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Rotary Club of Rochester members and guests are invited to join the City of Rochester and the Rochester Parks Foundation for a special ribbon-cutting and opening celebration for the new Silver Lake Pool. Our club will join city leaders, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders as we celebrate this important investment in Silver Lake Park.
Our club, in recognition of our 100th anniversary, raised funds to purchase the four benches that surround the new splash pad area. A permanent plaque recognizing the gift from The Rotary Club of Rochester is beside each bench. Our club will be recognized during the ceremony and it would be great to have as many Rotarians as possible attend. Please stay after the ceremony so we can take a group picture.
Thank you again to everyone who donated to make this gift to our community possible. And, special thanks to the donor who offered the Challenge Grant to boost the fundraising. This gift is a visible, long-term asset for our community. Let's celebrate the completion of this project!
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 11:00 a.m. Silver Lake Pool | 840 7th Street NE | Rochester
Please note: The Silver Lake Pool will officially open to the public on Monday, June 8, 2026.
On Saturday, May 23, more than 120 bicyclists from Des Moines, Decorah, Madison, Milwaukee, Brainerd, Bemidji, Mankato, the Twin Cities area, Rochester, and all around Southeastern Minnesota, took part in the the first Rochester Rotary Ramble - a 50-mile tour which began in Northeast Rochester that included a cruise on the Great River Ridge State Trail and included visits to the towns of Viola, Elgin, and Plainview. The Rotary Ramble is The Rotary Club of Rochester's new fundraiser and generated approximately $9,000 which will be directed to local youth initiatives. This inaugural 50-mile ride was added to the Med City Meander which also offered 15- and 25-mile meanders.
Rotary Risers member Dean Stenehjem and his wife, Julie, rode the Rochester Rotary Ramble and posted the following: "The Rochester Rotary Ramble bike ride this morning was well done! Thanks to the Rotary Club of Rochester, there were over 120 riders doing the 43- or 53-mile routes to benefit Rotary projects! We did the 53-mile route on our trusty tandem. It was a bit chilly at 7:00 a.m. this morning, but it warmed up as the morning went on. Unfortunately the wind picked up and was in our face for the last 15+ miles. This ride was a part of, but separate from the Med City Meander, shorter routes that were on the bike paths in and around town. Thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers who made it possible to have a quality ride in our own community. PS: we met folks from the twin cities and Des Moines who also participated."
Thank you to all who participated and to all Rotarians, friends and family who volunteered not only on the day of the ride but helped create a successful event.
It takes an enormous amount of planning and support to start something new, and The Rotary Club of Rochester’s inaugural Rotary Ramble Bike Ride is no exception. Our thanks to our fabulous sponsors for believing in all the good work Rotary does - not only around the world but locally, too. We extend our sincere gratitude to the following sponsors:
The Rotary Clubs of Rochester are recruiting host families for next year's Rotary Youth Exchange students. Our clubs will be hosting two inbound students for the 2026-2027 school year and are in need of another 2-4 host families. Learn about our inbound students from France and Denmark and more about the youth exchange program by clicking here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rotarian Melody Trimble at thetrimbleotherhalf@gmail.com
Add Wednesday, June 17th, to your calendar to volunteer for the next White Oaks Park clean-up. Meet at the park at 6:00 p.m. It'll take about an hour to make sure the park is clean and safe for families to enjoy. Be sure to bring work gloves and plastic bags or a bucket for trash.
Why do members and family members and friends of The Rotary Club of Rochester clean this particular park? The answer is simple, the club adopted the park several years ago, and a small but mighty group of dedicated volunteers have kept the clean-up tradition going.
If you can't make it this month, mark your calendar for 6:00 pm. every third Wednesday on Wednesday, July 15, August 19, September 16, and/or October 21 (5:00 p.m. start). White Oaks Park is located at 4597 55th St NW in Rochester.
Pictured are May's volunteers minus John Woodruff who left before the picture was taken. Please consider joining this dedicated crew.
June is designated as Rotary Fellowships Month - a time dedicated to recognizing international friendships, global networking, and bring members together to share common hobbies, recreational activities, and vocations.
VFW
On Saturday, May 23, more than 120 bicyclists from Des Moines, Decorah, Madison, Milwaukee, Brainerd, Bemidji, Mankato, the Twin Cities area, Rochester, and all around Southeastern Minnesota, took part in the the first Rochester Rotary Ramble - a 50-mile tour which began in Northeast Rochester that included a cruise on the 
Add Wednesday, June 17th, to your calendar to volunteer for the next White Oaks Park clean-up. Meet at the park at 6:00 p.m. It'll take about an hour to make sure the park is clean and safe for families to enjoy. Be sure to bring work gloves and plastic bags or a bucket for trash. 
