Retirement Tribute to Betty Brewer
In honor of Betty Brewer’s seventeen years as President & CEO of Minnetrista, BBF President & CEO Jud Fisher gave these remarks during Betty’s retirement reception on December 15, 2022.
Betty Brewer
Good evening everyone. I’m Jud Fisher, President & CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation and a 4th generation Ball family member. I’m glad to be here tonight to thank Betty and celebrate her accomplishments at Minnetrista over the past 17+ years.
As you all likely know well, Minnetrista has a special place in the hearts of the Ball family. And it has a special place in the hearts of all of us who are here tonight. Minnetrista likely means something different to each of us:
For some of you, Minnetrista means beautiful outdoor spaces to walk or have a picnic
For some of you, Minnetrista is where you spend your Saturday mornings catching up with friends at the Farmers Market.
For others, Minnetrista is a gallery where you’ve seen your own works of art or your own collections on display.
For some of you, Minnetrista is a beautiful event venue where you or your family have made lifelong memories at weddings.
For many of us with kids, it’s the place where we’ve watched our children’s eyes light up during the Enchanted Luminaria and during Faeries Sprites and Lights.
Tonight, I want to thank Betty for all that she’s done to help make these special moments possible for each of us. Over 17 years, Minnetrista has grown and changed in many ways, and we are grateful to Betty for helping to guide this institution.
As a token of appreciation, I’d like to present two gifts tonight, one to Betty and one to Minnetrista.
The first is a gift from Ball Brothers Foundation, the George & Frances Ball Foundation, the Edmund F. & Virginia Ball Foundation, and Ball Associates. It is part of a Ball family tradition that is typically for members of the Ball family or for foundation staff who are retiring or moving on to new positions. We have worked with Murray’s Jewelers to make a custom Ball Jar necklace engraved with Betty’s initials and dates of service here at Minnetrista. I’m not entirely sure the origins of the tradition, but family lore has it that perhaps Ed Ball created this as a custom charm for Virginia. Perhaps Karen Vincent or Jessica Jenkins can verify.
Regardless, Betty, I’m delighted to present this token of appreciation to you tonight.
Second, I’m pleased to announce that BBF has made a $5,000 contribution to Minnetrista in honor of Betty. This gift is to be used at the discretion of the board of directors and the new President & CEO. This is designed to provide flexible funding for the new President & CEO and board to pursue a unique opportunity, to address a need that they identify, to hire consultants, etc. This simply represents a special opportunity for us to thank Betty for her hard work and to signal our support and excitement about the future of Minnetrista in the era ahead.
Betty, please know that we are immensely grateful for all that you’ve done to steward this organization and its legacy over the past 17 years. We wish you the best in your retirement and look forward to what is to come.
