We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Danielle Igbanugo and Kingford Bavender. Danielle is the founder and president of Coated in Love https://www.coatedinlove.org. King is a returning member and past club president. He is the founder and president of Bespoken USA https://www.bespokenusa.com
Both Danielle and King are diving into the various opportunities available within our club, whether it's volunteering for a service project, participating in fundraising efforts, or engaging in fellowship events. We're honored to have them on board. Here's to a rewarding journey ahead filled with friendship, service, and purpose!
Join us at Rotary on Tap, an exclusive networking event hosted by the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club, designed for leaders eager to connect and make a difference. This engaging evening is your opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow like-minded individuals, all while discovering the impactful work the City of Lakes Rotary does both locally and globally.
Held at the vibrant Sisyphus Brewing from 5-7 p.m. on May 2, guests will enjoy complimentary drinks and appetizers in a relaxed atmosphere. Don't forget to bring your business cards for a night of meaningful connections with professionals who are enthusiastic about contributing positively to the world. It's not just an event—it's a chance to be part of something bigger. See you there!
Raise your glass to the power of community and commitment
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians’ food drive is this spring’s initiative for our long-standing foundation partner, Community Emergency Services. Based in the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in Minneapolis, CES staff and volunteers are on the frontlines of providing food, hope, and compassion to multi-generational, multi-cultural, low-income clientele.
Our thanks to the COL Community Service Committee for organizing our members to donate financial gifts and packaged food, in addition to our annual grant funding. COL Rotary is committed to helping CES provide healthy and culturally connected access to food with dignity and understanding.
Feeding Hope: CES Food Shelf's Spring Drive for Community Support
Rotary International works to eradicate polio, and we have made incredible progress in the fight to rid the world of it forever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've helped to reduced polio cases by more than 99.9 percent.
Minneapolis City of Lakes members generously donated $3500 to End Polio Now and thanks to a 2 to 1 match from the Gates Foundation every donation was tripled. We made it fun in a Minnesota vs. Iowa sports challenge with the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids.
The growing partisan divide over political values is paralyzing families’ and communities’ ability to trust and find solutions for mutually shared human needs. This community forum on April 16 offers new understandings and strategies for initiating conversations that focus on our shared humanity and that respect the integrity and worth of every individual’s views. Rotary clubs of St. Paul, Minneapolis City of Lakes, and Roseville present it.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary is thrilled by the announcement that Minneapolis-St. Paul will host the prestigious 120th Rotary International Convention from May 26-30, 2029, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This event is set to be the largest convention Minneapolis will see in 2029, attracting more than 15,000 Rotary members and participants from across the globe. The convention promises to be a vibrant gathering for sharing ideas, learning, and fostering connections aimed at bringing about positive, lasting change to communities worldwide.
With an expected economic impact of $30.4 million, the convention underscores the strong values of service, diversity, and leadership within the Rotary community. We are excited to collaborate with other local Rotary clubs, the Meet Minneapolis Tourism Bureau, and the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Bloomington to deliver an unforgettable experience. This gathering not only highlights Rotary's commitment to global improvement but also showcases the cultural diversity and natural beauty of Minneapolis – the City of Lakes. Read more.
Minneapolis-St. Paul to Shine as the 2029 Rotary International Convention Host City
We hosted a Days for Girls service project assembling washable feminine hygiene kits for 100 girls in Senegal and Ghana to help empower them to stay on school and have choices in their lives.
As part of an ongoing initiative to help feed those in need in the inner city of Minneapolis, City of Lakes Rotary members once again gathered at the Community Emergency Service Food Shelf on Saturday, January 6th to fulfill food requests for 80 City residents. Members also donated desperately needed food and hygiene items. Afterwards, the group then sorted recently received donations from other sources so that they could more easily be distributed by other volunteers at a later date.
Way to Grow had a second successful holiday season with their Adopt-a-Family campaign! City of Lakes Rotary collected $2,575 in gift cards, which helped to provide support for the holidays to the families that Way to Grow serves. We received a wonderful letter and a thank you note from one of the recipient families (photos below) thanking us for our support!
The City of Lakes Rotary Club’s annual awards day recognized dynamic individuals who have been a catalyst for innovative service solutions and generous foundation gifts. We are proud to congratulate this year’s winners.
Brock Ray was recognized as our club’s Heart of Rotary Award winner, presented annually to a club member in recognition of outstanding service to the club, Rotary International and the community. Brock has distinguished himself by holding leadership positions including president, vice president membership, public image and webmaster while also leading special technology projects. Brock has made and continues to make a significant difference in the lives of many people and gives them hope for the future.
Lynn Otis was honored with our Emerging Leadership Award that is presented annually to a newer member that has rapidly engaged in the spirit of service within the club. By providing leadership as Community Service Chair, Lynn demonstrated her commitment to Service Above Self.
Greg Alm received our first ever Quiet Rotarian Award for his initiative supporting the club behind the scenes by setting up and taking down AV equipment every week, acting as assistant treasurer and challenging processes to make them better.
Evon Spangler, Esq. received our Rotary Hope Award and $2500 for her achievements as Board Chair and Founder of the Domestic Abuse Legal Advocacy Center, PSC. DALAC provides pro bono services to victims and survivors of domestic violence at shelters that the organization collaborates with in Minnesota. DALAC uses a cutting-edge method of providing legal advocacy to victims and survivors of domestic abuse from a trauma-informed lens.
The Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellows and Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation Dick Davore Fellows are members who were recognized for their substantial contributions of $1000 or more.
Heart of Service: Celebrating the City of Lakes Rotary Club's Award Winners
The following is the proposed slate of candidates for the 2024-25 Minneapolis City of Lakes Board of Directors and Committee leaders. Thanks to all who agreed to serve next year! This slate will be voted on at the January 10th, 2024 meeting. Please reach out to Shaun Irwin if you have any questions (or if you would like to volunteer for one of the open positions).
On Friday, December 15, volunteers from the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) packed over 200 special holiday gift bags for clients of the Community Emergency Service (CES) Food Shelf in South Minneapolis. Volunteers also decorated the food shelf and set out festive party trays loaded with holiday cookies for the party, which took place at 10:00 the following morning. Despite gentle handling, unfortunately a few of the cookies were broken in the process and had to be eaten for quality control purposes. Each variety received a “thumbs up” from the group.
We are thrilled to announce the newest additions to our Rotary family! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Oscar, Christine, Peg, and Tim. Each brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives that will undoubtedly enrich our Rotary endeavors.
Welcome aboard new members, and to those looking for professional networking, personal development, and the chance to contribute meaningfully to society, we can’t wait to welcome you too! Learn more.
It's that time of year again — time to register for the COL Rotary Zoom meetings! As you may (or likely may not) recall, Zoom puts a limit on the number of prescheduled recurring meetings we can have — and we have officially reached our limit from the last time we re-upped last year.
To ensure you can attend COL Rotary Zoom meetings on any given Wednesday morning, please register here: Register for Zoom Meetings.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have any questions about registering or attending Zoom meetings, please reach out to Brock Ray.
