Club President
member photo

I hope that you've had an opportunity to get out and enjoy some of the recent beautiful weather.  We all have plenty of reasons not to get outside...but rain isn't one of them.  Depending on exactly where you live, last month ranked somewhere in the Top 5 driest Aprils.  Then, May planting was delayed due some unseasonably cool nights.  But, this week's warmer temps have the garden centers busy as bees, dandelions in full bloom and "A Graduate Lives Here" signs springing up.  As another Rotary year winds down and COVID restrictions lifted, there's lots happening within the club and at the District.  I hope you can join us for a Channel One volunteer night, an upcoming District event or two and maybe we'll even pull off our June 29th installation at Gamehaven.

 

Program/Greeter List

 
 
 
FARR Program
Come Zoom with us on Tuesday morning and learn about one of Rochester's and southeast Minnesota's newest support programs.  Family Advocacy in Recovery and Restoration (FARR)—a new program of Family Service Rochester—provides recovery support for women who are pregnant and/or parenting. FARR provides outreach and prevention to decrease the impacts of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders. Offices are located in Winona and Rochester.
 
Risers Survey
Did you take a few minutes and complete the recent club survey?  We want and need your input as the club plans on how to proceed at the start of a new Rotary year.  Thanks to those who took the survey.  If you haven't already done so, what are you waiting for?  Take advantage of today's deadline and let Beth and her team know what you think...
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H8SGN9X
 
Tech Support Volunteers Needed
Thanks to a Rotary District equipment grant, the Risers now have the equipment needed to move to a hybrid delivery model.  In addition to the club-purchased computer, we now have the camera, mics, pedestal and more to assure a quality live and virtual meeting delivery.  What's missing are a handful of Risers willing to volunteer to set up and help operate the equipment once meetings at the Hilton Garden Inn resume.  Training will be provided and you won't be required to arrive early for every meeting (maybe just once a month or so) to set up equipment.  If you'd like more information on the role and responsibilities or, better yet, are willing to volunteer, please let Beth know ASAP.
 
We Heard You!
Several of you indicated that the timing of our June 15 and 17 Visioning Sessions cut into your workday, making it impossible for you to participate.  So, we requested a change in start time...and the District Visioning Team agreed!  Hopefully, moving the start time for both dates from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. will allow more Risers to participate.  To make it a quality and effective session, I'd like 7-10 more volunteers.  The process is painless and the outcome will impact the club's direction for the next several years.  Please do what you can to accommodate this time change and let me know at don.supalla@gmail.com if you can join us.
 
Social Team Volunteers
If you like to plan parties, organize social outings or are one of the many fun-loving Risers wanting to spread cheer, the Social Team wants you to join them.  McKinsey Goodenberger, Risers Social Team Lead, is looking for help...
I could use a couple more members for the social committee.  Now that vaccines are readily available, Minnesota and Olmsted County have a decent vaccination rate and state mask-wearing mandates are being revised, I would like the Social Team to start planning our safe re-entry into in-person get-togethers!!  A few suggestions of members I should reach-out to would be helpful.
If you'd like to join the Social Team, or have suggested names of other Risers you think would make a good addition, please connect with McKinsey at Goodenberger.McKinsey@mayo.edu.
 
Save the Date for Channel One (June 5; 6-8 p.m.)
Kim has arranged for the Risers to return to Channel One for a community service activity.  I hope you can join your Rotary Risers colleagues on Wednesday, June 2, from 6-8 p.m. when we will be packing NAPS boxes.   Details will follow in the newsletter and at club meetings.
 
Meals on Wheels
Our club's Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Joanne Rosener (pictured above), has a need and a "Service Above Self" opportunity. With COVID, our service opportunities are somewhat limited. Meals on Wheels, however, is one ongoing service activity our Club is doing.  Due to some changes in availability of members, we need two persons to assist on the second Thursday and one person on the third Thursday starting January through June.  If you can help, contact Joanne at joanne.rosener@gmail.com.

If taking on an ongoing assignment is not something you can commit to, please consider signing up for one shift. See below for dates. All shifts start at 11:15 AM and finish at approximately 12:30 PM.  June 10 is this Rotary year's last available date.
 
