Stories
Joe Gifford: Recipient of our “Service Above Self” Award The Waconia-West Caver Rotary announces that Joe Gifford is the Rotary’s Service Above Self Award recipient for 2021. Joe Gifford epitomizes the words of author Elizabeth Andrew: “Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart; by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see the possibilities.” photos of the golfing event at (2021: June Golfing Event) Click on the "read more" button below for more info on Joe and this award . . |
Jul 2021: International Projects Summary, 2013-21Our Club has supported many international projects through the years: last year a large effort with other clubs and Rotary International (both monetarily and member involvement) was on the Tenwek Dental Clinic in Kenya. Additionally, over the last year and previous years we have supported programs such as the Rotary Polio Plus program, Shelter Box, as well as dental, medical, water, and child support projects in Africa, India and Central America. We have used funds from our annual Nickle Dickle duck races, Gourmet Wine Dinner, and flower fundraisers. Specific projects from 2013 to the present are listed below under "read more."
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July 2021: Community Service Projects Summary, 2013-21
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July 2023: Scholarship Awards, 2018-23
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Jan 2020: News from our Gourmet Wine DinnerJeri Bowers: Recipient of “Service Above Self” Award Jeri Bowers is a woman passionate about making the lives of others better, of creating feelings of dignity and self-worth in youth who haven’t always been given that opportunity. She makes a difference in their lives. That is the reason she has been selected as this year’s recipient of the Waconia-West Carver Rotary Service Above Self award. The award was presented at the 19th annual Rotary Gourmet Wine Dinner held at Vandy’s in Waconia on Jan. 18, 2020. The evening consisted of a five-course gourmet meal prepared by some of the area’s stellar chefs, silent and live auction item as well as the awarding of the Service Above Self award. |
ACT United: Next Steps Minnesota ConferenceAs part of a partnership with ACT United, please join us April 5 for Next Steps Minnesota Community Dialogue to End Human Trafficking. This event will address...
This event—to continue generating awareness and launching concrete actions—is hosted by the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club, ACT United, and Carver County in partnership with the Rotary Club of Waconia and the Rotary Club of Chaska. See flyer below for more information, to RSVP (by April 1st) please provide your full name to A.C.T. United at connect.actunited@gmail.com |
Jan 2019: News from our Wine Gourmet DinnerDan Steinhagen receives "Service Above Self" Award. Keith Sjodin and President Susan Laumbach do the introductions. |
Dec 2018: Planning for 18th Annual Cena De Vino Gourmet Wine DinnerSaturday, January 12, 2019 Vandy's Grille at Island View Golf Club-7795 Laketown Pkwy, Waconia
Enjoy a delectable five course meal, prepared by top area chefs with each course paired perfectly with a fine wine. Proceeds support Rotary service projects as well as worldwide outreach programs. Tickets: $100/person ($60 tax deductible) To be an Event Sponsor ($2,500):
Or, a Table Sponsor ($1,000):
Reservations required. Pre-payment encouraged. Please make checks payable to: Waconia-West Carver Rotary To purchase tickets or sponsor, or for more information: please contact Chuck Dueber 952.300.5638 or dueberc@gmail.com
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Turning Teens Away from CrimeRotary clubs in Canada invest in the PACT program, an urban peace initiative that aims to break the cycle of youth crime:https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-clubs-help-youth-turn-away-crime |
Fall 2018 Flower Sale FundraiserWe’re kicking off our annual Flower Sale! Here’s a great opportunity to support the Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver . Please place your order by 10/18/18; you can choose from a dozen long-stemmed red OR mixed roses, OR a beautiful fall bouquet. You’ll also get $60 worth of coupons from area restaurants and businesses. Cost is $25 and flowers will be delivered on 10/25/18. If you would like to place an order, please speak with any member of the Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver or simply contact us through our Facebook page and we will get you signed up. Fall is here! |
2018-19 Rotary Youth Exchange International StudentA big welcome to our 2018-19 Rotary Youth Exchange international student, Elena Poveda Ruiz (Spain)! |
We're getting excited for Nickle Dickle Day (Sat. Sep. 15th)!Nickle Dickle Day--Waconia's annual town festival--will be here Saturday September 14th . . . one of the main events is the Waconia West Carver Rotary Duck Races! It's a major fundraiser for our club--funds earned from business sponsorships go right back into our community, so please consider sponsoring this fun-filled event by requesting a duck:
Don't miss out on being a part of this community-wide event--thank you so much!
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Passing of the GavelAt our meeting today, Darren Noble (2017-18 President) "passed the gavel" to Susan Laumbach, our club's President for 2018-19. We're looking forward to this year, as the Rotary International theme is #BeTheInspiration |
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada (2018 International Convention, Toronto) |
2018 Rotary International Convention |
New member Corey Vanderhoff receives his initial Rotary pin.Board Membership Chair, Brad Solheim, presents new member Corey Vanderhoff with his initial Rotary pin.
