Activities & Events

January 6,2010- Lakeville Take Heart Meeting 9am…Working with a committee of 12 Lakeville people to educate their community in CRP/AED . They asked us (MNSCASN) to help trainer their trainers.

January 7,2010- Snowstorm but still met for our regularly scheduled monthly meeting of MNSCASN at Boston Scientific in Arden Hills, MN. About nine SCA survivors and three ambassadors attended. Much was accomplished and the lunch was superb!!!!

January 8,2010- Gene Johnson Met with Neil Strader the Activities Director for the Lakeville South HS along with Dale Wakasugi to be present as Neil announced to his coaches and other teacher staff members the plan to educate a readiness team of Coaches,teachers, and students for a rapid emergency response unit. There were 18 people in attendance.

January 9,2010- Ray Eyler, Kim Bermenderfer,Wendell Mogren , and Gene Johnson manned a SCA booth for Take Heart Minnestoa. We had about 60 people passing by and chatting and gathering info from us from 9am-1pm.

January 16,2010- Ray Eyler and Gene Johnson attended a CPR/AED course for six newly recruited firefighters of Rockford, MN Fired Dept.. We told our SCA stories and help inform them of the recent equipment additions for the first responders team.
In addition, we spoke briefly to a group of 16 cub scouts being trained upstairs. Told our stories and wished them well in their instructions from the Allina Hospital training team of Kim B. and Raj.

January 19,2010- Another Lakeville meeting of the 12 members to plan and prepare the methodology of training and information discemination for the CPR/AED unit. Ray Eyler and Gene Johnson represented the MNSCASN.

January 26,2010-Dale Wakasugi refereed a Lakeville South HS basketball game and spoke at halftime about his episode in Fridley , MN HS of SCA..he also helped kickoff the Lakeville Take Heart Inititive. He spoke to about 300 attendees at the game.

January 29,2010- Kim Bermenderfer called together our MNSCASN CPR/AED training team and educated us to “be on the same page” with all of our instructions to the Lakeville students that we will encounter in April 8 at the City Hall Forum from 7pm-9pm. The team consists of nine instructors from MNSCASN. And St.Cloud Take Heart.

January 30, 2010- Kim Bermenderfer and Raj held a pre-training meeting with Rockford, MN officals and Fire Dept. personnel to begin a similar Take Heart Rockford , MN Inititive. About 11 people attended.

February 9,2010- United Hospital Health Fair in the Lobby-Kim Brermenderfer and Sara P. the Take Heart MN booth from 10:30am-2pm. Gene and Ray helped inform passing nurses, Drs.,and Technicians on updates and new information. 100 people passed by and 50-60 percent stopped.
Thank you for all your help with the Heart Fair this year. By giveaway counts, we had about 650+ attendees at the event (we gave away 550 lunch bags, and 800ish cookbooks). Please let the other volunteers we worked with know that their work is greatly appreciated (I don't have all the names :-). A few photos are attached (I will attach a few more on another email).

February 11,2010-Lakeville AED Business owners gathering -Dick Reissner should be contacted and brought to speak as he has an AED in his butcher shop in Hastings, MN..
Gene , Ray, and Dick will attend. 5-7pm City Hall. Dick did come and did a fine job! We saw and spoke to about 30 people that evening.

February 15,2010-Mended Hearts Cardiomyopathy lecture at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park… 3pm. Gene and Ray will attend. Informational enrichment content meeting for our speeches. Thirty people attended and the staff showed us the Robotic Surgery Machine that literally assists in less invasive heart by pass surgery! An amazing innovative machine to assist doctors perform this delicate surgery! Totally impressive!

February 16,2010- Mended Hearts meeting at Mercy Hospital in the Brian Anderson Rm 1. Lunch will be served. Donna Burns will coordinate. Gene should attend as a past visting MH member and to serve as a substitute/consultant. Our MNSCASN will probably have a booth at the national convention being held here in Mpls. In May 6-9.

February 17,2010- Lakeville Take Heart Inititive meeting- Gene Johnson and Ray Eyler attended and our discussion was about our successful evening of Feb. 11,2010 at the City Hall of Lakeville Forum for the Lakeville Business owners who we’re hoping to convince to have AEDs in their establishments for employees and customer possible life saving usage. This planning committee normally has about 15 members but today nine showed up.

