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Veterans Day Luncheon - Tuesday, Nov 10th
 
 

Our weekly meeting during the second week of November will be held in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Area 3 for a special Veterans Day Luncheon. Registration is required for all Rotary Club of Edina members, veterans, and guests to ensure accurate catering counts and adequate seating. 

DATE: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
TIME: Seating begins at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Epicenter, Eden Prairie Schools' Valley View Campus, 11849 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
WHO: District 5950 Zone Area 3 Rotarians, Veterans and Guests

Rotary Club of Edina Pricing Information: 
Standard non-veteran Rotary Club of Edina members in attendance will be billed a $8 special meeting fee on their next quarterly bill to cover fees above our standard lunch cost. Members may bring one veteran guest at no additional cost. Non-veteran special event guest cost will be $35.00, billed to Rotary Club of Edina member's quarterly statement.

Rotary Club of Edina senior active members who are veterans will not pay for lunch and may invite one non-member veteran as their guest at no cost. RCE members who wish to invite more than one veteran guest will pay $35.00 per additional veteran or non-veteran invited. Senior Active non-veteran members will be billed $35.00 for meeting fees. Please contact Erica Allenberg with any question or concern.

Pre-registration is required. If you're registering yourself as a veteran and/or your veteran guests, in "Comments", please enter the veteran's branch of service, rank and conflict served, i.e. Army, Sgt. 1st Class, Korean War. See Rotary Club of Edina pricing information above.

Registration for this event is now closed.
 
Featured Guest Speaker, Jeff Griffith, The Medal of Honor & American Battlefield Trust
 
Contact Rotary Club of Edina President Elect Erica Allenberg for last minute available seating. 
Monday, Nov. 9, Rotary Happy Hour

Join us at "The Mezz" on Monday, November 9, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Lunds & Byerlys, located at 7171 France Ave, Edina.

This gathering is a casual, vocational and business network opportunity centered on featuring an Edina Noon or Edina Morningside Rotary member's career story. Guests are welcome. Personal food and beverage choices are available to order and purchase. Featured speaker is Dr. Rassacin Ly, D.C., a Chiropractic Doctor at Chiropractic Healing Arts Center. Registration is not required. 

 

Fall Fireside Chat Schedule
Join your fellow Rotary Club of Edina members and guests for an evening of great conversation, stronger friendships and connections at our Fireside Chats. Fireside Chats are a casual and smaller gathering of like-minded Rotarians, spending an evening getting to know each other better outside of our weekly meetings. This is a great opportunity for new members to get to know other Rotarians.

Women in Rotary with Sandra Krebsbach: Thursday, November 12 @ 5:00 PM REGISTER HERE!

We look forward to seeing you!
Are YOU interested in being a Fireside Chat Host? We are still looking for hosts! If you are interested, please reach out to Julie Westbrock at jwestbrock@trustpointinc.com.

Saturday, Nov. 21st- The Common Table- A Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to gather, celebrate friendships, and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. Please join us for The Common Table, a special evening of food, fellowship, laughter, and gratitude as we celebrate the spirit of Rotary and the friendships that bring us together.

We will also raise a toast to our dear fellow Rotarian Dr. Dash, celebrating his birthday and honoring his generous spirit of philanthropy and service to our community. Come hungry, bring your stories, and enjoy an evening of friendship and celebration!

Saturday, November 21, 2026
5:00 PM onwards
At the Prigge Home: 250 Bergamot Drive, Medina

Hosted by Tanwi Prigge
Rotary Club of Edina — Outreach & Inclusion

Register HERE or RSVP to Tanwi at tanwimp@gmail.com or 763.291.2722

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Thanksgiving Basket Lunch  Assembly-Delivery, Wednesday, Nov. 25
On Wednesday, November 25th at 11:30 a.m. members of the Rotary Club of Edina, along with members of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, will pack baskets and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need throughout the Twin Cities region. A roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberries, potatoes and gravy along with vegetables, oranges, even a delicious pie, make their way to area homes via active Rotarians and their families. With warm knit mittens and hats to help with the coming winter, these Thanksgiving Baskets bring some brightness and joy into the holiday season.
 
