Meetings

Club Meeting are on Wednesdays, 7:30 am, some of our programs have been;

PROGRAM: Roger Bergerson, "Winging It"

Mike Campbell introduced Roger Bergerson, author and former reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, a researcher for the Minnesota State Senate and freelance writer. Roger happened upon Curtiss Northwest Airport while researching the Como area for his own pleasure following his retirement.

Roger's book, "Winging It" tells the story of how air mail got started in the Twin Cities and the birth of the nation's first Air National Guard unit-as well as the lighter side of aviation in the 20's; bootleg booze from Canada, the "tow" plane and the air ambulance that became a hearse.

Minnesota's first airport was at the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur. In the early years, people flocked to this country crossroads to see wing-walkers and stunt fliers and take their first plane rides. It was here that Charles Lindbergh dropped in; Speed Holman readied his race plane; and teenage daredevil Phoebe Fairgrave set a world parachute record.

Bill Kidder bought many of the Curtiss Jenny planes after World War I and moved them to the Curtiss Northwest Airport. They gave rides for $15. Dayton's Department store used planes to deliver weddng dresses to the area. Charlie Sanders and Billy Forsett were notables who were part of the airport.

Roger told many antecdotes and stories about Minnesota's first airport. His research found that around 1920, this little flying field at the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur was the aviation capitol of Minnesota.

Curtiss Northwest airport was closed in 1930 because it was too small and Wold Chamberlain was started. Residential development also was a factor. As Curtiss Northwest faded away, other airplanes took over that were much better than the Curtiss Jenny.




PROGRAM: CENTURY COLLEGE FAB LAB

The program was held at Century College. Eric Hendrickson introduced Century College President Larry Liticky. Larry gave a brief update on the state of affairs at the college. Most notable was that enrollment was up 20% from 2007. There are 10,500 students enrolled, 900 high school students taking classes and the number of those taking some kind of coursework is approaching 30,000. Larry believes the economy has sent many back to school for re-training and that Century is very affordable compared to private institutions. 99% of the rooms are being utilized each day and 97% of the seats are filled. He thinks that 40 million of invested dollars since 2005 has significantly enhanced the facility and the programs.



One such program is the FAB LAB.

At this time Scott Simenson was introduced. Scott explained that Century College was fortunate to be one of 35 world-wide sites with a FAB LAB, which is affiliated with MIT. The FAB LAB is a fabrication laboratory with computers and software that is linked to MIT and the other sites. Information can be shared and users can locally design, build and test almost anything. Century College has a milling machine and a laser that can cut and mill inexpensive materials to test them in the prototype phase. The lab is open to students
and the public and can be used for an endless numbers
of applications from architecture, mechanical engineering, biology,
physics, media arts, etc.

PROGRAM: Greg Bartz presents: Sandy Bartz

"STROKE...What Everyone Should Know and Then Some" Greg Bartz introduced his wife Sandy Bartz who is a nurse practitioner with St. Paul Radiology. She is part of a team of 3 doctors and 4 nurses who work with 8 hospitals to provide interventional neuroradioliologic procedures. These include the diagnostic x-rays and procedures to treat strokes of the head and neck.

Sandy explained that 88% of strokes are ischemic(blocked vessels) and 12% are hemorrhagic(bleeding vessel). Strokes are the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. and the number one cause of long-term disability. The causes of stroke are heart disease, carotid artery narrowing, injury to blood
vessels and clotting disorders. Warning signs of stroke are weakness on one side of the body and facial drooping. Stroke victims may have confusion, dizziness, sudden severe headache or loss or vision in one eye. Call 911 if you think someone is having a stroke.

Treatment my include medicine to dissolve the clot or mechanical devices that can be go through arteries directly to the blockage and either dissolve, suction or debride the clot. This is what Sandy and her team do. She also stressed prevention; stop smoking, manage blood pressure, exercise, treat high cholesterol, drink in moderation and eat well.

PROGRAM: KEITH WARNER, ‘CELEBRATE, REMEMBER, FIGHT BACK...RELAY FOR LIFE"

Wearing many hats (Prez, stand-up comic, program chair) Bob Morris introduced the speaker for the day, Keith Warner. Keith is retired from the banking industry and shortly after his retirement he and his wife Pattie began a new avocation of volunteering. Keith also works part-time or the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Commission. In addition to their volunteering with the American Cancer Society Keith and Pattie share their time with their five grown children and grandchildren.

15 years ago Keith and Pattie were asked to help organize the first Relay for Life in White Bear Lake. For a first time event it was a success but Keith concluded it was far too much work to organize seven relay teams to raise $7,000. They planned to pass the torch but eight months later they learned their 31 year old daughter Lorie was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which took her life in less than one year. She left behind her husband and three year old daughter. As he helped her through her final weeks Keith promised his daughter that he would work to ensure that the same did not take her daughter. Keith and Pattie then renewed their interest in the Relay for Hope and last year the event raised over $287,000 and over $3 Million over the past 14 years!

The American Cancer Society is the second largest funder of cancer research in the world (the US government is number one) and the White Bear Lake Relay for Life is recognized as the most successful in the upper Midwest. Proceeds from the relay assist efforts ranging from clinical and laboratory research to a 24/7 call line where individuals are always ready to provide counseling and information to callers. The volunteers who participate in the WBL relay also stand ready to assist those who have been afflicted by cancer with jobs ranging from driving them to chemo treatments to household chores to listening when a caring ear is needed. This year the relay will be held at South Campus on July 31. Activities begin at 6:00 p.m.
with the survivors lap held at 7:00. Relay teams will have at least one member walking around the track for 24 hours and after dark an expected 12,000 luminaries will light the field. Wow! What an opportunity to help others and help make a difference. Thanks for the program Bob and Keith.