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 Ron.
Guests
Our speaker today, Mike Vekich with the MSFA; Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority.
Sarah Rashid, a Hopkins student who received our $2000 HHS scholarship, and will be attending the U of M. She is an honors student and spends time helping other students in transition, and her family. Congratulations, Sarah, and all the best as you enter your college life at the U.
Shauna has her father, Johnny, with her today.
Char has Jim Wright here today.
With Jennifer, Leslie Ivey is back for more fun as she is considering joining our club. She asks that we consider attending a Unite Hopkins Summer Event. 1. A Pot Luck on June 18 at The Bandshell, part of the Summer Music Series, 6:00, and 2. A Raspberry Festival event on July 16 at 5:00.
Invocation
On a 5-second notice, by Rev. Mac; It’s a WONDERFUL morning and let’s be grateful for this beautiful day. Let’s focus on all the blessings in our lives, and those that we share together in Rotary. We come together to work towards planning and doing our service, to help other people.
Ron added his own thoughts from the play A Chorus Line, which he recently attended. The actors have their personal stories, and become connected with the other actors. Together, they expand their lives, connect and value the others around them.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Unite for Good.
Paul Harris Awards
None this week.
Announcements
Mark Marlin reminds us of Minnetonka SummerFest on Saturday, June 27. 4-10:00. Look for an email from Annika to volunteer for a 2-hour shift. Wear a hat! (health rule)
Mike G. - we’re gearing up for the BIG club Links and Libations Fundraiser. There are jobs, some big, some small, for every member. Come to the 1st planning meeting at Jerald’s Hopkins Auto Body on Tuesday June 9. Probably 5:30, but check the time.
Beth J. - invites all to a Club Visioning strategic planning session on Tuesday July 14. It’s at the ICA offices on St. David’s Road, near Mtka Mills. This is an opportunity for your input as we periodically talk about our Club and its Direction.
Nancy D. - She is heading up our Polio Program this year, and there will be a Huge World Polio Day on October 24. Many Districts and friends will meet at The Mall of America and March in the morning before The Mall opens. Mark it down. It will be the largest Polio Walk in the US.
Our recent speaker, Mr. Gershonne, is willing to guide a nature tour of the Oak Savannah, even though not open to the public yet. Contact Nancy if you’d like to attend.
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Jim Martin, who’s shown some frequent ticket draws, alas was not holding the Joker.
Foundation Award Checks or Thank Yous
[Vicki Bachman from Revolve accepted a grant from the Foundation. Ed.]
Happy Bucks
Bob H. - for being just 1 month post broken elbow surgery, is happy with the R and L arm showing equal R.O.M. (range of motion). He’s waiting for the OK to ‘tee it up’
Beth J. - her Rosie Daze Band is now available on YouTube. She’s also grateful for the club response for community activities.
Alexa R. - a big Scout camping weekend with 120 campers over the weekend. Nolan with an early tent take-down. Her Dad was on his Rotary Club Alaska Trip; card shark, piano bar, and realizing he was being tracked every day.
Jim M. - for Sarah’s award and his wife having her 65th Birthday. Social Security, here I come!
Mike G. - for a fun year helping at the Eden Prairie school, and heading off to his 1st National Park, Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado. Mind the altitude, Mike; some 12,000 footers up there.
Lenny N. - his grandson Eric graduates from HS this year. Twins have won 2 in a row!
Nancy D. - thanks to all the garden volunteers. Take a look at Plot 54 in south Hopkins.
Mark Forsberg (Zoom) for an outdoor lunch with Mac recently.
Program
Mike Vekich with the MSFA; Mike enjoys being at Rotary, as he is a Charter Member of the City of Lakes Club.
Mike has his hand in financial leadership in complex organizations for many years. He is Minnesota’s “Go To Guy”. In 2017, he was appointed by the Governor to lead the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. It was to take on the project of building and running the US Bank Vikings Stadium. Many other events would be using the building as well. The Super Bowl, The Final Four were huge efforts, and it is up to 90% occupied with many others.
The job was not just to build it, but to operate it and maintain it in 1st class condition. “The Bank” is thought to be at the top of the NFL stadiums. The MSFA has 5 members who take 4-year rotating terms. It is very complex, considering that the State, County, City, Light Rail, Police and Vikings are all stakeholders. The Legends Global Co. operates it, and quite successfully. It guarantees a profit every year, which has been about 8%.
The stadium cost about $1.1 billion to build, and new stadiums are in the $4 billion range. The Vikings paid about $600 million of that initial outlay. The financing was partly up front, and the loan was off-set by electronic pull-tabs. With some early concern, pull tab sales have been strong enough to pay off the loan many years earl, saving hundreds of millions in interest.
The financial benefits to the city and state are have been immense. $1.36 billion in new spending in Minnesota and $2.77 billion in total economic activity. $19.3 billion in Minneapolis alone, as most are visitors are from out-of-state. 1.4 million visit every year. The State has benefitted with $14.2 billion; 8000 workers built it; 3000 workers are needed at events.
As the stadium is 10 years old this year, some $300 million is needed for the remodel, inside and out. Security is constantly an issue, and it gets better and wider every year.
Wow! How fortunate we are to hear about all this today, and to have Mike guide this and other leadership roles. Thank you, Mike, it was very interesting.
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!
