Twin cities Golf outing again benefits FERF.

• Position: Financial Executives Research Foundation

With mother nature smiling on FEI's Twin Cities Chapter's fifth annual Golf Scramble on June 10, the chapter's "Closest to the Pin" contest raised more than $1,400 for FERF. This topped by 40 percent last year's take, which had been hampered by stiff head winds.

"Last year," remarked Dave Braden, incoming FERF chair and assistant vice president for Cargill Inc., "the winds drove most golfers' balls right into the lake." This year, golfers were much more able to clear the lake and hit the par-3 green.

As the gentle breezes kissed the 17th tee at Legends Golf Club in Prior Lake, Minn., FERF Chair George Boyadjis demonstrated "perfect pitch" to each arriving foursome: "For a mere $20, you can enter our "Closest to the Pin" contest. And everyone who enters gets a sleeve of golf balls and a package of custom FEI golf tees, so everyone is a winner," he said. George's success exhausted his supply of golf balls, which had been donated by Cargill.

The rain held off until later that evening, when the prizes were awarded. The winners of the contest were Nancy Petersen of Valspar Corp., for the women, and John Oldenkamp of Regis Corp., for the men. Both winners were chapter guests. The big prize for EFRF was the annual Twin Cities Chapter Challenge contribution. Bill Sinnett, FERF director of research, accepted the chapter's check for $10,000, their third annual gift at this level.

But it was not all just strolling the fairways. In the morning prior to the golf event, 39 members attended the Twin Cities Professional Development program, which included three compelling one-hour sessions:

Charlie Westling, president and CEO of Datalink, described how to ensure data continuity as part of a disaster-recovery plan; Jerry Boltin, senior partner of CSC Consulting, presented the results of FEI's 10th Annual "Technology Issues for Financial Executives" survey, the FERF research project which is sponsored by CSC; and Ron Youngdahl and Lance Sunder of Northern Capital Insurance Group explained directors and officers insurance.

FERF would like to again thank the entire Twin Cities chapter for its continuing generosity to FERF in support of its research mission.

RELATED ARTICLE: FERF Board of Trustees 2008-2009

Chair

David B. Braden

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