January 18, 2024

For Those Attending in Person

Lunch Buffet

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

At

 Culture Quest on PBS

 

 Ian Grant discusses the origins and future of his Emmy nominated PBS television series Culture Quest with an emphasis on their one hour special filmed in Ukraine during the war. Culture Quest is a show that looks at life through the lens of the world’s artists, artisans and keepers of culture. The first season of this series takes viewers to places like Western Mongolia, East Timor and the North Coast of Australia, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how people around the world express their struggles and their successes through art and culture.

Chair of the Day Rob Hofmann

 

By Al Makynen

 

The Ballroom at the Holiday Center was filled with a joyous gathering of Rotarians.  You could not have found a happier bunch!  In his Rotary Reflection, Rob Hofmann touched upon the benefits of happiness to provide a coping mechanism and resilience in the face of adversity.

 

Rotarians soon to be happier

 

Rob Hofmann reflecting on why Rotarians are happy

 

 

The Golden Can has been a bit thin of late.  Self reports are encouraged to inform members of happy moments in either their business life, personal life, or both!   Rob Hofmann paid $2 for comments about Jerry Thoreson and his long hair.  Apparently Rob Hofmann, for some reason, was unhappy.  More to this story.

 

Jerry Pelofske announced that for the 30^th year Rotary Club 25 will be providing judges for the Northeast Minnesota Science Fair to be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at UMD.  The time commitment starts at 8:45 with a Judges’ Meeting (a light breakfast provided) ending by 1:00 (a light lunch provided).  You do not need to be a scientist. The emphasis this year is on environmental projects developed by students at the regional high schools – grades 7-12.  Being an active member of the Duluth Business Community is sufficient credentials.  And for the record, Allen Anway will be judging the physics projects!  This hands on project is one way we Rotarians demonstrate service above self and are happier for it.

 

Jerry Pelofske calling all Judges for the Northeast Science Fair

 

Jerry Thoreson announced the creation of a “GO FUND ME PAGE” to assist in the aftermath of a house fire which displaced Cory Melander (son of President Gary Melander) and his family.  The membership by a voice vote approved the appeal and for a link to be sent.   Please be alert for the email and consider being ever mindful of the needs of others.

 

President Gary Melander introduced our speaker Katrina Pierson-Raymond who is the CEO of Growth By Design.   She is a coach, certified fundraising executive, and creative strategist with a focus on transition planning, major gifts, and leadership development.   Her first order of business was to acknowledge the high energy in the room.  Something to be expected from a leadership group gathered together and happy to enjoy each other’s company.  Next was information about the economic benefit of happy employees.  Those happy in the work environment are twice as likely to stay.  (Less disruption and recruitment costs.)  Overall efficiency is improved through higher energy throughout the day.  There were some scowls in the room (not happy) about the concept of allowing humor to enter the workday as a coping mechanism to reduce stress.   However, the concept of mindfulness to one’s environment with humor as a coping mechanism, when needed, has replaced the concept of time management.  You can influence your mind’s focus and create resiliency.  No one can actually manage the external reality of time.

 

Our speaker Katrina Pierson-Raymond

 

Mindfulness is paying attention to what is happening when it is happening.  You can be mindful and super busy.  You can train your mind to pay attention and to respond (not react) then (and not through email) to limit misunderstandings and conflicts.  Studies have shown that mindfulness can change your neural pathways, improve how you react to events, provide for resiliency, and improve efficiency by 15% or more. 

 

We were all then asked to participate in an exercise to assist in becoming mindful.  I suspect there were some scowls again in the room (not happy), but to my knowledge, everyone gave it a try and came away with a different understanding of themselves.  It was a breathing exercise to center your thoughts, calm yourself, and be in the moment.  The exercise was to close your eyes and focus on your breathing.  We were invited to breath in for three seconds, hold our breath for four seconds, and exhale for five seconds.  The 3-4-5 exercise. Do as needed to keep your focus.  Anyone, no matter how busy, can do this to lower their heart rate, reduce stress, and increase energy level.

 

The last concept was that of having gratitude and working to avoid a focus on the negative.  We are hard-wired to seek out threats.  It is natural.  Our challenge is to recognize the bias toward the negative event, or a current or future threat rather than on the many (perhaps) hundreds of reasons we should be grateful. If you can replace a negative thought with gratitude, you will feel better.  By definition, then, you will be on a better path toward your lifelong pursuit of happiness.

 

We learned to be mindful, focused, and therefor resilient and happy

 

 

 

This holiday season, a fire destroyed the home of President Gary Melander’s son Cory and his family. They have been displaced.  With President Gary Melander’s permission, The Gimlet has offered any Rotarians who wish to do so an opportunity to help a family is distress.  Below are two funding sites: