Tom Weidner, chair; Alex Neff, Vice Chair; Peter Clements, Treasurer; and Joni Polehna, secretary.  Other members include Dr. Kevin Bjork, Curt Geisler, Becky Billingsley, Maria Reamer, Shannon Hooley Enright, and Dwight Cummins.

Please let me know when one of these Board members could come and address your club.

Many thanks,
Jane Hetland Stevenson, President

St. Croix Valley Foundation
516 Second Street, Suite 214
Hudson, WI  54016
Office:  715.386.9490, Fax:  715.386.1250
jstevenson@scvfoundation.org   www.scvfoundation.org

Tom Weidner, Dave Wettergren and Gretchen Stein visited our club on 5/3/11

Posted 12/22/10

As Mrs. Saint Paul International 2011, I was encouraged by my father (a dedicated member of his Florida Rotary Club) to send a request to speak at an upcoming Rotary meetings in the area. I have enjoyed reading his Rotary publications and learning about all that you do to support individuals across the world. I have included some information about my platform below. I look forward to your response.

It was the culmination of several life events that led to my passion for living an environmentally friendly lifestyle. My paternal grandparents were farmers, and many childhood trips to the farm helped to nurture my love for nature. My maternal grandparents drew their passion for the environment from their Jamaican and Panamanian heritage, and my college professors at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University  helped to reinforce the importance of environmental justice and public health.  It was not until the birth of my daughter Maylena, that I really understood the true importance of food allergies  and their impacts on health and the environment. 

When Maylena was five months old, she was diagnosed with severe food allergies. Our lives changed instantly, and the changes we made were all focused on the environment, our unifying force for our health. My message as Mrs. Saint Paul International is that through food allergy awareness and advocacy, the environment is a unifying issue for all Minnesotans.  In addition, I will educate Minnesota residents on the importance of food allergy awareness and how it impacts our public  and environmantal health and well-being.

Food Allergy Facts:

• The prevalence of food allergy among children under the age of 18 increased 18% percent from 1997 to 2007.
• Kids with a food allergy are two to four times more likely to have conditions such as asthma and other allergies.
• More than 3 million people in the United States report being allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both.
• More than 3% of adults have one or more food allergies.
• Fatal food anaphylaxis is most often caused by peanuts (50-62%) and tree nuts (15-30%).

References available upon request

Alecia Carter
alecia.carter@gmail.com
Mrs. Saint Paul International 2011

Posted 11/11/10

I am currently a member of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis and I have had the honor to deliver a presentation called Growing Leadership to over thirty rotary clubs in the Twin Cities over the last year.  Due to the popularity of this presentation I have created a second presentation on the Principles and Practices of Servant Leadership.  This presentation examines the basic principles and practices of Servant Leadership as proposed by Robert Greenleaf and other Servant Leadership experts.

Please pass this e-mail to the current program coordinator for your club.  They can contact me at tom@caravela.us for information or to schedule either presentation for one of your club meetings.

Tom Laughlin
Caravela Inc
Cell (763) 228-1628
Website http://caravela.us

posted 10/28/10

My name is Kelly and I’m the Outreach Assistant for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota.  We would love to look at how the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club might get involved with Make-A-Wish and wanted to let you know that we offer free Make-A-Wish presentations.  Presentations can be provided for groups of ten or more and could include a video or stories and pictures about Minnesotan wish children.  The length of presentations can be anywhere from 10-40 minutes, depending on your needs.

If you would be interested in hosting a presentation, please contact me at this email address (outreach@wishmn.org) or at 612.201.4982.  To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, visit our website at www.wishmn.org.

Thank you very much for your time and I hope to hear from you soon!

Warm wishes,
Kelly Thomas
Outreach Assistant-Volunteer
Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Minnesota
615 First Ave NE Ste 415
Minneapolis, MN 55413
612.201.4982 direct phone

www.wishmn.org

posted 3/2/10

I would love to speak on the topic of Risk Management as it pertains to hiring and the costs of a bad hire.  I am a consultant at The McDowell Agency, Inc a full-service private investigation firm specializing in pre-employment/volunteer background screening.  Background screening is a simple solution that can save companies lots of time and money.  Once you hire someone, you’re practically married to them! 

