Our Program for Tuesday, January 18th was Fire Chief Curt Mackey and Fire Marshal Kellie Murphy-Ringate. Steve Frazier started the meeting with a Power Point tribute to Jean Gray who passed away unexpectedly on January 10th at his home in Greenwood that highlighted his involvement in Rotary over the years.
President Lou then turned it over to Chief Mackey who introduced himself and noted that he was hired in 2019 for the Excelsior Fire District and had worked many years at the Hopkins Fire Dept. and is a trained and certified. He explained that our fire department is evolving with currently 38 members with room for 50. Recruiting is a challenge to find volunteers that can be available and can get away for fire calls and emergencies. The department has transitioned to scheduled service with scheduled shifts during the day and overnight crews to handle the growing demand for services. Calls are going up with 1014 calls in 2021. Chief Mackey announced that the latest accomplishment/acquisition is a rescue boat specifically designed and equipped for Lake Minnetonka water and ice rescues and the department will be doing some fundraising to help in the that acquisition.
Kellie Murphy-Ringate then did a demonstration of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Kellie (longtime friend of Excelsior Rotary) explained that AED’s are readily available in the community at the city halls, Cub, schools, businesses and the airport. She advised that when you come onto an emergency take charge of the situation and instruct others to call 911 while you stay with the victim and for someone to find the nearest AED. The AED will be returned by the First Responders or Fire Department after the intervention. Each Valentine’s Day Kellie alerts all of the AED holders to check that the batteries are charged in all is in operational order. Using her “Recessive Annie” she demonstrated how to turn on the AED and then to follow the instructions and the machine is very insistent and repetitive in its instructions and to make sure the person is laying down on a solid flat surface.
Then using the Recessive Annie she showed how to begin “CPR – Hands on Only” by doing 30 compressions (at 100-120/minute) and then two breaths and to continue for 2 minutes and then alternate with others until responder arrive. A good way to remember is to do it to the song “Staying Alive” that will keep you on the beat and pumping blood into the victim! Kellie urged Rotarians to watch the American Heart Association’s videos on AED’s and doing CPR and to practice tem as a family.
ve Self. 
ng of Elder Voice is personal. Prior to her father’s death was not checked on for seven days by his elder care provider. This tragedy caused her and other families to form this non-profit to get legislation in place to hold elder care facilities to hold these businesses accountable with licensing oversight standards and much needed mandatory continuing education. Kris noted that Minnesota was the only state that didn’t license elder care facilities. Her group found that there were over 4,000 complaints in 2010 and more than 22,500 in 2018 that were rarely investigated. Currently due to the enabling legislation and current Minnesota Commission of Health is working to enforce the 2019 laws and holding care facilities accountable.
g the bells each year because of the great need that exists because of poverty, hunger and homelessness. The SA has been fighting poverty for 150 years with 60% of low income families struggle to pay their rent with 67million behind in their rent. The SA was founded by William Booth in London to meet the human needs and reach out to those in need regardless of their faith, gender or nationality. Today the SA serves some 30 million worldwide and a half-million in the Twin Cities.
Following the Club Meeting twelve Excelsior Rotary rang the bells for the Salvation Army at Cub foods in Shorewood serving for hour shifts. Our volunteers were Dick Glover, Karen and Steve (on Trumpet) Frazier, Don Draayer, Ron Hughes, Linda Gustafson, Bob Boyer, John Ferm, Jim Hillis, Tim Litfin, Kate Wilinski and Lou Graber. Thank You for Ringing for the Salvation Army!
ocking campaign in the previous city election. He praised her by saying she was a “True Lioness, a straight shooter, and that she does what she says she will do.” 
ediately collecting public opinion and found that people wanted to keep the basic structure of the 13 acre Commons and that it should be primarily a South Shore Community entity. Initial funding is coming from a local sales tax established by the MN Legislature for 20 years or until 7 million dollars is raised. .png)
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