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 called to order by President Ryan.
Guests
Lisa McDonald from the Excelsior Rotary.
Invocation
Invocation by Char M. - words of blessings, opportunities, and a gentle spirit among us all today.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Create Lasting Impact.
Paul Harris Awards
None this week.
Announcements
Several members updated us on our Links and Libations Fundraiser coming up Sept 10.
Mike G. - our goal is $45,000 net proceeds. That’s about $800/member in securing funding. Chris R. - we have several key sponsors in place (Restwell, Hopkins Auto Body, Feste Auto, Jewelry Works others?) Sponsors are the primary source of funds, and they get many golf slots. Invite NOW for donors, hole sponsors.
Tracy R. and Amy S. - baskets, silent auction; we need many donations in several categories. Think of creative ways to donate time, events. Each member should bring 1 or 2 bottles to the meetings. There will be events for kids and families this year, so ask friends to come even if not playing golf. It helps for more auction and basket bidding.
Nancy D. - she is our Polio chairperson this year. We have donated over $32,000 to Polio to date. Keep it Up!
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Ticket #472 was held by Chris, And the Joker was turned over. WINNER!.
Foundation Award Checks or Thank Yous
None today.
Happy Bucks
Frank B. - highlighted The Rotary Magazine with talk of Topeka, where he worked, and a beautiful picture of our own Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Phil H. - wondering why he wants to sing Zippity-Do-Dah when he reads the 4-way test.
Mark Marlin - for a nice Rotary event at St. Johns yesterday, and seeing the St Johns Bible. Jerald; his son Cameron is home (from)? and a trip upcoming to The Apostle Islands. 26-year history.
James W. - he’s done training and will now bike the MS 150 next week. Then a week in Wisconsin
Chris R. - $25 in Raffle proceeds, and for his 2008 Yukon with LOTS of miles, surviving a rear-end collision.
Bob H. - also, for the St. John’s Bible tour and going into his 1st dorm room from 1968. It’s still very small. His elbow is healed enough to take part in a 28-year tradition of a 3-day, 12 golfer Brainerd golf trip in August.
Glen J. - for a very nice family Alaska trip, where they ONLY had 2 hours of rain. Floriane; on Zoom, couldn’t make out her happiness.
Program
Leif Hagen, our annual talk from the current 5950 District Governor. Leif is a member of the Eagan Rotary Club, has been President 2 times, and has served in many roles with the District. He is a financial planner, and owns his own Art Gallery called the Hagen Huss Gallery.
Lief has a very long history of studying, using, and teaching many languages. He showed us many photos of his travels within and outside of Rotary. His love of art prompted him to name his year of District leadership The Art of Rotary. He refers to himself as the Curator of the District; he also says Alexa is the Encyclopedia of the District. We are already underway visiting several galleries for the art and Rotary fellowship.
Leif mentioned many topics today as activities and goals of the District in 2026-27
1 Start planning for 37,000 of our closest Rotarian friends for the International meeting next June. We need thousands of volunteers in many areas to welcome Rotary to Minneapolis. 2 The Mall of America Morning Walk on Monday, October 24, about 7:00 AM 3 Polio Plus Society; he’d like 100 people donating $100 for a $10,000 contribution. Our goal is $240,000 or about $1,500 per club. 4 The Rotary Foundation; our District goal is $700,000 5 New Clubs in the District; 2. New members in the District; 60. That’s less than 1 per club. 6 DDF; raise $142,000 which grows to $442,000. Global grants; raise $142,000, grows to $994,000. The Magic of Rotary can reach for a District goal of $1,420.000. Now we’re talking REAL Service. 7 A Road Trip to Chcago in May of 2027. 55 people (max) will see the Evanston headquarters, Paul Harris’s house, and some other highlights. 8 The District Annual Meeting on 4/23/2007 at The U of M MacNamara Center. Reserve now, it max’s out at 400 people. Many exchange students will be part of that. 9 Plan to go to Barcelona in June 2027. We’d like 60 from 5950 to attend. 10 Strive for our club to achieve the Rotary Excellence Award. Goal of 50 clubs to attain that honor. 11. Rotary Exchange students have always been a strong part of 5950 and 5960. The Northstar Exchange is probably the best of any in the country. 12 Lief recommends we think about 1,3, and 5 years of looking ahead. Make positive changes in your club, don’t get stagnant. We don’t want Rotary to be a “Best Kept Secret”. He is planning a Past DG Council to use all that experience to not end suddenly. 13 Use our social media, keep the pages fresh, be very conversant when someone asks what Rotary is about. Younger people use Instagram, Linked In. Go where they are.
Finally, be VERY active in helping plan for 2028 RI Convention. This is our chance to show the world what Rotary and Minnesota are all about. His final ask ; “Where will your Rotary Journey Take You?”
Thank you, Leif, for an inspiring Rotary game plan and all your enthusiastic leadership. The Art of Rotary is a great idea to bring us together. We enjoyed your talk today.
Adjournment
Bob H.
Member Submissions
From Mark Marlin and the Grief Club:
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.
Pizza With A Purpose
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!