February 18,2010- State Capitol Bldg. Rotundra area.. EMT bill..Rally with Buck M and OJDoyle. Gene and Ray will attend 11:30am-2pm. This rally was to help defend a S.F. 2168 Bill that GAMC Reform Legislation was sponsoring to avoid cuts in Ambulance services. Al Berke,Ray Eyler,Gene Johnson, and Wendell Mogren were the SCA survivors that had a table for supporting the bill along with the adjoining table fromTake Heart MN with the St.Cloud group Bob Kempenish ,Susie Osakie, and Mike…who worked with Debbie Gillquist and Sara ….
Lots of pictures we taken and we spoke with about 50-60 interested political people in support of the S.F.2168 bill. The TV news people were there …along with newspaper and website political analysts who spoke with us and recorded our comments.
All in all, a good day of exposure for our MNSCASN and Take Heart MN!

February 18,2010- First planning meeting of the Gov. Fire Prevention State Fair Day with Dan Bernardy… Dale Wakasugi will sit in for Gene and Ray.

February 18,2010- Go Red Day for the women of AHA- Speak UP! Will be held at the Hilton Airport Hotel in Bloomington.. 9am -1pm. Natasha F. Jeanne K. , Dawn B. hopefully will attend.

March 2,2010- Take Heart Lakeville Mtg.- Gene J. and Ray E. attended: Continued planning to train CPR/AED future trainers. Set date for April 8 to do a large group of community volunteers. We had about 12 community committee members help with this task.

March 7,2010- AED/CPR class 10am. For Lee Porath at his church Faith United Methodist in St.Anthony, MN
. We had about 30 people turn out for the SCA/AED/CPR education portion . Gene Johnson led the training/information/ and discussion questions. They plan to obtain an AED for the church with our assistance and help.

March 11,2010- Monthly MNSCASN meeting in Rochester,MN at Jerry Griffins’s home 11am-1pm. We carpooled down a had about nine SCA survivors attend along with our executive board . Total attendees numbered 17 people. Charlie B. our Treasurer resigned and Ron Shied was voted in as his replacement.

March 18,2010- Ray Eyler attended the planning committee meeting for the Minnesota FireFighters State Assn State Fair booth and exhibit areas. The committee consists of of 18 members.

March 23,2010- Another Take Heart Lakeville Mtg.- Ray Eyler attended. Continued more planning to trasinCPR/AED future Trainers. 12 members attended. The long range goal is to train 14,000 people in CPR/AED techniques by year end 2011.

April 5,2010- Gene Johnson met with Donna Burns the Mended Hearts Coordinator from Chapter 89 at Merch Hospital. The purpose of this meeting was to file the forms for Gene to attend as a Mended Hearts Representative at the Nat’l MH Conv. On May 20-23,2010.

April 6,2010- Tuesday, AED/CPR class for John Sweeny 2pm in Roseville, MN. Contact 651-636-5645 Ray and Gene told their stories and gave the 60 attendees additional information and updates on AEDs and CPR techniques…along with the purpose of our group MNSCASN and how the Kwanis Organization could be involved.
John S. would like us to also speak to his apt. complex unit for possible AED purchasing and placement.

April 8,2010- Monthly MNSCASN meeting at Alliance Corp in Roseville,MN at the ( Take Heart MN Offices) , . 11am-1pm. . 19 people attended a full and planned the future activites of MNSCASN well into August of this year.

April 8,2010- Thursday, from 7-9pm. Lakeville City Hall Forum Town Hall Mtg. Scheduled for 7pm. Be sure to call the readiness training team members to attend as a show of readiness! That would include Gene Johnson, Ray Eyler, Dale Wakasugi, Wendell(Skip) Mogren,Jeanne Kalein, and Ralph Bartalotta..also the St.Cloud group of Susie O.,Mike N.,and Bob K. The actual attendees were about 30 Lakeville, MN community people and Gene J.,Ray E, and Dale W. assisted Patty McCulley train the 30 trainees. Dale W. also spoke on the panel between the training sessions.

