There is no regular Rotary Club of Edina meeting this Thursday, Dec. 22, or Dec. 29.
The next regular meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Former FBI agent Eileen Rice will be the program speaker at that first Rotary Club of Edina meeting of the New Year. Rice, now an investigator with WayPoint Inc., will speak about "Causes of Wrongful Convictions," and her work with the Innocence Project. She sits on the board of directors of the Innocence Project of Minnesota, a non-profit organization which seeks to free the wrongfully convicted.
New member Kim Stoner will be officially inducted into the club at the meeting.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We'll see you Jan. 5!
Rotary Club of Edina members will be ringing the bell at the Salvation Army red kettle at Jerry's Foods in Edina this week. Volunteers were there Monday and Tuesday, and will continue ringing Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 21–23. Stop by and support the volunteers as they brave the cold and last-minute holiday food shoppers!
Rotary ringers will be at Jerry's Foods from 2 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 21, for "Ring for Joel Day," in honor of longtime Rotary Club of Edina member Joel Jennings. Joel rang the bell at the red kettle with Rotary many times over the years. We'll honor Joel by ringing in his name, and all the donations received in the red kettle that day from 2 to 8 p.m. will be matched. Thursday, Dec. 22, Rotary ringers will be at Jerry's from 2 to 8 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 23, Rotary volunteers will ring from 2 to 6 p.m.
Thanks to all the Rotarians, Interact members and others who volunteered to take part in this Rotary tradition. Special appreciation goes to Dan Hallberg and Wayne Harmon for once again coordinating this year's volunteers, and providing support each day at the red kettle. Stop by and toss in some change and support your fellow Rotarians and friends as they ring for a great cause!
It is almost 2017 and I thought I would review some of the highlights of the first six months of this Rotary year. I think you'll agree that we've been busy! If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me!
July—December 2016
Community Service Projects
Special Olympics bowling event
Feed My Starving Children food packing
Edina Rotary Adopt-a-Park cleanup day
VEAP Student Food Packing for weekend meals for students on school lunch program
Thanksgiving Baskets assembled and delivered to 77 families in need
Salvation Army bell ringing at Jerry’s Foods, with matched donations on “Ring for Joel Day” in honor of longtime Rotarian Joel Jennings
Holiday Giving Program donates gifts to Cornerstone and VEAP
Daily delivery of day-old bread to food shelves from Jerry's Foods
Social Events
Peter Frampton concert at the Orpheum with pre-concert cocktail party
St. Paul Saints baseball game
Fall Fireside Chats hosted at members' homes
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert and dinner
Holiday Party with over 120 guests
Monthly Vocational Development Group/Happy Hour to network and socialize
Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala
More than 270 people in attendance
“New York State of Mind” theme with dueling pianos entertainment
Raised over $100,000 for the Edina Rotary Foundation to fund special projects, youth programs and grants
Local Grants and Youth Service Programs
Both inbound and outbound Youth Exchange students for 2016–2017 school year
Ongoing support of the Interact Club at Edina High School
Camp Enterprise with over 100 high school students in attendance
Leadership Ethics Seminar for 63 Edina High School students
Signature Project: Community Room at 66 West, an apartment building for 39 young adults who have experienced homelessness, which will open in June 2017
Local Funding Committee is in process of reviewing over 25 grant requests
Meeting/Program Speaker Highlights
Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab
Rhoda Olson, CEO of Great Clips
Patrick Hunt, Director of the Ryder Cup
Richard Schulze, Founder of Best Buy
Jonathan Finnoff, Director of the Mayo Clinic Minneapolis
Jennifer Smith, CEO of Innovative Office Solutions
Joe Puishys, CEO of Apogee Corporation
Jennifer Jones, Rotary International Vice President
Scott Wolter, The History Channel
A donation is made each week in the speaker’s name to Edina Give and Go, a non-profit that ensures that all Edina students are able to participate in activities that they may not be able to afford.
I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to working with you next year to ensure that we continue to “Do Good in the World!”
Rotarians and guests gathered at the Edina Country Club Thursday, Dec. 15, for the annual Rotary Club of Edina Holiday Party. More than 120 people enjoyed food, drink and warm conversation by the fire as they celebrated the holidays. Many holiday-themed ties and sweaters were worn, as well as one amazing suit that was the very definition of holiday spirit! Christmas cheer was evident and a good time was had by all.
Thanks to party chairs Marty Kupper and Steve Slyce for once again organizing such a wonderful evening.
The next Rotary Vocational Development Group will be Wednesday, Jan. 4. The speaker at the meeting will be Dick Crockett of the Edina Community Foundation. He is a member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club.
Once a month, Edina Rotarians have a chance to connect with other club members, and any guests, at the happy hour. This Rotary event is held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Mezz at the Lunds & Byerly's in Edina. The meeting will feature a brief presentation from a featured Rotarian, plus time for introductions, networking and questions. The Rotary Club of Edina and EMRC collaborate on this event.
Several members of the Rotary Club of Edina were honored at the Dec. 8 meeting as multiple Paul Harris Fellows, having donated multiple gifts of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. TRF Director for our club, Sue Spalding, handed out the PHF pins to members, with the help of David Clynes. It was also announced at the meeting that David will be the 2016–2017 TRF director for our club.