For more resources in background screening follow this link: www.mcdowellagency.com

Sincerely,
John M.Schwietz
The McDowell Agency, Inc.
Risk Management Consultant
Office: (651) 644-3880
jms@mcdowellagency.com
www.linkedin.com/in/johnschwietz

posted 1/26/10

I'd like to introduce myself to you.  I have been a speaker since 1993 and am offering to host a "preview" of some of our new material and programs at an upcoming club meeting. As a business owner and speaker I can help members with some of the common hurdles in this new and exciting economy.  As an author of 2 books, one on volunteerism I understand the challenges of fundraising and keeping groups on task. 
Please feel free to look at my site and call me.
 
The program I would propose for your group is:
 
What can a Rotarian learn from a former beauty queen?

A whole bunch!  Competition is tough, judges (your customers/peers) are not objective, talent matters but performance is everything, persistence pays off, failure is where the best lessons are learned and most people give up just before they win!

Please feel free to stop by www.kellyjahnerbyrne.com for more information an video clip.

I look forward to chatting with you soon.

Warmest regards,
Kelly

p.s. The best part is...I am local! And on a lighter note...I am a former Miss Stillwater!

Kelly Jahner-Byrne
Kelly Enterprises, L.T.D
Direct (651) 283-8333
Email
www.kellyenterprisesltd.com

Kelly spoke at our club on 6/22/10 and gave an energetic and informative presentation on networking and the value of your contacts.

posted 11/23/09

My name is Jennifer Olson and I am a volunteer for Best Prep. I would like to come to your club and speak on Best Prep. I can be reached at 612-387-8082 or jenniferldrews@yahoo.com.

Below is information about Best Prep. www.bestprep.org

BestPrep was founded in 1976 after a successful three-year pilot project led by Bob Kaitz, then an economics teacher at Breck School. Founding members who provided funding and volunteers included 3M, Cargill, Ecolab, General Mills, and Peavey. These five companies recognized the importance of helping students improve their understanding of and attitude toward business as well as helping students better prepare for their futures.

More than thirty years later, BestPrep's programs have reached over one million students. Many of these students, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, have gone on to successful careers and lives. BestPrep's success can be credited to an entrepreneurial spirit and represents a classic example of what can be accomplished when business and education work together.

Throughout its history, BestPrep has implemented programs that address business and education related needs while making learning about economics, business and financial literacy experiential and exciting! BestPrep’s flagship program, Classroom Plus, enhances classroom curriculums through volunteer speakers and tours. In 1981, Minnesota Business Venture was introduced to provide high school students with an intensive business experience through a weeklong residential summer program. Minnesota’s Stock Market Game began in 1991 to improve the financial literacy skills of students in grades 4-12. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association chose BestPrep to coordinate this national program based on BestPrep’s track record of commitment to improving the business and financial savvy of students. In 2004, BestPrep introduced eMentors, which matches business volunteers with students to help them gain career skills. Also in 2004 the Technology Integration Workshop was introduced. This summer seminar teaches educators the technology and workplace skills necessary to best prepare their students for the future.

posted 10/20/09

Would the club be interested in a speaker on Washington County 4-H -- It's Past & It's Future?

The Washington County comissioners voted to eliminate all county funding for 4-H last March, 2009.  As a result 4-H is redefining itself  and charting new territory.

Pam Johnson
Washington County 4-H Membership Coordinator
651-430-1738

Dan Dolan spoke at our club on 12/15/09 and was very entertaining as he explained 4-H's current status in Washington County.

posted 7/28/09

Are you seeking a dynamic speaker for your club meeting?  I highly recommend Bloomington Rotarian Abul Sharah of International Village Clinic.  Abul was honored by District Governor Chris Holm with District 5950's highest award for International Service at this year's District 5950 Conference in Minneapolis. 
 
Abul founded International Village Clinic ten years ago to bring medical care to the poorest people of northeastern India.  A former engineer with Honeywell, Abul took an early retirement to start the clinic after a meeting with Mother Theresa.  Today, International Village Clinic serves 58,000 patients on a budget of just $100,000.  It has been expanded thanks to several matching grants from District 5950 and Rotary International. 
 
Abul is an amazing speaker, humble yet passionate about his life's work.  To find out more about International Village Clinic, see the attached news release or visit www.villageclinic.org.  Abul is available to speak to your club meeting until the end of September, when he goes back to work at the India clinic for six months.  To schedule Abul Sharah for your club meeting, contact him at abulsharah1@aol.com or 952-893-9304.
 
Sincerely,
Diann Kirby
Bloomington Noon Rotary Club
Assistant Governor, Area 3, District 5950

posted 6/10/09

Is there an aging senior in your life – a parent, a relative, a neighbor, a friend – who wants to remain as independent as possible – but in order to do that - needs some specific services?