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Waconia High School Senior Receives ScholarshipRotarian Gerry Kirby with senior Christian Honnold, who is the 2018 recipient of our club's "Service Above Self" scholarship award. |
May 2018: Annual Spring Highway CleanupRotary Club of Waconia-West Carver members served the community by cleaning up the stretch of Highway 5, west-bound, from CR 92/Laketown Pkwy to State Highway 284 in Waconia. |
Crown College Student, Paige LodienAt our 5/2/18 meeting, Paige Lodien, a student at Crown College (Nursing major), spoke about her travels abroad--including her 2015-16 experience as an Outbound Exchange Student (Italy) with The Rotary Club of Brooklyn Park. Pictured with Paige: Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver Board Members, Darren Noble (President) and Susan Laumbach (President-elect). |
17th Annual Cena De Vino Gourmet Wine DinnerSaturday, January 13, 2018 Vandy's Grille at Island View Golf Club-7795 Laketown Pkwy, Waconia
Enjoy a delectable five course meal, prepared by top area chefs with each course paired perfectly with a fine wine. Proceeds support Rotary service projects as well as worldwide outreach programs. Tickets: $95/person ($60 tax deductible) Reservations required. Pre-payment encouraged. Please make checks payable to: Waconia-West Carver Rotary RSVP-Chuck Dueber 612.281.0093 or dueberc@gmail.com |
Rotary Press Release-World Polio DayNEWS RELEASE The Waconia-West Carver Rotary Club will join in marking historic progress toward a polio-free world, while urging community support to end the paralyzing disease. [Waconia, MN] – Rotary members in Waconia are among millions reaching out on World Polio Day to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio – a vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today. Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative nearly 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to just 37 cases in 2016. To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, Rotary has committed to raising US$50 million per year over the next three years in support of global polio eradication efforts. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match Rotary’s commitment 2:1. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to previously polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Said local President Darren Noble, “Thousands of Rotarians across the globe are commemorating World Polio Day on October 24, and at the local level we are 100% behind the international effort by Rotary to eliminate polio from the earth”. Rotary has contributed more than US$1.7 billion to ending polio since 1985, including over $10,000 contributed by the Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver. About Rotary Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit endpolio.org for more about Rotary and its efforts to eradicate polio. ### |
Fall Highway CleanupIt's that time of year again . . . Wednesday, 10/11 is our Fall Highway Cleanup to spruce up a stretch along Highway 5, leading into Waconia.
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Crown Student Speaks to Waconia Rotary, Leads to Additional Speaking EngagementsCrown College senior Michaela Svoboda (double major, Business and Communication) recently spoke to our club about social media; click here to read how the experience helped her own journey.
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Who’s getting excited for Nickle Dickle Day (Saturday, September 16th)?!This annual event is right around the corner . . . and that means the Rotary Duck Races! Businesses interested in sponsoring this fun-filled event can request their duck here:
Don't miss out on supporting this community-wide event and major Rotary fundraiser--thank you! |
How Rotary is Funding Polio Immunization in 2017 |
2017-18 PresidentThe Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver is excited to announce Darren Noble as President for the new Rotary year (July 1, 2017--June 30, 2018). "Rotary: Making a Difference" is the world-wide theme, and we look forward to another great year serving locally and internationally! |
International Youth Exchange |
Spring Highway CleanupIt's that time of year again . . . last Wednesday, 5/10 we did our Spring Highway Cleanup to spruce up a stretch along Highway 5, leading into Waconia.
