Next Meeting June 3, 2026- President Ron U. called the next weekly meeting in person and Zoom at The Marsh, 15000 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN.
New Pictures - Send to michaelcglover@comcast.net. [Ed.]
****** See Education, Social and Service Activities Below *****
From the Members and Archives
IMPORTANT UPDATE to Upcoming Events Below
Important - Check with meeting leaders to confirm date, time and location information for all events below.
Happy Bucks and Polio Pitcher Donations
Please send your Happy Buck and Polio Pitcher donations to Mac H. as follows:
Mac Hardin
Minnetonka Rotary Club
12926 Rutledge Circle
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Rotary International Foundation
Please send your end of year donations to Chris Rosenlund as follows:
Chris Rosenlund
8672 Meadowvale Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Meeting Minutes
Meeting opened at 7:30 with President Ron
Guests
Our speaker today, Jerrold Gershone with the Cullen Nature Preserve. Vicki Bachman from Revolve, and Jim Benshoof from The New Hope-Crystal Rotary Club.
Invocation
Invocation by Char - As Rotarians, we have opportunities to serve that we will not take part in ourselves. We won’t drink from the wells we install, eat of the crops we help grow, learn at the schools we build and teach, and live in the houses we build. We do share in the happiness that our services help provide in the world. We give thanks for sharing in the world-wide service of Rotary.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Unite for Good.
Paul Harris Awards
None this week.
Announcements
Terry J. - update on the progress of our freshly fenced, tilled and planted garden. She’s thankful for the volunteer hours, and asked us to sign up for hours as needs arise. It’s in south Hopkins, Westbrook area, Valley View Park, Plot #54. Email her at tj27802@gmail.com
Bill S. - Cinco de Mayo wrap-up meeting at The Bear Cave tonight. 5:00
Mark Marlin - watch for sign-up hours for our Minnetonka Summerfest coming up on Saturday, June 27, 90-minute shifts between 4 and 10:00.
Char M. - with Club Foundation news. a $2000 grant is awarded to Vicki Bachman with Resolve Humanitarian. They spoke to us recently about the important work they do in Africa and Ukraine. They opened the Wild Hope Project to assist kids in Africa with education, lifestyle and confidence.
Jim Benshoof announced his Rotary Club’s annual golf event coming up on Tuesday June 23, 12:00 noon. Edenborough Golf Club. Contact him, or sign up at
www.CMHR-otary.org
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Raffle ticket of Ryan R. drawn, but Joker stays hidden. Play On!
Foundation Award Checks or Thank Yous
[Vicki Bachman from Revolve accepted a grant from the Foundation. Ed.]
Happy Bucks
Happy Bucks with Rebecca.
Terry S. - taking a trip with, or to see, his grandchildren.
Mark Marlin - for a great Alaska trip with 38 other Rotarians from far and wide.
Jim M. - for his two daughters getting together in Spain, one who is teaching there.
Jennifer S. - for a Chicago visit, and a day on her son’s new boat, made much more interesting with a patrol boat, AND, a helicopter giving them some up close attention. All records were in order.
Terry J. -dfor the help from several Rotarians with the Club Garden.
Frank B. - for a trip to Nebraska, seeing some relatives (both live and in cemeteries), and an appreciation for the immense wide open land of our country.
Chris R. - for the help he, and we all get, from other members. Specifically, Ryan and Jerald this time.
Nancy D. - for a wonderful trip on the Camino Real in Spain. She saw a large Rotary sign at the very westernmost point of the continent.
Bob H. - not THAT happy, but that May has not been a good month for our members bones. He fell and broke his elbow on May 1, surgery required. And Cathy, on May 24, fell and broke her Femur. No surgery, but she’s in the hospital for a while. Quick recoveries are hoped for by them, and they appreciate the club support.
Bill S.- also for some help from Jerald.
Club Bylaws
The Club By-Laws and Membership Vote. A committee has been meeting to update the by-laws, last done about 10 years ago. A vote today, and it was deemed unanimous to accept.
Program
Speaker, invited by Rebecca. Jerrold Gershone with the Cullen Nature Preserve and Ecosystem.
Jerrold is long time neighbor and friend of Minnetonka. A 30-acre plot of land had been donated years ago to the City by the family of Anna Cullen Smith. He calls it the Crown Jewel of our open spaces in Mtka.
Anna Cullen, born in 1905, was a prominent and well-known socialite in Mpls. She and her husband moved to the country in 1937, loving wanting to be closer to nature. The plot was on an Oak Savannah, which once occupied over a million acres. Native Americans valued these Savannahs for quiet, safety, and the open terrain. They actually managed the land with fires. Oaks are relatively fire-proof.
