Samantha Brown, Rotary Club of Minden outbound exchange student to Sweden 2024-25

LEARNING IN SWEDEN

Douglas County native Samantha Brown returned recently from an 11 month education and cultural exchange in Sweden.  As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, she stayed with 4 host families, attended a full year of school, travelled all over Sweden and Europe, and made friends that will last a lifetime.

Samantha’s stay was focused in the eastern town of Norrkoping, Sweden.  This town was founded in the year 1283 and was heavily focused on the textile industry.  There is currently a population of about 98,000.  Three of her host families “lived in the forest" and one of the families lived in a residential area.  Two of her host moms spoke Swedish and two spoke Finnish.

Her school, Kungsgårdsgymnasiett, was located in the center of the city and was founded in 1915.  Around 340 students attended this school which is focused on Economics and Law.  Other high schools in the area focused on other specialties - one for Dance, another for Electrical and the closest one on Culinary and Cosmetology.

While sports are not part of the formal education system in Europe, Samantha was able to participate in a city / club league for volleyball.  While the rules were slightly different, her experience playing club ball in the Carson Valley was very beneficial in her success.

Traveling in Sweden with her host families as well as other exchange students included trips to theme parks in Stockholm and Gothenburg, and a trip to Kiruna which is in the far north near the Arctic Circle where they saw dog sled races and experienced ice baths.  An 18-day trip with 40 other exchange students stopped in cities like Berlin, Verona and Venice. 

Are you interested in hosting an exchange student for a few months? Contact Minden Rotarian Zach Freitas for more information.

The Rotary Club of Minden is happy to welcome the following new members:

• Ric Casper is a graduate from Carson City High (but is quick to add his 3 kids all graduated from Douglas High).  He attended BYU as an undergraduate and Yale Law School.  He worked for the US Attorney's office for 4 years before coming back home and working for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office
• Loral Langemeier from Live Out Loud Publishing.  Loral has 2 kids (Logan age 25 and Tristan age 18).  She is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan, has an MA from Omaha and is a writer.  AND she's dating President Graham.
• Eric Barter from Bad Boys Bail Bonds (Past President from the Rotary Club of Arcadia) .  Craft talk was given at the 9-4-25 Rotary meeting:  Eric has a long history in Rotary as his dad was President of the Arcadia club in 1937.  In 1891, Eric's grandfather started Homen's Grocery Story.  Eric continued in the retail path at places like Gottschalks and Emporium Capwell.  When Emporium's went out of business, he joined a bail bonds business his nephew had started.  It was at this point that he got back involved in Rotary.  He was President of the club in 2005.  One of the projects he is most proud of is the wheelchair project in Tijuana, Mexico in honor of each week's speaker.  He had throat cancer the year he was President - talk about overcoming obstacles and dedication to Rotary!  
• Daniel Crawford, sponsored by Howard Vipperman.. It was said he is the first native American to become a member in the Rotary Club of Minden. He is a Douglas County native, spent time in Diamond Valley, graduated from school in Douglas, serves on the tribal council, works for TANIF as the project and resource specialist, and attended Kanas tribal school.

We look forward to hearing the rest of the craft talks soon and getting to know you better!

Rotarians Lori Breyer, Past President Sam Steele, Pat Garrison, Whitney Bouillon and President Graham Rogney helped Gardnerville MainStreet with the 5k Fun run for Breast Cancer Awareness.  Missing from the picture:  Ric Casper.

OCTOBER

10/23 GES Fun Run

NOVEMBER

11/6 Carson Valley Art Association Judged Art Show - setup from 10-3.  Ken Miller has a sign up for volunteers.

11/6-8 VOLUNTEERS Needed for the FERRIS 50 Endurance Run Sign UP Here

11/7 District Foundation Dinner at the Atlantis Casino, 6pm  Register HERE

11/7 Wranglers and Whiskey, Minden Mill Distillery, Fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club, Tickets HERE

11/8 Rotary Clubs in Action Leadership Workshop  Register HERE

11/8, 5:30pm - Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Recognition Awards, CVI

11/27, 8:30 am - Carson Valley Turkey Trot begins at Minden Park

DECEMBER

12/4 - Town of Gardnerville Christmas Kickoff/ Gazebo Lighting (Heritage Park) - need volunteers to serve hot cocoa and cake - more information to come

12/5 - Minden Park Gazebo Lighting

12/5 - Genoa Christmas kick off

12/6 - Genoa Breakfast with Santa

12/6 - Holiday Museum Gala - free admission at the Garnderville museum - volunteers needed during the event

12/6 - Parade of Lights - we will put together a float (western theme) - more information to come

12/12 FOOD DRIVE – Share your Christmas Food Drive - all day at the Carson Valley Inn

12/13 Wreath Across America at Buckeye and Douglas County Cemetaries -  Includes a ceremony for Veterans and wreaths placed on gravestones

12/20 and 12/21 - Project Santa Claus - more information to come

2026

4/9/26 District Foundation Dinner

5/1-5/3/26 District Conference at Grand Sierra Casino.  Register HERE

5/16/26 Rotary Club Minden's 5th Annual Giving Cup @ Genoa Lakes

6/9/26 Rotary Club Minden's 100 Year Anniversary Celebration @ CVI

October 23 - Eric Barter Craft Talk; Club Board Meeting after the regular meeting

October 30 - No midday meeting at the COD Casino; Club Social, 5:30 at the Carson Valley Country Club

November 6 - Field trip to The Public Restroom Company instead of the COD Casino.  Address:  2587 Business Parkway, Minden

November 13th - Heather MacDonnell, Minden-Tahoe Airport manager

November 20th - Ken Miller on the Rotary Foundation