Posted by Mark Weber
Paul Perez: Overall Vision of Rotary in 2020
Our guest via Zoom was Paul Perez, who is both a member of the Prior Lake Rotary Club and governor of our neighboring Rotary District 5960.
 
Paul remarked that the exchange-student send-off that was also a part of today’s meeting exemplifies the theme of Rotary this year: “Rotary Connects the World.” He sees Rotary’s values and vision woven into everything we say and do in our individual communities. Let’s keep working to elevate our ethics, service, and leadership, he advised.
Paul’s Rotary story is instructive as we spread Rotary’s message. He didn’t seek to be a service leader when he joined Rotary, but has become that, not only serving as district governor and club president, but also as a co- chair for his Prior Lake club’s very successful Lakefront Music Fest.
 
The history of that club fundraiser is also helpful for A.M. Rotary to know as it explores events and other ideas that might fund its good work. The music festival lost money the first year and broke even the second year. But the club learned and adjusted as it went, according to Paul, and the event now has a profit of more than a hundred thousand dollars.
 
Thank you, Paul, for your leadership and your fundraising advice.
 
Announcements
  • The May 5 A.M. Rotary meeting is planned to be a club “town hall” gathering, with more details coming.
  • The May 12 meeting will have as its speaker Jon Kaufman of H2OpenDoors, a Rotary project that brings safe and sustainable water projects to poverty-stricken areas of the world.
 
Sendoff for Ricky
Our April 28 meeting included a special send-off to Ricky, our exchange student from Brazil who is heading home soon. The send-off included contributions from EPHS football Coach Mike Grant, the three families that hosted Ricky – the Beyers, Wurschers, and Silvers – and Ricky’s mom, Virginia. Ricky says he plans to return to Eden Prairie – many times!