From the President

Posted by Ann Platt on Dec 21, 2016
 
It is almost 2017 and I thought I would review some of the highlights of the first six months of this Rotary year. I think you'll agree that we've been busy! If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me!
 
July—December 2016
 
Community Service Projects
  • Special Olympics bowling event
  • Feed My Starving Children food packing
  • Edina Rotary Adopt-a-Park cleanup day
  • VEAP Student Food Packing for weekend meals for students on school lunch program
  • Thanksgiving Baskets assembled and delivered to 77 families in need
  • Salvation Army bell ringing at Jerry’s Foods, with matched donations on “Ring for Joel Day” in honor of longtime Rotarian Joel Jennings
  • Holiday Giving Program donates gifts to Cornerstone and VEAP
  • Daily delivery of day-old bread to food shelves from Jerry's Foods
Social Events
  • Peter Frampton concert at the Orpheum with pre-concert cocktail party
  • St. Paul Saints baseball game
  • Fall Fireside Chats hosted at members' homes
  • St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert and dinner
  • Holiday Party with over 120 guests
  • Monthly Vocational Development Group/Happy Hour to network and socialize
Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala
  • More than 270 people in attendance
  • “New York State of Mind” theme with dueling pianos entertainment
  • Raised over $100,000 for the Edina Rotary Foundation to fund special projects, youth programs and grants
Local Grants and Youth Service Programs
  • Both inbound and outbound Youth Exchange students for 2016–2017 school year
  • Ongoing support of the Interact Club at Edina High School 
  • Camp Enterprise with over 100 high school students in attendance
  • Leadership Ethics Seminar for 63 Edina High School students
  • Signature Project: Community Room at 66 West, an apartment building for 39 young adults who have experienced homelessness, which will open in June 2017
  • Local Funding Committee is in process of reviewing over 25 grant requests
Meeting/Program Speaker Highlights
  • Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab
  • Rhoda Olson, CEO of Great Clips
  • Patrick Hunt, Director of the Ryder Cup
  • Richard Schulze, Founder of Best Buy
  • Jonathan Finnoff, Director of the Mayo Clinic Minneapolis
  • Jennifer Smith, CEO of Innovative Office Solutions
  • Joe Puishys, CEO of Apogee Corporation
  • Jennifer Jones, Rotary International Vice President
  • Scott Wolter, The History Channel
A donation is made each week in the speaker’s name to Edina Give and Go, a non-profit that ensures that all Edina students are able to participate in activities that they may not be able to afford.

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to working with you next year to ensure that we continue to “Do Good in the World!”