Jennifer Bennerotte is new president of Rotary Club of Edina
Rotary Club of Edina held its last meeting of the 2014–2015 year June 25, and the presidency of the club transferred from Jeff Ohe to Jennifer Bennerotte. She is the 61st president of the club, which was chartered in 1957.Rotary Club of Edina had their last meeting of the 2014–2015 Rotary year June 25. At the Transition Meeting, Outgoing President Jeff Ohe passed the gavel and presidency of the club to incoming President Jennifer Bennerotte. Ohe also recognized all the Rotarians who served on the Club and Edina Rotary Foundation boards in the past year.
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Outgoing board members were honored at the meeting. They were:
• Steve Slyce—Past President
• Heather Hansen—Youth Service Director
• Doug Johnson—Public Image Director
• Mike Kallas—Community Service (Local Funding) Director
• Michael Stanzak—Membership (Retention) Director
• Will Steinke—The Rotary Foundation Director
• Tom McNellis—Edina Rotary Foundation Board member, at-large
Incoming board members will also be introduced at the meeting. They include:
• Ken Andersen—Membership (Retention) Director
• Keith Benson—Community Service (Local Funding) Director
• Mark Jessen—Public Image Director
• Sue Spalding—The Rotary Foundation Director
• Sam Thompson—Youth Service Director
• Jon Barnett—Edina Rotary Foundation Board member, at-large
There was also be a special presentation honoring long-time Rotarian Audri Schwarz, a tireless volunteer at the front desk at meetings for many years.
Ohe detailed the many accomplishments of his successful Rotary year, including attracting many new members, putting the club's membership at 165, making the Rotary Club of Edina the biggest club in District 5950. He congratulated Membership Director—Recruitment Josh Sprague on his hard work. He also tourted the record-breaking 2014 Fundraiser & Gala, chaired by Jean Morrison and Mary Younggren, and the launch of The Edina Rotary Foundation Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund will ensure the club will be able to give funds to local and global programs into the future. Ohe emotionally stated that he had been honored to serve as the club's president, and the membership answered with a long, rousing standing ovation.
Bennerotte congratulated Ohe on his great year as president, and looked to the future, concentrating on three themes for the new Rotary year—attracting more diverse members to the club, partnering with community organizations to reach new goals and increase awareness of Rotary, and incorporating family into club activities. She emphasized how important family is to her—all three of her "families"—her "real" family at home, her work family at the City of Edina, and her Rotary family, who loudly cheered her thoughts on the upcoming Rotary year. Bennerotte paid tribute to some of the recent past presidents of the club, wearing an outfit that honored them each in different ways. She shared that her blue glasses were for Jeff Ohe, Bluetooth for Jon Barnett, pearl earrings for Sandy Schley, bow tie for Wooj Byun, many, many pins for Tim Murphy, sweater vest for Terry Stevens, shorts for Scott MacDonald and brown shoes for Steve Slyce. She encouraged each member to live the Rotary International theme for the 2015–2016 Rotary year—"Be a Gift to the World!"
Bennerotte is Communications & Technology Services Director for the City of Edina, where she has worked since 2000. Bennerotte is an active volunteer in the community and within her profession. She was the Edina Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Year in 2003 and Business Person of the Year in 2012. Besides Rotary, she has served on many boards, including the 50th & France Business & Professional Association, Minnesota Association of Government Communicators and City-County Communications & Marketing Association. Bennerotte received her bachelor’s degree in communication management from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Bennerotte and her husband, Matt, live in Cannon Falls, where they are raising two sons: Jack, 14; and Evan, 10.
Rotary Club of Edina meetings are held Thursdays from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. at the Edina Country Club. Cost for lunch and the program is $19. All are welcome to attend.