From Rotarian Gio's Facebook post:  What a great guy we met on Wednesday, Jason Sanders, Executive Director of The Dodge Nature Center
https://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/
Founded in 1967 by Mrs Dodge-this nature center serves so many of our communities along with a nature center opening up in Cottage Grove called Shephard Farm
https://www.dodgenaturecenter.org/location/shepard-farm
Education center, nature paths, ponds, ADA accessible and so much more and by the way-Open to the public. If you ever meet Jason, and you might in one of your visits to the nature center, you will feel his passion for these places and his passion to give back. Join us anytime at Rotary-every Wednesday 7:30am

Pictured with Jason (right) is Rotarian Dave Hanson.

From Rotarian Alan Ruvelson:  Rotary is a non-political, non-religious combination of people who want to make the world a better place, even a small part of it.  To achieve their goal, individual Rotarians pay for their association and donate their resources.  Donations generally take the form of skills, expertise and resources of time and money.  Monetary donations can be direct and current, or paid to the Rotary International Foundation (“RIF”) (or to local non-profits, such as the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights Rotary Foundation).  Donations to the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights Rotary Foundation are spent on charities supported by the club.  Donations to RIF are used to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.  Thanks for this information, Alan!

Here are some highlights from our August Board Meeting:

1 - Loaves and Fishes is coming up on August 29th (the 5th Tuesday of the month)

2 - For membership recruitment, we are reaching out to other groups like Toastmasters

3 - Jennifer Giovinazzo proposing we develop a plan to generate goals around membership recruitment.  F toor example, remind members to like our Facebook page.

4 - New Facebook page will be produced.

5 - Proposal from Alan Ruvelson to use our club's Paul Harris dollars to present to members of our community and to help members achieve a Paul Harris Fellowship.

6 - Reminder from Bob Gullick that beer and wine raffle tickets are available from him for us to sell.

7 - Deferring Rose Sale until next year.

8 - David Miller will draft a fundraising goal for the next board meeting.  Look for a brain storming meeting in the future on fundraising for our club.

9 - Reminder to award Rose Lethert a Paul Harris Fellowship in husband's Mike memory.

 

The board would like to have a local businesses present a 3 minute introduction to their company at each meeting.

Please let Dave Hanson know if you get someone and he'll add to the schedule.

One 3 minute presentation at each meeting would be the goal.

Thanks in advance.

 

If there is an organization which you are involved with and it needs financial help, please mention to a board member for consideration.  Board members:  Prez Valeria Namen, Alan Ruvelson, Jennifer Giovinazzo, Bob Gullick, Dave Hanson, David Miller, Susan Hommes, and Don McCall.

The board is looking for creative fundraising ideas and a team to coordinate activities.  Maybe we'll see a pickleball tournament next summer?  Please contact any board member if you have some ideas.  Thank you!  Board members:  Don McCall, David Miller, Susan Hommes, Valarie Namen, Alan Ruvelson, Mark Landy or Bob Gullick.

Do you enjoy our weekly meetings?  Share them with others.  Be on the lookout for prospective members!