Welcome to your new exchange student! Elaine will highlight some of the history of Rotary Youth Exchange, particularly in the North Star district. She will "pull back the curtain" on all the steps and volunteers involved before exchange students arrive with your club.
JOIN A PROJECT
From mentoring area youth to planting trees, highway cleanup and events, there's something for every volunteer spirit. Rotary People of Action make a difference in their communities and in the world.
PARTNER WITH US
Be a part of the "End Polio Now" effort. (more) You or your organization can make a difference in eradicating this devastating disease by contributing to Rotary International.
DISCOVER NEW CULTURES
Rotary sponsors youth exchange programs as well as member on-site volunteer projects. Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organization.
River Falls Rotary Burger Battle
Tickets now on sale!
Assistant District Governor Ted Blank introduced current District 5960 District Governor Ed Boeve (Click READ MORE for Ed's biography). Ed started with some of his Rotary history, including leading two District Grants in Kenya. He was his club's president in 2020-21.
While he had been a member of Stillwater Sunrise since 1997, Ed's deeper involvement started with being asked to write a grant since that was part of his "day job" with non-profit management. That led to a trip to Kenya in 2016 where Ed was able to be part of the team that placed the pump into the borehole more than 500 feet below the surface.
Ed noted that Rotary is often described as a well-kept secret in that many of the good things Rotary does are not widely recognized. Together, Rotarians see a world where people unite to take action that creates lasting change across the globe both in our communities and ourselves. In that vein Ed mentioned Rotary's 3-year "Make Peace Visible" initiative.
Ed listed 6 District 5960 Rotary priorities: 1) increase membership by 4%; 2) don't forget polio; 3) Foundation contributions over $500,000; 4) take care of each other; 5) move food insecurity response forward; 6) provide increasing cultural opportunities. The membership growth target is consistent with the RI president's challenge. Ed said that the current WHO-led immunization program in Gaza includes Rotary participation. A district conference in May at Prior Lake will focus on developing actions around food insecurity. The priority around cultural appreciation will include efforts to learn more about our neighbors.
A pdf of Ed's slides is available by clicking in the Download Files section below.
Recently retired SDRF Superintendent Jamie Benson spoke at our meeting about his 11 years at the helm of the district. He emphasized the good things that have happened and are happening in our schools while also reminding us of the many challenges that the SDRF administrative and teaching staff face both in their daily tasks and in the long-term management of the district's resources, both human and physical. Benson expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the community, including support from groups like Rotary. He specifically noted the major contribution that the school forest pavilion will be. Those of us in attendance thanked Jamie for his leadership, and we were happy to hear about both his family history and a little about his future plans. If you'd like more details, a pdf of Jamie's slides is available in the "download files" section below.
Jamie Benson retired June 30 after serving for 11 years as the School District of River Falls superintendent. He recently celebrated 40-years of marriage to his wife, Jan. Together they have three adult children and seven grandchildren.
At last week's meeting Rick Wilson reviewed our 24-25 River Falls Rotary budget. Anyone interested who missed the meeting can email rkerfwilson@gmail.com to ask questions or get a copy of the slides. A few main points: 1) budgeting for club operations will assume that membership level stays the same; 2) all club members need to think about membership and who might be a good fit for our club; 3) because of the pandemic "pause", we have adequate funds for the Pavilion project; 4) the District Grant has provided significant financial support, reducing the amount that needs to come from our club account.
While the Rotarians and guests enjoyed some excellent New Orleans-style food including jambalaya and beignets, Ezekiel's youth group leaders and youth participants told us about the ELCA Youth Gathering 2024, which took place in New Orleans with over 16,000 attendees in July. Themed "Created to Be," it emphasized embracing individuality and building relationships amid crises, encouraging participants to be brave, authentic, free, and just. Discussions on justice, mental health, and anti-racism fostered community and sanctuary. Supported by the River Falls Rotary, Ezekiel’s youth fund enabled 17 youth and 4 adults to attend this inspiring event. The meal money Rotary pays for breakfasts and lunches funds youth activities, and the leaders expressed their gratitude for the support that this arrangement provides. It's a true win-win for Ezekiel and River Falls Rotary.
In addition, we will had visits from three short-term exchange students. Participants in this relatively new Rotary exchange program shared their experiences with us. Due to limited prep time, this story is on the short side. The editorial staff will attempt to provide more details next week.
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