PLEASE NOTE: If you receive the Moccasin Flower via GMAIL, the message may be "clipped" due to its length. No worries, click the "View entire message" link at the bottom of the Moccasin Flower email to read the entire newsletter! Remember to visit the TRCR website for the most up-to-date news.
June 5: Weekly Meeting noon-1:00 pm, VFW, Program/Speaker: Self Detection / Prevention of Melanoma | Steve Fine
June 11: TRCR Community Foundation Board Meeting via Zoom
June 12: Weekly Meeting noon-1:00 pm, VFW, Program/Speaker: Club President Year-end Transition | Dave Moertel & Steve Sperling
June 18: White Oaks Park Clean-up 6:00 pm, Meet at White Oaks Park, 4597 55th St NW, Rochester
June 19: Small Group Gatherings noon-1:00 pm; Committee Meetings: VFW, Service: Mapping Prejudice Project - VFW conference room, Social: Meet at VFW for lunch
June 25: TRCR Board Meeting via Zoom, noon-1:30 pm
June 26: Weekly Meeting noon-1:00 pm, VFW, Program/Speaker: Tanzania Water Project | Lee Gray, Wine to Water
President-elect Steve Sperling has been hard at work assembling the club's Board of Directors for 2025-2026. The proposed slate of TRCR Board members for the upcoming Rotary year is listed below. Please review and be ready for a discussion at Thursday's meeting, June 5, 2025. Approval of the club's 2025-2026 Board of Directors will be put a vote at the June 12, 2025, weekly meeting at the VFW.
Rotarians, As many of you may know, Chersten Keiler’s last day as our club administrator was April 27. Going forward, her many responsibilities will be taken on by a team of dedicated Rotarian volunteers—but her absence will certainly be felt.
On behalf of The Rotary Club of Rochester and The Rotary Club of Rochester Community Foundation, I want to extend our deepest thanks to Chersten for her years of dedicated service. Her behind-the-scenes work was instrumental in keeping our operations running smoothly, our communications clear, and our events well organized. From managing logistics to ensuring timely updates and providing thoughtful coordination, Chersten has been a steady and reliable presence in every aspect of our club’s work.
Personally, I am especially grateful for the support she has provided to me over the past year. Her insight, patience, and professionalism have been invaluable, and I know I’m not alone in feeling that way.
As we transition into this next chapter, we do so with immense appreciation for everything Chersten has contributed. Please join me in wishing her all the best in her future endeavors. She will always be a part of our Rotary family.
With gratitude, Dave Moertel President, The Rotary Club of Rochester
Keep an eye on your email inbox in the coming days as current members will be receiving an invoice for our annual club dues for Rotary year 2025-2026. Payment and/or your intentions to continue your Rotary membership should be received no later than Thursday, June 26, 2025. It is important to pay your dues by the deadline as the club has strict payment deadlines with Rotary International and District 5960, and we do not want to make unnecessary payments to the District and Rotary International for those who have decided to discontinue their membership. If you do not intend on renewing your membership, please send an email to romnrotary@gmail.com as soon as possible.
Now for the good news! The Rotary Club of Rochester is reducing member annual dues (which includes club, District 5960, and Rotary International dues) from $415 to $365 per Rotary year. Due to lower costs for club administrative support, the Board was not only able to reduce the amount each member pays but also include coverage for our club's Rochester Grants Committee expense as well as other District activities expenses. Members of the TRCR Board extend their sincere thanks to everyone who voluntarily contributed to cover those expenses this past year. Your donations went above and beyond at a time when it was needed.
The Rotary Club of Rochester's May 22 meeting was another busy one! Several members' graduating seniors were recognized including Jackson Ihrke, son of Rotarian Kristine Ihrke; George Allen III, grandson of Rotarian George Allen; Ian O'Fallon, grandson of Rotarian Judy O'Fallon; Parker Dripps, grandson of Rotarian Sue Dripps and nephew of Rotarian Mark Dripps; Evita Hansen, granddaughter of Sue Dripps and niece of Mark Dripps; and Emma Lange, our 2023-24 Rotary Exchange Student to Belgium. Rotarian Lorie Luedke received a Paul Harris Fellow+6 pin for her contributions to the Rotary International Foundation, and a very interesting program about NASA was given by Alex Allen, grandson of member George Allen who traveled from Alabama to be with us. When you miss Rotary, you tend to miss a lot! Watch the replay.
