Women in Leadership Award presented May 25

Reflecting society in 1905, the Rotary organization was limited to male members and remained so officially until 1989, when the Council on Legislation, Rotary’s parliament, voted to eliminate the male-only provision, opening up membership to qualified women across the world. However, the forward-thinking Rotary Club of Edina welcomed its first female member, Chrysanne Manoles, a year earlier in 1988. Manoles continues to be active in Rotary.

In Manoles’ honor and to celebrate the work of women in the community, the Rotary Club of Edina established an annual women’s leadership award in 2008. Previous winners include Ann Swenson, Dr. Laurel Wills, Ann Byrne, Donna Tilsner, Katey Taylor, Kim Foote and Kris Marshall.

Lauren Morse-Wendt was selected for the 2017 honor for playing a key role in transforming Edina’s role in providing housing for homeless young adults. She undertook this challenge as a Deacon called by Edina Community Lutheran Church (ECLC) to engage her congregation in ministry in the world through justice, service, and advocacy. A native of Detroit and graduate of St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary, her passion is transformational relationship through outreach.

Morse-Wendt demonstrated her superior skills of leadership, motivation and organization to facilitate a Task Force originated at ECLC to develop 66 West, an apartment building for young adults who had experienced homelessness. Under Morse-Wendt’s leadership, this Task Force partnered with Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative and reached out to other congregations in Edina and surrounding communities to expand the Task Force and to broaden community support for 66 West.

 

With seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm, she attended countless meetings of the Task Force, other community groups, the Planning Commission, the Edina City Council, Hennepin County and Metropolitan Council officials and the Minnesota Legislature to obtain the necessary building permits and financial support necessary to make 66 West a reality.

 

This included playing a leadership role on the Edina Community Foundation’s Edina Challenge Team to secure the endorsement of 66West by this group of 14 nonprofit organizations committed to working together to help financially challenged young people in Edina grow up to be healthy, productive adults.

 

“To those who followed Lauren on this journey, it is clear that 66 West would not have happened without her efforts,” said Manoles during the award presentation. “Her work in her community is not limited to 66 West as she will also be seen organizing her fellow ECLC members to engage in volunteer efforts for VEAP, Community Emergency Services, Loaves and Fishes and more. Lauren finds no distinction between her outreach ministry and how she would live her life if she had chosen any other career. She engages and invests in her community in order to provide service and advocacy while seeking opportunities and justice for all. 

 

“From the Rotary perspective, she is a shining example of Service Above Self, and 66 West is the result of her living application of our 4-Way Test in her life and work.”

For winning the 2017 Chrysanne Manoles Women in Leadership Award, Morse-Wendt received flowers, a plaque and a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Edina.

For more information about the Chrysanne Manoles Women In Leadership Award, contact club Past President Jennifer Bennerotte, 612-201-3467 or jbennerotte@EdinaRotary.org.