Dennis Geare, Rotary District 5190 Governor visited the Minden Rotary club this past Thursday to share information from Rotary International and celebrate local club accomplishments.

Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick is focused on Rotary’s Peacebuilding Initiative as well as adapting to change.  At the International level, Rotary awards 50 fully funded fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 fully funded fellowships for certificate studies for community leaders each year, in partnership with leading universities around the world, to host Rotary Peace centers which empower, educate and increase the capacity of peacebuilders.

At the local level, the Minden Rotary club has a focus on at-risk students in the Carson Valley.  Over $30,000 is donated to a variety of organizations each year as a result of The Giving Cup - the club’s golf tournament fundraiser every year at Genoa Lakes.  In addition to funding, the club had many hands on service projects this past year including Project Santa Claus, Super Bowl Sunday Pancake Breakfast, Arbor Day tree planting, Vietnam Moving Wall event parking, Douglas County Kids Fishing Derby, Death Ride swag bag assembly, monthly Carson Valley Food Closet food distribution, and the Minden summer concert hot dog stand.  In addition, anticipated activities this coming year include a second grade literacy project, third grade dictionary distribution, circuit course refurbishing at a local park and a Peace Pole.  District Governor Geare asked a great question - what would the community be like without Rotary?  With nearly 100 years in the Carson Valley, and major projects in the past such as the Minden Gazebo, Governor Geare stated the local Rotary club has clearly been a major help in the community.

Are you interested in joining Rotary?  The Minden Rotary club invites you to check it out - the club meets most Thursdays at the COD Casino from 11:30 to 1.  Check our website to confirm location as we occasionally take a field trip to the speaker locations!