April 10,2010- Health/BenefitsLabor Fair-Medtronic booth/stage show-GeneJ, Dale W, Ray E.,Al B.and Ralph B. worked the both and stage from 8am-3pm. We had about 100 people pass by the booth and stopped to inquire about the latest CPR/AED techniques. A wonderful full day of informative teaching,SCA survivor lead info., and presentations.

April 12-13. Monday,Tuesday MN Police Convention in St. Cloud, MN..We will staff a MNSCASN booth (number 9). Gene Johnson solo’d this event manning the boot on Tues. April 13,2010. The booth was off the high traffic area and we had sparse passers by!! From 10am until 4pm we only had about 15 people stop for inquiries!!! Location is everything! Note that for next year!

April 14,2010- 11:00AM-11:30AM-Methodist Hospital in St.Louis Park…Gene spoke to the leadership staff of Mended Hearts here in the Metro Area about our MNSCASN and how we can educate all Mended Hearts Volunteers with more knowledge and understanding of SCA vs Heart Attacks… and AED/ICD knowledge . The audience numbered eight leaders.
We also plan to have a MNSCAN booth at the National Convention for Mended Hearts being held this year 2010 in May 19-23, Bagging help will be needed on May 17 .

April 16,2010- Gene Johnson visited Mended Hearts patients at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapid, MN. As a MH volunteer.
On this “Friday afternoon he chatted with our first ICD shocked and save survivor that we know of in Minnesota! The gentleman’s name is Kenneth Butah from Dayton,MN and his ICD unit shocked his heart at least 2-3 times at his home on Monday ,again 2-3 times on April 12th, on Tuesday, April 13thth (in the hospital), and finally , again 2-3 times on Friday, April 16th in/at Mercy Hospital. He had the ICD implanted some time ago as a precautionary measure in case just such an atrial fibrillation should occur. It did ( 600BPM)!. After a life saving repair job by our Dr. Steven Remole at Mercy, Ken should be good to go and he can resume a somewhat normal life in society again!.
These shocks saved his life!

April 21,2010- Wednesday meeting with Kim B. Susie O. Bob K. Mike H. and Ray E. training committee for Take Heart Minnesota. Kim will update us on the equipment soon available to each of us and where this equipment will be stored. This equipment, along with our expertise , will help to train many new trainers in the metro and outstate for the rest of this year. Mike H., Dale W.,Gene J.participated… and Kim Bremederfer lead the discussion took notes to follow via email.

April 21,2010- Video taped (filmed) an updated a high performance CPR/Rescu-pod training video with Dr. Lick, Dr Lurie, Gene Johnson,Dale Wakasugi, and Al Berktle to be shown from Take Heart MN to EMT and Paramedics of Allina Hospitals. Sara and Debbie assisted.

April 26,2010- CPR/AED training at the Anoka, MN Community State Development Center in the HS at.6:30-7:30pm. Kim Bermenderfer will lead. Ray Eyler , Dale W. , and Gene J. will also attend and assist Kim. Susan Nygaard also will be involved from Take Heart Anoka. Kim B has the numbers trained…around 65 people.

April 28,2010- Kim B. and Kathy L. and Patti M again will lead a citywide community group of attendee/adult students at Lakeville HS South at 2pm… in CPR/AED techniques assisted by Ray, Gene,Dale, Ralph, and Al. Patti McCulley reported that approx on hundred people participated!

April 30,31.and May 1-2010- A Munchkin Market for kids held at the Washington County Fair Grounds in Lake Elmo. Take Heart MN will have a booth and would like some MNSCASN help on Saturday, April 31 from 8am-4pm. Call Kim B., Sara or Debbie G. at their office if interested. Gene Johnson answered the call ( with his grand daughter) and worked the crowd on Sat..about 40 people were spoken to an received our handouts..

May 4,2010- Kathy Lewis from Lakeville, MN TH Inititive at the Fairview Burnsville Hospital..11 am. Gene Johnson and Ray Eyler assisted her in training two sessions of thirtys participants each! All went beautifully!