Find all the details as well as sign up HERE!
Paul Harris Fellows Recognized

At the October 22, 2026, Rotary meeting, four members became Paul Harris Fellows and 12 members were recognized for reaching new recognition levels by continuing their generous tradition of giving to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). The awards were presented by Rotary Foundation Director Bob Scott to:

New Paul Harris Fellows: Kam Aggarwal, John Harmon, Marhya Molepske, Ben Pohlman

Multiple Paul Harris Fellows (New Recognition Levels): Nikki Ahlgren, Barbara Born, Bob Clayburgh, Michael Eckert, Dan Hunt, Mark Jessen, Susan Johnson, Richard Kleber, Raj Kumar, Chris Laskowski, Rob Olsen, Geetu Sharma

Congratulations to our new Paul Harris Fellow honorees!

Welcome New Member- Guy Marzano

The Rotary Club of Edina’s Membership Committee and Board of Directors welcome Guy Marzano as a member of the Rotary Club of Edina.

Guy Marzano
Classification: Building Materials Professional
Sponsor: Sandra Schley

After earning a B. S. In Biology at the University of Akron in June 1973, Guy served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the U. S. Air Force from 1973 through 1985. He was stationed in Illinois, Florida, the Netherlands, Indiana, and California and was awarded the Meritorious Service Metal upon retirement. He earned an M. A. In Educational Psychology from Ball State University while he was in the USAF. After retiring from the military, he earned a second M. A. (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of North Dakota In Counseling. Guy has been a Rotarian for over thirty years. He is the Past President of the Rotary Club of Minnetonka, the Rotary Club of St. Louis Park, and the Rotary Club of Service to Minnesota Veterans. He has chaired Club membership, fundraising, and other committees. He was Chair of the District 5950 Visioning Team and is currently on the District Membership Committee. He was the Minnetonka Rotarian of the Year in 2012 - 2013. Guy future goal is to be of Loving Service for as long as possible.

Welcome New Member- Anne Marie Leland

The Rotary Club of Edina’s Membership Committee and Board of Directors welcome Anne Marie Leland as a member of the Rotary Club of Edina.

Anne Marie Leland
Classification: Education 
Sponsor: Erica Allenberg

Anne Marie Leland is Director of Community Education and Strategic Partnerships at Edina Public Schools, where she leads early learning, school-age care, youth enrichment, adult programs and the district’s grants office. Her 30-year career has been built on service to students, families and communities, with a focus on educational equity, early childhood, and pathways to opportunity for young people and adults. She has secured more than $15 million in grants to expand access to preschool, summer learning, youth programs, and career training for adults. She serves on the boards of Think Small and Edina Give and Go. Dr. Leland was Community Education Director for Faribault Public Schools (2012–22), where she built strong partnerships with Somali and Latino families. While there, she served as Secretary of the Faribault Rotary Club and Vice Chair of Rice County United Way, and supported Faribault Youth Investment, River Bend Nature Center, and Growing Up Healthy.

Sign up for VEAP Service Opportunity, Dec. 2nd!
Sign up today to help Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) serve the hungry in our community! Volunteers welcome participants to the VEAP pantry, explain the process and respond to participant questions, keep the shopping area clean and tidy, sort through food donations, stock shelves, load groceries into vehicles and overall help VEAP promote a positive shopping experience for participants. VEAP staff explain the process before every volunteer shift in the pantry. 
 
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2:15pm - 5:15pm: Sign up here!
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Winter Clothing Collection, Thursday Nov.19th

We are doing a winter clothing drive in conjunction with the Edina Country Club Thursday, November 19th. Bring your gently used or new coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, gloves/mittens, winter hats and blankets to ECC. These items will be donated to Involve MN who feeds over 5,000 meals each week to the local area unsheltered using a special van to visit encampments and other areas where they gather. Involve MN is a Minnesota based non-profit collaborating with community, business and government to provide for the unsheltered and vulnerable people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Your friends and family are welcome to participate.

