MINNESOTA CLUB MEETING MINUTES - The board has decided to suspend the taking of minutes of our meetings after our meeting in January of 2011t.
DECEMBER 7,2009
The Minnesota Club had its historic kickoff meeting on Monday, December 7, 2009 at Churchill Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. The first meeting was an organizational meeting, a wine and cheese party, and a chance to celebrate all that is Minnesotan. The response to an all new Minnesota club was awesome and overwhelming as the doors of the meeting room were closed when we reached the number 150 which is all the room could handle due to fire codes. Unfortunately some prospective new members were turned away from the first meeting. This will be rectified as the manager of the Churchill Recreation Center immediately reported that this center could not handle these numbers and we were informed we would be moved to Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center and will be meeting the third Monday of each month. Laurel Manor will be able to seat 250 members.
As new members entered they were greeted by music familiar to Minnesotans. There were two sign up tables for new members and the lines were long. Dues of $5 per person were collected along with a one time $5 charge for each member for a permanent name tag. There was also a 50/50 sign up table. $240 was collected and three prizes of $50, $40, and $30 were awarded. We had a table to sign up for night golf to be held January 30 at Saddlebrook Executive Golf course and a table to sign up for interest in attending a MN Twins spring training game.
Marcy Solomonson, co-chair, welcomed everyone and introduced the MN Club board: Marcy and Bob Solomonson, Bob and Denese Kruse, Don and Shirley Bundy, Bill and Paula Meier, and Wayne and Suzanne Guttsen. Shirley Bundy and Denese Kruse will also serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively. It was announced the club webmaster, Bob Solomonson, has set up an e-mail address: mnclub@comcast.net.
Marcy announced several ideas for meetings in the upcoming months such as a golf scramble, dinner dance, attending plays, involved in parades, game nights, entertainment nights. She asked for input from club members in order to have a variety of activities.
Joey Hodgson announced she is interested in organizing a just for fun Saturday golf outing at the championship courses. She is hoping to sign up three or four foursomes to play golf once a week October through April.
Bob Solomonson, co-chair, introduced a new concept for the new club. Originally 7 large tables were set up with 10 chairs at each table. Club members at each table were to decide on three group names that identified with Minnesota ranking these names from one to three. Bob played a Minnesota trivia game and the table with the most correct answers were able to get their first choice for their name. As it turned out there were no duplicates but everyone had a ball with the game. Members at each table will be assigned one club meeting during the year in assisting the board in organization and set up. As there were many more new members than those at the original seven tables, members will be added to the original seven groups. The group names are: The North Stars, The Gophers, The Lakers, The Minni Sodas, The Loonies, The Uff Da Swingers and the Paul Bunyon Babes. Each group will meet with the Board when it is their month to assist. More information will be forthcoming on the seven groups.
The next meeting will be Monday, January 18, at 7 p.m. The activity for the next meeting will be Bingo.
Denese Kruse
JANUARY 18, 2010
The Minnesota Club had its second meeting on Monday, January 18, 2010 at Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Marcy Solomonson, co-chair, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with a welcome to all returning members and new members and the reciting of the pledge of allegiance. Marcy stated the Lincoln Room has a capacity of 250 and we were at capacity for this meeting. She introduced the MN Club board and stated there were two new members to the Board, Vern and Joey Hodgson to replace Bill and Paula Meier. She described the functions of the board and that this would be a revolving board. Marcy introduced the first group to help out the board, the Minnesodas. The Minnesodas attended a board meeting and volunteered for various duties at the January meeting. Other groups will be asked to volunteer with club meetings in the future. Marcy reiterated we would be meeting from October through April and this would be a purely social club.
Marcy stated we were selling tickets for night golf on January 30 and the Sweetheart Ball on February 15. Tickets are also available at our box office located at the home of Bob and Denese Kruse, 1416 Montez Loop, on Monday evenings. Captain Gail Lazenby from the District Public Safety Department will speak at the March meeting and a picnic at the Carriage Museum and Resort is being planned for April. She also talked about future possibilities for events and encouraged members to e-mail the Board at www.mnclub@comcast.net with ideas or questions.
Bob Solomonson, co-chair, asked for a volunteer to create a web page for the club. He also explained to the new members the concept of groups to assist the Board at each meeting.
Joey Hodgson announced a just for fun Saturday golf outing at the championship courses. She has signed up one foursome and is hoping to sign up a couple more foursomes to play golf once a week October through April.
