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Ann Woodbeck - Excelsior Bay Books

Our Program on Tuesday, May 17^th was Ann Woodbeck – owner of Excelsior Bay Book Store at 36 Water Street in Excelsior. Randy Schumacher introduced Ann by saying he has known her for years as she sang in his choir (a very good singer) at St. Luke’s and noted a quote, “Literacy is a bridge between misery and hope!”

Ann started by saying she and her husband Dale have lived in the community for 38 years and their kids attended school here and love this community. Fi

fteen years ago Ann was invited by the previous owners Ann Nye and Ellie Temple, who opened and then ran the bookstore together for nearly 24 years, to come work with them and then several years ago inquired if Ann would like to buy their book store. Ann and Dale were not sure if they wanted to buy but then took the leap. It was difficult to make it through the Covid years but they re-invented themselves by becoming innovative in serving their very supportive local residents. The national media emphasis on buying local and supporting local businesses was very helpful. They devised methods to sell their books by numbering them and their front display window and customers could choose and transact business without going inside and even delivering books bought on-line. Their business boomed and they were ordering books daily during the pandemic and like other businesses they had to deal with supply chain issues.

Ann, Dale and their wonderful part-time staff have had a great time serving this community and even getting support now from a much wider community due to the quaint small town (and dog friendly) atmosphere in Excelsior. She noted that “It is a lot of work but a great experience!” They have gone to a new four season ordering system that allows local book store owners to personalize their selection to meet the needs and demands of their community. Ann smiles and says, “It’s a ball in the summertime with all the people out walking downtown in our vital community and to get to know people by name. It’s great!” In the Q&A Ann noted that William Kruger is very popular (selling over 200 of his books) and they will have a special signing event this fall for him at Excelsior Bay Books.

STRIVE Luncheon & Scholarship Awards

Our Program on May 3, 2022 was the Annual STRIVE Luncheon and Scholarship Awards with STRIVE Coordinator Dick Glover. In the introduction of the program Dick explained that STRIVE is the acronym for Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education. The STRIVE Program meets biweekly throughout the year in 12 sessions to help senior students to improve their achievement level and motivate them to realize their potential in school and life. He also explained that the Rotary Club of Excelsior also awards $7,000 in scholarships to the five STRIVE students that have made the greatest academic improvement in that year.

Steve Frazier then presented a Power Point of the 12 sessions and each of the Mentor Presenters explained to the parent guests and club members the goals of each of the sessions. The sessions were: Attitudes I & II, Habits, Goals, Confidence, College, Service Abov

e Self, Choices, Finance, Life Values and Evaluation of the STRIVE Program.

Dick then distributed STRIVE Letters of Introduction to each of the STRIVE students to use in the coming years at their post-secondary institutions and also for job applications. Then came the Ceremony of the Scholarship Awards. First Dick presented $1000 scholarships to Dylan Erickson, Jake Lane and Evan Jones. The $1,500 scholarship was awarded to Alejandra Anderson-Barrera. The $2,500 scholarship was presented to Andrea Portillo for the greatest academic improvement in the year and it was noted that she ended up with all A’s. Unfortunately two of the scholarship winners were not able to attend the luncheon and will be presented their scholarships at the MHS Scholarship Awards Program later the month at the high school.

This marks the end of the STRIVE Program for 2021-2022 and the club expresses its thanks to the STRIVE Mentors for their commitment to these students throughout the year and all of the presenters that helped motivate these students to realize their potential and improve their academics.

Sojourner Project with Becca Welna

Our Speaker on April 19, 2022 was Becca Welna speaking on the Sojourner Project

Their mission is to Advocate for victim safety; supports the transition from victim to survivor; and educate for the prevention and elimination of domestic violence.

Sojourners provide emergency shelter, support, and legal advocacy services to those victimized by domestic violence and other forms of interpersonal violence. To that end, they provide services to victims of dating violence and sexual assault. Becca says that their ultimate goal encourages the change from crisis to stability and the transition from victim to survivor. In order to build safer communities, Sojourner conducts outreach activities and specifically designed presentations to heighten public awareness and engage groups and individuals in educational opportunities to prevent future victims and abusers. All Sojourner services are confidential and free of charge.

The Guiding Principle of Sojourner is committed to an anti-discrimination policy in its programs and services and endeavors to be inclusive as possible in all areas of diversity including but not limited to race, gender, religion, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, or disability. They respect the unique cultural identities, experiences, and circumstances of every client and recognize that cultural competency is critical to understanding families and providing services and supports that are meaningful and relevant.

