Our guest today was District Governor Ed Marek.
President Ed James’ Quote of the Day: “Don’t feel bad if people remember you only when they need you. Feel privileged that you are like a candle that comes to their mind when there is darkness.” – Anonymous
DG Ed Marek thanked our club for our financial support for End Polio Now. Our giving, along with other clubs in the District, helped to meet the District’s End Polio goal for 2019-2020. DG Ed commended us for our $2,100 contribution, making us #1 in giving for medium sized clubs [some of which have nearly twice our membership]. DG Ed further noted that were one of only 3,400 clubs worldwide to be an EREY Club (Every Rotarian Every Year). EREY status requires contributions to the Annual Fund averaging over $100 per member with every dues paying member contributing at least $25/year. We were also one of only 4,000 clubs worldwide to be a 100% Foundation Giving Club! DG Ed recognized John Ordway, David Hoel, Nyle Zikmund, Dana Rebelein and Cyndi Carlson for their $100 contributions to the Strike Out Polio Campaign. Jason Miller, Geoff Hollimon, Dennis Connolly, Jeff Benson, Mike Neeley and Edeth James were each recognized for their contributions of $365 to the extremely successful campaign. With the help of a 2 to 1 matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, $190,000 was raised in the fight to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.
The District 5960 Mid-Term Event for 2021 will be online.
-On Monday, January 25th, at 6:30 p.m. we will feature a panel of representatives from three clubs that are doing some amazing work.
- Jon Stagman, President of the Waseca Club on “Reimagining the Club”
- Kevin Donovan, Team Leader for White Bear Lake’s DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Team
- Kent Peterson, from the Arden Hills-Shoreview Club who has founded and chaired the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition
- CLICK HERE for Registration
On Thursday, January 28th at 4:30 p.m. we will be offering a virtual Workshop on Rotary’s Innovative Club Models. Kathy Fahy will reprise her role as facilitator from NCPETS last year in Rochester leading this training.
CLICK HERE for Registration!
You should have received a list of important dates by email. If you prefer, you may download them here.
Treasurer John Ordway will be sending out January-March statements soon. If you have not already paid your October-December, 2020 dues; please do so. John also said he is expecting to receive the Bell Pole matching grant for our No-Plate Dinner Fundraiser soon.
Geoff Hollimon reported that the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition received donations in 2020 totaling over $163,000 and the Coalition approved grants for over $110,000, leaving a balance of $53,013. Much of the impact of the Pandemic is yet to be felt, so the Coalition will continue fundraising and making grants to continue its Covid-19 pandemic relief efforts into 2021. The Coalition will begin to survey local faith groups to see how the Coalition might work cooperatively with them to ease the Pandemic’s effects on our most vulnerable neighbors.
Geoff also noted that CPY is continuing its distance learning support program and is working on the transition to in-person learning for the elementary students.
Jed Hamoud reported that the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club will be holding a Human Trafficking Awareness Event in mid-April. The event will either be wholly online or possibly an online/live hybrid. A.H./Shoreview will need volunteers to help with marketing efforts as well as help with fielding chat room comments/questions during the event. If you can help with either of these, or if you would like to be involved in some other way, please contact Jed.