Do you have employees who are less productive because they are caring for an aging parent?

I would like to recommend a very dynamic and timely speaker on the topic of services for seniors.  Mary Jo Schifsky is executive director of Store To Door, a nonprofit that delivers groceries to homebound seniors in the Greater Twin Cities area.  Mary Jo’s visit would be timely first because the services of Store To Door are expanding in your area. And second, we can all see that there are an increasing number of elderly adults, a decreasing number of care facility beds, increasing budget pressure on social services and a decreasing amount of familial support for aging.  Store To Door is unique; it is the only nonprofit in the state exclusively focused on grocery delivery for homebound seniors.  Grocery orders are taken by phone and shopped by volunteers, and delivery by a Store To Door staff person is done right into the kitchen so he can help put groceries away or loosen lids if needed.  Mary Jo will adhere to your 20 minute presentation time and will be happy to answer questions.

You may contact me or Mary Jo directly.

Ginger Sisco
Sisco Public Relations, Inc.
763-544-0629
Ginger.sisco@tela.com

Mary Jo Schifsky, Executive Director
Store To Door
1821 University Ave. W. #112
St. Paul, MN 55104
651-642-1892
MaryJo@storetodoor.org

posted 5/20/09

Tod Fyten is the President & Brewmaster of St. Croix Brewing Company.  This is his 25th year in the Craft Brewing Business.  He has lots of stories about the industry and of course his brews.  Tod has participated in the Brewers Bazaar every year.

Tod Fyten
Tel: 651-387-0708
tod.fyten@comcast.net

Tod spoke at our club on 5/4/10 and gave an interesting program about the history of brewing in general and specifically in the St. Croix Valley.

posted 4/21/09

Kirk Anderson is a Rotarian in the St. Croix Falls/Taylor Falls Club.  He owns a business in St. Croix Falls called Interactive Business Solutions.  Kirk would be an excellent speaker to help our club members learn about the use and benefits of new online technologies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.  We're never too old to learn!

Kirk Anderson
715-483-0937 office
612-598-5758 cell
www.Interactive123.com

Kirk spoke at our club on 6/16/09 and gave an excellent presentation about the benefits of online social networks for our club.

posted 4/6/09

The Boy Scouts of America will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2010.  They would like to speak to our club and tell us what they have planned for their Centennial Celebration.  Justin Williams from the Northern Star Council in St. Paul is the contact.  He can be reached via email: jwilliams@nsbsa.org or by phone: 651-254-9149.

Justin spoke with our club and gave an excellent overview of the local scouting operations.

posted 1/29/09

My name is Tyler and I work for Björn Stansvik, CEO at MentorMate in St. Paul and a fellow rotarian.  MentorMate is an IT solutions company which services includes search engine optimization and custom software development for businesses.   I have been tasked with setting up a chance for Björn to speak for the Stillwater Sunrise club at the earliest convenience.  Björn has an educational presentation that helps businesses learn to optimize their web sites to promote higher visibility for search engines and increased internet traffic.  Björn has already spoken at the Eagan club and based on the warm reception, was hoping he might be able to share with the Stillwater Sunrise club as well.  At the bottom of this email you can find a link in case you would like to view more specific information on the presentation.  You can also reach me at 612-823-4000 in the office, or on my cell phone at (559) 593-0139, I would love to chat about the program with you.

Thank you much,
Tyler J. Fremming
MentorMate
Office: 612-823-0139
Cell: 559-593-0139

tyler.fremming@mentormate.com

Presentation Overview: http://mentormate.com/SEOPresentation2009.pdf

posted 1/26/09

I’d like to recommend Charles “Chad” Weinstein, director of the Hill Center for Ethical Business Leadership, a division of the James J. Hill Library in St. Paul. The center opened in 2007 and is dedicated to helping businesses prosper through a strategic commitment to ethics and social responsibility.  Business development and business ethics are not mutually exclusive. Chad’s focus is on business performance, on going beyond compliance – which is critically important – to helping organizations find ways to truly excel by doing the right thing.  His message resonates with leaders in businesses from small companies to large corporations.

