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Upcoming Events
First Thursday Mid-day Committee Meeting
Even Hotel Rochester
May 02, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
2nd Thursday Mid Day Meeting
Even Hotel Rochester
May 09, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Third Thursday Rotary Service or Social Gathering
Even Hotel Rochester
May 16, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
2023-24 TRCR Board Meetings
Zoom Meeting
May 22, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
Fourth Thursday Mid-day Rotary Meeting
Even Hotel Rochester
May 23, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Rotary Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Karel Weigel
May 3
 
Sarah Burrington
May 6
 
Jan Hagedorn
May 10
 
John Woodruff
May 10
 
Celeste Hofer
May 12
 
Timothy Weir
May 13
 
Alison Good
May 14
 
Kelly Engler
May 20
 
Doug Porter
May 23
 
Dana Funk
May 28
 
Join Date
Lance Thorkelson
May 1, 1976
48 years
 
Jill Cordes
May 3, 2012
12 years
 
Chris Colby
May 6, 1999
25 years
 
Paul Apenhorst
May 11, 2022
2 years
 
Frank Allen
May 18, 2017
7 years
 
Marilyn Deling
May 23, 2019
5 years
 
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The Rotary Club of Rochester April Calendar
  • April 17: White Oaks Park Clean-up Crew - 6:00 pm - 4597 55th St NW, Rochester | everyone is welcome!
  • April 18:  Third Thursday Rotarian Gatherings
    • Service:  Mapping Prejudice to review Olmsted County deeds to identify discriminatory covenants | Even Hotel - noon-1:00 pm - BRING YOUR LAPTOP | order lunch from the hotel menu if you wish
    • Social: lunch at Twigs at Centerstone Plaza Hotel | noon-1:00 pm | REGISTER
  • April 24:  TRCR Board Meeting via Zoom | noon-1:00 pm
  • April 25:  Fourth Thursday Mid-day Meeting - Even Hotel - Program: Partnering to improve indoor air quality and environmental risk awareness in Guatemala | Speakers: Ashok Patel, Don Baldus, Lillyam Arroyave, Lori Halverson-Wente | REGISTER
  • April 27:  Rotary Authentic Danish Dinner - a fundraiser for Rotary Exchange Student Thea Grønholt to assist with expenses for the Rotary Exchange Students annual trip to U.S. East coast | Reservations and prepayment are required | INFORMATION
  • May 14:  Rotary Clubs of Rochester "tree planting" prep project | Quarry Hill Nature Center | 4:00-6:00 pm | REGISTER
Greeter | Four-Way Test | Visitors Desk and Introductions | Reflection
Join the clean-up crew at White Oaks Park
A small group of Rotary Club of Rochester members regularly clean White Oaks Park on the third Wednesday of each month during the warmer months, usually beginning at 6:00 p.m. for less than an hour.
 
Why not join? A bucket or plastic garbage bag, gloves and good shoes is all that's needed for the clean-up. There is a sign in the park stating that the park has been adopted by our club. If you would like to help keep the park clean and be outdoors, come the next third Wednesday of the month.
 
May 15  |  June 19  |  July 17  |  August 21  |  September 18  |  October 16

Address: White Oaks Park, 4597 55th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Service Third Thursday is back April 18
 
The Rotary Club of Rochester is partnering with Just Deeds and Mapping Prejudice to review Olmsted County deeds to identify discriminatory covenants. From the Just Deeds website:  Discriminatory covenants have been used to keep people of color from buying houses in certain Minnesota neighborhoods. The result is a century of segregated communities. Together, we can acknowledge this discrimination, discharge these covenants and build a foundation for more inclusive communities. Training is provided for this on-going Third Thursday service project. Bring your laptop to the Even Hotel Board Room between noon and 1:00 p.m. on April 18 (and subsequent Third Thursdays). You may order lunch off the menu if you wish.
Attend an authentic Danish dinner prepared by Rotary Exchange Student Thea
Join your fellow Rotarians and guests at a Rotary Danish Dinner - a fundraiser for Rotary Exchange Student Thea Grønholt to assist with expenses for the Rotary Exchange Students annual trip to the East coast of the United States. The dinner will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 5:00-7:00 pm. TRCR Rotarians Vicki Allen and Terry Sorensen are hosting the dinner. Reservations and prepayment are required.
 
Rotary Partnership Changes Lives
Written by Elaine Case, Rochester Rotary Risers
 
The Rotary Club of Guadalupe has formalized a program called "New Generations Service Exchange" and has partnered with Rotary clubs across the world to provide opportunities for medical students and professionals to advance their learning. Here in Rochester, we are hosting more young people in the medical field due to our proximity to Mayo. Our partnership has changed lives.
Read more...
Welcome to new member Lingxin Zhang
The Rotary Club of Rochester (TRCR) welcomed its newest member, Lingxin Zhang, to Rotary its March 28, 2024, weekly meeting. TRCR member Celeste Hofer introduced Don to the club.
Ling is originally from the Northeastern part of China where the weather in her hometown is similar to that in Minnesota. She came to the United States for graduate school at Auburn University in Alabama in 2012. After graduation, Ling began her employment in Pharmacogenomics research at Mayo in 2017. She has lived in Rochester for seven years and is currently working as a pharmacist. Ling and her husband have three cats - two boy cats and a girl kitten - which bring them so much joy. She also enjoys traveling and gardening. 
 
L-R: Celeste Hofer, Lingxin, TRCR President Ashok Patel
Sign-up for May 14 Rotary 3-Club "Tree Planting" project at Quarry Hill Nature Center
Sign-up to join your fellow Rochester Rotarians, families, friends, STRIVE students (everyone is welcome) for a 3-club "tree planting" project* at Quarry Hill Nature Center
 
May 14, 2024 (rain date is May 15) | 4:00-6:00 pm
6:00 pm - Join us for a pizza social
Quarry Hill Nature Center - 701 Silver Creek Rd NE - Rochester
Meet at the pond pavilion – a short walk from the front doors of the nature center
 
*While not actually planting trees in 2024, this year’s efforts will focus on preparing an area of forest near the Quarry Hill pond for a Spring 2025 planting. Work this year will be focused on removing invasive buckthorn and removing woody branches from diseased ash and box elder trees that have been removed from the area. Wear close-toed shoes and long pants and bring work or garden gloves. All the work tools will be supplied by the City Forestry Dept. and Quarry Hill Nature Center.
Read more...
Help find missing Moccasin Flower newsletters
As our club members make preparations to celebrate The Rotary Club of Rochester's 100th anniversary in 2025, we are looking for missing Moccasin Flower newsletters. If you happen to have hard or soft copies of any newsletter that's missing a link (indicated in black type) on the Moccasin Flower archive page, please forward to Lorie Luedke. Hard copy newsletters will be scanned and returned to you. Thank you for your assistance!
Reading the Moccasin Flower in GMAIL?
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.
Celebration of Clubs
Saturday, May 4, 2024 | The Phipps Center for the Arts, Hudson, WI
 
The Celebration of Clubs will take place at the Phipps Center for the Arts from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on May 4.  Doors will open at 8:00 a.m. for those who wish to check-in, enjoy coffee and a muffin, and visit the House of Friendship. Register for Lunch-Around-Hudson and other fun events throughout Saturday, and Friday and Sunday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
April is Rotary Environment Month
Rotarians have been shaping conversations about the environment for years. Rotary is committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment.
Cradle 2 Career Corner
Click here to read the March 2024 newsletter.
Click here to view a thank you note.
TRCR YouTube Channel - meeting replays
 
 
Watch replays of past Rotary Club of Rochester meetings on TRCR's YouTube channel.