Speaker Rachel Weyandt, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2015

Irene introduced Rachel Weyandt who is the daughter of Jerry Weyandt, a friend with whom she reconnected recently. The Weyandt family has had 27 foster children and 2 adoptions.
Rachel’s passion is foster care. She is the reigning Miss Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen.
As the only girl with three brothers, Rachel implored her parents for a sister. The family tried adoption but was disappointed in the journey that led to several failed opportunities to adopt. They became aware of the need for foster care families through the county. Eventually they had 3-month-old Emily available for adoption. In December 2013, admittedly one of “the best days” of Rachel’s life, Emily was adopted into the Weyandt family.
As part of the Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen pageant the contestants must have a platform; Rachel’s is foster care.
 
People don't understand foster care. Children are abused, neglected, abandoned and that is why they go into foster care.  The issues families have to face are not just about the foster kids. but also are affected by  their biological children, foster parents, social workers, attorneys, and judges.  Rachel explained the key to successful foster care is unity.
There are issues with foster care children aging out of foster care, lack of education, resources, and homelessness. One third do not have high school diplomas.
Rachel’s website is www.heartoffostercare.org
One of Rachel’s initiatives was Bags of Hope. They are provisions of soft blankets, stuffed animals, tooth brush and toothpaste and other necessities. Typically children show up without any possessions. Bags of Hope provides a duffel bag with age appropriate necessities for the children.  Rachel recruits volunteers to stuff the bags and they drop them off at the Anoka County Government Center.
Another “best day” of Rachel’s life was when Emily’s natural born sister, Bailey was also adopted into the Weyandt family. Rachel now has two sisters equaling out the gender ratio in the Weyant family.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • John Kohner from EP Noon Rotary – Announced the Ribfest on Sunday
  • Swallowship 6/8 hosted by Dick at the Tavern on 4 & 5
  • 40th Anniversary Event June 28th evening $38 per person $76 per couple. 2 meal choices - steak or chicken
  • TRF/EREY Update - Dan O’Brien shared that we have a $31,000 Goal - 52 have pledged - 2 dozen left to go.   $21,075 raised to date.  Please donate before June 30.
  • Meals on Wheels June 20 to 24
  • June 21 Board Meeting
  • Vino Meeting after today’s meeting
  • John Crudele celebrated his 8-year Rotary anniversary
SPOTLIGHT on Brad Aho
    Brad was born in Detroit, Michigan. Moved to MN in high school and graduated from Cooper HS. Went to U of M. Was on the first U of M waterski team. While in college he married Bev who also was from Detroit and their parents were friends. First daughter Amber was born shortly after graduation from college. Have lived in Edina, Brooklyn Center, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. Love Eden Prairie. Enjoy outdoor sports, snow and water skiing. Kids are spread out throughout the country. Brad worked as an electrical engineer for Medtronic, Audio Research, Control Data and Magnetic Data. Bev and Brad started a company called Information Technology Solutions which did large enterprise consulting. Erickson Technologies bought ITS. Brad is now looking for a CIO position. He has been honored to serve on the city council for 3 terms (12 years). He is going to run to serve another term.   
 
HAPPY FINES
  • Irene mentioned at another Rotary meeting it was announced that  Gary Bergren’s dad has given $100,000 to the Rotary Foundation over the years and he is now 99 years old
  • Carol Bomben, grandson has a bubble lawnmower.
  • Jean Cadwallader has gone to 35 Rotary International conventions.
  • Jeanne - Seoul also, amazing experience. TRF 100th anniversary
  • Roger Jorgenen– Stop the Traffiking 5k run this Saturday at Purgatory Park 8:30 am. Also, will have two young German boys age 16 and 13 staying with them. Looking for ideas.
  • Jay Simpson– Celebrating the completion of another year of Strive and while on a fly-in fishing trip caught a combined 1000 walleyes and his son caught a 44-inch Northern
  • John Crudele - 4th grade girl convinced to go to school because John ran the race last week.
  • Carol Sundet-Meeker - birthday yesterday - Norwegian relatives with 1 and 3 year old visiting.
  • Jane McGnty - Ian will turn 3 on June 9th. Madeline, our 5th grader will graduate from grade school. Chris has done two 5ks
  • Dick Ward - Martha came in and read newsletter and it said Dick was happy because he returned from a trip. He wants to set the record straight ..he did not return from a trip!
  • Bob Starr - daughter signed up for Twin City marathon but it was cancelled. Her hustband created Zanathon and posted it on Facebook. Thirty friends showed up and she ran the marathon to appease her friends.
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    VISITORS
  • Visiting Rotarians: John Kohner (Eden Prairie Noon) and Jean Cadwallader (Cortland, NY)
    Prospective Members and Guests (Sponsor Name)
    Laurie Prior - third visit
    Students:
  • Art Matanboon, - our Thailand exchange student introduced another exchange student friend, "Cucumber" who was staying in Moorhead with whom Jan exchanged flags.
    Interns:
    Natalie and Alex came up to tell their future plans.
    Alex Modeas will be attending St. Johns. This Monday he will be going to Budapest, Krakow and Prague on a 10-day old history Europe trip. He thanked us for the opportunity to be an intern and how much he learned each week at our club.
    Natalie Page will be going to Gustavus. She will be doing child care during the summer. She too has enjoyed her time at our Rotary meetings.