On a beautiful, crisp, first fall Saturday in November of 2023, 38 Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians, their family members, and guests raked and bagged leaves for 14 seniors in South Minneapolis. Without the help of this group of volunteers, these homeowners would not have been able to complete the task of cleaning up their yards for winter on their own.
Huge thanks to Brian Kimmes for teaching us all the finer points of curling on Saturday at the Frogtown Curling Club! We had a rousing game — including a photo finish — and very few injuries! Bonus points if you can figure out what the score was — see the photo (and many more) by clicking Read More.
The 2023 COL Foundation Pledge Drive kick off — held on Thursday, October 12 — was a great success! Members and guests were able to hear from each of the Avenues of Service committees, as well as representatives from many of the organizations our club supports. To meet our ambitious funding goal this year, each member will need to increase their pledge by an average of $215. But if we make that goal, club president Jean Johnson has promised to dye her hair blue for a meeting in early 2024. So if you haven't done so yet, be sure to email your pledge amount for the 2023–2024 Rotary year to Bob Baker. Let's turn Jean's hair blue! (Oh, and click read more to see additional photos from this great event!)
Last week City of Lakes was at Every Meal packing bags of food for kids in need of food over the weekends. Schools support lunches during the week, but many kids do not have any sources of food over the weekends. Every Meal provides that support. We helped pack over 10,000 meals and 2800 bags of food and had a lot of fun doing it!
On Saturday, August 26, members of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club volunteered at the Community Emergency Service (CES) Food Shelf in the inner city of Minneapolis. Food and hygiene item requests were fulfilled for 80 CES clients, and the items were all then loaded onto the CES truck for delivery.
This is an ongoing, family friendly, bi-monthly event for the Club and several members also provided food and hygiene products to help stock the shelves. The next event at CES will be on Saturday, October 28. Click "Read more" to see additional photos from this month's packing event!
Meet our newest members: Jasmina Galijasevic works as an Financial Services Agent, Christine Hutcheson is a Global SaaS Marketing Executive, and Sydney Skemp is an Advertising Account Coordinator. They are joining Rotary to make a difference in our local community and the world while making new friends and having fun!
Good news! You will have a chance to order apparel to proudly wear and help promote Rotary and our club. Samples will be available at upcoming meetings this Wednesday 8/16 and next 8/23. We will be taking payment with your order, so please either bring cash, a check, or we will also process with Venmo. There will be a selection of t-shirts, polo shirts, fleece jackets and vests, beanies, and more! You can either have our club logo embroidered or a screen print option if you'd like a bolder statement to make. Pricing will range from $20-$50.
Come to at least one of our next two meetings to place your order. These will only be available at this time!!
On Thursday, July 13, the Garden at the Way to Grow Preschool had its official ribbon cutting and the students were given their own planting kits to take home to start this summer! The students and staff were very excited and they had a welcome party for the families of the children to have them see what they have been working on so far this summer. They painted us a wonderful, colorful poster — thanking City of Lakes Rotary Club — that you will see in the picture with the planting kits. The garden is going to expand and will be a project that will continue for years to come reaching even more children! It was a fun day and I am so proud of our Club for helping this project happen! Special recognition to Hugh for bringing this project forward!
Looking for more weekly Rotary content? Minnesota’s Rotary Districts 5950 and 5960 have teamed together to host and produce a new podcast called “Searching for Service”. Hosted by new Rotarians Kelly and Joseph Kirk and produced weekly at the studio of AM950-KTNF Radio, “Searching for Service” airs from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tune in wherever podcasts are found: online at www.am950radio.com or on Spotify, Google, or Apple Podcast apps.
Monthly podcast themes follow the calendar of Rotary International. Past shows are available for listening and include a variety of speakers: Tom Gump, District 5950 Past District Governor and Aide to Rotary International President-Nominee Stephanie Urchick; Joe Stahlmann, District 5960 Polio Plus Committee Co-Chair; Gayla Holmgren talking about “Preschool for Success”; and COL Rotarian and Past District Governor Jim Nelson talking about the Rotary Honduras service trip.
New Podcast Offers Opportunities — “Searching for Service”
COL congratulates Julia De Georgeo who has been awarded the Rotary District 5950 Global Scholarship 2023-24. This provides $30,000 for a master’s degree at a foreign university in a major that relates to one of the Rotary six Areas of Focus and would enhance the scholar's future career. Julia plans to receive an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London England. Julia will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Golders Green, London England.
Julia is a graduate of Southwest Senior High School in Minneapolis and The University of Wisconsin-Madison with Bachelor of Science in Gender and Women’s Studies, and Health Promotion and Health Equity. Julia also holds certificates in Global Health and Public Policy. Julia is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She currently works as a Research Analyst, Health Equity, at Advisory Board.
In 2022-23, COL sponsored Addy Cross who was the recipient of this scholarship and is attending University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians have significantly helped improve the literacy, health, and well-being of more than 15,000 people in Honduras through sustainable access to safe water and sanitation. Our projects leveraged expertise and donor funding to accomplish two of the largest and most professional Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects in Central America.
Of the nearly 9.6 million people living in Honduras, 1.5 million lack access to clean accessible water—1.2 million are from rural areas. Rural families lacking access to safe water consume water from streams or open wells—the same places where people bathe, wash clothes, and animals defecate—leading to disease. Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
We are proud to introduce our new members who live by our Rotary Core Values of service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. They’re joining in on this year’s Rotary International theme, Create Hope in the World.
On Saturday, May 6, members of the City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) and their guests fulfilled food orders for 80 home delivery clients of the Community Emergency Service (CES) food shelf. This is an ongoing, bi-monthly club project which offers an opportunity to help senior and lower income community members in the inner city of Minneapolis. It is one of several service projects conducted by COLRC to support CES initiatives for those in need.
Click through to see additional photos from this great event!
Come see fellow COL member (and Zoom Crew guru) Brock Ray perform in “Ending True”, a new play presented by Applause Community Theatre.
Description: Laura Tyndall is at the end of her rope. As her parents depart, can she keep the stories they’ve told—and one still untold? “Ending True” affirms the redeeming power of stories to define and guide us: the factual and fictional, the inherited and those we create for ourselves.
The first-ever Rotary Awareness Day was held Monday, January 30, 2023, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. The event attracted approximately 100 Rotarians from three Minnesota districts. Thirty-six high school exchange students visiting districts 5950, 5960, and 5580 who are part of the NorthStar Youth Exchange — including Vernon Castillo, City of Lakes Rotary’s exchange student — enjoyed the tours, speakers, box lunches and many, many group photos with legislative leaders.
We had so much fun at our service project to benefit Days for Girls on February 4. Fifty people helped make 300 feminine hygiene kits for girls in Kenya so they can continue to stay in school and have choices in their lives. The World Health Organization says that the single most effective way to spend a $1 on global health outcomes is to educate girls and women. As Days for Girls states, "Let's turn Periods into Pathways for girls around the world."
City of Lakes Rotary Club recently received a wonderful "Thank you" package from Way to Grow! There were personal notes and pictures of the children unwrapping their holiday gifts along with notes from all the teachers. They were so grateful for our support! Here are a couple of samples of the notes on the card:
“Your kindness multiplies-we are so encouraged by all of you-Thank you for making the holiday BRIGHT!”
