Rotary Club of Edina Autumn Events

 
Fall is a busy time for the Rotary Club of Edina! We have already enjoyed our biggest event of the year—the successful Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala Oct. 1. The members of the Rotary Class of 2015–2016 organized a volunteer activity with Special Olympics of Minnesota and invited others to join in Oct. 8. We continue the busy month this week as Joe Hayes and his team of volunteers host Edina High School students at St. Patrick's Church in Edina today, Oct. 12, for the annual Leadership Ethics Seminar "Do the Right Thing." Rotarians and other volunteers will spend the day guiding students in small-group discussions about ethical decisions, and students will hear from a speaker and take part in a case study discussion with the entire group.  Our club's participation in the VEAP food backpack program is ongoing during the school year, along with other Rotary clubs. Contact  Kenny Smith for more information. 
 
Below is a listing of other upcoming service projects, social events and special meetings this fall that Rotarians are encouraged to take part in. If registration is required, the link is included below. You can also click on the event in the calendar listing to the right and get to the registration page. Don't let autumn pass you by without spending some time giving back to the community and getting to know your fellow Rotarians! 
 
Feed My Starving Children
9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15
18732 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen
Rotarians, along with their friends and family members, will make our club's annual fall visit to Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen. They will pack enough food to feed over 60 people for a year in just two hours! Chair Brad Beard has enough volunteers for the event at this time. If you are interested in chairing this event in the future, contact Community Service—Local Projects Director Kip Peterson.
 
 
Edina Rotary Adopt-a-Park Day
2 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 16
Wooddale and Utley Parks, Wooddale Avenue and 50th Street, Edina
Many hands make light work! The Rotary Club of Edina serves the community by caring for these local parks with clean-up activities in the fall and spring. We could use 6 to 10 members willing to come out for an hour to do light clean up in the parks. Benefits include fresh air, great company and the all-around good feeling you get when making our city a more beautiful place. Meet on Sunday afternoon at the southwest corner of Wooddale Avenue and 50th Street. Parking is available in city lots on either side of 50th Street. No need to register, just bring your family and help out!
For more information email Park Clean-up Chair Tom Cook or call him at 215-796-8955.
 
 
Fall Fireside Chat hosted by Dave Hatzung
7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19
6708 West Shore Drive, Edina
As the leaves show their glorious autumn colors and the air turns crisp, it is time for the annual Fall Fireside Chats. The first of the four fall gatherings will be at the home of Dave Hatzung Wednesday, Oct. 19. The Fireside Chats are informal social exchanges for members to enjoy and learn about Rotary and get to know one another or reconnect. All members are encouraged to attend one or more of the Fireside Chats. New members are especially encouraged to attend and get to know your fellow Rotarians in a relaxed atmosphere.
Click here to register for this event.
 
 
Prospective Member Day
12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20
Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave., Edina
Rotary Club of Edina will hold the fall Prospective Member Day at next week's meeting. Prospective Member Day was moved up one week because Camp Enterprise starts Oct. 27. Rotarians are encouraged to bring a colleague or friend that is interested in learning more about our club and Rotary to the meeting. Lunch is on the club for all prospective members Oct. 20! 
For more information, contact Membership Director—Recruitment Greg Yoch.
 
 
Fall Fireside Chat hosted by Paul Mooty
7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20
5320 Kelsey Terrace, Edina
The second Fall Fireside Chat will be at the home of Paul Mooty Thursday, Oct. 20. Click here to register for this event.
 
 
Fall Fireside Chat hosted by Gordy Lewis
7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25
6824 Chapel Lane, Edina
The third Fall Fireside Chat will be at the home of Gordy Lewis Tuesday, Oct. 25. Click here to register.
 
 
Camp Enterprise
Thursday, Oct. 27 through Saturday, Oct. 29
YMCA Camp Ihduhapi, 3425 Ihduhapi Road, Loretta
Rotary Camp Enterprise is a joint youth project between our club and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club. This year's Camp E chair is EMRC member Peter Kelley. Edina Rotarians Sam Thompson, Kip Peterson, Jody Kern, John Flynn and many others have worked for months to organize this three-day camp for more than 100 high school students. Juniors and seniors from Rotary Districts 5950 and 5960 are sponsored by their local Rotary club and will spend three days participating in leadership activities and learning about the free enterprise system. We are still looking for volunteers for Camp E. Rotarians can be mentors, essay readers or venture capitalists. Go to www.campenterprise.org to learn more about our signature youth service project and get involved in this event that is rewarding for both the students and volunteers. Contact Sam Thompson or Kip Peterson to volunteer.
 