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2017 Flower Sale FundraiserWe’re kicking off our annual Flower Sale! Here’s a great opportunity to support the Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver . Please place your order by 4/12/17; you can choose from a dozen long-stemmed red OR mixed roses, OR a beautiful spring bouquet. You’ll also get $60 worth of coupons from area restaurants and businesses. Cost is $25 and flowers will be delivered on 4/20/17. If you would like to place an order, please speak with any member of the Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver or simply contact us through our Facebook page and we will get you signed up. Spring is on the way! |
Ian H.S. Riseley, Rotary International President-elect and Darren L. Noble, Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver President-elect (North Central Presidents-Elect Training Seminar, 3/10/17) |
2017-18 Theme Announcement, Ian H.S. Riseley, Rotary President-elect |
The Rotary Foundation celebrates 100th anniversaryIn 2016-17, The Rotary Foundation turns 100. That’s one century of Rotarians improving lives and communities all over the world. And that’s definitely something worth celebrating. Our Foundation stands at the forefront of humanitarian service, having supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, and provide people with basic education — and one historic project dedicated to eradicating polio worldwide. Our centennial is the perfect time to share this impressive record of success with the world. Let’s make sure our communities know about the great work of Rotary and its Foundation. |
2017 Rotary International Convention (Atlanta, Georgia: June 10-14, 2017) |
Oct. 24th is the 4th Annual World Polio DayOne Day. One Focus: Ending Polio (October 24th)The 4th annual International World Polio Day event (Oct. 24) is fast approaching . . . co-hosted by Rotary International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this day will feature a live-stream event from CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia that will bring together more than 50,000 viewers around the world. Celebrities and experts will also be participating and sharing the progress on the road to polio eradication:http://www.endpolio.org |
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Rotary Races with Ducks, Nickle Dickle Day 2016September 17th is nearing when over 15,000 people visit Waconia's Nickle Dickle Day, a fun-filled day for all ages. Our Rotary club through our corporate sponsors offers free entertainment to children of all ages. Our corporate sponsors decorate large rubber ducks which are raced throughout the day. Winners receive prizes and all have fun! Our corporate sponsors receive publicity with each race with larger sponsors featured in our publicity and recognized throughout the day by our race announcer. Be sure to visit our "pond" and join in the fun!
Businesses . . . please consider sponsoring this annual community fundraiser!
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30th Anniversary Celebration(top) Mark Hegstrom, the new District Governor for 2016-17, was one of many highlights at last night's "30th Anniversary Celebration"! (lower left) Bob Kuhlman, Club President, shares a laugh with long-standing Rotarian Roger Sauerbrey. (lower right) Christine Fenner talks about the life-changing Strive program. It truly was a great night! More pictures to come . . .
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Welcome Mark Hegstrom, the new District Governor for 2016-17!Welcome Mark Hegstrom, the new District Governor for 2016-17! Check out his "Governor's Corner," via District 5950's website. |
Welcome Bob Kuhlman, the new President for 2016-17!The Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver is excited to announce Bob Kuhlman as President for the new Rotary year (July 1, 2016--June 30, 2017).
"Rotary Serving Humanity" is the world-wide theme, and we look forward to another great year serving locally and internationally!
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1986--2016The Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver is celebrating its 30th anniversary (1986--2016)!
Wednesday, July 13th
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New Highway Cleanup Day! (Wed. 5/18)Edit your calendars! The Highway Cleanup Day has been changed (for the 2nd time due to rainy weather) to Wednesday, May 18th (meet @ 5:00 pm, Security Bank in Waconia). After the cleanup we will be heading over to Brad’s place to celebrate our clean and respectable highway. Hope to see you there!
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2016 Flower Sale was a big success--thanks to all the individuals and businesses who helped support this annual fundraiserThe Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver's 2016 Flower Sale was a BIG success! We would like to thank all the individuals and businesses who helped support this annual fundraiser. We sold 3 types of flowers (long-stemmed red or mixed roses or beautiful spring bouquets) in quantities of one dozen each; purchases also came with $60 worth of coupons from area restaurants and businesses. The cost was only $25 and countless numbers of bouquets were delivered last week. Mark your calendar for next year's fundraiser: April 2017!
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Member Satisfaction Survey Results for The Club of Waconia-West Carver Rotary |
Rotary SafeWater Plus Honduras Update and Travel OpportunityWaconia-West Carver Rotarians:
Thank you for your generous support of our District SafeWater Plus Honduras global grant project. The Waconia-West Carver Rotary Club contributed $1,000 to the project. The leverage on your contribution was $7.40 per $1.00 invested. Your contribution resulted in providing $7,400 of good in the world. Please share this information with all of your club members. Thank you. |
Rotary Races with Ducks, Nickle Dickle Day 2015September 19th is nearing when over 15,000 people visit Waconia's Nickle Dickle Day, a fun-filled day for all ages. Our Rotary club through our corporate sponsors offers free entertainment to children of all ages. Our corporate sponsors decorate large rubber ducks which are raced throughout the day. Winners receive prizes and all have fun! Our corporate sponsors receive publicity with each race with larger sponsors featured in our publicity and recognized throughout the day by our race announcer. Be sure to visit our "pond" and join in the fun!
Businesses . . . please consider sponsoring this annual community fundraiser!
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Welcome Rotary Youth Exchange international student, Lea PajarolaA big welcome to 2015-16 Rotary Youth Exchange international student, Lea Pajarola (Switzerland). Club President, Steve Battis, introduces Lea, who presents Steve with a gift from the Lenzburg, Switzerland Rotary Club.
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Adopt A Highway Clean UpRecently, Rotarians were out in force cleaning up along Highway 5 in Waconia/Carver County.
Carver County, MN (Adopt-A-Highway Program):
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