2007-08
2007
The Annual Honor’s Banquet was held for seniors from BA and Faribault High School.
The Annual Strive Banquet was held with scholarships awarded at the Elks Club.
The Rotary Reader program was started at Jefferson Elementary.
The Club held the annual picnic at the Rotary Camp but discontinued the silent auction.
Led by Rev. Rick Ormsby, the club committed $12,000 to Books for Africa.
Al Burkhartzmeyer was honored for 50 years of perfect attendance.
The annual Rotary Rose Sale was held in October.
The club enjoyed the 68th annual Christmas Concert.
Our club’s 87th president in 2006-07 was Angela Storch. She was the Director of United Way in Faribault.
Angela had the following memories:
I joined the Faribault Rotary Club in August of 1996, just a week after my wedding, and was a new college graduate. Doing so, I became the third female member of our club, joining ranks with Janine Sahagian and Jill Finstuen. My, oh my how the times do change! My sponsors Dave Balcom and Harry Algyer, encouraged me to become active. The Pastor Gordon Orde echoed that wisdom with his speech "let there be no RHINOS - Rotarians In Name Only." Following their advice, I became a long-time editor of the club's bulletin, helped to organize Jingle Bell runs, Car Raffles, Parade Floats, Clean Up projects, and brought a circus to town - twice.
Fast forward to 2006 -2007, my Presidency of the Faribault Rotary. Personally, it was a year of enormous change: I had relocated my young family to rural Waterville, and became the Alumni Director at South Central College. Our beloved Keith Shaffer's unexpected passing moved the role of Presidency up a year earlier than anticipated for both Gary Peterson and myself. In that whirlwind, I vividly remember being supported by our membership. Our leadership worked tirelessly to engage all our members in club activities. The Faribault Rotary Club had 90 students participate in STRIVE. Via Hy-Vee, we purchased and presented 15 backpacks to local school principals. We received and sent Rotary Exchange Students, delivered meals on wheels, supported the Little Feet Soccer Program, held RESPECT retreats, and awarded four Paul Harris Fellowships. We made repairs and updates to our Rotary Camp and increased efforts to market its availability to the public. Through Rotary's call to Service Above Self, I fondly recall all the good we accomplished together, and will forever cherish the fellowship had and friendships made, both here in Faribault and around the world.
Cheers, Angela
2008
The Annual Honor’s Banquet was held for seniors from BA and Faribault High School.
The club participated in a Long-Range Rotary Planning Facilitation.
The Annual Strive Banquet was held with scholarships awarded at the Elks Club.
The Rotary Reader program was continued at Jefferson Elementary.
A video was produced for the Rotary Camp.
Honorary membership was granted to Stu Thibodeau, Layton Hoysler and Al Burkhartzmeyer.
The Club held the annual picnic at the Rotary Camp.
The club sponsored a circus at the Rice County Fairgrounds as a fundraiser for the soccer fields.
Rotarian of the Year was awarded to Gary Peterson.
The annual Rotary Rose Sale was held in October.
The club enjoyed the 69th annual Christmas Concert.
Our club’s 88th president in 2007-08 was Grant Wilson. Grant has been a member for 20 years joining the club on Jan. 6, 2000.
Grant had the following memories:
The thing I remember most was being asked. Sheriff Cook and Gary Peterson showed up and asked me to do it. A lawyer and a guy with a gun, how could I say no!
We carried on the Rotary Readers and it grew. I participated for the next 8 years. We had a great time with a chili cook off. We had the Rotary planning session, which would be interesting to review if we still had the notes. I remember the circus and what a circus that was!