The following members were honored:
Kaylin Eidsness, PHF+1
Sam Thompson, PHF+1
Mark Jessen, PHF+2
Scott Neal, PHF+2
Gary Pedersen, PHF+3
Keith Benson, PHF+4
Rick Carlson, PHF+5
Rick Burrock, PHF+6
Wayne Harmon, PHF+7
Dan Mott, PHF+7
Steve Slyce, PHF+7
Sam Cote, PHF+8
Congratulations to these members! There will be several PHF recognition ceremonies at meetings during the Rotary year.
Incoming Rotary District 5950 Governor Bob Halagan is encouraging all Rotarians to take the District 5950 Membership Survey! If you have not done so, please fill out your survey. Survey results and analysis will be shared with the membership as soon as it becomes available. The deadline for completing the survey is now Dec. 29, so click on this link and share your opinions on Rotary and District 5950.
You can also find the survey link on the District 5950 home page. The survey will only take about 5 to 10 minutes to complete.
Periodically we feature a newer member of the Rotary Club of Edina in The Barker. The Rotary Club of Edina welcomed Andrea Thompson Miller as a member in June 2016. Andrea's sponsor to the club was Josh Sprague. Read on to get to know more about Andrea...
Name: Andrea Thompson Miller
Classification: Employer Consulting; PEO Business Consultant for Doherty/Oasis in Edina. I also am a custom jeweler making diamond and colored stone jewelry in my free time.
What was your first job? My first paid job was babysitting for all the neighborhood kids but my first W-2 came from Byerlys in Burnsville. I was a grocery checker on weekends and after school sports.
Who was your first role model and why? My first role model aside from my parents/grandparents has to be my High School Dance Coach Mauri. She taught me how to channel my drive and determination into competition dancing and helped me win trophies and top awards all across the country. My 8-year-old daughter is attending Mauri's School of Dance at the very same studio and I couldn't be more thrilled!
Why did you want to join Rotary? My journey with Rotary began a few years ago when my business partner joined and brought me as a guest a few times. I since have done my due diligence and found that the camaraderie, volunteer efforts, faith and patriotic base along with eradicating Polio really spoke to me and I had to be a part of this Edina Club.
What do you like best about being part of the Rotary Club of Edina? Having countless opportunities to give back and get involved in what's going on in my backyard and the world.
What one piece of advice do you offer other business leaders? Integrity, kindness and being proactive about internal business practices and external products and services will determine your future success. Develop a network of likeminded business owners and friends.
What a wonderful addition to the club you are, Andrea!
I wanted to say a huge "thank you" to the members of the Edina Rotary Club for the incredibly generous contribution of gifts for Cornerstone's Holiday Shop event! We are so grateful and appreciate your partnership as we work to make the holidays brighter for the families we serve.
Courtney Poja
Director of Advancement
Cornerstone
Thank you so much for the lovely flowering plant, received during my shoulder surgery recovery. It was true day-brightener to be remembered in this way. The plant is absolutely lovely, and we will enjoy it for a long time to come. It's been a slow recovery process and it will continue to bring light. You guys are the best! I am blessed to be part of this wonderful club, and am thankful for your caring, thoughtful gesture.
Blessings for a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!
2016 Edina Rotary Foundation Fundraiser & Gala
"New York State of Mind"
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016
DoubleTree West, Bloomington
Presenting Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels and Cremation Services
Gold Sponsors
Baird
Brandpoint
Faribault Woolen Mill
Grandview Tire & Auto
The Tankenoff Families Foundation
Silver Sponsors
Cahill Financial Advisors
Christensen & Laue P.A.
EdinAlarm
The Jennings Family Foundation
Jessen Press
Key Cadillac
Les Jones Roofing
North American Banking Company
Peters Billiards
Dr. Steven Veker, DDS—44th Street Dental
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage—Jody Kern
Bronze Sponsors
Abdo, Eick & Meyers
Edina Liquor
Edina Rotary Ethics Seminar "Do the Right Thing"
ESP
Fairview Southdale Hospital
Handyman Matters
Carl M. Hansen Companies
Hatzung Insurance
Hutchison Financial Advisors
Kallas Law Office
Mac & Mac
Morrison & Associates
Dan & Stacy Mott
Pearson Orthodontics
Bob & Rhoda Perkins
Kip & Rebecca Peterson
Pets Are Inn
SideKick Inc.—Advanced Document Services
Patti & Bob Solheim
Josh Sprague, Sotheby's International Realty
Bob & Vianne Stehlik
Terry & Marilee Stevens
Skip Thomas, Realtor—RE/MAX Results
The Wooddale Team of American Mortgage & Equity Consultants
There is no regular meeting this Thursday, Dec. 22 or Dec. 29. The next regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Edina is Jan. 5, 2017. Happy holidays!
The Rotary Club of Edina's Administrator, Jennifer Garske,
works part-time Monday through Friday.To contact her,
write to jgarske@EdinaRotary.org or call 612-875-3109.
Jennifer will be on vacation Dec. 20 through Jan. 2.