May 6,2010- Monthly meeting of MNSCASN at Medtronic World Hdqrtrs. In Fridley , MN. 11am-1pm. A nice turnout of nine SCA survivors and seven organizational supporters including Joan Mellor our benefactor in grant matters. Joan spoke on the lastest Medtronic Inititive to combine a few organizations into one Take Heart America Theme.

May 15,2010- CPR/AED classes with Kim B. assisted by Ray E. and Gene J. at Lifetime Fitness Training Center in Lakeville, MN from 9am.-2-pm.Trained appox 15 people. We had a very poor location for our class which ended up making access difficult. The booth downstairs had wonderful traffic and exposure.

May 17,2010- Volunteer Bagging Day and the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington. Ralph B., Gene J, and Ray E. will assist the Mended Hearts Coordinators Joe Norstrom and Norm Petrik. . Gene Johnson was the lone helper that eventually showed up…As it fortunately turned out,they didn’t need us in the afternoon !!!!

May 19,2010- A morning 9am meeting of the Take Heart MN education planning committee to be held at Lyndee’s in Osseo, MN. . Eight members will attend. Actual attendees were Kim B. Suzie O.,Gene J, Ray E.,and Mike H. and Kim B updated us on the arrival of materials to start CPR/AED training in the next School initiative!

May 19-23, 2010- Mended Hearts National Convention held in Mpls. This year and we have been invited to staff a MNSCASN booth( $50 fee) in return to assist in helping with volunteer duties at the convention. Set up our MNSCASN Table display at the Exhibit Arena. All went well as Gene J, Ray E.,Dale W. and Al B, all assisted in speaking to about 50 Mended Hearts member from around the country here at their nation convention.
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May 24,2010- Joan Mellor and the Medtronic Foundation called a first meeting of some national doctors (8am-12noon) to assist Take Heart Minnesota in the general Take Heart America kickoff!
Gene Johnson spoke at Medtronic Headquarters at noon lunch hour today to a team of 15 Cardiologists gathered for Take Heart America Initiative . These Dr’s will take home the message that we can train many people quickly with the right techniques and equipment. Medtronic is the proud sponsor of this huge undertaking across America and the planning stages are being finalized for the approach and execution of Take Heart America!!

May 24,2010-Kathy Lewis.. CPR training at the Lions Club in Lakeville. Time to be
announced. 6:30pm Ray Eyler and Gene Johnson assisted Kathy L, Marsha,, and Patti M.
In training 35 Lions at their monthly meeting in a VFW there. All went beautifully!!!

May 27,2010- Kathy Lewis of the Lakeville, MN Take Heart Initiative needs our help at the Rotary Club CPR/AED training session from 7:30am-8:30am. Ray,Gene, helped.
We trained about 75 people this morning…Patti and Marsha also assisted..

May 27,2010- Farmington City Hall . The kickoff meeting for the city to start CPR/AED training. Open House at the City Hall from 4:30pm until 6pm. A staff of six officials including Sarah from Take Heart. Patti M.,Gene J, Ray E. with an additional two police officers from their dept. attended…One city person showed up! Sigh…back to the drawing board!

June 2,2010- Last Lakeville,MN Take Heart Inititive Mtg. at the Police Station. Plans made to continue CPR/AED additional classes thru the summer. We chose not to attend as we are now on call to assist the classes as they develop with a contact from Kathy Lewis if we are available..The overall Lakeville Inititive is progressing nicely!!!

June1-5 National CPR /AED week – Poster handout possible…Kim B. will make and distribute to be strategically placed by us all! Also, passed them out at our June 3 monthly meeting!

June 3,2010-Our monthly meeting of MNSCASN in Rochester , MN City Hall from 11am until 1pm. Lunch served. The attendance was slight…seven SCA survivors and Steve Johnston,Michele Shirmers ,and Sharon Doffing
Our business was conducted in a timely fashion and we adjourned early after a nice tasty lunch of pulled pork /turkey & gravy with a light bisquit and beverage.

June 5,2010- Metronic asked us to assist and man a booth at Target Field from 8-noon. For the AHA annual Heart Walk Fund Raiser Day… Dale W, Ray E.,Skip Mogren, and Al Berktle all will assist using our newly obtained Take Heart America training kit!!!

