Taking Things for Granted

Do you ever feel like your “get up and go” has “got up and went?” Safe to say we have all experienced this from time to time. There appears to be a correlation with the chronological clock spinning faster each day. Enjoying the great outdoors for a lot of people is almost a thing of the past as the ability to get around on their own is extremely difficult, if not impossible. The Hastings Area Rotary Club is working hard to give senior citizens, shut-ins, physically and cognitively challenged folks the opportunity to once again get out and ENJOY the outdoors. The local Rotary club provides scholarships to Hastings High School Seniors and funds for several local charitable organizations and, is responsible for many projects such as refurbishing of the Vermillion Falls Bridge, providing signage throughout the Hastings Trail system and raising over $500,000 to build the Rotary Pavilion on the riverfront. In addition to all of this, the Hastings Area Rotary Club offers Cycling Without Age and Hastings Rotary Fishing to those who are of the demographic mentioned. Cycling Without Age, brought to the club by Rotarian Dr. Lon Peterson, is my focus today. Peterson learned about Cycling Without Age, an international program based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and felt the program would fit the club’s service vision. With over 2,200 affiliate programs in over 50 countries, CWA’s program and presence was tested and successful. Peterson presented the information he had gathered and asked if the club was interested becoming an affiliate of CWA. After additional discussions, fundraising ideas and a personal presentation by CWA founder Ole Kassow… the wheels were turning with great anticipation with a resounding “Yes.” The “wheels” are custom designed and built “trishaws” (two wheels in front, one in back with seating for two) that are “e-assist” (electric assistance for the “pilot”). The trishaws are built in Copenhagen and shipped to the affiliate at the cost of over $12,000 each. Due to generous donations from the Hastings Power of 100 Women and retired local businessmen Don Bohlken, the local club was able to purchase two trishaws. Several Rotarians and other volunteers began partnering with nursing homes, senior living residents, churches and community groups to get the program going, as well as recruiting and training the volunteer pilots for the program. The pandemic certainly created issues for moving forward but, the club and volunteers are hopeful that as pandemic restrictions start to be eased and, Spring melts the snow, they can get people out on the trails.

The Power of 100 Women named their trishaw “Gratia.” The name itself means “by favor, as a favor” or inspired by grace. Gratia Countryman (1866-1953) was born in Hastings and was an 1882 graduate of Hastings High School. She went on to do many great things within the library system, including being the nation’s first female Head Librarian for a major city. The organization itself has been holding off having meetings during the winter months due to the pandemic. According to founder Melissa Stevens Freiermuth, “we will be regrouping in the spring, hoping the pandemic subsides and we can gather together again.” For more information about the Hastings Power of 100 Women, their website is www.powerof100hastings.com and, they can also be found on Facebook.

It was Bohlken’s wish to name the trishaw purchased with his donation “Sandy” in honor of his late wife who passed away on October 2nd of 2019. She was a lover of animals and especially enjoyed horseback riding. Now, many others, for years to come will be able to enjoy that “wind in the hair” experience that she so enjoyed, which he felt was a wonderful way to keep her memory alive.

The Hastings Area Rotary Club is always looking for new members but, if you are unable to commit to becoming a member, there are several volunteer opportunities available. “Pilots” for the CWA program are needed. If you would like information about Cycling Without Age, send an email to [email protected] and someone will get back to you. If you would like to know more about the Hastings Area Rotary Club, the programs and causes that the club supports, go to www.hastingsmnrotary.com or contact Club President Dr. Linden Pfeiffer at [email protected] Restrictions on public gatherings has caused the club to meet on ZOOM but, they are hoping to begin with “in person” meetings at the Hastings Green Mill as restrictions are lifted. The club meets every Thursday at 7:30am and is open to area residents, including those living or working in Prescott and Cottage Grove. If you like making a difference in the lives of other’s and believe in “Service Above Self;” This may be an organization for you.

I will be sharing information about Hastings Rotary Fishing, a program aimed at similar demographics only “on the water” with fishing and site-seeing adventures on the St. Croix River as we get closer to the season and… when I run short of column ideas. The Hastings Rotary Fishing program has served over 7,000 individuals in the past 9 years with an average of 85 excursions per summer. If you are an experienced pontoon driver or just love being on the water, there is more information about this program on the Hastings Area Rotary Club website as well.

No matter what our age, abilities or disabilities, we can all be guilty of taking things for granted. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that you never know what you have or had until it is taken away from you. Sometimes we just need to dig a bit deeper to find other ways to experience those things that we feel are gone. The best teacher in life is often… life. Like when I was ice fishing at Lake Rebecca last week… I was reminded of two things that I may have not given as much thought as I should have. Ice. It is slippery. It is a hard surface. As I slipped and my feet went out from underneath me, I remembered the slippery part. When I landed on the ice, I quickly realized that falling was not painful. The sudden stop at the end of the fall however… hurts. Nothing broken except my pride. As that chronological clock spins, we may not be as agile as we once were. The good thing is, there are activities we can still do and thanks to the organizations like the Hastings Area Rotary Club, no matter our age or abilities, we all have the opportunity to get out and “Enjoy the Great Outdoors.”