 
The District Awards program is wrapping up, with the deadline for submissions at midnight on Monday, May 17.  Thanks to the Risers team leads that have drafted award nomination materials.  The Risers will be submitting nominations in the following categories:  District Governor Citation, Vocational Service, Club Service, Community Service, Public Image and International Service.  
 
If you’d like to help judge this year’s District Awards, please let the District know as they are looking for more people to review the submissions!  The District will provide directions to you; all you need is a couple hours to review some submissions.  It’s a great way to learn what other clubs are doing and be energized when you see all the efforts our clubs make to help the world around us!  Joanne Rosener has participated as a judge in the District's annual awards program.  If you'd like to learn more about judge's responsibilities, time commitment or rewards please contact her immediately at joanne.rosener@gmail.com.
 

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.comEligible 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!
 

Dean Stenehjem & Peggy Elliott Want You to Know...

 
 

Around the District

 

Registration is now open for this year’s Conference of Clubs! 
 
As more Minnesotans are vaccinated yet practice pandemic safety, we are planning an OUTDOOR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY  Conference of Clubs on Saturday, June 5th , 10am - 2pm , at the Rotary Pavilion  in Levee Park in Hastings Register today!
 
We are excited about this opportunity to see many of you in person and others virtually as we celebrate this Rotary year.
 
AGENDA
 
10:00 a.m.   Registration Opens
 
House of Friendship 
 
10:30 - Celebration! Fellowship and introduction of Rotary's 7th Focus Area: The Environment. Special guest Past Rotary International President Ian Risley, Rotary Club of Malta Australia. Awards. 
             
Visit virtually with Rotarians across the District. 
 
11:30 - 2:00pm - Enjoy fellowship, visit the House of Friendship, Guided Tours. 
 
Lunch  - On your own - Enjoy Hastings!
 
Cost: Free Event
 
PANDEMIC SAFETY
  • All activities will be outdoors and we will practice appropriate distancing.
  • Masks will be required (and available at the registration desk).
  • Large pavilion and limited seating available on the lawn. Rotarians are encouraged to bring their portable camping chairs
  • If you are not comfortable attending in person, participate virtually. (details to follow)
  • Seating on the grass so guests are encouraged to bring their own folding camp chairs or blankets.
  • Carpooling from Rochester to Hastings is an option.
 
Join Us!
 
Installation for Kenny Klooster
Greater Mankato Rotary Club 
 
2021- 2022 District Governor Rotary District 5960
Friday, June 25th 
6pm - 9pm 
 
Location: The Blue Boat, 12 Civic Center Plaza , Suite 1710, Mankato MN 56001
 
Hor d'oeuvres provided.
Cash bar.
 
Free Event but Registration Requested - Click Here
 
Join Us!
 
 
Are you aware that Rotary has a curling event strictly for Rotarians?  The USA typically holds a national competition in combination with Curlers from Ontario known as the Rotary Can-Am games.   With the pandemic the event was not held last year (and may not be able to be held this year), so the competition will be held with just the US teams, and it will be held in WISCONSIN in October.  This is an excellent opportunity for Rotarians in our area to experience the event.   At the October 22-24, 2021, event to be held in Janesville, three USA teams will be selected to take part in the Rotary World competition in Dumfries, Scotland in 2022.
 
If you want to experience curling in the great friendship of Rotary, we encourage you to check it out.  Bring your own team or we can partner you with other Rotarians.  The event is open curling.  For more info:  Don Drost; Barron County Rotary; 715-458-6500 or drostdon@chibardun.net.
 

