Each year New Ulm’s Rotarians sponsor students from our local high schools to attend the annual Rotary youth conference in St. Paul. I felt you would be interested in hearing first hand from New Ulm’s representatives: Dan Foley of Cathedral High and Dave Mildenberg of New Ulm High,both Juniors.

This rare four day opportunity into the very real world of work meant an especial lot to me as Dave’s grandpa was a former Rotary president and a continual Rotary booster. In the process Dave even ran into some of his grandpa’s old friends at the seminars such as Dreng Bjorna a former New Ulmite.

As a humorous note I’d like to add that four years ago girls began to be chosen as delegates to this annual affair. This year they raised the question often as to why women aren’t Rotarians, too. The answer was given that Rotarians are international to which the retort was “Aren’t women international?”.

Young women in the future are not going to be content to be Rotary Anns, as this conference spelled out well.

By DAN FOLEY

“Take pride in America’s past; take part in America’s future.”

That was the theme of the 30th annual St. Paul Rotary Youth Conference in St. Paul and Hudson, Wis., May 1 to 4.

I was chosen by a vote of the Cathedral High School faculty and, though I arrived one day late because of our Prom May 1, I was quickly made welcome by smiling faces.

Along with 150 delegates from across the state, I listened to more than 50 speakers and each one of them had an important message. Some of these speakers included Attorney General Warren Spannaus, Senate majority leader Nicholas Coleman,Senator Hubert Humphrey III and Benchwarmer Bob Lurtsema of the Vikings.

Those and other speakers told us that we were the leaders of tomorrow and that we have the potential to keep America going for at least another 200 years. All of the speakers, although being older, seemed to have confidence in the youth of today, that we can do as well or,hopefully,better than our ancestors.

There was plenty of time to meet new people and make new friends. I really enjoyed myself and thought this was one of the best learning experiences I have been involved in.

By DAVID MILDENBERG

Last weekend was surely one of the most rewarding four days of my life. Through the efforts of the St. Paul Rotary, 150 students from all parts of Minnesota were treated to a weekend of learning and fellowship. Over 50 resource persons volunteered their time to tell us a little of their work and respond to any questions we had. Harry Davis, Susan Spencer and Chuck Slocum were just a few of the many fine speakers.

The conference challenged us to do some real thinking about what we should want out of life. One of the more interesting panels was one in which a college president, a personnel manager, a vocational program planner and a 3M employee discussed the different avenues to obtaining a job. All agreed that students interested in mathematics and science have the best chance at obtaining a job.

Another panel discussed the moral responsibilities of the respective professions each member held. With much input from the student delegates, such topics as women in Rotary, euthanasia, confidentiality of sources and judicial corruption were raised.

Just as interesting as the panels was the interchange we had with kids from other towns. Learning what it was like to go to an inner-city school or one near an Indian reservation was also a part of the conference, as was playing basketball and learning the Arthur Murray way to dance.

The St. Paul Rotary has been arranging these conferences for the past 30 years. It takes much effort on the part of their club but I am sure 150 young people would say their work is worthwhile.

One story that has stuck with me was one told by Dr. Calvin Didier, a Presbyterian minister from St. Paul. He told of an Indian peasant who brought a beautifully sculptured elephant to the market. This man had never taken a sculpturing lesson in his life but this object was nearly perfect.

When asked how he had accomplished this, the peasant replied, “I just chipped away at everything that did not look like an elephant.” If only we could chip away at everything that was not good, decent and worthwhile, Dr. Didier noted, then we too would surely have successful lives.

New Ulm Daily Journal

May 9, 1976