Alexandria Rotary Club

Service Above Self

Appropriately, 5 new Rotarians were officially inducted into the Alexandria Rotary Club today (Kerry Donley, John Keogh, Terry Quist, Greg Slotten and Sheila Gilbertson). It would have brought a smile to LeRoy Meyer's face. Today's program was arranged by Morey Grover and he was going to have his wife, Barb, give an update on the Runestone Museum which will be celebrating it's 50th Birthday in 2007. Instead, Barb and Morey talked about the innumerable ways in which LeRoy touched this community (Big Ole, Runestone Museum, the city's Christmas lights,...). Morey and Barb moved to Alexandria in 1960 after Morey was hired as the new city attorney and soon met LeRoy as he was on the City Council. Morey, Barb, family members and friends had fond memories to share about LeRoy.

Other meeting notes: Each week one Alexandria Rotarian is featured during the meeting as the result of a ticket picked up upon entering the meeting. Today's Featured Rotarian was Tim Bush. Tim is in his second year of membership at the Alexandria Rotary Club (Mark Watkins was his sponsor) but was a member of Rotary Club in South Dakota for 3 years prior to moving to Alexandria with his wife, Teri, and their 3 children. Tim is an alum of Concordia College and is employed by State Bank and Trust.

Remembering LeRoy

LeRoy a. Meyer was born in McLeod County, Minnesota on February 22, 1921, the only child of William and Lora(Stafford) Meyer. He attended schools and grew up in that area. He helped on the family farm until he entered the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Okinawa.

Upon his Honorable Discharge from the military, LeRoy attended the University of Minnesota Agricultural School, where he became trained as a milk tester. It was during this time that he served as an adult 4-H leader and met Elinor Andersen, who was a rural school teacher in Faribault. They were married on June 1, 1952. LeRoy and Elinor were the parents of three children. They lived in Hutchinson, Osakis and moved to Alexandria when they purchased the Garden Center in 1957. Elinor died in February of 1988.

LeRoy was united in marriage to Carol Anderson in 1988. The couple continued to live in the Alexandria area.

The Minnesota and National bowling communities know LeRoy because of his successful operation of the Garden Center from 1957 until his phasing out to give his children control in the early 1990's. LeRoy suffered a stroke in 1996 and at that time his children took on a more active managerial role in Garden Center. LeRoy truly enjoyed his work at Garden Center. He was State President of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America and a past National Officer of the organization. He had also been elected to the Minnesota Bowling Hall of Fame.

LeRoy always found time for civic duties as well. He was a Past President of the Alexandria Rotary Club where he had, at one time, 41 years of perfect attendance. He served on the Alexandria Light & Power Board of Directors and was also a City Councilman. He was a founding member of the Community State Bank (now Wells Fargo) of Alexandria, a member of the American Legion, VFW, Eagles and Elks. LeRoy also enjoyed hunting.

LeRoy died suddenly on Sunday, November 19, 2006, at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife Carol Meyer of Alexandria, children William (Karen) Meyer of Alexandria, Charlie (Kathy) Meyer of Alexandria and Susan (Dennis) Brede of Alexandria; step-children Dan (Kathy) Anderson of Baxter and Maureen (Randy) Winger of Alexandria; grandchildren Chad Meyer, Matthew Meyer, Amanda Brede, Jared Anderson, Trent Anderson, Gage Winger and Madalyn Winger. He is also survived by an aunt, Evelyn Stafford of Grove City, Minnesota. LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents and wife Elinor.

Leroy Meyer, 85

Early Sunday morning, November 19th, beloved Rotarian LeRoy Meyer passed away. Leroy was 85 years old.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 24 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Alexandria.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Alexandria's YMCA

In May of 2006, Jeff Bartholomew was hired as the 1st CEO of the Alexandria Area YMCA after a nationwide search. The Alexandria Area YMCA has been a work in progress for many community leaders since 2003.  Their vision to build state-of-the-art recreational facilities for the kids, families and senior citizens in the Alexandria Area became the driving force to bring the YMCA to this community. Jeff was the guest speaker at the Alexandria Rotary Club meeting to discuss the past, present and future of the YMCA and the benefits he feels it will bring Alexandria. (Pictured is the first YMCA in North America in Montreal, Quebec)

Today's Featured Alexandria Rotarian : Greg Slotten...employed by First State Bank of Alexandria...married with 2 children...enjoys hunting, fishing and reading...this is Greg's first year of Rotary and his sponsor was Larry Zilliox. To meet Greg, Larry and other Alexandria Rotarians, please join us at noon on Thursdays at the Broadway Ballroom of The Garden Center!

Scholastic Clay Target Program

Lyle Bohnen was invited to our club today by Todd Emmons to speak about the Scholastic Clay Target Program(SCTP) that provides school-age participants in grades 12 and under with the opportunity to showcase their competitive shooting skills and earn state and national recognition. The program is designed to instill in participants safe firearms handling, commitment, responsibility, leadership and teamwork. The SCTP is a cooperative effort between the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry's largest and most diverse trade association with 2,200 members, and the governing bodies for trapshooting, skeetshooting and sporting clays shooting - the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) and the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA), respectively.

Tom also noted that we have an outstanding shooting park here in Alexandria which hosts the state meet. The Shooting Park (320-763-5315) is open to the public.