Here are a couple of testimonials from those who have heard Chad speak:

“I found Chad Weinstein’s talk to be engaging and informative.  He is genuinely focused on the business performance side of ethics.  He’s a practical thinker about how to align social responsibility and business performance.”
Chuck Rauenhorst
Rauenhorst Recruiting Company
Minneapolis

“Chad Weinstein’s very valuable message and insight was one of the program highlights of our Rotary year.  It was thoughtful, appropriate and well presented.”
Gregory D. Palmer
Vice President, Citizens Independent Bank
Hopkins

A description of Chad Weinstein’s presentation and background is below.   He would tailor his remarks for your Rotary audience and time frame.

Please feel free to contact me about scheduling a presentation from Chad or you may contact him directly at cweinstein@jjhill.org 651-265-5459.

Ginger Sisco
Sisco Public Relations, Inc.
763-544-0629
ginger.sisco@tela.com

Doing Good, Being Great:
Aligning Business Performance with Social Responsibility
A Presentation to Business Leaders

Charles A. Weinstein, Ph.D., Director
Hill Center for Ethical Business Leadership

The business press is suddenly full of stories about “corporate social responsibility” or “corporate citizenship.”   Many business leaders find it understandably difficult to apply these concepts profitably and successfully, especially to small and growing businesses.   The keys can be found in understanding how your business relates to those it touches: customers, owners/shareholders, employees, vendors, and the communities in which you do business.   A smart, socially responsible business leader can prosper by strategically investing in these relationships.

This presentation moves beyond the buzzwords and the hype to understand the business case – and practical applications – for thinking socially and commercially at the same time.   Using real-world examples drawn from his own consulting and research, Weinstein illustrates how business leaders can achieve both measurable commercial results and measurable social benefits through appropriate strategic alignment, creative implementation, and steady, effective leadership.

The presentation requires approximately 20 minutes, followed by questions and discussion.

About the Speaker

Charles A. “Chad” Weinstein is director of the Hill Center for Ethical Business Leadership, an organization dedicated to helping businesses prosper through a strategic commitment to ethics and social responsibility.   The Hill Center provides consulting services; www.einsight.org., a unique online resource center featuring the einsight e-Quiz; and the Hill Leadership Working Group, a professional development opportunities for leaders at any level of an organization.

Prior to founding the Hill Center in the summer of 2007, Weinstein spent over 15 years as a consultant and manager, most recently as Vice President of Client Services at Guildeline, Inc.  Weinstein has served clients in a wide variety of industries, including consumer products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, mining and mineral extraction, and high-tech manufacturing.  He has also held leadership positions in firms in the information services and industrial safety industries.  Weinstein holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in business ethics (philosophy) from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.

For more information, contact Charles Weinstein at 651-265-5459, or cweinstein@jjhill.org.  Find out more about the Hill Center at www.jjhill.org/ethics.

The Hill Center for Ethical Business Leadership is a division of the James J. Hill Library, and is supported by fees for services, a generous grant from Halloran Philanthropies, our sponsors, and donors.

posted 12/18/08

I’d like to introduce myself and my St. Paul-based international travel company, PLAY it Forward Adventures.  I’m currently seeking opportunities to present the PLAY it Forward concept in travel to Minnesota-based Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in 2009.

PLAY it Forward Adventures combine volunteering with active outdoor adventure in such places as Guatemala, Peru, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) and Argentina.  To give you an example of a PLAY it Forward travel experience, 10-days in Guatemala includes hiking, biking, kayaking and building a home for a Guatemalan family in 2.5 days.  Our adventures are designed to challenge travelers physically, mentally, culturally and emotionally, in an attempt to shift their perspective in any number of ways.

The PLAY it Forward vision is to improve quality of life across the globe.  This applies not only to the people we help, but also to American travelers looking for a meaningful experience.  Our mission is to provide all-encompassing travel experiences that empower people and enrich lives.  Many of our travelers walk away with a renewed sense of “life” and feel inspired to make changes in how they currently live.  Our overall philosophy on travel is to “give back in the places you play.”

All adventures are rated on a scale from 1-5 in the categories of physical fitness, culture shock and comfort making it easier for each traveler to select the appropriate adventure for their interests and skill set.

Attached you’ll find our 2009 Adventure Schedule complete with destinations, trip descriptions, dates and prices.  Details are still being finalized on Peru/Machu Picchu and Argentina but will be announced in upcoming PLAY it Forward e-newsletters.

