Next Meeting February 14, 2024 - President Tony N. 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 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.
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 - Bob H.
Meeting called to order by President Tony;
Guests
Thomas Richards, who heard about our club and wanted to take a look. Welcome, Thomas. Courtney, Mary T’s daughter, visiting from Taiwan. Our speakers here today from The Special Olympics, Eric Anderson and Caitlin Mack.
Invocation
Invocation by Amy S, with words from Eleanor Roosevelt.
We are not alone in our lives. We have others along side of us to accomplish our tasks, we need a following for results. All great leaders have had like-minded people around them. Cooperation and mutual respect for others is essential. Children see these relationships and carry them forward. These ‘Others’ are important in our family, friendships, and work places. Rotary is a great example of how others work together to accomplish great things.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone.
Announcements
Tony N. - he wants us to supply photos and any visual content for our Cub site.
Alexa T-shirts are available. Fill out the social calendar today for the many events coming up. Charter Night is coming up soon, at Ann’s home. Mon, Feb 12, 5:30 or 6:00 start.
Pet G. - a great time at the Jersey Boys, show; He wants to start a Movie Night, with either Westerns or or The Crown episodes. Beer, Pizza, and for some, Dewers
Don C. - We are starting a Visioning Committee, with group of members on a committee to meet and plan our future. All club input is welcome, but 5 or 6 of us to hone suggestions down to a Mission Statement. Contact Don if you’re interested.
Courtney, from Taiwan. - She is working on a plan to cultivate wild plantings in Cambodia. The Taiwan Rotary, and us perhaps, can be a funding source. They are entering Stage 2, planting in 5 spots in Cambodia. More info to come.
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Amy S. - draws the ticket, but the fresh deck still holds the Joker. Play on!
Foundation Award Checks
None this week.
Happy Bucks
Frank B. - happy for our International arm of our Club Foundation to help with projects like Courtney has suggested.
Don C. - for Cathy and Char back from The Bahamas.
Pete G. - he received an official patent on his invention, The ‘Schtick’
Char M. - for her getaway in Nassau, and her grandson seeing what all the fun is about.
Amy S. - for upcoming travel to Switzerland, New York, and Singapore
Valbona B. - for her daughter, as part of a musical training program, now looking for a keyboard.
Cathy C. - having her ankle replaced on Valentine’s Day, will be Zooming for the next 6 weeks.
Phil H. - being with Alexa and others, when the good news of the 2029 RI Convention in Minneapolis! Phil was part of the Mpls project that built the Convention Center and Hilton.
Alexa R. - “Oh What a Night at the Chanhassen last week, and got to meet Pete’s wife Linda.
Bob H. - happy to have played golf yesterday, and can now mark off playing golf every month in MN Also, he, and another Rotarian are cleared for guest services at Twins games this upcoming season.
Tony N. - for our success with The Polar Plunge on Mar 9
Program
Eric Anderson and Caitlin Mack from Minnesota Special Olympics.
Caitlin gave us some data; This is our 7th year as a club participating. Our club raised $13,575 in 2023, and over $36,000 in total. There were 16 Mtka Rotary plungers. The Eden Prairie event alone this year has $41,000 in hand for their goal of $210,000.
Special Olympics MN has over 50 plunges every year, and their goal is $5 million for this year. They have been plunging for 26 years.
Eric gave his personal story as a Special Olympic Athlete. He has participated in several sports. The experience has gone well beyond an athlete, to coaching, mentoring, and public speaking. There are 8000 athletes in MN alone, and the Special Olympics has been life changing for him
Disability had historically been an experience of exclusion. Separate schools or classrooms, few mainstream opportunities., discouragement. S.O. has made it a very inclusive experience. Eric has made so many friends and feels his world is much more unified as a result.
He says we are so much more alike than we are different. He now feels welcomed by everybody. People with disabilities have a lot to offer, and more are coming all the time.
Thank you to Eric and Caitlin for your work and telling us about S.O. A special nod to Jerald for being a Champion of it for our club. As of this morning we have FIVE club members and their businesses that will match up to $50 for every sponsor. WOW!
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