June 5, 2010- Fred Whipple scheduled Gene Johnson to speak at his Rotary Group.It was held at 3001 University Ave. in St. Paul the Labor Bldg. from 10am. And scheduled to go about an hour..Gene did the presentation and reported that it went very well. There were about sixty people in attendance . He passed out our literature (wallet sized info cards) and demonstrated proper AED usage and the new CPR hands only techniques. Also, Gene informed them of the difference between a heart attack and SCA, what the preventative measures one can take against having a SCA, and other dietary and life style changes a person can do to live a longer , healthier life.

June 10,2010-Attended a street Rally Call for Postal workers united to obtain AEDs in their work place. We met at the Main Post Office Bldg. at 100 Hennepin Ave. in Mpls.MN . About 25 postal workers took their break period to organized a rally call to stand outside the postoffice and protest the ruling by their superiors to not purchase AEDs at this time because of liability issues which are in reality non-existent!!!
Gene attended dressed in mostly ORANGE to attract attention and spoke to the media ...but they only filmed Greg Delgreco as he spoke to the interviewer. Bruce Johnson and Angie Delgreco wife of Greg also were leaders of the group.Gene also informed the postal workers about the wonderful effectiveness of AEDs and how each unit can save SCA lives!
We should get TV coverage as I believe it was Channel 4 TV that showed up and filmed us as we held up our arm bands and Gene held up his AED to alert the buses and cars during rush hour heading home!
More discussions and meetings will take plac with the above mentions postal working leaders to hasten and rectify the need for AEDs in the workplace of the US Post Offices here and across the natio

June 13,2010- Our first Medtronic sponsored Booth at the Spring Lake Park Town Days.
Ray E and Gene J will run the booth from 9am until 4pm for a stipend of $250 from Medtronic. We had a cloudy but warm day arriving at 10:45am. A slim crowd of people until 12 noon when it picked up considerably. All went well…seeing about 50 people at our booth and we stayed until a little after 3pm.

June 15, 2010- Fairview Ridges Hospital CPR/AED training session with Kathy Lewis in Conference rooms A and B. 3pm until 5pm. Ray E. and Gene J. will assist. All went superbly with 22 trainees the first session and 12 the second.

June 16,2010- This Wednesday the Take Heart MN Initiative Education Committee will meet at Lyndee’s Café again in Osseo, MN at 9am. Eight members.
Kim B. chaired the meeting and brought us up to date on Take Heart Minnesota and we started planning for the Sept 24-25 . MNSCASN/ST Cloud Take Heart, and Iowa membershipl

June 16,2010- Farmington Take Heart Initative Meeting.. chaired by Glen Anderson, his wife Sherl, Maurice Pederson, John, Patti M, Ray E. and Gene J. We all shared experiences and ideas as to how to approach the mission and goals of the small city to achieve Heart Safe status. Ray and I mentioned how our organization could help.

June 18,2010- Gene Johnson Vistited SCA patients at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids for a couple of hours in the afternoon. He is a Mended Hearts Volunteer at Mercy. He has a possible SCA member who was saved with and AED…Scott Sieman from Buffalo, MN

June 19,2010- Brooklyn Park Tater Days Medtronic Booth…from 9am-4pm Ray E and Gene J. will run the booth for a stipend of $250 from Medtronic. Had a great crowd from 3pm until 7pm. Talked and informed/trained 50 people all day between Ray and Gene.

June 21,2010- Monday…met with Norm O. Carl I.,Debbie G., and Gene J. to plan a mass training of 400 students in CPR/AED usage at the Wayzata Central Middle School on July 28,2010. Debbie and Gene will have to get at least 200 Manikins by that time.

June 23.2010- Meeting scheduled with Tyler Serverson our Website manager..Sheraton Hotel on Normandy Blvd. and Hwy 100…at 5pm.

June 24,2010- Gov’s Fire Prevention Day Planning committee meeting at the Libby Bldg. State Fair Grounds 10.am. Dan B. presiding Gene and Ray will attend.

