 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Minnesota State Association of Parliamentarians (MSAP)
|
MURIEL MILLER LEGACY GIFT
COMMITTEE
By: Bev Aplikowski, Chair
In 2002 MSAP received a gift of moneyfrom the Estate of Muriel Miller in the amount of $5385.52. Then President, Jeanette Williams, PRP, created a Special Committee named the 'Muriel Miller Bequest Committee' which was then changed to the 'Muriel Miller Legacy Committee', and the Committee was charged to develop a plan for the use of the funds. The PLAN was approved at the 2005 Convention and is available for review from the Treasurer.
To date, $2188.40 has been expended from the fund mostly for the provision of parliamentary books and resources for the secondary school teams. The current balance is $3094.54. It was decided at the January 17, 2009 MSAP Board meeting, to
place $2000.00 in a CD at TCF bank. It was also decided that the Special Committee status be changed to a Standing Committee and at the request of the MM Committee, the name be changed to 'The Muriel Miller Gift Committee'. This was at the request of the Committee to avoid any confusion since there is a MSAP Unit with same name.
The members of the Committee are Bev Aplikowski, Chair; Ginny Altman, PRP; Medard Kaisershot, PRP; Kay O'Keefe; and Valatrice Nordin, PRP; and the current Treasurer.
MSAP Members Won Leadership Awards
GINNY ALTMAN, PRP
At the Toastmasters Education and Leadership Institute on July 19, 2008, Toastmasters International and District Six Toastmasters recognized Ginny Altman, PRP, the President of MSAP, by awarding her with the PHOENIX AWARD. The Phoenix Award is given to an individual Toastmaster member who works with a Toastmasters Club that is facing extinction. Acting as Club Coach and Mentor, Ginny inspired the officers and members of Capitol Square Toastmasters Club to develop programs and organize their meetings so that it once again could be a viable Toastmasters Club. This effort by Ginny, the officers, and members of the Club, brought this Club from the "ashes" to the extreme honor of achieving the highest Club Award that is offered by Toastmasters International when on June 30, 2008, Capital Square Toastmasters Club achieved the President's Distinguished Club recognition.
BEVERLY APLIKOWSKI
On Sept 10,2008, Bev was presented with the LEAD BY FAITH Award by Archbishop John Neinstedt at St. Catherine University. The LEAD BY FAITH Award is given to men and women whose business practices reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church and who give of their time and talents in their parishes and local communities. Bev is the CEO/CFO/owner of Lakeside Homes, a Manufactured Home Community in new Brighton. She is also very active in her parish, St. John the Baptist in New Brighton. Her Community involvement is too extensive to include in this article but her license plate is “1 Busy B” and it really fits Bev’s busy life. Because of her ability to find time for the causes she believes in, she has served as President or Chair of almost all the organizations she belongs to, and is often sought out as a counselor, parliamentarian or speaker. Some of her fans think she should run for Mayor again, but she says her focus is now on her business and family.
PHYLLIS LEHRKE
Phyllis was honored with inclusion into the Waconia High School HALL OF FAME September 20. This is the FIRST Hall of Fame Awards for the school, and the first time a staff teacher was so honored. The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor special achievements by individuals who have exemplified, developed, encouraged, and fostered positive traits and attributes to enhance the Activities Program of the High School, and their important role in developing life long skills.
During her 44 years as a teacher, 32 years at Waconia High School, Phyllis watched her students achieve many successes: national scholarships in leadership skills; gold medals in speaking skills; one student selected to represent all national youth at a joint hearing of US Congress in Washington D.C. She has guided more than 50 students through national FCCLA contests, all receiving gold awards. She established the first FLA (Future Leaders of America), petitioning local and national leaders of FHA (Future Homemakers of America) to change the name of the organization to better encourage young girls and boys to join for the leadership training. She is also especially known for her dedication to educate students in meeting management using parliamentarian procedures and thus creating life opportunities for young people, as well as some adults in her community. She believes that “Education is an Investment for the Future and no one can take it away from you.” Phyllis has used her impressive talents to work with many people over the years and is still being sought out as a speaker and coach.
|
|
Northern Lights Parliamentarians
Ernest E. Cutting
President
Our educational program continues in full force. Recent programs have included study of several questions from the Registered Parliamentarian Examination that were published in Vol. II, Issue 1, of The Possibilitarian at the May meeting, study of Ranking Motions at the June meeting, a program based on Only the Bare Facts and Most Frequently Asked Motions at the August meeting, and use of a Mini Lesson in Parliamentary Procedure on Commit (or Refer) at the September meeting.
Several of our members are also studying for the Registered Parliamentarian Examination under the leadership of Darleen Harens PRP.
We recently amended our bylaws to provide for Honorary Members and have elected Elmer
Lehrke as an Honorary Member.
Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at Perkins Restaurant, Normandale Shopping Center, 9840 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. We meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., but invite all to arrive early, if you wish to order a meal. We invite all to join us.
