Meeting Notes: Kate Wilinski was the Opening Marshal on Tuesday, February 1st with 16 members in attendance. Dick Glover kicked off the program 
with a Power Point of the Midyear report of the Mentor-Speakers of STRIVE up to this point in the year. Dick highlighted the speaker sighting Tim Litfin and Nick Ruehl on Attitudes; Lou Graber on Habits; Steve Frazier on Goals; and Kate Wilinski on Self Confidence and Role Models. President Lou then recognized Nick Ruehl with the five sapphires Paul Harris Award. Paul Harris awards for each $1,000 of member’s contribution to Rotary International.
with a Power Point of the Midyear report of the Mentor-Speakers of STRIVE up to this point in the year. Dick highlighted the speaker sighting Tim Litfin and Nick Ruehl on Attitudes; Lou Graber on Habits; Steve Frazier on Goals; and Kate Wilinski on Self Confidence and Role Models. President Lou then recognized Nick Ruehl with the five sapphires Paul Harris Award. Paul Harris awards for each $1,000 of member’s contribution to Rotary International. 
After the C4C presentation President Graber noted that there is a candidate for President Elect and announced that Steve Frazier was willing to serve as the next Excelsior Rotary President. Tad Shaw (our Parliamentarian) reminded President Lou that the nomination needed a membership vote and Randy Schumacher moved and Kate Wilinski seconded and the members voted unanimously to have Steve as our next President in 2022-2023.
Our Program for Tuesday, February 1st was Eric Snyder and Sheila McMillan presenting our Excelsior Rotary Club with the progress of the C4C (Community for the Commons) planning process of Phases of I, II and III and one of three charitable options for our club to make a substantial contribution to C4C. Eric started by explaining that C4C is a 501(C)3 – non-profit established 2015 to update and renovate the Commons. The Master Plan accepted in 2017 by the City of Excelsior with a projected price of $20,000,000. The Commons is considered a community destination for the South Shore of Lake Minnetonka. The C4C Foundation has established a three phase plan to prioritize the developmental goals: Phase I - Ban
d Shell; Phase II – Concession Pavilion heated year-round facility and Plaza; and Phase III includes the Play Grounds, Ballfield and Shoreline Walkway. Currently they are in Phase II with construction plans and bids to go to the city in April and break ground in May. The Phase II plan of the heated, year round facility includes an outside cover for seasonal seating, the food truck area, a “green” on the concession building and possible fire (propane) pit areas.
d Shell; Phase II – Concession Pavilion heated year-round facility and Plaza; and Phase III includes the Play Grounds, Ballfield and Shoreline Walkway. Currently they are in Phase II with construction plans and bids to go to the city in April and break ground in May. The Phase II plan of the heated, year round facility includes an outside cover for seasonal seating, the food truck area, a “green” on the concession building and possible fire (propane) pit areas. So what are the ways that the Rotary Club of Excelsior can pledge to contribute to the C4C? Eric explained that there are three ways in which we can donate to pledge over the next three years. First is to make an unrestricted substantial gift for the C4C Foundation to use where needed and to do so by March if possible. The second method is to make a substantial donation yearly over there years for specific aspects of the project such as gardens, plazas or other areas. The third option is to get a Rotary District Grant to make a significant grant to the project. President Lou and the Board of Directors are leaning to making a $10,000 donation each year over the next three years ($30,000) to a specific project and/or to apply for a Rotary District Grant including other adjacent Rotary Clubs for as specific aspect of the project.
As always the Q&A was stimulating covering the maintenance and upkeep funds, the half-cent Legislative sales tax, possible revenue sources, nature conservancy resources, infrastructure costs and Arbor plans and the Tree Adoption Program. President Graber noted that the proposal would be brought up at the next meeting for discussion and vote.