“If only you could see the faces of the families when they receive the gifts, it is indescribable joy, for them and for us , too!”
“Thank you-your support of WTG families- for your kindness-we appreciate it!”
Click read more for additional images of the cards.
The Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club has supported CES Food Shelf for more than 20 years. Club members volunteer monthly to pack groceries for Home Delivery neighbors. The Club also financially supports CES, and we contribute hats and mittens each year to the Warm Hands, Warm Heads, Warm Hearts project. CES Staff Saundra and Krista were invited to join the Club’s meeting on January 18, where, together with Daily Bread Wellness founder Colleen Saumweber, they donated 139 pounds of food items to the food shelf.
On Saturday, January 7, members of the City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) and their guests fulfilled food orders for 80 home delivery clients of the Community Emergency Service (CES) food shelf. This is an ongoing, bi-monthly club project which offers an opportunity to help senior and lower income community members in the inner city of Minneapolis. It is one of several service projects conducted by COLRC to support CES initiatives for those in need.
Click through to see additional photos from this great event!
As mentioned during morning announcements on Wednesday, December 21, because of some quirks of Zoom, we had to change the link that you use to join the weekly Zoom meeting. So, if you've got an old link stored on your computer somewhere, it won't work anymore.
Once you do so, Zoom will email you with the new link you can use each week to attend our meetings. At any time, you can register (or reregister) for the meeting by going to our website, colrc.org, and clicking Attend a Meeting at the top of the page.
If you have any questions or need some help getting signed up, please feel free to reach out to COL Zoom Master, Brock Ray!
Friday evening, December 16th, and Saturday morning, December 17th, COL Rotarians volunteered helping our partners at CES get ready for their first Holiday celebration since Covid. Friday evening, we built 250 gift bags for their clients and helped decorate the building for the next morning. Saturday morning was the celebration and our volunteers served cider and cookies to the clients that our club provided. There was music, face painting and pictures taken, which helped to create a very festive event! We had a great team volunteering at both events!
Saundra Holden, CES's Director of Operations, sent us this thank you note after the events:
“I just wanted to take time to thank you and the rest of the Rotary Club members for supporting our 1st Indoor Christmas Distribution since the Pandemic hit. You all came with your Holiday Joy & Warmth and our neighbors appreciated your company. I also want to thank you for coming in on Friday to pack the Gift Bags. We had a good time and decorated the place as well.
“Being of Service to Others is my passion and doing that side by side with others who feel the same makes the pot of tea that much sweeter. You guys are awesome and I hope you’ll come back for the sequel in 2023!”
Click through to see additional photos from our work. Happy Holidays and thanks to all!
The recently-released December 2022 newsletter for CES Food Shelf features an article about City of Lakes Rotary — titled “Service Above Self” — including an interview with COLer Gary Mosiman. Gary notes that COL Rotarians “see the need, and we know that CES is doing good work in the community.” Read the full article here.
We received a very nice “thank you” letter from CES for our annual $4,500 donation to help with their mission (and to help fulfill our Community Service “feed” initiative). From the letter:
CES is serving more of our low-income neighbors across the Phillips-Midtown neighborhood who are struggling to make ends meet and put food on their table.… Your grant will provide nourishing food, hope, and stability to our low-income neighbors who are struggling. That is a powerful gift!
CES Food Shelf Thanks COL Rotary for Our Continued Support
On Saturday, November 5, 34 City of Lakes Rotarians and their guests raked yards for 13 seniors in South Minneapolis. This is an annual, family-friendly event that has been an ongoing community service project for over two decades. Though a little chilly, the weather was perfect for raking and all of the homeowners expressed their thanks (sometimes with cookies, power bars, coffee, and hot chocolate) for a job well done. Following the event, most of the group adjourned to the nearby Blue Door Pub for delicious food and beverages. Thanks to all who participated for making this another successful event!
For the holiday season this year, we are partnering with Way to Grow and their Adopt a Family program. Every December, they are able to reach even more families by providing basic needs, special treats, and a great start to the new year. This year, for the safety of their donors, staff, and families they are requesting that gift cards are provided instead of wrapped gifts. To make this convenient for everyone, you can either bring your gift cards to one of our meetings or drop them in the mail to Lynn Otis (address provided below. These need to reach their office no later than December 7to allow for families to purchase items before the holidays.
On Saturday morning, October 29, 15 Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians, their family members, and guests fulfilled food and hygiene requests for 85 home delivery program clients of the Community Emergency Service (CES) Food Shelf in the inner city of Minneapolis. This is a regular, bi-monthly club project that is now in its 17th year. Special thanks goes out to members Toni Yeamans, Gayle Noakes, and Gayle’s guest, Jane, who organized ongoing food and hygiene product drives to make sure that the shelves were well stocked in advance of our packing event.
While participating in the packing event, a check in the amount of $4,500 was presented to Mike Lloyd, Executive Director of CES, from the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation, which is supported by contributions from Club members. Mr. Lloyd thanked the Club for the generous donation and indicated that the need for their services is great in the community and that the donation will be a great help to CES in fulfilling their mission.
Click read more to see additional photos from the event!
We had a fun and successful community service event this week with the non-profit, Bluebirds and Blooms that repurposes event flowers to give to those in long term care or hospice to brighten their days. This organization came in and showed us how to rework the flowers into arrangements. COL members Maria Bavender, Cindy Lennie, Gayle Noakes, Jennifer Vanwyk, and Lynn Otis had fun making 50 floral arrangements during our session! As an organization, Bluebirds and Blooms produces and delivers 500 arrangements in the area each month.
Join us for a night of dynamic conversation with Honorable Justice Alan Page. This living legend had a remarkable run in the National Football League as an MVP Award Winner with the infamous Purple People Eaters Minnesota Vikings lineup of the 1960’s. He went on to law school at the University of Minnesota and then to an illustrious career in law. In 1993 he was the first African American appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. In 2018, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. This recognition is bestowed upon individuals who have made especially meritorious contribution to the United States.
On Thursday, October 6th, we have planned an evening of lively socializing, entertainment, and education at the idyllic Old Log Theatre in Excelsior. This historic venue is the longest running theater in the United States. This event is part of Rotary’s ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Our host for the night is Andrew J. Ramirez, a Rotarian from the newly formed MN Pride Rotary Club and District 5950 DEI Action Team Chair.
5:00PM CST - Doors Open for the VIP Event and Cocktail Reception.
6:00PM CST - The seated dinner will promptly start.
7:30PM CST - Welcome Remarks from Rotary District 5950 District Governor Lloyd Campbell. Our District Governor Lloyd Campbell will share with you the vision he has for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within Rotary and the monument
8:00PM CST - Veteran trial attorney Doug Schmidt of Schmidt and Salita Law Firm from Excelsior Morning Rotary Club will lead a question-and-answer style discussion with Honorable Justice Alan Page. The topics will represent a broad range of topics, including diversity as it relates to educational outcomes, diversity as it relates to the law and educational inequities, success stories from the Page Educational Foundation and audience submitted questions.
