Notes from June 27, 2017

Posted by Mark Weber
Eden Prairie A.M Rotary Year in Review
Jeanne Zetah & Board Members   
The transition to a new Rotary year provided the ideal circumstances June 27 for a review of Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary’s past 12 months.
Club President Jeanne Zetah and other board members reviewed the club’s various program areas, from membership to community service to The Rotary Foundation. Here are just a few of the highlights:
  • Membership is up, from 68 to 72 as we look ahead to reaching the 80-member mark.
  • The Vino Classico fundraiser was a big success, allowing us to give a long list of grants to worthwhile organizations and causes.
  • Our list of community-service projects is ever growing, with new additions including the homeless-youth collaborative and participation in the Stop the Trafficking 5K.
  • We made our Polio Plus fundraising goal, with other Rotary Foundation dollar targets also within sight.
  • Our interns – Parker Hewitt, Bailey DeMets, Carter Mason, and Stella Lindberg – were fantastic.
These and other accomplishments are owed to an active club, but also one that has been well-led by President Jeanne Zetah; board members Carol Bomben, Matt Crane, Becky Deelstra, Jan Eian, John Estall, Roger Jorgensen, Elaine Larabee, Dan O’Brien, Glenn Olson, and Adam Sienkowski; and club administrator Maureen Mara. At the end of the meeting, Jeanne passed the gavel to Roger Jorgensen, our 2017-18 president.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • We have no meeting on Tuesday, July 4.
  • There are still a few extra A.M. Rotary T-shirts costing $20; buy one before they’re gone!
  • Quarterly dues are being set at $63, after increases were instituted by the international organization and District 5950.
  • Come to a farewell pool party for exchange student Ale from 2-4 p.m. July 9 at Jane McGinty’s home.
  • The annual meeting of the club’s EPAM Foundation will be July 11.
  • We congratulated our newest Paul Harris Fellow, Pei Ling Jamison, and recognized Craig Blixrud for earning his second sapphire pin.
  • Interns Bailey DeMets and Parker Hewitt were also awarded Paul Harris Fellow pins and certificates.
  • We’re within $1,500 of our goal for The Rotary Foundation fundraising.
HAPPY BUCKS:
We were happy, and willing to offer money as proof.
  • Elaine Larabee is happy that Eden Prairie was well-served by Curt Tryggestad, the school superintendent who has taken a new job with Perpich Center for the Arts.
  • Caryl Hansen is happy to provide additional money to Polio Plus, and noted that sister-in-law Gretchen Quie’s art is on exhibit at the State Capitol and after that the Norway House.
  • Dan O’Brien is thrilled about the club’s generous giving to The Rotary Foundation.
  • Dennis Kim is happy about the club’s effort to accommodate Rotary Exchange and New Generations visitors.
  • Pastor Rod is happy to have incorporated Rotary’s four-way test in a recent “Spiritually Speaking” column in the Eden Prairie News.
  • John Goergen is happy about celebrating a 45th wedding anniversary.
VISITORS:
Bailey DeMets and Parker Hewitt - 2016-17 interns
Morgan Blixrud, Rekha Claus, and Phillip Kuhn - 2017-18 interns