This Wednesday, Nov. 23, the Rotary Club of Edina will join with the Edina Morningside Rotary Club and friends and family to assemble Thanksgiving Baskets to deliver to families in need in our community this holiday season. We will gather for lunch at 11:45 a.m. at the Edina Country Club, with a short program by Michael Stanzak about the event. Then everyone will work with their team to assemble the baskets with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner. The teams will then deliver the baskets to families in the community. 

 

Registration for the meeting has closed. Please contact Michael Stanzak if you have questions.

 

There is no Rotary Club of Edina meeting on Thursday, Nov. 24.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rotary Club of Edina once again will be collecting holiday gifts for families in need in our community. Rotarian Jean Morrison is spearheading the Holiday Giving Program, and asks that members bring UNWRAPPED gifts for children of any age (infant all the way through teens) as well as gifts for moms, dads, and families, to the Edina Country Club in December. The gifts can be dropped off at the regular Rotary meetings on Dec. 1 and 8, or at the Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 15. Gift cards, cash or check donations are also welcome at the Dec. 1 and 8 meetings. Jean will take the funds donated and buy gift cards or other gifts to be donated as well. This year, the organizations benefiting from the Edina Rotary Holiday Giving Program will be:

 

• Cornerstone—every year for the holidays, Cornerstone hosts the Holiday Shop for the families they serve. The Holiday Shop gives children from abusive homes the opportunity to shop for gifts for their parents and siblings. Cornerstone is a nonprofit agency that serves adults and children who  have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and/or human trafficking. Cornerstone believes that together, we can ease the stress of the season and make the holidays brighter for families who are rebuilding their lives.

 

If you have questions about the program, or need gift ideas for children or families, contact Jean Morrison at jean@jeanmorrisonhr.com. 

 

Thank you for sharing your holiday spirit with those in need!

 

 

Join us for the Edina Rotary Happy Hour/Vocational Development Group. The December Rotary Happy Hour will be held at a different date and time than usual. The next gathering will be Monday, Dec. 12, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Mezz, located upstairs in Lunds & Byerly's at 7171 France Ave. S. in Edina. Access The Mezz from the entrance closest to France Avenue (SW corner of the store). Wine and craft beer is available at your own cost. A limited menu may be available, but you can also purchase food in the grocery deli and bring it upstairs.

The event will feature a short social period, with a "formal" program beginning at 6 p.m. Each person will have a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and make new connections. A featured presenter will have 15 minutes to share information that is relevant to his or her profession followed by a short Q&A period. The speaker at the Dec. 12 gathering is Dick Crockett of the Edina Community Foundation. Dick is a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club. 

Other upcoming speakers are:

• Jan. 4, 2017—Dan Hennen
• Feb. 1, 2017—Sutton McGraw
• March 1, 2017—Ann Platt

Rotary Happy Hour is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Edina and EMRC. Contact Renee Harberts for more information. 

Come and check out this Rotary event! 

 

 

The eight southwest metro Rotary clubs hosted our annual Rotary salute to veterans on Friday, Nov. 11, at Bearpath Golf and Country Club in Eden Prairie. Greeters for our club were Shelly Loberg, Scott MacDonald and Brad Hepp. Helping sign in guests and members at the front desk were San Asato and Marty Kupper. 

 

District 5950 Governor Mark Hegstrom welcomed the more than 250 Rotarians and guests and introduced Edina Rotarian Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad (Ret) as the emcee for the program promptly at 11:30 a.m.

After the Presentation of the Colors by the Chanhassen American Legion Post No. 80 Color Guard, our emcee led the Pledge of Allegiance.  The Rotary Brass Quintet, led by Edina Morningside Rotarian Mary Brindle, accompanied us in our National Anthem. Chaplain Lt. Col. Jerome Fehn then gave the invocation. 

Following lunch, our emcee introduced Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who gave a salute to our veterans. She noted that while we have just finished one of the most difficult elections of our time, we must focus on things that bring us together, not what divides us. Patriotism is a good example—it is the love of country that brings us together. 

Emcee Schulstad asked all of the veterans present to stand as their service song was played. The highlight occurred when he asked the four WWII vets to stand and be recognized. That quartet included our own Edina Rotarian Harold Hanson.  They were greeted by a standing ovation from everyone in the room.  

 

 

 

He then introduced our keynote speaker, Brigadier General Sandra Best. She is the first female general in the history of the Minnesota Air National Guard, and comes from a family of service veterans. Her grandfather served in WWI in1918.

 

General Best emphasized several key points:

 

Our emcee thanked the speaker and ended the program at 1:05 p.m. after the Colors were retired.