On Saturday morning, August 27 several City of Lakes Rotary Club members and their guests conducted another successful community service event at Community Emergency Service Food Shelf for their home delivery program. In total, almost 90 grocery bags were filled with requested items and loaded onto the delivery truck for distribution in the afternoon. This is always a popular, and much needed event conducted on a bi-monthly basis by the Club. The next such event will be on Saturday morning, October 29.
I am pleased to share the news that we have received a membership application for Jennifer VanWyck. Jennifer's sponsor is Jean Johnson.
Look out — Jennifer is very active in our community! As you may know, Jennifer is the Director of Strategic Growth at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis and our host/point person for our club activities. She is also the Current Resource Development Committee Member and Ability Bash Event Chairperson for MDI. She is involved in Open Arms, a driver and Development Committee member for Meals on Wheels, a booster and Banquet Committee member for the Maple Grove Girls Lacrosse team, a volunteer at the Minneapolis Aquatennial, part of Woman of Today, and an ambassador of Acacia Global.
Reminder: If you are unable to serve in this Duty for the scheduled meeting, find a replacement from our amazing COLR Club. If, after trying, you are unable to do so, email Mary Pat for assistance! Thank you for putting service above self!
The 16th Annual Rotary Sunrise Forum was a huge success. Held on April 28th at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, our experienced panel discussed ways to create and support a safe and just community together. In this conversation, we explored: What is our history of violence and public safety? What are our current issues? In creating a safe and just community, what solutions/problem solving processes would be fair and beneficial to all? How can we be allies with those working to build solutions that are fair to all concerned, build good will, and form better friendships that are beneficial to all? Watch it now.
After a two year hiatus, the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club sponsored five high school students to attend Rotary’s Camp Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) from April 8-12. This is a weekend leadership development program for young people that emphasizes ethical leadership, citizenship and personal growth, held each spring at Camp St. Croix in Wisconsin. Camp RYLA is organized and sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Paul. Here is a brief recap of the 2022 Camp RYLA experience from the St. Paul Rotary website.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Sponsors Five High School Students to Attend Camp RYLA
This year, Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club is sponsoring a cohort of high school girls to participate in JA LaunchU! For those of you interested in mentoring/supporting this group, two opportunities are available at this time. Click Read More for the details.
The 2022 Rotary Zones 25B and 29 Institutewill be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 15-18. This is the place to meet fellow Rotarians from around our Zone, network, learn from experienced Rotary members, and share your talents with others. You never know who you will meet, or how you will be inspired. Our paired Zones extend from Canada down through the middle of the US to Texas.
RI President-elect Gordon McInally is coming all the way from Scotland. And we D5950 Rotarians can meet, visit, and learn from him at a special All-Club Luncheon chaired by our own District Governor-Nominee Designate Sharon Bloodworth (Mpls. #9). See more information and register at the Zone Institute website.
District Governor Lloyd Campbell’s Installation, Saturday, June 11, Rolling Forks Vineyard, Glenwood, MN. Join a group of us for a road trip west to celebrate with other District Rotarians. More information will be posted soon on the District 5950 website.
Save the Date for District 5950 Governor Lloyd Campbell's Installation
It's your time to Elevate the COLR with your service! To ensure that Duty assignments fit into your calendar and into your desired way to serve, you get to Pick Your Time to Shine!
Sign up today for the April – June Duty Roster, which includes open spots for each of you to CHOOSE how you serve. Please add your name to the date and duty you'd like!
Any open spots will be assigned to those who have not responded by April 4, 2022. :-)
Discover New Horizons at the Rotary International Convention, Houston, TX June 4-8. The event will bring in 20,000 service minded people from all continents and cultures together to share, learn and take action to bring positive and lasting change to communities around the world. Travel with our COL president line and register at Houston | Rotary Convention
Discover New Horizons at the Rotary International Convention
City of Lakes Rotary members have stepped up to help provide rapid humanitarian relief for Ukrainian refugees! Members donated more than $3,000 to the cause during our Happy Bucks collection on March 9, 2022, and the International Service Committee has designated another approximately $5,000 from their budget.
Half of this more than $8K donation will go to The Rotary Foundation's efforts to provide food, water, medical equipment, and shelter for refugees, while the other half will go directly to the Rotary Club Miskolc in Hungary, just outside of the Ukrainian border. Watch this space for more details on our efforts to help with this humanitarian crisis.
COL Rotary Donates More than $8K for Ukrainian Refugee Relief
Perspectives: Creating a Safe and Just Community Together
Join us and our experienced panel as we consider ways to create and support a safe and just community together. We will explore: What is our history of violence and public safety? What are our current issues? In creating a safe and just community, what solutions/problem solving processes would be fair and beneficial to all? How can we be allies with those working to build solutions that are fair to all concerned, build good will, and form better friendships that are beneficial to all?
Presented by: The Rotary Clubs of St. Paul Sunrise, Minneapolis City of Lakes, and Roseville.Free to Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary members — just use promo code Sunrise22 when registering.
For the 14th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organizations Charity Navigator evaluates have received 14 consecutive 4-star evaluations.
The Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Community Service Committee has pledged a grant of $2,500 to ACT United to help underwrite the Mobilize MN Conference on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Reminder: If you are unable to serve in this Duty for the scheduled meeting, find a replacement from our amazing COLR Club. If, after trying, you are unable to do so, email Mary Pat at marypat.cumming@mpls.k12.mn.us for assistance! Thank you for putting service above self!
The following is the proposed slate of candidates for the 2022-23 Minneapolis City of Lakes Board of Directors and Committee leaders. Thanks to all who agreed to serve next year! This slate will be voted on at the January 5th, 2022 meeting. Please reach out to Ross Naylor if you have any questions.
2022-2023 City of Lakes Rotary Club
Board
President
Ross Naylor
Past President
Scott Benson
President-Elect
Jean Johnson
Vice President/Membership Chair
Shaun Irwin
Membership Co-chair
Claire Burkitt
Treasurer
Sheila Gothmann
Finance/Assistant Treasurer
Cindy Lennie
Secretary
Lisa Moncrief
Sergeant-at-Arms
Doug Schmitt & Kurt Nelson
Club Administrator
Steve Morris
Assistant Club Administrator
Dick Mosman
Projects
Gayle Noakes
Foundation
Bill Klein/
Foundation Co-Chair
Bob Baker
Programs Committee Chair
Carol Russell
Assistant Programs
Mary Pat Cumming, Daniel Kodet
At Large – Public Image Chair
Brock Ray
At Large
Maria Bavendar
At Large – District Liaison/Strategy
Carol Russell
Web Master
Brock Ray
Avenues of Service
Community Service Chair
Jodi Massey
Assistant Community Service
Lynn Otis
International Service Chair
Rob Scarlett
Assistant International Service
Vocational Service Chair
Jonathan Hobbs
Assistant Vocational Service
Andrew Hoffman
Club Service Chair
Matthew Prediger
Assistant Club Service
Adekunle Samuel
2022-23 Minneapolis City of Lakes Board Slate Announced!
