Rotary gives awards for 2015–2016 year

Marty Kupper was named Rotarian of the Year at the June 30 meeting. President Jennifer Bennerotte called him "both her right-hand and left-hand man." She detailed all the ways Marty worked behind the scenes helping President Jennifer and Club Administrator Jennifer Garske with projects. She especially thanked him for spearheading the effort to get as many members as possible registered on the Rotary International website. The club needed to have 50 percent of the membership registered to achieve that part of the Presidential Citation. Marty went above and beyond that goal! Marty was joined by his wife, Debbie, and two daughters at the meeting.

 

Outgoing Membership Director—Recruitment was honored for his work in getting the Interact Club at Edina High School off the ground over the past Rotary year. Not only did Josh achieve the membership goal—170—that Jennifer had set forth last July, but he was the main contact and liaison to the Interact Club. Josh will be club secretary this Rotary year, and will be president of the club in 2019–2020. 

Jennifer, with the help of outgoing Past President Jeff Ohe, named two newer Rotarians as the club's Rookies of the Year, for their commitment to the club. Rotarian Royce Pavelka has made connections with many members of the club already, and has brought guests consistently to meetings, including sponsoring new member Kevin Strandberg in June. Royce is hard at work on the Fundraiser again this year. Greg Yoch was also honored, having already chaired the VEAP backpack packing program for our club, and working on the 2015 and now the 2016 Fundraiser, among other club projects. He will be the Membership Director—Recruitment this year, serving on the Rotary Club Board.

Kip Peterson was singled out as the "Gift to the World" for our club, according to Jennifer. He received the award during the District Conference in May. Not only did Kip chair Camp Enterprise in 2015, he also continued to facilitate the Rotary Happy Hour. The monthly evening vocational development group for our club and Edina Morningside Rotary Club members was started by Kip in 2014. It gives Rotarians a chance to connect outside of the weekly meeting, and to attend a Rotary event every month, even if the noon meeting proves hard to attend. Kip also collaborated with EMRC on Camp E, the largest project the club undertakes each year. The camp sold out for the first time, and with the help of many Rotary volunteers from our club, ERMC and other area clubs, gave almost 100 high school students a primer on the free enterprise system.

 

The co-chairs of the highly successful 2015 Gala & Fundraiser, John Flynn and Jody Kern, received special praise from Jennifer. They worked diligently with their committee chairs and workers to put on an unforgettable event last September. The "Lights! Camera! Roary in Action!" event raised more than $120,000 for the Edina Rotary Foundation, far exceeding their goal of $100,000. 

 

Jennifer thanked all the members of the club for their hard work on committees, projects, meetings and much more in the 2015–2016 Rotary year.