It was great to see so many of you at our Club Assembly/Social Event last Tuesday at Little Thistle! Was wonderful to sit and chat with everyone and enjoy each others company. Also was pleased to be able to give Pat Wimmer her Paul Harris Plus One pin. Thanks Pat for your support of the Rotary Foundation and also thanks to our Social Team for organizing this evening for us.
Other top announcements/highlights this week's are:
Board Meeting is on June 7th @ 7am and next morning club meeting is June 14th @ 7am in hybrid format.
We are pleased ,along with our Greater Rochester Rotary Club, to be one of the sponsors for 2022 Tailgate in support of Bolder Options on June 18th from 5-8pm at Mayo Field. Further details below, including how to purchase tickets.
In response, and in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Uvalde, Rotary District 5840 has set-up a Uvalde Community Relief Fundwithin their 501c3 Foundation. Details on how to contribute are below.
Jason Wagner is looking for pictures of our club in action to update our website. Please send any snaps you have to himjason.wagner@wagnerlegalmn.com
Please remember to continue to check the updated Greeter list for this year and look for your scheduled time. You can reach via the website or link below.
Rochester Rotary Risers is a dynamic and inclusive club of engaged members dedicated to making a lasting impact in our community and the world.
Board Meets on June 7th - Next Club Meeting June 14th
Our next club meeting will be June 14th in hybrid format at Hilton Garden Inn and via Zoom. Program team is working on another outstanding program speaker for us. More info to follow.
Bolder Options 2022 Tailgate Event - June 18th @ 5:00pm-8:00pm
Our board, in conjunction with the board of Greater Rochester Rotary club, have come together to be one of the sponsors for this up coming event in support of Bolder Options on June 18th from 5-8pm at Mayo Field. More information can be found HERE. Watch the rotating logs to see the Rotary Clubs of Rochester appear and also see information on how to purchase tickets to this event to further our support. You may remember that Carla Anderson presented to us back in February on Bolder Options and their mission to provide a a wellness-based youth mentoring program that matches at-promise middle school youth who are struggling with volunteer mentors. Additionally, Dewayne Alfred, who is the Food and Beverage Manager at Hilton Garden Inn and ensures that everything is ready for us to meet there, is a board member. He has personally expressed his gratitude for Rotary's support through the Holiday Classic and this sponsorship. If your calendars allow, please grab a ticket(s) and enjoy a great event in support of a wonderful organization.
Uvalde Community Relief Fund
The horror of the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in the community of Uvalde has been felt around the world, and Rotarians everywhere have reached out to the Rotary Club of Uvalde and District 5840 asking where they can send donations which will go towards healing.
In response, and in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Uvalde, our Rotary District 5840 has set-up a Uvalde Community Relief Fund within our 501c3 Foundation. The purpose of this fund will be to assist and comfort, where possible, those who are grieving and who are most affected by the shooting as well as to aid in the restoration of the shattered world view of the children, families, educators, and first responders of Uvalde.
You may make your tax deductible donation by check payable to “District 5840 Foundation” with a memo line of "Uvalde Community Relief Fund". Send the check to Rotary District 5840 Foundation, P.O. Box 13, Boerne, TX 78006. Or you can donate through Zelle using this email ROTARYUVALDECOMMUNITYFUND@GMAIL.COM. Note - if using Zelle, please add your email address and/or contact information in the comment section if you want a tax receipt.
Rotary Club of Uvalde president, Roberta Walden, has asked that if you have suggestions about books, projects, programs, or memorials which might aid in the healing process, that you please send them to rotaryuvalde@outlook.com. If you wish to speak to her personally, you may call her at 830-591-3372.
Please keep the Families and the Community of Uvalde in your prayers.
Erin O'Brien Bussian Graduates From Leadership Greater Rochester Program
Rochester Riser Rotarian Erin O'Brien Bussian recently graduated from the Rochester Area Chamber's Leadership Greater Rochester class of 2021-2022.
Leadership Greater Rochester is the Chamber's premier leadership development program. Since 1987, this program has propelled leaders in the community to further be inspired, connected and enlightened. The 950 alumni who have graduated from LGR have gone on to serve in various civic, community, and business leadership positions. The LGR network stretches across the community, present in almost every sector.
This 10-month program immerses three dozen leaders in sessions examining everything from economic development and the local arts scene, to workforce development and building a sustainable community. Through enriching conversations, behind-the-scenes tours, and work on the Community Impact Project, the LGR experience builds lifelong relationships and provides opportunities for business and community leaders to shape and contribute to the fabric of the greater Rochester area. https://www.rochestermnchamber.com/leadership-greater-rochester/
Congratulations, Erin, on this remarkable accomplishment!