For the holiday season this year, we are partnering again with Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities in the Kids Can Give program. To make this convenient for everyone, there are several ways to make a donation no later than December 15.
We recently received a very kind thank you note from Junior Achievement North, celebrating City of Lakes Rotary Club's contribution to the JA LaunchU! cohort of female students. With the financial and volunteer support of Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary, JA LaunchU! will be creating its first ever Female Founders cohort – fostering a creative, supportive, and inspiring environment for an all-female-student group. This cohort of 20-25 8th-12th grade students will embark on their 26-week program between November 2021 and May 2022.
Exciting news! We needed to bring two cars this afternoon to pick up all of the hats and gloves that City of Lakes Rotary ordered this year for our annual Warm Hands, Warm Heads, Warm Hearts project.
Junior Achievement North is excited to welcome Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians for a night of celebration, fun, engagement, and networking. Please join us for our first ever Impact Celebration – where we are all JA kids! This drop-in event will feature: interactive activities, JA student project showcases, hors d’oeuvres, and more! If you’ve had an interest in learning about Junior Achievement North before volunteering, touring the Learning Labs in our new building, or just getting out of the house to do something fun – we invite you to join us!
JA LaunchU! is an immersive and guided startup experience where students gain the skills needed to launch their own business startup. With the help of a JA Entrepreneur in Residence, coaching by volunteer entrepreneurs and business leaders, and a startup guidebook, students will launch and manage their own businesses.
We have received an application for membership from Sandy Christensen, who has attended several recent meetings in person and online. Sandy is VP Finance and Administration for Meet Minneapolis, an organization that markets Minneapolis as a tourist destination, supporting the local economy and hospitality industry. She is sponsored by Jim Vos.
Nominations are now open for the John Fischer Rotary Hope Award and the Merle Else Heart of Rotary Award. City of Lakes Rotary annually presents these awards to deserving recipients at our annual club awards ceremony in November. Please submit your nominations by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.
On Saturday, August 14, the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club held its first food packing event at Every Meal’s warehouse in Roseville. We packed 1,872 bags of food, or about7,175 meals, in about 90 minutes. Holly Daniels, Every Meal’s Volunteer Coordinator, noted that Every Meal will be providing weekend food to over 7,000 students in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin this coming school year, and seeks to provide food to 10,000 students each week in the near future.
The City of Lakes Rotary Club is excited to be meeting at its new location, the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, starting in August. The Woman's Club is an elegant venue overlooking Loring Park in the heart of Minneapolis. The story of the Woman's Club began more than a century ago when a group of extraordinary women set out to create a beautiful space in which to gather, connect, educate, inspire, and improve the world around them. Today, the Woman's club is enjoyed by women and men of all ages and backgrounds to work as a positive force of good in our community.
Huge thanks to Jonathan Hobbs for helping to put together our new City of Lakes Rotary Club Impact Statement! The new statement documents the amazing work City of Lakes members have done both in our community and across the globe. Click through to read all of the great statistics and to see more amazing graphics by Russell Herder.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club is moving our weekly meetings to a new venue beginning in August. Get a preview of our new home to be with a special happy hour on the rooftop patio of The Woman's Club.
Date: Tuesday, July 27 Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m. Location: The Woman's Club (410 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, MN 55403) Details: Event will take place on the rooftop patio. Light food will be served & cash bar available. Guests are welcome! RSVP: Kindly let us know you're coming by Thursday, July 22. RSVP here.
We made it through another Rotary year. Let's gather and celebrate all we accomplished together and toast the year that was. (And what it year it was!)
What: Year-end happy hour for Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians and guests
North Loop, 520 N 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(*Rain or shine. Ideally, we can be outdoors, but they have indoor space if we need it.)
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Details: Graze is a food and beverage collective with seven locally-driven, chef-inspired food concepts and two bars. Plenty of great options to choose from!
Let us know you're coming! Please RSVP to Jodi Massey by June 28 (email or text 612-868-7541)
Eight enthusiastic Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary volunteers returned to Community Emergency Service (CES) at long last on Saturday morning, May 22. Due to ongoing COVID protocols, the group was limited to eight individuals and masks were required. But this group, all experienced in this community service event in the past dove right in and successfully fulfilled the orders for 100 of CES’s home delivery clients in just under 2 hours.
Join us for our next installment of our take a hike series. This is a chance to get together outside with Rotarians and enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors. Friends and family are welcome.
Saturday, May 15 10:00-11:30 a.m. Theodore Wirth Park Meet at the Picnic Parking Lot: 3130 Glenwood Ave, Golden Valley, MN 55422
We are very excited to share that we have received a new member application from Reverend Tim Kingsley.
Tim is the Canon Pastor, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief of Staff at Saint Marks Episcopal Cathedral located in Minneapolis, serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team, and is a Senior Consultant at Kingswood Security Consulting. His civic and charitable activities include Masonic, Minneapolis BOMA, St. Paul BOMA, and the Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team. He is also a member of the St. Andrews Society and enjoys sailing and camping.
He is joining Rotary to develop relationships, to support the City of Minneapolis - and looks forward to engaging speakers and committing to healthy communities that are grounded in equity, inclusion, fellowship, and fun.
Tim has a Political Science degree from the University of Minnesota and studied organizational leadership at the Teachers College of Columbia University. He also attended the School of Formation for Priesthood at the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.
Tim's sponsors are Ellen Archibald and Cindy Lennie. Please contact Ross Naylor (rnaylor@alliiance.us) before May 24th, 2021, if you would like further information, have any questions or comments to Tim's application for membership.
I am thrilled to share that we have received a new member application from Claire Burkitt.
Claire was a former Rotary exchange student in high school and had a once in a lifetime experience of assimilating into another country's culture and became fluent in a second language. That experience deeply shaped her values, and desire to be part of Rotary to continue to create the same experiences for others. Additionally, she aims to live Rotary's mission of philanthropy and global citizenship.
She has served and volunteered for many charitable organizations including: Robin for Minneapolis, Open Arms, the 36th District Democrats, Puentes Seattle, along with her experience thru the Rotary Youth Exchange. She enjoys sewing and clothing design, skiing, cooking, travel and is a playground aficionado.
Claire holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Seattle Pacific University and a Project Management certificate from the University of Washington and works as a marketing operation project manager for Strategic Education, a publicly traded higher education company and parent company to Capella University and Strayer University.
She is excited to make new connections (hopefully in-person soon!) and finding ways to be a benefit to our community both locally and globally.
Claire's sponsor is Ross Naylor. Please contact Ross (rnaylor@alliiance.us) before May 24th, 2021, if you would like further information, have any questions or comments to Claire’s application for membership.
If you were unable to attend the annual forum we helped lead along with St. Paul Sunrise Rotary and the Roseville Rotary club on the potential of legalizing recreational marijuana, it's not too late! Here is a link to the event recording.
Thanks for your continued support of this yearly event which is always a highlight of our Rotary year!