The activity for the evening was Bingo including one stand up Bingo. Bingo callers were Bob Maroney and Don Bundy with the Minnesodas assisting as bingo card sellers and runners. Twelve games were played with the entire amount of monies collected awarded. The 50/50 was also very profitable for both members and the club with several $50 and $30 cash prizes awarded.
Denese Kruse
FEBRUARY 15, 2010
There were no minutes for February since it was our first annual Sweetheart Ball and no formal meeting was held.
MARCH 15, 2010
The Minnesota Club met on Monday, March 15, 2010, at Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Marcy Solomonson, co-chair, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with a welcome to all returning members and new members and the reciting of the pledge of allegiance. She introduced the MN Club board and described the functions of the board.
As our club meets from October through April, the last meeting of the year will be April 19. Marcy announced this meeting will be a picnic held at the Florida Carriage Museum and Resort. The event will start at 4 p.m. with an equine demonstration by Gloria Austin, founder of the museum. Oakwood Smokehouse Grill will cater the event. Tickets are $15 per person. An added event for members wishing to take part is a tour of the carriage museum. The tour will begin at 2 p.m. with tour guide Glenn Braatz, a MN native and docent for the museum; the cost of the tour is $10 per person.
Marcy indicated there were sign up sheets for summer activities. She announced that night golf is scheduled for November 30 at Saddlebrook Executive course and also gave an overview of some of the future events planned. Marcy introduced Bob Solomonson, co-chair.
Bob announced the creation of our own web page; www.thevillagesmnclub.com. This web site was created by Bob Solomonson…check it out…it’s amazing. Bob ended the business meeting with our laughter segment and started it out with an Ole and Lena joke. He opened up the joke session to other Minnesotans; this segment of the meeting was very successful.
Bob introduced Gail Lazenby, Captain of the Villages Safety Department Training and Quality Assurance, as our speaker for the evening. Mr. Lazenby was very entertaining and informative. He stated the fire department handles on average 24 calls each day; 80% of the calls are medical with only 2% fire related.
The 50/50 drawing concluded the meeting with a total of five prizes awarded; one $10, two $20;s, one $25, and one $30.
Denese Kruse
APRIL 2010
No minutes for March since it was our annual picnic.
OCTOBER 18, 2010
The Minnesota Club met on Monday, October 18, 2010, at Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Bob Kruse stated he was serving as Master of Ceremonies as Bob and Marcy Solomonson were in Minnesota for their son’s wedding. He opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. with a welcome to all and the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.
Bob introduced Dave and Marge Higgins as new Board members. He asked the rest of the Board members to stand. Board members are: Bob and Marcy Solomonoson co-chairs, Bob and Denese Kruse, Don and Shirley Bundy, Wayne and Suzanne Guttzen, Vern and Joey Hodgson, and Dave and Marge Higgins. He also thanked the volunteers who helped set up for the meeting: Dave Gardner, Mary Kay Googins, Tom and Sherryl Hutton, and Bob and Nancy Maroney.
Bob announced a change in the position of treasurer. Bob thanked Shirley Bundy for serving as treasurer for the club in our first year. He thanked Joey Hodgson for offering to take the treasurer duties effective immediately.
The next order of business was to resolve the issue of seating. We initiated seating arrangements by naming tables and assigning members to certain tables as they arrived in order for members to meet new people. Some liked the arrangement and some would rather sit where they wanted. Bob asked for a show of hands to determine which arrangement the members liked best…sitting with friends where you want or being assigned a table. The vote was pretty even and it was determined that table assignments would be on an every other month rotation. Everyone sat where they wanted in October therefore members will have a table assignment in November.
Name badges were discussed and members were asked to check to see if there were any name badges of friends they could pick up.
Joey Hodgson announced continuing the Saturday golf outings. These golf outings are at championship courses and she hoped many members would be joining them this year.
Bob announced events for coming meetings; horse racing at the Nov. 15 meeting (ladies wear your big Derby hats), special guest Mary Jo Vitale performing a Christmas show at the Dec. 20 meeting (open to members and guests) and cash bingo at the January meeting.
Denese Kruse announced the special events; golf outing at Spruce Creek South Links on Friday, Nov. 5, $32 per person, night golf at Saddlebrook on Tuesday, Nov. 30, $8 per person, West Side Story at the Bob Carr Theater in Orlando on Feb. 2, $70/per person and is a bus trip, and the Sweetheart Ball for our February meeting but is a date change to Friday, Feb. 18 instead of our usual Monday night meeting.