St. Paul Unit
Greg Hanzalik
President
You strongly suspect the truth of the matter. You know you do. The Minnesota Meteorological Statutes must certainly include The Seven Day Rule. As residents of the state we unwittingly yet voluntarily fall under this covenant. Unsure what this means? Briefly contemplate, then, the applications and possible consequences of The Rule.
Assume you possess a watercraft. You are then allowed, out of the three-hundred-sixty-five days in your calendar year, seven reasonably fine if not near perfect weather days for full enjoyment. Do you drive a convertible? Seven days is your limit for top-down bliss. The Rule is also applicable to motorcycles and snowmobiles, bicycles and skis, roller blades and ice skates and, well, you fill in the blank.
Planning an alfresco wedding, a hunting/fishing/camping trip, golfing, horseback riding, or whatever open air activity you can dream up also requires choosing from your allotted seven. Complicating matters is if your activity-of-choice limits you to a weekend day. Many innocently believe a full sub-section of protections apply here. And sure you get your "seven", but without any guarantee of the number of hours within your selected day for worry-free friskiness. Requesting two (or more) consecutive days? See Article VI, Section 2e. Willing to settle? Article IX sets the maximum number of "reasonably acceptable but pushing your luck" days, and so forth. All is further clarified for us in Standing Rules 12, 13, and 14. What it distills down to folks is: buy your tickets; secure your licenses; take your chances.
And yet, this summer season of 2009 at this latitude and longitude?!? If not totally fool-proof, it proved difficult to avoid splendid, serene weather on any given day. Obviously, The Rule was
suspended absent any announcement or flourish. So absolutely giddy were many over this couldn"t-miss summer that serious discussions occurred regarding amendment. Strike "seven", and insert "ten", "fifteen", "twenty" maybe! Calmer, more wizened citizens with longer memories ultimately prevailed.
Indeed, the possibility of inserting "five" was briefly floated. Explained in the reasoning was the desire to demonstrate the "expect little and act modestly pleased and appreciative when we receive more" attitude. It was suggested that this notion fits snugly with the "water the garden and wash the car (convertible?) today and expect rain showers tomorrow" clause. This urge was also quickly subdued.
We do desperately need moisture...and by the time this reaches you, all weather bets are off. Take comfort if you misplayed at weather roulette. As Kin Hubbard, an Indianapolis newspaperman in the early 1900"s wrote, "Don"t knock the weather; nine tenths of the people couldn"t start a conversation if it didn"t change once in a while".
And what, you may justifiably inquire, has all this to do with Parliamentarianism? We could speak of fairness knowing no season; striving to be impartial and just...fair winds or no; or kick off a discussion on the challenge of anticipating and addressing every possible happenstance in our by laws and standing rules, and the advisability of making the attempt. This we politely label the "what if...?" gamble. Just try writing anything in to law and watch the loopholes sprout.
And what, too, has all this to do with reporting for The St. Paul Unit? Well, "I have nothing to report, Mr. President!" However, no matter the season or climate, we at The Unit stand always prepared to suspend the rules at 330 South Exchange Street (four blocks west of The Science Museum); third Monday; 8:30 a.m. for study; 9:30 for business meeting and education program. The coffee will be on. |
Report Of District Five Director
By: Medard B. Kaisershot, PRP
The District Five conference was held July 11-13, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Select Airport Hotel in Bloomington, MN. Thirty one people attended the event. There were seven excellent workshop presentations, all of which received high praise for the topic and its content. The meals were excellent and the whole event proved to be a joyous as well as educational event. Vera Chernecki, chairman of the Manitoba association was elected as incoming District Director for the 2009-2011 two year term. Your current director is serving his second consecutive term and was not eligible for reelection.
NAP offered a professional development course (PDC) which was held at the Holiday Inn Select Airport Hotel immediately following the conclusion of the District Five conference. MSAP members Darleen Harens, Philip Hernandez and your director took and passed this course. The PDC is an educational program that every member who has attained PRP accreditation must take every six years to retain the PRP status. All members who have not done so are encouraged to study to earn accreditation, either as a registered parliamentarian (RP) or as PRP.
The next educational opportunity for all members is the NAP National Training Conference (NTC) which will be held September 12-14, 2008 at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA. The hotel is on the ocean front and provides excellent scenic beauty to complement the educational sessions.
Be sure to reserve the dates of August 27-29, 2010 to attend the NAP National Training Conference (NTC) which will be held St. Paul, Minnesota, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. While it may seem to be a long ways away, this is an event you won’t want to miss. The hotel is on the river front and affords great scenic opportunity as well as an excellent training program. This will a rare opportunity to attend a national event that is being held “in your back yard” and, for which, you can save on travel and lodging costs. Your director is the conference coordinator; please let him know if you would like to volunteer your assistance in helping to put on this program. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
