EMP-11

Rep: Russ Luedtke
P.O. Box 527
Fairmont, MN 56031
Tel: 507.235.9297
ludkey@frontiernet.net

Mike Ryan writes: I flew an airplane solo for the first time this year. I've been taking flying lessons and my first solo (no instructor...just myself and my guardian angel in the cockpit) was Jan. 29.

"I've still got more lessons to take before I'll be ready to take a flight with an FAA examiner for my private pilot certificate. That will be several months from now, but I'm confident sometime this year! But the solo is a pretty big milestone on the curriculum. I'm also studying for a written exam. The good news is you get all the questions ahead of time. The bad news is that there are 735 of them." You can reach Mike at mike.ryan@airpsg.com.

Ron Nicolas updates: "Latest for me is that I'm in my seventh year working at SafeNet Consulting, a firm with a local focus (i.e. very little travel which is great after years of too much travel). For most of that time (five years), I've been engaged with a client, Syngenta, that keeps bringing me back for more.

"I'm working on a new business initiative with them for a corn product that was developed with a specific enzyme that helps immensely in the production of ethanol. In this project, I'm mostly focused on getting technologies that will allow Syngenta to access a lot of important operational and lab test info from the many ethanol plants expected to be using this new product in the years ahead. For anyone who's curious, visit syngenta.com.

"Joyce and I are also looking to retire before too much longer. Trying to decide on the best place to retire to that's warm, not too expensive, good access to arts and healthcare, and economy-friendly (taxes, stable housing, etc.). Suggestions are most welcome. Hope all our old Northwestern friends are well." Ron can be reached at ronnicholas@charter.net.

Denise Guardino writes: "We (Tim and I) are fine. Thank God. Lauren graduates May 5 from Indiana University. She has applied to graduate school. Her dream is to be a museum curator so she will need at least a master's in public history.

"Nothing as exciting as Mike Ryan's news. No one here is flying or at least not driving the plane. We are thinking we might go to Europe to celebrate Lauren's success but haven't decided exactly where yet." Denise can be reached at denise.guardino@billjacobs.com and Tim Baker can be reached at t.r.baker@att.net.

Joe Perotti writes: "Eva and I are doing fine as empty nesters. Adrienne married Alex in May 2010 and has since moved back to Chicago. She is a Pharm D at Mount Sinai Hospital in the emergency department specializing in toxicology and emergency medicine. Steven married Samantha in July 2010. He recently passed the CFA exam and is working for Briefing.com. Eva is still at Abbott in the GPRD group. I am taking on consulting assignments in operations and financial management." Joe can be reached at joe21554@hotmail.com.

Russ Luedtke updates: "Winter is almost over here in 'Minnysoda' and I have used the snow blower only twice. What a nice winter this has been as of late February. I wrote an article, as if my car were narrating the story, and it was published in the Oldsmobile Club of America magazine in the February issue. It was about 'our' experiences on Route 66 last spring.

"In November I turned 70 and hosted a Russ' Missions Birthday party at our church and raised $2,400 for a seminary in Nigeria where a year of tuition, room and board is only $300 per year. That puts eight seminarians through a year of school. What a great birthday.

"I need you to write, call or email me with news about what you are doing and who you are doing it to/with. I do not have many of your addresses so even if you sent me just that, it would help. My life is not interesting enough that I can write every time about all my 'going's on.' Although, I am having fun."