River Falls City Administrator and Rotarian Scot Simpson highlighted progress in important areas of our city:  business and economic development, infrastructure, educational facilities, preservation and enhancement of the environment, and residential development.  We came away feeling good about the direction that River Falls is headed and confident that staff and volunteers will continue to make positive contributions to our city.

At our February 27th meeting, board members from Grow to Share came to receive the symbolic "big check" representing the community grant that River Falls Rotary awarded.  We will invite the group back later in the year to update us on the progress in acquiring and using the tools and equipment listed in their winning proposal.

Ryan Bishop, co-founder of Flannel River, began his talk by reading a letter written by a 16 year old high school student in 1991.  The young man was filled with grief after the loss of a friend, and it suggested that the individual was ready to end his life.  One day spent outdoors in nature at that difficult time was instrumental in turning that life around, and that is that reason that the title of Ryan’s talk is “1 Life to Live”.   The mission of Flannel River is to provide outdoor opportunities to people regardless of their abilities, limitations, or means.  Flannel River can fill gaps where people lack skills, confidence, resources, or the knowledge of where and how to access the rivers that we are lucky to have in our area (though Flannel River has not limited its trips to this immediate area).

Pastor Steve Dow, who recently was called to our "host" Ezekiel Lutheran, grew up in Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin, which is in the extreme northern part of the state bordering on Michigan.  Despite the name, Land O’Lakes WI is not related to the MN company.  He grew up on a 4500 acre preserve surrounded by a 9 foot high security fence.  The property was owned by the owners of the St. Louis Zoo.  The property has bison among other animals, and there are five private and 1 public lakes on the property, which made for a youth with lots of fishing and outdoor focus.

 

Veteran's Park Cleanup is done:  Kudos to the crew who knocked off this seasonal beautification and improvement project off in a couple of hours in early May.

Westside Readers Pizza Party:  Readers and their students marked the year-end with pizza and other good food.

Fifth Tuesday Handouts to UWRF Students:  Best Maid Cookies went to students winding up their year.

Conference of Clubs 5/4 in Hudson:  Linda and Kellie represented our club at this annual D5960 gathering, held his year on the right side of the St. Croix.

 

 

Mark Ritzinger, KRLT board member and advocate, is again offering tours of the Kinnickinnic River watershed.  Mark took 3 of us on a half-day tour to this lesser-known part of the Kinni.  We learned a great deal from Mark, as will anyone who wants to understand the river system better.

This Week's Joke (One more bagpipe joke): 

Q:  What is the difference between onions and bagpipes?  A:  No one sheds a tear when you cut up bagpipes!