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Members of The Rotary Club of Rochester welcomed Laurel Podulke-Smith on February 26th the club's newest member. Alison Good is Laurel's sponsor.
Elected to the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners in 2022, Laurel Podulke-Smith takes up the work of local government as her life’s legacy. She is a longtime community leader, an avid volunteer, and serves on numerous non-profit and community boards. Laurel draws from her background in education, healthcare, and organizational leadership to perform the role of elected official with humility and determination. Laurel grew up in an artistic household and is a life-long advocate for the performing and visual arts. The job of elected official is a good fit for her as she combines community leadership, neighborhood advocacy, deep care for her fellow humans, and optimism for a vibrant future.
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA DROP-OFF DONATION DAY AT 125 LIVE SATURDAY, APRIL 11 8AM – NOON 125 Elton Hills Drive NW ~ LOWER PARKING LOT
Crutches 4 Africa is a Rotary Clubs of Rochester 3-club service project with a goal of collecting and distributing 3,000 devices to people in Africa who have limited mobility due to age or illness. Accepted devices include: crutches, canes, braces, arm slings, baby joggers, and non-motorized wheelchairs.
Volunteers are needed to help collect the devices on Saturday, April 11 at 125 Live. Please consider volunteering for a 2-hour shift by signing-up HERE.
On Saturday, May 23, bicyclists will have the opportunity to ride the first Rotary Ramble - a 50-mile tour starting in Northeast Rochester that includes a cruise on the Great River Ridge State Trail and visits to the towns of Viola, Elgin, and Plainview!
The Rotary Ramble is The Rotary Club of Rochester's new fundraiser. This inaugural 50-mile ride is the third ride option for the Med City Meander which also offers 15- and 25-mile meanders. For each bicyclist that registers for the Rotary Ramble, proceeds will go back to the club to assist in continue the important work and service club members provide both locally and globally.
In Rochester we are very fortunate to have three Rotary Clubs doing multiple projects together that benefit our community. To continue to promote communication among clubs, ensure fair collaboration on joint initiatives, enhance working relationships and maximize ‘doing good’ in our community and beyond we have implemented a 3-Club process as part of our 3-Club Leadership team work.
To initiate a 3-club proposal, simply bring the idea first to your own club leadership team. Once it’s approved by your club, then share the proposal with the 3-Club leadership team. The new process will ensure that the other clubs review the proposal and if approved, allocate the resources requested to ensure the project is successful. It’s as simple as that!
For more information, see your club President and/or President-Elect or one of the 3-Club Operations Coordinators: Elaine Case (elainecase1@gmail.com) and Sara Gilliland (scgill50@gmail.com).
Jeremiah Program families sent a thank you note for the Cook 4 Kids meal that our club provided on January 13.
Marilyn Deling invites her fellow Rotarians to sponsor a table at the Jeremiah Gala on Friday, May 8. A Patron table is $2,250 and seats 8-10 people. If 9-10 people would like to attend, the cost would be $225-$250 per person. Contact Marilyn if interested.
Registration Is Open: 2025–2026 Conference of Clubs
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the 2025–2026 Conference of Clubs, April 17 & 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton East in St. Paul. Registration is now open, and this year’s conference promises to be an engaging and inspiring experience for Rotarians across the district.
Whether you can join us for both days or just one, variable registration rates make it easy to participate in a way that fits your schedule. Attendees can look forward to delicious food, meaningful fellowship, and a lineup of compelling speakers who will challenge, inform, and energize you for the year ahead.
Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure. While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for Rotarians to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries.
Members of The Rotary Club of Rochester welcomed Laurel Podulke-Smith on February 26th the club's newest member. Alison Good is Laurel's sponsor.
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA
In Rochester we are very fortunate to have three Rotary Clubs doing multiple projects together that benefit our community. To continue to promote communication among clubs, ensure fair collaboration on joint initiatives, enhance working relationships and maximize ‘doing good’ in our community and beyond we have implemented a 3-Club process as part of our 3-Club Leadership team work.
