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Rotary Family Picnic is today!
It is time to celebrate summer with the Rotary Club of Edina! The annual Rotary Family Picnic is Tuesday, June 14! 
 
Rotarians are encouraged to bring their significant others, children and grandchild to the picnic, scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at Bryant Lake Regional Park in Eden Prairie. The event will include a catered meal; games such as croquet, bag toss and ladder golf; door prizes; and music. Cost for the picnic for Senior Active and Honorary Members is $19. Adult guests are also $19 and children are $5. Members will be billed with their quarterly dues in July. Registration closed for this event June 10. If you did not register but wish to attend, please contact one of the event co-chairs, Hugh Hadlund or Lisa Walker. 
 
Contact Picnic Committee Co-Chairs Hugh Hadlund or Lisa Walker if you have questions or games to lend to this event.
 
Remember, there is no meeting Thursday, June 16. The picnic counts as the Rotary meeting for the week.
 
See you there!

 
In Review...

The June 9, 2016 meeting began promptly at 12:25 p.m. after all were greeted by Michael Eckert and Toni Gerard. The front desk duties were handled by Jack Kennefick and Mary Hustad. President Jennifer Bennerotte welcomed a full house and shared with us her own personal adventure in "Entrepreneurial Land." While in elementary school, she and a friend grew $2 into $100 as part of a class challenge, donating the proceeds to a charitable cause. Nice work Jenn! You can handle my portfolio anytime.

Jean Morrison offered a memorable invocation using a Gandhi devotion. During this, all attendees formed circles at the their tables by holding hands during the reading—a very special time. Bob Stehlik introduced the 15 guests and three visiting Rotarians who chose to be with us on this day. Our former Youth Exchange student Kat Fink then shared her time in Denmark (in the 2014–2015 Rotary year) with us and thanked the club for the opportunity.

Keith Benson, Community Service—Local Funding Director, presented a grant check from the Edina Rotary Foundation to Fraser. Fraser is Minnesota's largest and most experienced provider of autism services. Fraser also provides services for mental health and other developmental disabilities for children and adults with special needs through healthcare, education and housing. 

TRF Director Sue Spalding presented our newest and multiple Paul Harris Fellows as follows: 

  • New PHF: Renee Harberts, John Mazzara, Kelly Sprague, Charles Sprague and Mary Swendsen
  • Multiple PHF: Dan Hennen, Sonja Tengdin, Bill Carter, Keith Benson, John Flynn, Skip Thomas, Joe Christensen and Tom Pirsch

Wooj Byun (limited to one minute!) succinctly reviewed his time in Seoul where Rotary's international convention was held and he was a featured speaker. He encouraged all of us to try to attend one of these gatherings.

Finally, at this very busy portion of the meeting, our 170th member, Ian Colville, was inducted into our club by our firest female club president, Patti Ellingson-Solheim.

Michael Eckert introduced our program speakers with a slow poetic version of "Splish, Slash, I was takin' a bath" followed by a vocal rendition of "Rubber Ducky." Nice job Mike, but don't give up your day job. :)

Our club was treated to a lesson in entrepreneurship by two young girls: sisters Caroline and Isabel Bercaw. They surprised the most successful members of our club with their story of launching a company selling homemade "bath bombs." Their business has now grown to 320 stores in 30 states. Not bad for sisters ages 14 and 15 years.

Their story is best read online at www.dabombfizzers.com. We wish them continued success in their endeavor. They were thanked by Erick Ries and the meeting was adjourned at 1:32 p.m.

 

Letter Bag
"On behalf of the clients, volunteers and staff of Open Arms of Minnesota, it is my sincere pleasure to thank you and the Edina Rotary Foundation for your generous support. Your commitment to feeding and caring for people living with life-threatening illnesses is inspiring. [Your grant] will be used to support Open Arms' meal delivery program benefitting people living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS and ALS.
 
"Because of partners like you and the dedication of more than 5,000 volunteers, Open Arms provides nourishment to 1,000 of the Twin Cities' most vulnerable residents every week. Your support ensures that those facing life-threatening illnesses ... do not have to go without healthy, delicious meals. The Foundation's contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of our clients.
 
"Once again, thank you, on behalf of every client who your gift touches."
 
--Leah Hebert Welles
Executive Director
Open Arms of Minnesota
 
Proposed for Membership
The Rotary Club of Edina’s Board of Directors recently approved the applicant below for membership:
 
Andrea Thompson Miller
Classification: Professional Employer Consulting
Sponsor: Josh Sprague
 
Written objections to the applications must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, to Rotary Club of Edina, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN  55424.
Meeting Responsibilities
Front Desk
Stessman, Leann
 
Front Desk Administration
Hatzung, David
 
Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance/Four-Way Test
Murphy, Tim
 
The Barker writer
Clynes, David
 
Upcoming Events
New Generations Exchange Student Visit
Jun 11, 2016 – Jul 08, 2016
 
Rotary Club of Edina Family Picnic
Bryant Lake Regional Park
Jun 14, 2016
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
District Governor Installation Ceremony
Interlachen Country Club
Jun 16, 2016
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 
Rotary Rally with the Twins at Target Field
Target Field
Jun 18, 2016 1:10 PM
 
Volunteer at Society for the Blind Conference
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel
Jun 30, 2016 – Jul 10, 2016
 
Pre-party to Peter Frampton/Paul Peterson concert
Rock Bottom Brewery
Jul 13, 2016
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
 
Rotary Happy Hour/Vocational Development Group
The Mezz, Byerly's
Aug 03, 2016
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Past President
 
Club Service (Administration) Director
 
Community Service—Local Funding Director
 
Community Service—Programs Director
 
International Service Director
 
Membership—Recruitment Director
 
Membership—Retention Director
 
Public Image Director
 
The Rotary Foundation Director
 
Youth Service Director
 
Club Administrator
 

Remember, there will not be a regular club meeting on Thursday, June 16.

The Rotary Club of Edina's Administrator, Jennifer Garske, works part-time Tuesday through Friday. To contact her, call 612-875-3109 or write to jgarske@EdinaRotary.org.