Anna lived to age 105, and her son Bill is still with us into his 90’s. He picked up the preservation of the land, and was very instrumental in keeping it pristine, and getting it to Minnetonka.
The City bought the property for only 50% of its value, a generous donation.
Jerrold discussed all the work that volunteers have done in the restoration. Much buckthorn had to be removed. Trees were removed for the sun that Oaks need. Native seeds were purchased and planted, building the base of the Ecosystem. Once growth and flowers grew, insects and birds followed.
There are now 17 separate plots, with higher knowles and lower water. At least 63 species of birds have been identified as of 2023. Newer oaks are being planted to mix with some over 200 years old.
The Group called Friends of Minnetonka Parks are continually improving this and other open land. The goal is to open it to the public in a year or so, with soft trails and boardwalks to let us experience the beauty and history of this beautiful gift. Jerrold said he is happy to organize a walk for our membership.
Thank you, Jerrold for this interesting talk on an area I think few of us knew about. Our club stands ready to assist how we can, as we are strong stakeholders as well in the City.
Adjournment
Submitted by Bob H.
Member Submissions
From Mark Marlin:
Dear Friend,
Every day, children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers are learning how to carry the weight of grief while finding their way forward.
At The Grief Club of Minnesota, we witness their courage as they share their stories, support one another, and rediscover hope. As we reach more grieving kids and families, our community continues to come together in meaningful ways to surround them with care and support.
Because of the generosity of those who believe in our mission, all services are provided by skilled licensed counselors at no cost to the families we serve, helping remove barriers to high quality mental health care.
In this edition of The Club Connection, we’re sharing what’s coming up, including our summer grief camp, school staff trainings, upcoming golf event, community gatherings, and ways to get involved.
Whether you are a grieving family, community partner, supporter, or sponsor, we invite you to be part of the healing.
All Star Day Grief Camp
This popular camp for grieving youth blends counselor-led support with engaging, camp-style fun. The morning centers on reflection and connection, while the afternoon features “All-Star” outdoor activities and inspiring athlete stories. Campers build coping skills and form meaningful peer connections in a supportive environment.
Hit the course for a great cause! Gather colleagues, friends, or neighbors for a round of golf, lunch, fun games, and prizes while supporting grieving kids and families across Minnesota. Your participation helps create connection, and hope for families navigating the death of a loved one.
Sponsorships and Foursomes are available and selling fast!
The pizza truck is coming to our parking lot! Join us for a relaxed evening of fresh, wood fired pizza, games, connection, and community. Grief Club families are invited to bring loved ones, community members are welcome to join us, and learn more about how we support grieving kids and families.
In response to growing requests from school communities, The Grief Club of Minnesota will offer two trainings designed to help school staff strengthen their ability to support grieving students. Led by founders Cara Mearns-Thompson and Sarah Kroenke, who bring more than 50 years of combined experience, the sessions will share practical strategies for responding to student grief and fostering supportive school environments.
Mark your calendar for an inspiring evening celebrating hope, connection, and the power of community, all in support of vital grief resources for children and families. We will be accepting sponsorships along with live and silent auction donations to help make this meaningful event possible.
All are invited to an evening of reflection, love, and light as we gather to remember family and friends who have gone before us and honor those who have supported us along our grief journey.
The evening will feature a dedication program, outdoor tree lighting, music, mingling, warm beverages, sweet treats, and cookie decorating.
We are grateful to be a trusted resource for providers and partners throughout the state who support families navigating grief.
There are many ways to receive support and to offer it to others. Whether you attend an event, become a sponsor, share our mission, or make a gift, you help ensure that no one has to navigate grief alone.
Thank you for being part of a community that shows up with compassion when it matters most!
With hope, Sarah Kroenke Executive Director, Co-Founder, and Grief Counselor The Grief Club of Minnesota
From Alexa R. -
From Frank B. -
Frank, I wanted to follow up and say THANK YOU for the opportunity to present this morning. Shannon and I had a great time and we really appreciated the engaging questions afterwards. We can tell you have a thoughtful and passionate group which is what is needed to drive community impact! You inspired us to check out our own communities' local Rotary chapters.
I wanted to follow up with a few resources from our presentation today since members were requesting more information and we didn't have our business cards on hand. If you are open to it, do you mind sharing the following resources with your members so that they can reach out with their follow ups? A few members that we spoke to afterwards are so well connected in relevant statewide organizations, we would love to connect and get further information!
