Early Birds: First to arrive at ECC were Bob Alexander, Tom Ashbaugh, and Craig Blixrud. It was a Hybrid meeting today and Dick Anderson was first to log on. We had 15 at the Edina CC and 10 via Zoom. We start the ZOOM meeting about 7:15 am
Guests: None today
Honorary Members: Karen Holtmeier, Ron Britz, Dick Nelson, and Dick Lindskoog were in attendance today.
President Bob Alexander brought the meeting to order with a ring of the bell and a moment of silence.
Announcements
- ZOOM link is https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8372506494?pwd=RStMTVU4bVVDTU0vZU5UdXNSWTZoQT09 or meeting ID 837 250 6494 password is Breakfast
- THERE IS NO MEETING ON MARCH 31.
- Sign up for your 2021 Craft Talk! Please contact Craig Blixrud to get on the calendar or with your ideas for craft talks.
- We are looking for a Club Vice President. Please contact Bob Alexander (or you may be drafted).
- There will be a board meeting today after the regular meeting.
- We are always looking for suggestions for new members. A great time to join as the dues are currently waived and ZOOM allows easy access to meetings.
- We will be looking to gauge interest in a golf outing for the club this year. We will need a minimum of 30 players.Let Paul Ralles know if you can put a foursome together.
Pot of Gold: Ron Britz drew Bob Alexander’s name for a mini-craft talk. Apparently tablets and watches are very-hot items in the cellular industry. Ron Britz drew his own name for the Pot of Gold.
Table Introductions: Craig Blixrud introduced his table of hockey fans.
Business Exchange/Sharing:
Paul Ralles was back after having COVID-19. Wonder why he caught the virus instead of getting the vaccine….
Craig Blixrud, Dick Nelson, and Paul Ralles all had business to share.
Craft Talk:
Bob Alexander introduced our craft speaker, Tom Whaley. Tom is a recovering attorney and executive VP of the St. Paul Saints. He joined the Saints in 1993 and used a resume written on lutefisk to cement his relationship with Mike Veeck that began in 1993.
He is married and has a hobby farm in southern Illinois that he and his wife garden at during the summer.
Two years ago the Saints got wind of a plan Major League baseball was working on to reorganize the minor leagues. This year is the implementation of that plan and the Saints are now the AAA farm club for the Minnesota Twins.
What’s great for the Saints is that the ballgames will be better, they will go from 50 to 70 home games, and the players, coaches, and trainers are all part of the Twins organization.
The Saints are looking forward to starting their season at CHS field on May 11 with at least 2500 fans in attendance and using their proven COVID-19 plan to give the fans a great experience.
Put together a group and come on out to the ballpark this summer.
Tom Whaley also told us about his recent experience of having his airbags deploy as he was driving down the freeway in Iowa.
Please register with Tom Whaley at twhaley@saintsbaseball.com or 651-233-0174.
Looking ahead
March 31, 2021 – No Meeting
April 7, 2021 – Hybrid meeting Craft talk TBD.
April 14, 2021 – Hybrid meeting Craft Talk TBD.