Do you like to make a difference in the local community? Do you have a passion around a particular issue impacting the community or an organization making a difference in the Twin Cities area? We'd love you to join us! The Rotary fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30, and budget requests for the upcoming year are due to the Foundation Board by May 15. Join us May 10 from 12p-1p as we review current grant requests and discuss new ideas for the new fiscal year.
City of Lakes received a wonderful note this week from Rob Williams at Every Meal (formerly The Sheridan Story). Thanks to everyone for help making this important work possible.
On Monday, March 20, members of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club delivered much needed food and hygiene products to the Community Emergency Service (CES) food shelf located in the inner city.
Late on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 16, the Minneapolis chapter of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7200 put out a notice to The Family Partnership and several other nonprofit, social service organizations in the Twin Cities to let them know that they were going to be distributing perishable food items. The only rub was that time was of the essence as the distribution would take place on Thursday morning, March 18. This initiative was one of many community outreach programs sponsored by CWA.
We recently added a page to the website that documents some of our club’s history. Have a look at the new page to see what we’ve accomplished together over the past 36 years. And if you notice we’re missing something that you think should be included, be sure to let us know! Email Brock Ray with suggestions.
Love is in the air! Share your thoughts about what you love about being a part of Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club for a chance to win a one-night stay at the Element Hotel Downtown!
We’re looking for members to share personal experiences about what being a part of the MCOLRC means to you. What do you love about being a member? What moments in your experience with COLRC are most meaningful to you? Maybe it’s serving on a committee or a service project, a trip abroad, an opportunity for leadership, friendships you’ve made, or another member who has made an impact on you. We want to hear your stories.
Entries can be submitted either in writing (up to 500 words) or a video (up to two minutes). Send to Ross Naylor or Jean Johnson by March 1. Everyone who submits will be entered for the chance to win the grand prize.
Special thanks to member Mark Labovitz for providing the hotel stay!
How much do you know about our club? Take part in our Club Trivia Challenge for the chance to win great prizes!
Here’s how it works: Every day between Feb. 15-19, one question will be posted to the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club Facebook page. Answer the question in the comments section of the post. Answer correctly, and you’ll be entered to win the daily prize. Answer all 5 questions correctly and you’ll be entered to win our grand prize: a one-night stay at the Element Hotel Downtown
Don’t know the answer? Don’t worry! All answers can be found on the club’s website (colrc.org). You may have to dig a little, but all will be there.
Daily winners will be announced the following morning. Grand Prize winner will be announced the week of February 22.
*If you don’t use Facebook, we’ll post the questions to the website each day and answers can be emailed to Sangam Napit.
Our Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club turns 36 this year! Zoom in for virtual happy hour on Thursday, February 18 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. as we toast the amazing members and difference the club makes in the community. No formal program or need to register, just tune in as you are able for a chance to chat with one another. (And BYOB.)
Stay tuned for a series of activities throughout the week of February 14th as we honor our history and celebrate 36 years of the best Rotary Club on Earth.
Over the next few months, we're attempting to host some opportunities to get together outside and enjoy the great Minnesota outdoors. (Respecting state guidelines and social distancing.) Our second installment will take place at the Hyland Lake Park Reserve. No formal program. Just a chance to connect with one another.
Saturday, Feb. 20 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Richardson Nature Center (within Hyland Lake Park Reserve) 8737 E Bush Lake Rd Bloomington, MN 55438
Park and meet at the Richardson Nature Center. Face coverings are required.
City of Lakes Rotary will work with the Excelsior Morning Rotary Club on the Lake Street Council Project, to help rebuild businesses damaged in summer 2020’s civil unrest after George Floyd’s death.
I'm reaching out to share information about our December CES Food Drive. There have been many stories in the news highlighting the exceptional need for food donations this year and we hope you will consider a generous donation this holiday season.
Starting this Tuesday, December 1 through Sunday, December 20 we will again be collecting food items for CES. You can drop your donations at Gary Mosiman's ( cell 612-805-3795) and/or Jean Johnson's ( cell 269-720-3121) homes. Please call or text beforehand.
To entice your generosity, we are offering a smoked turkey sampler package including 8 pounds of turkey drumsticks, thighs and wings from Jack McCann of TC Farm. Many of you enjoyed hearing from Jack when he spoke on November 18 and this sampler pack (a $95 value) This is a scrumptious prize opportunity! If you donate 10 or more food items, or provide a monetary donation, your name will be entered in a drawing for the turkey sampler. Don't miss out!!
Here are some requested food items:
Small packets of Mashed Potatoes
Chunky Soups
Canned Chili
Canned Beef Stew
Honey
Coffee
Tea
Flavored Oatmeal Packets
Dry Pinto Beans
Dry Black Beans
Olive Oil
Thanks Rotarians — let's together enjoy a wonderful holiday season and help our community members in need.
We are partnering with Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities in the Kids Can Give program.
What:
The Kids Can Give Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities provides Club kids with the opportunity to shop for gifts for family members and get each gift wrapped on site.
Volunteers sign-up to help kids shop, wrap gifts or assist in a holiday activity.
Individuals, corporations, and organizations collect gifts for all ages, donating to the local Twin Cities Clubs.
The City of Lakes Rotary has ‘adopted’ the Jerry Gamble Club this holiday season.
Plan to ship your purchased items (selected from below) to The Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club located at 2410 Irving Avenue N, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Drop off your items at the front desk of The Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club location from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday until Thursday, Dec. 17th.
TO THE MEMBERS OF ROTARY CLUB OF MINNEAPOLIS CITY OF LAKES:
This serves as notice that the Board of Directors has recommended that the Members of the Club amend the Club’s bylaws by adopting the following resolution:
In this prolonged time of need, the Community Service Committee (CSC) and City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) have partnered with numerous local organizations to provide welcome help to people throughout the Twin Cities.
Community Emergency Service (CES) Food Shelf Food Drive
Starting in September, COLRC has conducted successive food drives for CES through which members have already contributed over 1,400 pounds of much needed food to help them better serve their community with nutritious food during the pandemic and economic downturn. These drives will continue for the foreseeable future until we can once again safely return to the facility to fulfill food requests for individual recipients.
School Supplies for FAIR School
As students returned to school in September for what is proving to be a challenging year, a plea went out to the CSC and club members to provide school supplies to students at The FAIR School (The FAIR School is a public 9-12 fine arts high school located in downtown Minneapolis that is rooted in equity, innovation and creativity). Club members responded enthusiastically, contributing many bags and boxes of supplies to help out.
Halloween Treats and Supplies for The Family Partnership
The Family Partnership is a Minneapolis based nonprofit, social service organization with a wide variety of services available to children and parents. They maintain two schools, one in North Minneapolis and one in South Minneapolis for children ranging in age from 16 months on up to the age of 12. The schools offer a multitude of therapeutic educational services geared specifically to challenged children of low income families. When it appeared that it would be impossible to allow children to safely go trick or treating door-to-door on Halloween, they reached out to COLRC for help. Within a matter of one week members responded by not only providing hundreds of pounds of candy and nutritious treats, but also numerous coloring books, crayons, markers, and drawing pads for distribution to the costumed kids in their classrooms for a successful Halloween party.
