In review...March 2 meeting

As a member of its executive team since 2014, Warren leads the Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Information Services, Donor Operations, Facilities and Community Impact Operations functions and also serves as the Chief of Staff of the Greater Twin Cities United Way. He was the featured speaker at the Rotary Club of Edina’s weekly meeting, setting out to help those in the audience understand what the United Way believes, does and how it does its work.

 

The themes of Warren’s presentation were “unity” and “hope.” He explained United Way’s purpose of creating change, assisting with education and jobs and providing a safety net to those in need. He emphasized United Way’s tagline of “We are all humankind,” explaining that the United Way believes that what unites us is more powerful than what divides us. 

 

Earlier in the meeting, newer member André Brewer gave his Classification Talk. Brewer, the youngest of seven children, is a native of Kentucky. He attended DePauw University where he met Sam Cote’s son. In 1990, he worked at his first boys’ camp with the Cote family and never really left. He moved to Minnesota in 2000 and has worked since as director of Camp Lincoln for Boys on the shore of Lake Hubert. He is an active member of the American Camp Association and enjoys tennis, music and his other job as a competitive cheerleading coach in Minnetonka. Brewer joined the Rotary Club in October and was sponsored by Cote.

 

A grant was presented by the Community Service—Local Funding Committee to Whittier Wildflowers Preschool. The preschool is relatively new. This year, the faith-based preschool has 40 students from all backgrounds. Next year, they hope for 50.

 

Past District Governor and Past President Sandy Schley, with help from Nate Wenner, gave a passionate plea for giving to The Rotary Foundation. She encouraged all members to give so that our club might become a “100 percent giving” club. To date, 84 people have pledged or given to the 2016–2017 campaign. She thanked those who have given, but explained that that statistic is far below our club’s historical average at this point in the Rotary year. 

This year, the club has been divided into two teams for the fund drive—Gold Team and Blue Team. To date, 68 percent of the Gold Team has given or pledged and 64 percent of the Blue Team has given or pledged. Though more people on the Gold Team have donated, the Blue Team has raised more money. 

 

To incentivize Rotarians into giving, Wenner said he is working to secure “deals” for donors, including $10 off a $149.99 oil change at Grandview Tire & Auto, free year-long use of an Escalade from Key Cadillac and a discount at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels. See Nate to redeem an offer.

 

Besides Brewer, Schley and Wenner, those helping President Ann Platt with the meeting were greeters Josh Sprague and Charles Barer; Luther Amundson, who introduced Warren; and Sue Spalding, who led the invocation, Pledge of Allegiance and Four-Way Test. Brewer also served as a greeter and introduced guests. Those bringing guests to the meeting included Keith Benson, Don Hutchison, Sutton McGraw, Jim Ryman, Sprague and Greg Yoch.