Notes from June 25, 2019

Matt opened the program by thanking the outgoing board members who have served our club for the 2018-19 year. He reflected upon our goals of increasing and retaining members, and reaching out to those who are connected to Rotary but not yet members, such as our RYE host families. Raising funds through our annual event, the Vino Classico wine tasting, has become more of a challenge, and the club will need to decide if we want to continue sponsoring this or other fundraising events, or become a “check writing” club where the members donate funds to then be distributed as grants to local charitable entities and to international endeavors. Through our club’s generosity (and in partnering with other clubs and Rotary International) we have supported the following organizations and events:

 

India Medical Clinic      Feed My Starving Children      PROP

 

STRIVE      Literacy Project      Meals on Wheels

 

Onward E.P.      Healing Honduras’ Kids      Treehouse Move

 

Forward      Super Hero Kids      Stop the Trafficking

 

South Sudan Water Project      Camp Enterprise      Above and Beyond 

 

Utilizing matching funds, from three to seven times our donations are matched for projects.

 

Matt then turned the gavel over to John Crudele for his first meeting as President of the Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary Club. John presented Matt with a special plaque with a gavel and a pair of Rotary socks—all the way from the R.I. meeting in Germany—as a token of appreciation for Matt’s leadership over the past year.

 

John then lead the club through an inspiring and insightful discussion of what it means to give and receive gifts, and how gift giving says something about the relationship between the giver and the receiver.

 

In sharing some photos from one of John’s mission trips to the Philippines, looking at people crossing a very treacherous and fragile looking bridge, John challenged members to ask “why cross the bridge?” Rotary members are people of action, and the R.I. President’s theme for this year is “Rotary Connects the World.” As John wove stories about the people in his photos into the theme, he reinforced the why—because the people on the other side were worth it.

 

John set out some goals for the club for the coming year—“Big, Audacious Goals (BAGs)”—for the club to work towards. The first is to grow our club by 8 members, and to achieve better retention through engagement. Visiting prospective member, Patrick Donahue, stated he wants to be member—so we are on our way—just 7 new members to go!! We are putting our spring grant disbursement on hold as we determine our path on holding the VINO CLASSICO and our fundraising plans. John has met with most club members individually to understand their gifts and their passions and to engage each member to be part of a united team, to fulfill the “why” of our mission. 

 

*Dan O’Brien presented two club members with their special pins noting their multiple Paul Harris Fellow achievements. Irene Kelly is a Paul Harris Fellow six times over and Bruce Hutchins is a Paul Harris Fellow ten times over. Outstanding support for the Rotary International Foundation from these two club pillars!

*Dan O’Brien encouraged members to give to the Rotary Foundation. Our club year ends June 30 th , and our goal is to have every member contribute and to raise a total of $30,000. It is easy to donate on-line; please see recent email from Dan for more information. He will even stop by your house to pick up a check if that is more convenient for you!

 

*Roger Jorgensen and his wife Karen will be leaving in one week to take a Viking Cruise along the Danube River to Budapest. They will have the opportunity to connect with a woman who lived with them when she was 18 years old. This woman is now 50 years of age and lives in Germany.
*PG Narayanan enjoyed the Rotary Club and guests Boat Cruise on Lake Minnetonka last week and thanked the organizers for their efforts. He also informed the club that he was unanimously elected to serve another year as Chair of the Eden Prairie Community Foundation board.
* Dan O’Brien also enjoyed the boat cruise, meeting Jennifer Salwei (Kelly’s better half?) and wanted members to know that Happy Fives donations go the to Rotary Foundation!
*Holly Link shared that 58 club members and guests enjoyed a beautiful night out on Lake Minnetonka. She also noted that one of our Rotary Youth Exchange students, “Tina” from Belgium, will be arriving on August 7 th

 

Patrick Donahue - Prospective Member

Josh Sprague - Edina Rotarian