Bob announced the Minnesota Club web page; this web site was created by Bob Solomonson with information for members…check it out…it is amazing. The site is: www.thevillagesminnesotaclub.com. He also announced the Minnesota club e-mail which is: MNClub@comcast.net and requested members to e-mail with phone number and/or e-mail address changes. Bob ended the business meeting with our laughter segment with a great Ole and Lena joke.
Bob introduced Keith Manson, a musician/comedienne extraordinaire. Keith lost his sight completely at the age of 12 due to bring born with glaucoma. In spite of this, he has pursued the learning of many musical instruments and enjoys being part of making people sing, laugh, and have fun. The evening’s entertainment was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
The 50/50 drawing concluded the meeting.
Denese Kruse
NOVEMBER 15, 2010
The Minnesota Club met on Monday, November 15, 2010, at the Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Marcy Solomonson, co-chairman, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. by welcoming all members and thanking our helpers for the evening. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Marcy made the following announcements: the Night Golf event is sold out for Tuesday, November 30. Mary Jo Vitale will be performing for the December meeting. Members were encouraged to bring any guests they may have visiting for the holidays. Cash bingo is scheduled for the January meeting. The Sweetheart Ball will be held on Friday, February 18, instead of our usual Monday meeting and is promised to be a very special event. There are tickets available for the Sweetheart Ball and the theater event, West Side Story, at the Bob Carr Theater in Orlando on February 2.
She announced our web site: www.theminnesotaclub.com and our e-mail address: mnclub@comcast.net.
Bob Solomonson ended the business meeting with our special part of the meeting…an Ole and Lena joke.
The entertainment for the night was our first annual horse racing event. There were five races with cash prizes for win, place and show. Minnesota Club members shared the jockey duties.
Respectfully submitted,
Denese Kruse
DECEMBER 20, 2010
The Minnesota Club met on Monday, December 20, 2010 at the Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Marcy Solomonson opened the meeting at 7:00 PM by welcoming all members and announcing that this month is the one-year anniversary of the club. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Marcy made the following announcements: The event for January is cash bingo. West Side Story tickets are sold out and there are only 7 tickets left for the MN Twins game. Sweetheart Ball tickets are currently being sold; the ball will be held on Friday, February 18, instead of our usual Monday meeting and is promised to be a very special event. She announced there will be a speaker for the March meeting; Mr David Miles who is employed by The Villages and will speak on how our amenity fees are spent.
Marcy announced our website: www.thevillagesminnesotaclub.com and our e-mail address: mnclub@comcast.net.
Bob Solomonson ended the business meeting with our special part of the meeting....an Ole and Lena joke.
Bob introduced a very special and talented person for the night's entertainment, Mary Jo Vitale, an extraordinary singer who gave us a wonderful program of Christmas Carols. She received a standing ovation for her final number "O Holy Night". There were approximately 200 Minnesotans in attendance for Mary Jo's concert.
Denese Kruse
JANUARY 17, 2011
The Minnesota Club Board met on Monday, January 17, 2011, at the Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Marcy Solomonson, co-chairman, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. by welcoming all members. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Marcy made the following announcements: the bus for West Side Story will leave from Laurel Manor on Wednesday, February 2, at 5:45 p.m. Sweetheart Ball tickets are currently being sold; the ball will be held on Friday, February 18, instead of our usual Monday meeting and is promised to be a very special event. She announced there will be a speaker for the March meeting. Mr. David Miles, employed by The Villages, will speak on how our monthly amenity fees are spent. She also announced a very special event at the March meeting. Our very own club member, John Bushlack, will entertain us playing the concertina. This will be a very lively musical event.
Marcy announced our web site: www.theminnesotaclub.com and our e-mail address: mnclub@comcast.net.
Bob Solomonson ended the business meeting with our special part of the meeting…an Ole and Lena joke.
January is our Bingo Night and the many volunteers from the club who helped make this event successful were acknowledged and thanked: Dave Selinski, Pam Selinski, Sheila Krueger, Lainie Ruegemer, Bob Barsaloux, Carole Barsaloux, Marlene Schroeder, Roger Schroeder, and Connie Peterson. There were 12 bingo games with full payouts of $40 for most of the games, $80 for the cover all game, and $65 for each of the two stand up games. There were also five cash prizes for 50/50 (two $25, two $31, and one $50).
There were over 230 members in attendance for the January Bingo night.
Denese Kruse