 
Fall Fireside Chat hosted by Josh Sprague
7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27
4720 70th St. W., Edina
The final Fall Fireside Chat will be at the home of Josh Sprague Thursday, Oct. 27. If you aren't scheduled to be at Camp E, click here to register.
 
 
Rotary happy hour, Vocational Development Group
5:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2
The Mezz, Lunds & Byerlys, 7171 France Ave. S., Edina
Rotarians are invited to attend the Rotary happy hour, also known as the Vocational Development Group, on the first Wednesday of each month. The next gathering will be Nov. 2 at The Mezz, located upstairs in Lunds & Byerlys. The event features a short social period, with a "formal" program beginning at 6 p.m. The speaker at the Nov. 2 gathering is Jim Bizal of Bizal Built. Jim is a member of EMRC. Each person will have a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and make new connections. Each month's featured presenter will have 15 minutes to share information that is relevant to his profession followed by a short Q&A period. The meeting will conclude no later than 7 p.m. Please feel free to extend an invitation to friends, prospective members, as well as members from other clubs. For more information, contact Renee Harberts.
 
 
Edina Chamber/Rotary Prospective Member Event
5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9
Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave., Edina
This event is part of quarterly get-togethers sponsored by both Edina Rotary clubs and the Chamber and will be a fun evening of connection and cross pollination. All Rotarians and Chamber members should bring a guest to the gathering. Guests will learn more about these great local organizations, and have a chance to network with membership. This is a great opportunity to meet area business leaders who actively serve our community and learn more about each organization's upcoming programs and activities. Non-members are cordially welcome to attend and see if Rotary or Chamber membership is for you. 
Go to the Chamber website and register yourself and any guests. Please register by Monday, Nov. 7.
Contact Erica Hollom at the Chamber or Greg Yoch for more details.
 
 
Rotary Area 3 Veterans Luncheon
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11
Bearpath Golf and Country Club, 18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie
Our club is one of eight southwest metro Rotary clubs in District 5950 to sponsor this special Veterans Day Luncheon to honor those who have served our country. The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Brigadier General Sandra Best. She was named the first female general in the history of the Minnesota National Guard earlier this year. Registration is open for the event. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks, along with a link to register yourself and any guests.
There is no Rotary Club of Edina meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10. All members are encouraged to attend the Veterans Luncheon Nov. 11.
 
 
Dinner and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19
Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking and St. Paul United Church of Christ, St. Paul
Register now for a musical night out in St. Paul with your fellow Rotarians! The Membership Retention Committee invites Rotarians and guests for a social hour and dinner followed by a St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert. We will gather at Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking, 850 Grand Ave. in St. Paul at 5 p.m. for the social hour. From 6 to 7:30, we will have dinner at the restaurant, which is only two blocks from the concert venue and is in the premier dining and entertainment area of St. Paul.
Then we will walk over to St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave., for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's "Dvorak's Serenade for Winds" concert, which begins at 8 p.m. The SPCO's wind section is featured in this lively program, featuring works from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cost for dinner and the concert is $52 per person. The social hour will have a cash bar and any food ordered from 5 to 6 p.m. will be at the member's or guest's own cost. 
Go here to register soon, as space is limited. Contact Wade Thommen, a member of the Membership Retention Committee, with any questions.
 
 
Thanksgiving Baskets Assembly and Delivery
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23
Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave., Edina
Bring your family and join your fellow Rotarians for this special event before you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Our club will gather with members of EMRC at 11:30 a.m. for lunch, and then will begin assembling the Thanksgiving baskets for area families in need. Volunteers are needed for the basket assembly, as well as deliveries of the baskets to families in the area after the event. Stay tuned for an email in the coming weeks with more info and a link to register yourself and any guests for the event.
For more information, contact Michael Stanzak. There is no meeting on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.