Hat and Glove Distribution
Minnesota becomes an inhospitable place beginning in late fall for the unprepared. For over 20 years, the CSC has purchased and distributed high quality hats and gloves for those in need throughout the local community. This year, 750 hats and 750 pairs of gloves (ranging in size from children’s, to young adult’s, and adult’s) were distributed to 6 area social service organizations:
Simpson Housing
CES
Park Avenue Foundation
American Indian OIC
The Family Partnership
East Side Neighborhood Services
Rake, Rattle, and Roll
For over two decades, COLRC members and their families have helped out senior and challenged citizens in South Minneapolis by raking their yards in preparation for winter. This much appreciated event, which is always popular with our members, occurred on November 7 this year with a large turnout of masked and socially distanced members to lend a helping hand. As unpredictable as the weather can be at this time of year, this year it cooperated with a balmy high of 74°.
To see pictures from all of these great events, click the Read More button below.
Our last food drive for CES was a great success with over 1,100 pounds of food and supplies donated by our club. The survey of club members following that drive indicated that many of you would be interested in having ongoing, monthly food drives until such time as we can return to the food shelf and begin packing individual orders for CES clients again.
So, Jennifer Creadick and I will be heading up our next (and future) food drive initiative. She, Jean Johnson, and I will serve as drop off points for the drive.
DATES: Now through Thursday, October 29
Bring food/supplies and/or checks (payable to CES) to:
Jennifer Creadick 2619 Ulysses St. NE, Minneapolis, MN (612) 227-5541
Jean Johnson 3801 W 28th St., Minneapolis, MN (269) 720-3121
Gary Mosiman 4130 Dynasty Drive, Minnetonka (612) 805-3795
Needed Items: Here are some of the items that CES is especially short on, so these items are priorities:
Laundry detergent – small bottles or laundry pods
Dish soap
Maxi-pads
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Bar soap
Dry pinto and black beans
Olive oil (preferably in plastic bottles)
Milk alternatives (Almond, Coconut, Soy, Rice
In addition, they can always use dog and cat food, cat litter, pasta sauce, canned chicken, canned tuna, black tea, and coffee.
If you plan to bring items to any of the three of us, please call the person to whom you are delivering to let them know you’re coming.
Special Opportunity — Halloween Goodies: One of the organizations to which we provide hats and gloves each fall (thanks to your generous donations to our foundation) is called The Family Partnership (https://www.thefamilypartnership.org/about/history/). They provide a wide range of much needed and valuable social services throughout our community. One of their facilities is located in North Minneapolis and this year because of COVID, and to keep kids safe as an alternative to door-to-door trick or treating on Halloween they have planned a “Trunk or Treat” event. They will line up cars in their parking lot on Friday morning, October 30 and costumed kids will be able to walk through and take Halloween items from the trunks of the cars. They have invited us to provide the items for the kids and we have accepted the challenge.
So, if you are interested in participating in this Halloween event by donating, you may bring bags of candy, other more nutritional (but fully sealed) food items, coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, new children’s books, or any other items that you think would be appropriate and fun for kids to any of the three CES food drive collection drop off sites listed above by Thursday evening, October 29. We will then bring them to the event the next morning. Together, we can help The Family Partnership provide a safe and fun Halloween activity for kids on the North side.
Prize: This month’s prize for donating the most weight: a quart of Caribou Cream Pure Maple Syrup (direct from the source!)
Questions: Please call Jennifer or me if you have questions.
If so, you will soon have your very own Rotary mask, courtesy of several of your fellow COL Rotarians. Don’t be outdone by Patrick Joyce, seen here modeling! We invite you to post your own stunning photo on our social media and website. So how do I get one, you ask? Stay tuned and you’ll find out!
COL's 1st Annual Reinvented Golf Event 3.0 was held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Minneapolis Hiawatha Golf Club. In addition to golf and social time, four bags of canned and packaged food items and $160.00 in cash was collected for our partner, Community Emergency Services (CES).
Roughly 20 participants took part, including 11 COL active members plus COL alumni King Bavender, Michael Anschel, and Cliff Jacobson, along with six family and friend guests. Each team was rewarded handsomely with a wide variety of shot making.
The foursome including King Bavender, Cliff Jacobson, Keith Johnson and Bob Baker took home the Tournament's inaugural traveling trophy.
Group Photo COL Members (Left-to Right): Michael Anschel, Kurt Nelson, Christine Hutcheson, Keith Johnson, Ross Naylor, Richard "Double Black Diamond" Mosman, Bob Baker, Jim Eaton, Tom Tamura, Adekunle Samuel, and Greg Beckstrom.
If you're looking for a way to feel good this weekend, try taking a trip to your local store to pick up some food or supplies for CES clients and/or FAIR school students. Great activity to do with your kids — lots of pandemic fun!
Here's a reminder of particular needs that you can print & take with you:
CES Food Items: (bold = particular need)
Olive oil and vegetable oil
Flour, sugar – 4# bags or smaller
Meat soups
Chili with meat
Canned chicken, tuna or salmon
Canned fruit, in light syrup or own juice
RiceAssorted canned vegetables
Pasta sauce
Diced tomatoes
Coffee in small bags
Tea
Whole grain cereals
Jelly & jam
Old fashioned oats, instant oatmeal packets
Peanut butter
100% fruit juice
Hygiene:
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Bar soap
Shampoo, conditioner
Deodorant
Razors and shaving cream
Feminine products
Toilet paper, facial tissues
Dish soap - small bottles
Laundry soap
Pet Needs:
Pet food for dogs or cats
Kitty litter
FAIR School
Spiral Notebooks
Pens, Pencils
Colored Pencils
Fine Tip Markers (Crayola is best)
Folders (the plastic kind are great because they last a whole year usually)
Jump Drives
You can also mail or deliver a check or cash if you want, although as Jennifer says, "you aren't going to win the prize for the heaviest donation" that way. Gary and/or Jean will deliver a bag of farmer's market goodies to the person who donates the heaviest amount of food & supplies.
Deliver to Gary Mosiman or Jean Johnson by September 13.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary, in partnership with the Burnsville, Minneapolis South and Minneapolis Uptown Rotary Clubs, applied for and received in July a Rotary District 5950 grant that will enable the four clubs to jointly provide funding of $16,000 to the Sheridan Story. These funds will be used to purchase enough food for nearly 4,000 meal bags (3-4 meals per bag), which will be distributed this summer to needy children and families impacted by the pandemic and recent civil unrest.
This funding will be announced and presented to Rob Williams, Executive Director of The Sheridan Story (and past City of Lakes Rotary Hope Award winner), at the City of Lakes Rotary Club meeting on August 5. A multi club volunteer event (compliant with social distancing guidelines) at Sheridan Story’ Roseville facility is being planned for late August or September. Details to come.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary and Minneapolis Uptown Rotary have partnered with Sheridan Story for several years, sponsoring and volunteering efforts to provide food for students at Jefferson Elementary in South Minneapolis.
More information about Sheridan’s challenges this summer is located here.