Their Goals are to: 1) Increased victim safety is Sojourner’s key service priority. 2) Sojourner advocates work with victims at any stage of their experience with domestic violence. 3) All people are entitled to live free from threats and violence in their homes. 4) Healthy relationships do not involve violent, abusive, or coercive behavior. 5) They respect the right of individuals to self-determination and encourage self- determination and informed-decision making. 6) All staff and volunteers are required to demonstrate a high level of professionalism and work in an honest and ethical manner. 7) They recognize the right of clients to privacy and confidentiality and make every effort to assure that shared information remains confidential.

Becca explained that the Sojourner Project works tirelessly to combat domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence. Domestic Violence is a crime. It is a pattern of abusive behavior intended to exert power and control over another person, usually a spouse or intimate partner. Abusive behaviors may include: physical, verbal, mental, or sexual abuse, hurting pets or destroying property, financial control, and other behaviors directed towards intimidating and controlling an intimate partner or family member. Sexual assault is any forced or unwanted sexual activity where physical force, threats, or intimidation were used to exert power and control over the victim. Rape and sexual assault are crimes. Dating violence is when one person purposely hurts, scares or intimidates someone they are dating. It often starts with emotional abuse that isolates you from friends and family and works to undermine your self-confidence and self-esteem. Without intervention, these abusive behaviors can lead to more serious abuse.

After Q&A President Lou applauded the valuable work of the Sojourner Project and said he would approach the Board of Directors at its May meeting to make a donation.

Mari Pokomowski - East Side Learning Center

Our Program for Tuesday, April 5^th was Guest Speaker Mari Pokolowski from the East Side Learning Center and was introduced by Don Draayer. He explained that her charity would be the recipient of 700 of the 2,000 books that will be collected and sorted in May by our Club.

Mari Pokomowski is the Executive Director of the East Side Learning Center in St. Paul. She has 7 sons and was an English Teacher and now running her nonprofit while working on her Master’s Degree in Education and Divinity focused on family dynamics. Mari noted that learning center came about through the East Side Business Community and recognized what was happening in the achievement and education of children in their community and took action. The East Side Leaning Center is a product of their 20 year’s effort to focus on the importance of children’s education. The center is non-secular but holds on to the principals of those founding Catholic Sisters. The structure of the East Side Learning Center (ESLC) is volunteers mostly from AARP and Mari cord that are whites and working with children of color. These volunteers work to tutor and mentor these children and their parents and especially males in those children’s lives that may be their fathers or relatives, friends and/or neighbors. Their purpose is to make a difference in children’s literacy both in their community and the state.

The volunteers tutor children four times a week for 30 minute sessions. Language acquisition and reading skill development is specifically addressed for each child and each child is also diagnostically evaluated. Seven of the staff are reading specialists working with children, volunteers and parents. Mari emphasizes the importance of parents, grandparents and neighbors in sitting down and reading books to the children, especially the male members. So, ESLC is a training community and they understand that poor language acquisition and lack of reading literacy will result in 50/50 chance of those children ending up in prison in the future. The ESLC targets their efforts to African American men to take these 700 books and read to these children. Each book has a guide insert of what to do and how to encourage children to read.

So what’s Rotary’s role in all of this? Mari thanked the club and President Graber for the $500 donation to the ESLC and noted that individual members can make donations to the East Side Learning Center at East Side Learning Center, PO Box 6703
St. Paul, MN 55106 or online at www//:eastsidelearningcenter.org. She then invited our Rotarians to become volunteers to mentor and tutor children. She noted that she would help setup a leaning center in Excelsior if a need exists. She concluded by challenging us to be part of closing the literacy gap in our community and the state and to work to better understand racism in our own community.

In the Q&A she pointed out that the parents and community can do a lot to help schools improve children’s literacy and encouraging parents in this effort is the key to success. What a fantastic program and day at Rotary!

Police Chief Brian Tholen

Our Program for Tuesday, March 15^th was our new Police Chief Brian Tholen. Chief Brian has been on the job now for two and a half months and said,

“It’s the best career move I have ever made!” He has 25 years of experience and was previously with the Edina Police Department serving as a patrol cop on night duty for 10 years and then advanced to Sargent and then Lieutenant. The Chief prides himself on wearing his “Blues” on the job and regards himself as another on-duty officer 24/7! Brian’s wife is also in law enforcement and they have two daughters and live in Shorewood.