Sincerely,
Jodi Nelson
Founder
PLAY it Forward Adventures
651.493.8817
www.pifadventures.com

Melanie Sorensen spoke at our club on 2/24/09 and gave an excellent presentation about their program and their trips.

posted 10/15/08

I’m contacting you in regard to the speaker schedule at your regular Tuesday Rotary Club programs. My client, Partners for Affordable Energy (PAE), is currently performing community outreach across Minnesota discussing statewide energy policies and the local issues they affect. PAE Executive Director Christina Pierson would greatly appreciate the opportunity to speak with your members to present educational material on the status of Minnesota energy policies and seek input on their concerns, hopes and initiatives in the Stillwater area.

Energy production and distribution is a mounting political and economic concern in Minnesota and nationwide. A major purpose of Christina’s outreach is to discuss future steps and policies toward meeting the needs and expectations for energy and the environment in Minnesota. PAE advocates for balanced, responsible approaches to Minnesota energy policy formation in order to sustain and grow our economy and preserve our environment while keeping our energy affordable and reliable.

Background information about PAE and Christina Pierson is attached in the Word document in this e-mail, and you can also visit PAE on the Web at www.PoweringOurLives.com. And I think Christina might even be included in a database of available speakers for Minnesota rotaries. I’m not sure if that is run by each district or if it’s accessible to all.

Nonetheless, thank you both for your attention to these issues. I look forward to hearing from you about future speaking possibilities and your interest.

Stephanie Bornetun
On Behalf of Partners for Affordable Energy
Himle Horner, Inc.
Phone: (952) 897-8215
Fax: (952) 831-5116
StephanieBornetun@HimleHorner.com

posted 9/25/08

Hi, my name is John Regan and I am a speaker.  I would like to come speak at one of your meetings.  I talk about the following four topics; Change, Generations, Stress, and Goals.  I have spoke at over 15 Rotary clubs in the area with great reception to my talks.  If you are interested or your club is interested please give me a call.

John Regan IV
IV Communication
651-303-5199
jreganiv@hotmail.com
http://ivcommunication.com

John was a speaker at our 10/7/08 meeting and gave an excellent presentation on generational differences in the work place.

posted 9/4/08

Afton-Lakeland's sixth grade teacher Derek Olson was named MN 2008 Teacher of the Year

http://www.stillwatergazette.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/news310.txt

http://www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/Stillwater_Area_Public_School_teacher_named_Minnesota_Teacher_of_the_Year

Depending on Mr. Olson's schedule, he would be an excellent guest speaker.  Email  (651-351-6549).

posted 8/28/08

I have a new presentation about how to become a better decision maker by using Critical Thinking Skills. I thought this might be of interest to your Rotary Group. Description of presentation follows.

Help. The News Is Driving Me Crazy

Everyone strives to make better decisions but it’s often difficult to do. One major reason is that much of the information we get is from the media and it’s often over dramatized, mis-interpreted, over-simplified or simply incorrect. Consequently, media stories can take us down the wrong path. Just reading more is not the answer. To make better decisions, you need to use a Critical Thinking Process that will give you more accurate, more reasoned information.

This presentation shows how to do that. It presents an overview of how the media delivers information. Then exposes the audience to a practical, six-step Critical Thinking Process and how it’s used to help make better decisions. The presentation concludes with the major mistakes we make when confronted with new information.

Plus, I use a special audience response system that gives audiences an opportunity for active participation and contribution. I ask a question and the audience responds using a hand held keypad. My computer then instantly gathers all responses and graphically displays the results in seconds. This gives the audience the opportunity for active participation. 

If you are looking for a speaker that will give your audience something to talk about for a long time, please give me a call at 612-978-7222 or e-mail me at jim@zitek.net for more information or to book a specific date. You can also get additional information about the presentation and Jim Zitek at www.zitek.net

Jim Zitek
Direct: 952-893-8632
Mobile: 612-978-7222
Jim@zitek.net

Jim gave an insightful presentation at our 11/11/08 meeting.

posted 8/15/08

My name is Matt Hill, and for the past year I have been the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, 2007-2008 for District 5960. I have recently returned home after living and studying at the University of Leiden in The Netherlands for the past year. I am interested in speaking to your club about my experiences abroad and my time living in Dutch society.

While abroad I completed a Masters of Science in Public Administration, put on an international student conference, and had many wonderful and interesting experiences in my host country. I would be more than happy to speak to your club not only about my time in Holland but also about the new insights and perspectives I gained as a Rotary Ambassador. You can have a look at my blog that I wrote during the year here to get an idea about some of my presentation subjects.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at either 651-343-3491 or email at hill0680@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks,
Matt Hill
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar
2007-2008
hill0680@gmail.com
hillinleiden.blogspot.com
651-343-3491