June 24,2010- Medtronic Booth manned by Ray E. and Gene J. in Fridley ,MN at the Community Center/ and Phillips Church on Central Ave. Rich Fisher will supply details soon. Another stipend $250 for 4 hrs.

June 26,2010- Fridley Days and Brooklyn Center Days. At the Earl Brown Park. I will contact Jeanne Kalien, Dale W. Al B.,Ray E. Gene has a family commitment that day!
We’ll have to split up the signs and materials between the two festivals.
If we can do them…of course we’ll get $250 each for a stipend of work for the day.

July 7,2010- Carol from North Memorial Training Center called Ray…wants us to assist her at 6pm. In Robinsdale, MN . Ray E. and Gene J.. will assist..$50

July 8, 2010- MNSCASN monthly meeting…at Boston Scientific Hdqurters
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July 8,2010- MNSCASN to sing the National Anthem at the Lynx BB game that evening
We’’ll recruit as many singers and we can get! Steve/Gene-
The game is on Thursday, July 8th at 7:00pm. We would like the group to arrive around 6:30. I will send out specific details with location, arrival times, ticket information, etc. once we have identified the survivors. This is going to be a fabulous night - we are planning to do health screenings pre-game and at health team to complement the 'Know Your Numbers' theme. Let me know if you need anything else at this time

July 11-12-13- Wayzata Middle School tent sale forum for after-school youth program. They asked us to supply a table/booth CPR/AED demonstration and informational handouts.etc. I told them we could do this….will bring it up to the Board at the meeting at Boston Sci. on July 8th..

July 15,2010- Libby Bldg..Fire Fighters State Fair Mtg.. 10am. Gene J and Ray E.

July16,2010- Lakeville 4pm Kathy Lewis CPR/AED class

July 19,2010-Wright County at St. Micheals Middle School. CPR/AED training and info with Kim B. 5:30pm 7:30pm.

July 24,2010-Dale Wakasugi All Sports Day at the Metrodome..We should have our MNSCASN booth there..Contact Jody Redman to work out the details. Dale will inform us as to the details..

July 25,2010- Slice of Shoreview Medtronic Booth 10 am until 3pm…Stipend if we can do it of $250. I”ll recruit Ray E. and Jeanne Kalein as I have a commitment to play my fiddle in a church that morning.

July 28,2010- Wayzata Centra Middle School Training session( 4th-8th graders) with Curt and Norm O. , Debbie G.from Take Heart MN Kim Bermenderfer…Ray Eyler.. Dale W., Al Beckle, Ralph B. Jeanne Kalien,Gene Johnson, Wendell Mogren, Natasha F., We’re trying to train 3 to 4 hundred students this night..

August 5, 2010- Monthly MNSCASN meeting 11am-1pm. Location to be announced!

August 5-6-7- Wright County Fair…we need a booth there!!! Per Kim B.

August 18,2010- Take Heart MN Education Committee Mtg in Monticello, MN 9am. Six members usually attend.

August 18,2010- Another CPR/AED training session at the Wayzata Central Middle School for the Youth Program 4th-8th grade students that missed the July 28th session!

August 21,2010- Mounds View Days…Medtronic Booth… Ray E. and Gene J will man it and MNSCASN will again receive $250.

August 27,2010-…State Fair Booth at the Gov’s Fire Prevention Day….Details to follow…Lots of help needed…About 15 people if we can to work 2hr shifts starting at 6am until 6pm. Ray E. and Gene J will be there all 12 hrs.

August 29-31- thru Sept. 4, 2010- KARE 11 TV will have a Barn at the MN State Fair and wants some involvement from our organization!

Sept. 24-25,2010- Allina SCA dinner for all SCA survivors in MN and our Summit the next day.. Details to follow…

Oct. SCAA will hold it’s annual Convention in Pitts. PA. we have Al. B., Ron S. ,Steve J, and Norm O. to attend and represent MNSCASN.

Nov 5,2010- Gene goes Deer Hunting!!!

March 11,2011- EMS Tribute Conference at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester , MN. Linda L. Horth email Horth.Linda@mayo.edu

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The Minnesota SCA Survivor Network is a program of Olmsted Outreach