Chief Tholen noted that the last two years have been difficult on officers with the Pandemic and the riots surrounding the George Floyd murder and that “We can overcome that” with the support of our community. “Crime is still illegal in our four cities of Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Greenwood, and Excelsior” and he expects his officers to be out there and visible doing traffic stops to hold people accountable. “We will not give-in to emboldened criminals and we are fully staffed to catch and put them behind bars.” He noted the he is O.K. with keeping some of the officers for two to three years to give them experience because the get recruited by other larger cities that can pay more or that they leave the profession because it is tough emotional work being a police officer these days. “Police officers have the highest suicide rate of any profession” says Chief Tholen. Mental health of his officers is crucial and his officers see psychotherapist every year (and more often if needed) and ongoing educational training not only in policing but life skills to help in coping with the high stress job. Also they are given time to work-out because a workout helps keep them in shape, lose weight and mentally good for their health. He smiles and says, “You are in good hands – you call and we’ll be there!”

The Chief admits that it is a challenge today to keep and recruit officers but he feels that the wellness program and has the support of the Joint Powers Mayors Police Commission. In fact the SLMPD is the longest lasting joint powers police department in Minnesota! He also admits that “We can always do better especially when they are physically and mentally healthy.” The Chief is also getting his name out there in the community and through social media because our police need the community’s support and a positive narrative about their policing. Statistically the SLMPD has responded to 1634 calls this year and the officers are out there earning the respect of residents with quick response to service calls.

The Q&A was great and we went well beyond the meeting time because of great Rotarian questions and compliments of members.

Shorewood Mayor Jennifer Labadi and Remembering Karen Frazier

Our Program for Tuesday, March 1^st was Mayor of Shorewood Jennifer Labadi. Jennifer is in her 1^st year as Mayor of Shorewood. She thanked Scott Zerby for being her mentor and designer of her mayoral website. Mayor Labadi is very passionate about traffic safety on public streets, highway #7 and trails.

She noted that she has testified twice at the Legislature on traffic safety on Highway #7 and safety of pedestrians on abutting walking trails. In particular is the trail along Galpin Lake Road all the way to the connecting trail in Chanhassen and its deplorable condition. This includes safety of pedestrians crossing from the trail to Excelsior Elementary School and downtown Excelsior. Her first attempt did not get funded but after her second testimony Highway #7 was placed on the review list by MN DOT for a Traffic Study covering traffic and pedestrian safety from St. Louis Park to Hollywood Township. She credited her Fab Four social media moms for helping create the buzz and ensuing coverage on Fox 9 to draw awareness to the safety issues and hopefully attract capital funding for the projects.

Other exciting things going on in Shorewood include possible electric auto chargers in various locations, Strawberry Lane and Birch Bluff Roads to be improved and widened to the legal 26 Foot right-of-way and completed by 2023. Her “Coffee with the Mayor” programs and speakers at Shorewood Landing Senior Center have been well received. She is excited about the National Mayors Water Challenge sponsored by the Weiland Foundation and small ways we can all do to save on water use. She smiled and she is enjoying the experience as Mayor and always available to talk with residents about their ideas and concerns.

During Q&A she spoke of her family and that she has three children – two at MHS and one at the junior high, two dogs and a cat. She enjoys running and works out at Lifetime Fitness. She favors Round-a-Bouts but will take any suggestions that MN DOT offers.

Also at our Club Meeting on Tuesday, March 1^st our Opening Marshal Steve Frazier and he did a remembrance of his wife Karen Frazier and her 26 years with Excelsior Rotary. Karen’s Celebration of Life service was March 12^th starting at 10AM with Service at 11AM. There will also be a Rotary Celebration of Life Party in her honor on March 22^nd and details will be sent out to members later. Karen joined Rotary on November 12, 1996 – February 15, 2022 and had perfect attendance for 26 years! She was sponsored by Ron Hughes and in Past President 2009-2010 and on the Board as Community Services Director as Sunshine Lady, and served on every Golf-Auction Committee. Projects she loved to organize were: Highway Cleanups, Rotary Classic Auctions, Resource West’s Warm Hands & Warm Hearts and Teen Christmas Gifts, Many Hands Many Meals, Tree House Rotary Dinners, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, ICA, and loved going to Rotary parties and socials! We will miss her lovely and welcoming smile, optimistic attitude and her passion for serving others. Most of all we’ll miss her personal joy and friendship. The Board of Directors accepted Tiffany (Karen’s Daughter) Frazier’s offer to act as Community Service Quasi-Director as a nonmember for the rest of President Lou’s year.

Following the speaker President Lou presented Dick Glover with a Paul Harris Award and thanked him

for his support to the TRF and his great work with the STRIVE Program.