JoMarie Morris Receives Social Justice Award
Rochester Riser Rotarian JoMarie Morris was recently recognized with a Social Justice Award from the Jeremiah Program.
JoMarie most recently served as the Executive Director of the Jeremiah Program in Rochester where she led the building campaign, established programming, and navigated the organization through the challenges of dealing with COVID-19. Jeremiah Program is a a national nonprofit with one of the most successful strategies for disrupting generational poverty among single mothers and their children.
Prior to Jeremiah Program, JoMarie practice law for almost 20 years. During much of that time, she focus on immigration law and worked with many individuals through challenging time.
Congratulations on this well deserved recognition!
Welcome Mariana Gonzalez Trevino!
Mariana has arrived for her year as a Research Intern at Mayo and will stay with host families from the 3 Rochester Clubs. Edgar, Audrey Betcher and Audrey's son Karl, welcomed Marianna to Rochester on Tuesday.
Ukraine Update on Contributions
D5960 Rotarians, here is an update from Ukraine for the contributions that you have made.
Total Funds transferred to D2232 in Ukraine $13,150.
Were used to purchase medicines from ‘Podoroznyk Vinnytsia Ltd'. These medicines were distributed among hospitals and communities of Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia.
These outcomes were reported to the White Bear Lake club on May 11th by Sergi Zavadsky, PDG of D2232 in Ukraine. His presentation is attached if you want more information.
DONATIONS NEEDED, and probably will be needed for a long time.
1. Rotary International has approved Ukraine and surrounding counties for Rotary Disaster Relief Grants. These are funded by the Disaster Response Fund. You can donate to the fund here. (note that D2232 has already applied for and received four Disaster Relief Grants). By donating to TRF this way, all donations qualify for Paul Harris awards but the donor cannot direct where the funds will be allocated.
2. White Bear Rotarian, Irina Fursman, a native Ukrainian, has been working for years with Ukraine. She has a non-profit, Global Synergy Group, set up to transfer funds from the US to Ukraine. Irina connected White Bear Rotary with D2232 PDG Sergii Zavadskyi, as a member of the District 2232 Coordinating Committee for Humanitarian Disasters. Their focus is on obtaining medicine and delivering it into Ukraine. These donations do not qualify for Paul Harris recognition but do go directly to D2232. Rotary Specific Link to donate via Credit Card: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SXMX59VG272PS
3. Global Synergy Group has several other avenues for supporting Ukraine that can be found on their site:
There are updates released every two weeks by Global Synergy Group. You are invited to sign up if you want to be kept in the loop: https://www.globalsynergygroup.org/updates
Your help is needed and greatly appreciated.
Seeking Host Families for Rotary Exchange Student
The Rochester Rotary Clubs are sponsoring a male foreign exchange student, Ruben, from Spain to attend Mayo High School during the 2022-23 school year. During the school year, three families within the same high school attendance area (or able to provide transport if outside the area) are needed to host the student from mid-August – early June (approximately August-November, December-March, March-June). The exchange student does not require their own room, as they can share a room with a host sibling of the same gender as long as they have their own bed. A proper place to study is also needed and they are required to attend school. Please contact Melody Trimble if you are interested in being a host family for the 2022-23 school year or for more information or questions: Melody Trimble, Youth Exchange Officer, thetrimbleotherhalf@gmail.com, 507-250-2579.
KIM NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
Please, whenever you complete Rotary-related service projects or activities above and beyond our regularly scheduled meetings, send your hours to Kim Keilholtz at kimdtm@msn.com. Eligible hours include those spent delivering Meals on Wheels, volunteering at Channel One, tree planting, Adopt a Family shopping, Samaritan Bethany tree decorating, Salvation Army bell ringing, STRIVE mentoring, house painting, tree planting, District workshops and meetings, newsletter prep, etc. Those members who have accumulated hours since July 1 and not submitted them to Kim should do so now. Thank you!
Around the District
A District Governor Installation Like No Other
Get ready to party like it's 1929! Our setting is The Commodore, where Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald welcomed their only child into the world (in between dance sets on the old rooftop nightclub!). This Jazz Age cocktail party features live music by the Weinberg Trio.
Professional dancers will teach you the Charleston, the Black Bottom and other period moves. A collaborative painting project will turn brushstrokes from all the guests into a new art work that would put Picasso to shame.
This event includes a pre-party on Dayle and Scott's nearby porch and a limited-capacity walking tour about F. Scott Fitzgerald led by historian Mark Taylor.
Post-party digs available with a special Rotary rate at The Davidson and Hotel 340.
