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Program Ideas & Potential Speakers
Potential Speakers List
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 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.
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
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
