In 1990, a group of people intervened to give Wooj Byun a new life. They were not celebrities with enormous bank accounts or superheroes with long, flowing capes. They were humble Rotarians from Busan, Korea, Byun’s hometown. Their gift? A Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship. With this simple gesture, they created the path for Byun to become an American student, lawyer, global citizen, and a Rotarian himself.
From that moment on, Byun was committed to Rotary’s motto of “service above self.” Originally joining Rotary as a way to pay back his scholarship, he quickly embraced the organization’s giving spirit, freely donating his time and talents to help make the world a better place. In My Rotary Journey, Byun details how he tutored a group of elderly Korean immigrants so they could pass the US citizenship test, organized a concert by a disabled Korean pianist to inspire a boy with the same handicap, wrote multiple books to help Koreans in the United States understand the legal system, helped an adopted American woman find her birth mother in Korea, and was a tireless cheerleader for Rotary locally, nationally, and internationally by serving as president of the Rotary Club in Edina, Minnesota
Reminder:
►We have many upcoming events! Please check the "Events" list (left column of this webpage) to view the events and sign up online.
►Ana Boekhorrst, our youth exchange student, would love to see Duluth and Lake Superior as well as International Falls.She'd like to canoe, kayak, go hiking and enjoy other outdoor activities, and she'd love to see the Grand Canyon. Ana would also enjoy doing some fun things over spring break this week.To reach her, call her cell: 952-769-6774 or email her: analinda2121@hotmail.com
STRIVE PROGRAM by Karen Brettingen and Kowsar Mahad
STRIVE is defined as a “Rotary sponsored mentoring program for high potential students who face college and career planning obstacles.” Karen started with Josh Shipp’s quote, “Every Kid is one Caring Adult away from being a Success Story!Karen shared that her own parentsweren't able to go to college but valued education very much and supported Karen and her 4 siblings to attend college.
Karen introduced Kowsar Mahad, a senior at Eden Prairie High School, who was raised in Kenya. Kowsar came here 3 years ago by herself whereas her mother had arrived in 2011. When Kowsar arrived, she was very confused with English because everyone spoke so loudly and quickly. Her family had no education. Her father passed away before she even knew him. Her mom struggled a lot when first arriving. Kowsar’s friend told her about Karen. Her mother was worried they would try to teach her another religion. As a senior she told her mom she needed help and she went to Karen. Kowsar expressed her thankfulness for the help and support she has gotten in STRIVE. She will be attending Normandale next year and has a future of hope and opportunity.
Karen defined who STRIVE students are:
First generation college student
Many are first time to this country let alone figure out the college requirements.
Many have personal or family health issues
Students who have just gotten off track academically or personally
Working hard but in need of extra support
Other key information about STRIVE:
Each student is matched with an individual mentor who is either an Eden Prairie AM & Noon Rotarian, Eden Prairie School staff,orfriend of Eden Prairie Schools and Rotarians.
Students are selected from walk-ins (student-initiated), teacher recommendations and guidance counselor recommendation
Strive meets 9 times during the year on Friday mornings and twice for lunches in the Resource Center. Activities and speakers are designed to help with goal setting, personal branding and help working toward goals
Strive mentoring is different from traditional mentoring in that the Strive mentor is assigned to a mentee. The Strive mentor is more of a coach than advice giver. The mentor helps find resources and drives the process.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meals on Wheels April 27th and May 1st - This Week! (New location- Pax Christi)
Eden Prairie Reads-April 7th SOLD OUT
Swallowship – April 8th
STRIVE meeting April 17th
Eden Prairie Parks Cleanup - April 18th
Board Meeting – April 21st
Ethics Luncheon- April 23rd
District Assembly – April 25th
Above and Beyond Dinner – May 13th
District Assembly – May 16th
Twins Game- June 20th (RSVP by June 2) District Event
Janet Mrofchak (our Biaggi’s server) is looking for a 2-bedroom townhome rental with garage and with a washer and dryer
INDUCTION OF BILL YEAGER
Bill Yeager has returned. As a retired Pastor, he is known for hatching, matching and dispatching people for 50 years. But now we are known for catching – him! Bill was a Rotarian in 4 communities before joining Eden Prairie AM Rotary for the first time in Dec. 2006. He took the lead on our service project with Relay for Life for several years before leaving in Nov. 2013 due to a Tuesday conflict. Bill and his wife Gail moved to Eden Prairie to be close to their kids and grandkids.
SPOTLIGHT ON DAVID HELLMUTH
David grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where his father was a Dean at the University of Wisconsin. David's been a life-long Green Bay Packer Fan (Roger was the bulletin scribe and thought this was very important). David moved to Minnesota in 1984 to attend the University of Minnesota where he received a B.S. in Finance from Carlson School of Management in 1988and then graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., Cum Laude in 1992.
David became afounding partner of Hellmuth & Johnson in 1994which now has over 100 employees including 52 attorneys. Specialties include: Corporation and Non Profit Corporation Law, Construction and Real Estate Law and Litigation, Creditor Remedies and Litigation, Banking, UCC and Secured Transactions and Litigation, and Condominium and Townhouse Association Law
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David has 1 brother and 3 sisters. David and Tammy have 4 children combined. Two daughters for David and 1 daughter and 1 son for Tammy. He also shared a number of academic and professional achievements including being named the 2006 Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Person of the Year and being named from 2005-Present a Superlawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics, Twin Cities Business; and Mpls-St. Paul Magazine.
HAPPY FINES
George Esbensen shared that Caryl Hansen is the new vice-chair of the Flying Cloud Airport Commission.
Bob Starr mentioned his son Ryan has been admitted to the Carlson School of Business.
Dan O'Brien shared his daughter, Bridget, is due to have a baby which will bring the grand total to five grandchildren under the age of four.
David Hellmuth mentioned his daughter, Gretta, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin will be interning with Polaris this summer
Bev Aho reminded us of the EP Foundation’s EP Gives event on April 25th at the Historic Barn and she has tickets to sell.
Rod Anderson’s 4-year-old grandson who has cochlear implants and goes to preschool in Roseville, informed him of the new word he has learned – Paleontologist, he went on to tell him they take care of dinosaurs.
VISITORS ON MARCH 24
Visiting Rotarian (club): Mark Marlin(Minnetonka Rotary) and Sam Cote (Edina Rotary)
Prospective Member (Sponsor): 1st - Mark Faris - John Crudelle
Students:Sara Peterson and Ron Steinhoff(interns)
Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club meets on Tues. mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m.
at Biaggi's Restaurant, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(unless location change is noted)
David grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where his father was a Dean at the University of Wisconsin. David's been a life-long Green Bay Packer Fan (Roger was the bulletin scribe and thought this was very important).