Questions? Please reach out to Ann Platt at  952-292-6043 / 952-837-1877 or Jack Kennefick or 612-220-4972.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

President's Message
As your 72nd President of the Rotary Club of Edina, I am honored and excited to begin this journey with each of you. Rotary brings together leaders, professionals, and community servants with a shared desire to make a difference. It is where friendships are formed, ideas are exchanged, and service becomes a catalyst for meaningful change. This year, Rotary International calls us to Create Lasting Impact, a message that reflects who we are as a club and what we strive to accomplish together.

I am especially excited about the year ahead. We have assembled an outstanding slate of speakers who will challenge our thinking, inspire our leadership, and broaden our understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our communities and our world. Beyond our weekly meetings, Rotary offers the opportunity to build meaningful friendships, strengthen professional relationships, and work side by side in service to others.

Whether we are supporting local youth, addressing food insecurity, advancing international projects, combating human trafficking, or helping eradicate polio, our collective efforts demonstrate the extraordinary impact that occurs when people come together with purpose and a servant's heart.

My hope for this year is that every member finds a deeper connection to Rotary, develops new friendships, grows as a leader, and discovers meaningful opportunities to serve. Together, we will continue building on the remarkable legacy of the Rotary Club of Edina while creating lasting impact in our community and beyond.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your President. I look forward to a year of friendship, service, leadership, and impact. Together, we will Create Lasting Impact.

Gerry Norton
2026–2027 President

Membership
Club Leadership
President
Gerry Norton
President Elect
Erica Allenburg
Treasurer
Catherine Gump
Secretary
Mark Jessen
Past President
Lisa Walker, Ph.D.
Club Service (Administration) Director
Mike Martiny
Membership Director
George Esbensen
Vice President
Erica Allenburg
Public Image Director
Sandra Krebsbach
Youth Service Director
Brent Lundell
Social Director
Julie Westbrock
Community Service—Grants Funding Director
Corey Falls
Community Service—Projects Director
Amber Tyrrell
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Tanwi Prigge
International Service Director
Wade Thommen
The Rotary Foundation Director
Bob Scott
Annual Gala Co-Chair
Dan Hunt
Annual Gala Co-Chair
Mark Jessen
Club Service Projects Chair
Mike Martiny
Executive Secretary / Director
Madeleine Isaacson
Club Young Leaders Contact
Brent Lundell
#GetSocial With Us!
 
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WELCOME TO ROTARY CLUB OF EDINA!
The Rotary Club of Edina meets...
 
Thursdays - Doors Open 12:15 p.m.- Program Begins -12:35 p.m.
Edina Country Club
5100 Wooddale Ave
Edina MN 55424
 
952-215-7924
 
 
Check out our speaker list, and join us for a meeting anytime!
Meeting Duties
Nov 10 - Veteran's Day
Photographer
Kleber, Rich
 
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Nov 19 - Schultz
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Front Desk Assistance
Tengdin, Sonja
 
Podium-Intro Guest-Speaker
Eidsness, Kaylin
 
Photographer
Loberg, Shelly
 

Speakers

Veterans Day Program- Eden Prairie
Nov 10, 2026
Dr. David Schultz, Hamline University
Nov 19, 2026
"Thoughts on the Mid-Term Elections"
Thanksgiving Baskets
Nov 25, 2026
No Meeting- Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 26, 2026
View entire list...
Upcoming Events
View More...
Newsletter
Meeting Duties
Nov 10 - Veteran's Day
Photographer
Kleber, Rich
 
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Nov 19 - Schultz
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Front Desk Assistance
Tengdin, Sonja
 
Podium-Intro Guest-Speaker
Eidsness, Kaylin
 
Photographer
Loberg, Shelly