One hundred and seventy-five trees and 75 shrubs were planted at Quarry Hill Nature Center by members of The Rotary Club of Rochester, Greater Rochester Rotary, and Rochester Risers Rotary Club on May 27. The weather may have been a bit damp but that didn't stop Rochester Rotarians from digging in mud to plant greenery that will be enjoyed for years to come.
All Rotary Club of Rochester members, friends, and family are encouraged to stop by White Oaks Park on the third Wednesday of the month (except for August) now through October. The Rotary Club of Rochester adopted White Oaks Park several years ago and each Spring, Summer, and Fall, members and friends meet at 6:00 pm to ensure the park is clean and inviting for members of the community. Clean-up takes less than an hour.Care to join? Bring a bucket or garbage bag, gloves, and work shoes as that's all that's needed for the clean-up.
Future clean-up dates to add to your calendar: 6:00 pm on Wednesday, June 18, July 16; Thursday, August 21; Wednesday September 17, and 5:00 pm on October 15.
Address: White Oaks Park, 4597 55th St NW, Rochester.
Four-person scramble, nine holes with cart is $32.00 All levels of golfers are welcome! This is meant for fun and fellowship! Sign-up as a team, or individually, and we will put you on a team. All Rotarians and friends are invited. Happy hour and snacks to follow at Tamsen's home.
If you are interested in joining your fellow Rotarians to golf and/or attend happy hour, RSVP Tamsen: tamsenl@fmcommunity.com.
Members of The Rotary Club of Rochester, past and present, along with family, friends, and Rotary members from area clubs gathered on May 15 at the Rochester Golf and Country Club to celebrate 100 amazing years of The Rotary Club of Rochester.
In addition to enjoying a delicious meal, attendees were welcomed by the evening's emcee Betsy Singer, Club President Dave Moertel, and District 5960 Governor Ed Boeve. Rochester Mayor Kim Norton read a proclamation from the City, and Lorie Luedke spoke about the club's 100th anniversary community project and the $10,000 raised to purchase benches that will encircle the new Silver Lake Park splash pad. Rotary Club of Owatonna's President Tom Partridge shared the story of how The Rotary Club of Rochester came to be through sponsorship by his club. Lois Nelson, secretary and club service lead for the Rotary Club of Owatonna, spoke about how the Rochester and Owatonna Rotary clubs came together to contribute funds toward a statue of Amelia Witherstine, the first woman elected to public office in Rochester. Ed Zirkle was the evening's keynote speaker. Ed, a photojournalist and Rotarian from Ohio, shared a story about the war in Ukraine through photos he had taken. The evening concluded with a heartfelt video featuring interviews with several members of The Rotary Club of Rochester. More than 500 hours of video was masterfully edited by Warren Harmon into a 20-minute video shared at the event.
If you haven't already pre-ordered the 100th anniversary commemorative booklet, there's still time. The printed booklet is available for purchase for $15 and is only available to those who pre-order. A PDF version of the booklet will also be available to download at no cost. The booklet will be available this summer. Use this LINK to order and pay for your booklet. Click on the "register" button in the upper right corner of the webpage to complete your order.
Donations to Cradle 2 Career are needed and welcome!
Many thanks to all who contributed to the recent fundraiser at Sorellina's, to benefit Cradle 2 Career (C2C)! This fundraiser raised $250, adding to the $600 from Victoria's, so The Rotary Club of Rochester will contribute $850 to Cradle 2 Career's 4th Annual C2C Education Summit which will be held in October. The Rochester Risers Rotary Club and Greater Rochester Rotary also contribute to the Education Summit. However, with a budget of $10,000 needed, there is still a need for additional funds. If you are able to contribute any amount, please do so online through the TRCR Foundation webpage, designating Cradle 2 Career in the drop-down box.
Please make your donation by the end of May, if possible. Thank you for your support of this vital initiative!
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President-elect Steve Sperling has been hard at work assembling the club's Board of Directors for 2025-2026. The proposed slate of TRCR Board members for the upcoming Rotary year is listed below. Please review and be ready for a discussion at Thursday's meeting, June 5, 2025. Approval of the club's 2025-2026 Board of Directors will be put a vote at the June 12, 2025, weekly meeting at the VFW. 