Stories
May Calendar Raffle Winners
Winners Initials:Ticket #:Amount won:Date drawn:Purchased from: 
AS919205/1/21Deb C & Elaine C 
DF - DONATE210205/2/21Tom Fleming 
MB278205/3/21Jolene Hansen 
CD330205/4/21Arne Lansverk 
JG649205/5/21Jason Wagner 
ZJ828205/6/21Janet Swanson 
AB948205/7/21Deb C & Elaine C 
FS12205/8/21Gail Baker 
SS9111005/9/21Deb C & Elaine C 
KG183205/10/21Peggy Elliott 
HK793205/11/21Dean Stenehjem 
RS811205/12/21Paul Baessler 
JL44205/13/21Brianna Berg 
SP452205/14/21Bruce Remme 
AS517205/15/21Tim Schmitt 
BP682205/16/21Pat Wimmer 
BP683205/17/21Pat Wimmer 
PG272205/18/21Jolene Hansen 
CW660205/19/21Jeff Warfield 
BF277205/20/21Jolene Hansen 
WG232205/21/21McKinsey Goodenberger 
CD562205/22/21Dean Stenehjem 
KD32205/23/21Gail Baker 
KS998205/24/21Dean Stenehjem 
DB795205/25/21Dean Stenehjem 
CD329205/26/21Arne Lansverk 
JW566205/27/21Dean Stenehjem 
CB794205/28/21Dean Stenehjem 
JJ77205/29/21Matt Cantlon 
PO705205/30/21Peggy Elliott 
AL852205/31/21Brianna Berg 
      
Rochester Rotarian to be Future District Governor
The Rotary Risers join our other Rochester Rotary colleagues in congratulating Patricia McCleese, Greater Rochester Rotary member, on her selection as District 5960 District Governor 2023-24.  Patricia has been very active in her GRR club, an advocate for all three Rochester clubs and extremely engaged in District 5960 initiatives and projects.  The Risers wish Patricia well in her new adventure and look forward to working with her as she assumes her new role and responsibilities.
 
World Immunization Week
Please review the following message from Ed Marek, District Governor 5960...
 
As winter fades (knock on wood!) and the spring takes over, we are heading into World Immunization Week (April 24-30). In our district, thanks to a big push during the Strike Out Polio campaign in October 2020, we've raised over $110,000 for PolioPlus. Forty-eight clubs have already participated and we want to work hard to get up to 100% participation. As Richard Maus (himself a polio survivor) said in 2013 when he accepted the "Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World" (the Americas Region of the World Health Organization), "When someone asks me where I was during the fight to eradicate polio, I want to be able to say I was doing my part". On the downside, we still have seventeen clubs that have not yet stepped up to contribute something to the cause. This email is to celebrate what we've done already and get motivated for a strong finish.
 
 As you know, the entire African Region was certified free of wild poliovirus in August 2020 and only Pakistan and Afghanistan remain polio-endemic. In 1988, when Rotary took on this job, there were 125 countries that were still polio-endemic and 350,000 cases across the globe.
 
 
 What you might not know is that the cold chains that Rotary and its partners have put into place across the globe (refrigerators, vehicles, bicycles, thermal carrying cases) will be used to transport COVID-19 vaccines as well. The laboratories that we've built are already being used to track COVID-19 and prevent its spread. The volunteers we have trained for polio work are also helping with education to families about wearing masks, hand-washing, and getting vaccinated as soon as possible. In some ways, the developing world is more committed than the developed world to vaccination, due in part to Rotary's strong work in support of polio eradication.
 
Please share the following video with your club, https://youtu.be/veSxemvEqr8 . Check with your board to be sure you've set and met your goals for the year for PolioPlus. Does your club need updates and some motivation? We have a speaker team ready to Zoom in (or even attend in person) to present on the current status of polio eradication. Less than ten cases so far this year of the wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but we need to keep the pressure on and keep vaccination rates high to create herd immunity and maintain it for three full years to rid the world of polio. We are truly sooooo close!
 
Not long ago, younger Rotarians had a hard time understanding what the fear of polio was all about. It was hard to accept that schools, swimming pools, and theaters would be closed and people could not congregate every polio season. How could polio close down the State Fair in 1946? Now, unfortunately, the idea of a pandemic is very real to all of us and many of us have lost friends and family to COVID-19. We know the importance of getting the vaccines to those in need. This is the year for us to double down and recommit to finishing the job of eradicating polio. In the process, we'll be helping to protect people around the world from COVID-19 as well.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
DG Ed Marek
District Rotary Foundation Team Leader PDG Kyle Haugen
Joe Stahlman and Charlie Cogan, Co-Leaders of the District 5960 PolioPlus Team
 
 
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Rotary Involvement with COVID Vaccination
 
 
 

Rotarians:

In these difficult days, we are so heartened to receive such uplifting reports on the unrelenting efforts of our Rotary members who have responded in their communities against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the single question we hear time and again is, “Are we getting involved with COVID vaccination?”

The answer is yes.

