Meeting Minutes - Glen J.
Ron Usem (new club president) called the 7/9/2025 Rotary Club meeting to order at 7:30
Guests
Speaker Mark Shockey – Newly elected Governor for District 5950, Tom Gump (previous Governor), and Marc Usem (Edina Morningside Rotary).
Invocation
Invocation by Mac
Real happiness is achieved only when it is shared.
Pledge
Everyone.
4-Way Test
Everyone.
International Theme
Everyone. “The Magic of Rotary”
Paul Harris Awards
None this week.
Announcements
Jerald S. – gave everybody 2 10-tickets packets. By state law, we need the stubs on sold tickets and any unsold tickets returned to Jerald.
Mike G. – Next Planning meeting will be at Hopkins Auto Body on July ?? at 5:30
Mark M. – Thanked the volunteers that worked the Minnetonka Summerfest.
Cathy C. – Passing of the Gavel celebration will be today at 5:00 at Maynard's in Excelsior.
New Member Induction
None this week.
Rotary Minute
None this week.
Raffle
Chris R had the number but no winner.
Foundation Award Checks or Thank You's
Ron U. gave Holly Callen a $1,000 check from our Foundation for Bravo Zulu House.
This is the first house in the U.S. that treat veterans that have PTSD & a drug or alcohol addiction. The house is now open & they have begun work on the support dog kennel.
Ryley Rydell (Ryan’s daughter) described her experience at Camp RYLA. Many great group exercises that focus on skills needed to be a leader.
Happy Bucks
Mark M. – Great Summerfest
Alissa O. – Happy for Ron as new club president
Ron U. – Grateful to be able to serve as president.
Chris R. – Our club members gave the Rotary International $30,917 this year. Including the Polio plus contributions it brings the total to $34,082. This averages $618/member which is well above the district average.
Mike G. – Thanked Ron for volunteering at the Eden Prairie grade school. Mike is watching his daughter’s dog. He doubts he will get a dog of his own. [Thanked Lenny N. for having coffee yesterday.]
Floriane N. – Attended a Rotary Club in Rwanda. The members address each other as Rotarian name much like we do as a sign of respect for doctors. X-Presidents as held in high regard.
Alexa R. – Fortunate to have the 2 best bosses in Mark Shockey & Tom Gump.
Lenny N. – Enjoyed his get together with Mike G & will be cheering the Twins on today at Target Field.
Program
Mark Shockey (newly elected Governor for District 5950) has over 30 years with Rotary.
He went to H.S. in Pittsburgh PA where he learned that having a friend is a great assess.
Mark was invited to join Rotary in Pittsburgh the day he started his first full-time job in 1989. He learned that with friends he can accomplish much more.
Here in MN, he has been part of the Edina/Morningside Club and was part of the chartering of the Rotary Club of Service to Minnesota Veterans in 2019.
The Shockeys have 3 married daughters, all living in the Twin Cities Metro Area, and have 5 grandchildren.
Mark is the pastor of St. Peter’s - Edina, a Lutheran Church, and Early Childhood Education Center. In addition, he serves as a chaplain to a NASCAR Cup Series team nationally and locally during the summer at Elko Speedway.
He says that without a doubt, the leadership skills he has gained over the last 30 years in Rotary have helped prepare him for several organizational roles and gave him experiences that he uses daily in his professional life.
Adults with meaningful friends live longer.
Meaningful refers to 1) being a member of community club or organization, 2) volunteering 3) extending and accepting invitations.
In MN 86% of retirees are lonely in the 1st year.
45% of Rotarians stay in their club due to the friends they have made there,
Together we can create lasting changes in our communities and across the globe.
Three final announcements from Mark:
A District 5840 District Relief fund has been set up for the flooding in TX.
A Rotary Partnerships event will be at Valley Fair Sept 13.
Tom Gump and others have been successful in getting the state to issue custom Rotary car license plates.
Adjournment
Money Raised for Polio & Raffle – Glen didn’t catch.
Meeting ended at 8:35
Member Submissions
Nothing this week.