This does not mean we will deviate from our commitment to eradicating polio, which remains our highest priority and continues to be our only corporate program. Polio vaccinations must continue unabated, as must our effort to raise $50 million per year for this effort.

But now, COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available around the world, and our members have an important role to play.

We ask you to encourage you to:
  • Use Rotary’s knowledge of vaccine safety and efficacy based on our polio eradication experience to support vaccination efforts in your communities. This will need to be tailored to local contexts to address unique cultural and regional needs.
  • As vaccine distribution begins in your country, partner with local organizations or health authorities to offer your club’s support with vaccination efforts as required.
  • Help combat the powerful, growing force of vaccine resistance and misinformation. Advocacy in our communities is critical — we need to spread the message about the power of vaccines to protect lives.
  • Stop the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to engage in projects supporting mask-wearing, distancing, proper hygiene practices, and donations of personal protective equipment — before and after vaccination. 
Please take a moment to view the video message.

Thank you.

Holger Knaack                                                                         K.R. Ravindran
President, Rotary International                                                Chair, The Rotary Foundation
 
Supporting the Environment

The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.

More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.

RI President Mark Maloney says that during his travels around the world as a Rotary senior leader he encountered many Rotary members and Rotaractors who advocated for the environment to be an area of focus.

“I believe strongly that our Rotary Foundation programs now have a valuable added dimension to our efforts,” says, Maloney.

Foundation Trustee Chair Gary C.K. Huang says that with the global population reaching near eight billion, protecting the environment is increasingly important.

“It is time for us to use our collective resources to invest in a smart and efficient way to protecting our environment,” says Huang. “We are qualified to take this initiative because we are a global group of problem solvers with diversified talents.”

In 1990-91, RI President Paulo V.C. Costa made the environment one of his primary causes, creating the Preserve Planet Earth subcommittee, which looked at ways clubs and members could conduct environmental initiatives.

“We have finally caught up to Costa [his vision],” says Past RI President Ian H.S. Riseley, chair of the Environmental Issues task force, which championed the new area of focus.

“As a lifelong environmentalist, I’m delighted that our great organization has recognized that the environment is a worthy and appropriate destination for our project activity,” says Riseley. “This is an exciting moment in Rotary history.”

Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.

Grant applications for projects will be accepted beginning on 1 July 2021. Gifts and commitments from Rotarians and others will be sought to provide global grant support for the new area of focus.

More information about this new cause will be announced soon.

The State of Rotary/Rotaract Membership
Understanding Rotary members’ needs — the key to engaged members 
What do members want from their Rotary experience? And why do some members leave? Our research shows that members value local community service, friendship, and fellowship most. They cite time and cost, the club environment, and unmet expectations as reasons for leaving. 
Club Information
Rochester Risers
Service Above Self
Tuesdays at 7:00 AM
Hilton Garden Inn
225 S. Broadway
Rochester, MN 55904
United States of America
We are meeting via Zoom until at least June 30, 2021.
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
Meeting Responsibilities
Greeter 1
Hansen, Jolene
 
Greeter 2
McNeil, Joel
 
Program Coordinator
Sutor, April
 
Speakers
May 18, 2021 7:00 AM
Kelli DeCook
May 25, 2021 7:00 AM
Jamie Sundsbak
Jun 01, 2021 7:00 AM
Board Meeting
Jun 08, 2021 7:00 AM
Hormel Institute - Dr. Robert Clarke
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Joel McNeil
May 12
 
Amy Donahoe-Anshus
May 26
 
JoMarie Morris
May 31
 
Join Date
Don Supalla
May 1, 1992
29 years
 
Kimberly Keilholtz
May 15, 2018
3 years
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Community Service Team Lead
 
Vocational Service Team Lead
 
Club Service Team Lead
 
International Service Team Lead
 
Rotary Foundation Team Lead
 
Past President
 
Fundraising Team Lead
 
Human Trafficking Officer
 
Rotary Classic Event Liaison
 
Youth Service Team Lead
 
STRIVE
 
Literacy Team Lead
 
Social Team Lead
 
President Elect Nominee
 
Membership Team Lead
 
Co-Webmaster
 
Public Image Team Lead
 
Co-Webmaster
 
Club Administrator
 
Russell Hampton
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