COL Rotary Sponsors Grant to Help The Sheridan Story
Join COL members on Aug. 27 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. for an outdoor opportunity to mix and mingle - at a distance, of course! We'll gather in the yard of Christine Hutchenson's home located near the Peace Garden/Rose Garden in Minneapolis. Bring your own beverages and snacks, and a chair if you'd like to sit. Check out the Club Calendar for address.
Mississippi Park Connection and the National Park Service are in need of some helping hands to plant trees within the Twin Cities' National Park. If you can spare a few hours, here are the details!
When: Wednesday, May 27 from 4:00 -7:00 p.m.
Who: City of Lakes, EcoClub and #9 Clubs
Where: Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul
What: Tree Planting! Our job will be to dig the hole (they will have pre-drilled them for us, so it shouldn't be too hard), plant 5-6ft trees, and water in trees as directed by the staff person in our group. We will be responsible for bringing along our own water, a mask or face covering (let us know if you don't have one), gloves if you prefer your own, sunscreen/bug spray, and long pants/close toed shoes. We will be working in the forested floodplain so this job will involve walking over uneven terrain and through some vegetation.
I am pleased to share the news that we have received a membership application for Zal Parakh. Zal’s sponsor is Russ Michaleltz.
Zal works at Slalom, LLC where he is a client service executive engaged in business and technology consulting.
If you would like further information about, or have any objection to, Zal’s application for membership, please contact Scott Benson before May 15, 2020.
I am pleased to share the news that we have received a membership application for Jennifer Creadick. Jennifer’s sponsor is Jean Johnson.
Jennifer owns her own business where she makes, repairs and sells violin family instruments and also rents out studio space to string teachers.
If you would like further information about, or have any objection to, Jennifer’s application for membership, please contact Scott Benson before May 11, 2020.
City of Lakes Rotary WILL MEET this Wednesday, March 25th! But, we're not going to be at the Minneapolis Club. Instead, we'll meet using Zoom.
Join us starting at 7:15 a.m. in our Zoom meeting to hear from Jack Becker, founder and lead principal consultant at Forecast Public Art a 40-year-old nonprofit based in St. Paul. Jack is recognized internationally for his pioneering efforts to make public art more public. He will share an overview of trends and issues in the field, and discuss recent efforts he’s led to help cities address health issues through public art.
To join the Zoom meeting, just go to https://zoom.us/j/5662831321. (If you have not already done so, you will need to create a Zoom account and download the software for your PC, Mac, or mobile device.)
We will also be live streaming the meeting to the club's Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/COLRC. And if you can't make it during the meeting, we'll post a video recording after it's done.
Below is City of Lakes Rotary Club President Jewelie Grape's letter updating all of us on the club's response to the Coronavirus:
Hello, City of Lakers. This email contains an update from the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club board meeting this morning. Please know that your board cares about you and wants to support you however we can during these uncertain times.
CLUB MEETINGS
1. In-person club meetings will be cancelled through April 1 (and maybe longer).
2. If your committee needs the club’s free conference call number, let me know.
3. We are working to set up virtual meetings (most likely using Zoom) with webinar-like presentations the mornings of Wednesday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 1. Stay tuned for more on this.
4. We are also looking into virtual happy hours, coffees, etc. Thanks to Brock for this fun idea!
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER
1. Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Pick up the phone and call your Rotary friends. Or email them. Or use social media to stay in touch (City of Lakes has a Facebook page - join it!). I will be sending a weekly email with announcements, updates, jokes, pictures, and ‘Happy Bucks” type news during the weeks we do not meet in person. Please send me information you want to share by each FRIDAY MORNING. Note – I have the right to edit what you send
2. We all have specialized skills/knowledge that can be shared to support each other during these tumultuous times. Let me or the vocational service team (Jeff Meacham, Steve Morris) know how you can help and we will figure out a way to make these “internal resources” available to club members who may need them. As an example, attached to this email is a practical list of HR issues to consider during the coronavirus outbreak that I prepared for my clients. Feel free to re-distribute to anyone who may find this helpful.
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
It’s difficult to know how to help when we are all supposed to be hunkering down at home. Our club supports the Sheridan Story, CES, the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club and other worthwhile programs that provide food to our community. As soon as we get the “all clear” to start socializing again, I’m sure these organizations will need volunteers. We will keep you updated on opportunities as they arise.
I’m just a telephone call or email away if you have additional thoughts or need anything…
Stay healthy,
Jewelie
2019-20 Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club President
Due to concerns about COVID-19, City of Lakes Rotary is cancelling in-person meetings for the time being, including our regularly scheduled Wednesday morning meeting on March 18. We are working diligiently to conduct our meetings on Wednesday, March 25, and April 1, via Zoom. Watch your email for more information on how to access these meetings.
We look forward to being able to meet together again as soon as it is safe to do so.
Rising early the morning after celebrating our 35th anniversary in “service above self” (the Rotary motto), 30 Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club members and their guests spent Saturday morning, March 7 filling bags of requested grocery and sundry items for 162 participants in the Community Emergency Service Food Shelf home delivery program. This is a bi-monthly event supported by members and their families and friends. The Club also supports the CES Food Shelf financially with gifts from its foundation, with funds donated by members.
Thanks to the 80 members and guests who have registered for the City of Lakes 35th Anniversary! We're going to have a great time this Friday, March 6 at our tropical-themed bash in the Shangri- La Lounge at Psycho Suzi's in NE Minneapolis. Registration is now closed, but if your plans change and you can join us after all, please contact Jodi Massey.
Celebrate 35 years of the best Rotary club on earth!
Back by popular demand, a quarterly meet up is a chance to get to know another member of the club one on one.
Click here to view the randomly generated list of quarterly meets ups. Have a look for your name, see who is next to yours, and simply reach out to that member to set up time for a coffee, meal, walk or perhaps another other beverage of your choosing between now and the end of March. (We'll route another meet up list in April.)
If you are paired with someone you've previously met with or are a snowbird and won't be in town for the next few months, consider taking it upon yourself to swap partners with other members.
This December, the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) partnered with the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club in North Minneapolis to participate in the Boys & Girls Club’s annual Holiday Celebration. COLRC members purchased gifts that were then made available to kids participating in the Boys & Girls Club’s programs, and from which the kids selected up to four gifts to give to their family members for Christmas. COLRC members then helped the kids select the gifts that they wanted to give and gift wrap them for the kids to then take home for their families.
COLRC is very familiar with the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club through a previous donation of $30,000 and “sweat equity” to renovate two spaces in the Jerry Gamble facility dedicated specifically to literacy and education. While COLRC has participated in similar holiday gift-giving programs in the past, this is the first year in which the club has had the opportunity to join hands with the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club for such a project.
Following is the proposed slate of candidates for the 2020-21 Minneapolis City of Lakes Board of Directors and Committee leaders. Thanks to all who agreed to serve next year! This slate will be voted on at the January 8, 2020 meeting.
We are partnering with Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities in the Kids Can Give program.
What:
The Kids Can Give Program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities provides Club kids with the opportunity to shop for gifts for family members and get each gift wrapped on site. Volunteers sign-up to help kids shop, wrap gifts or assist in running a holiday craft or cookie station.
Individuals, corporations, and organizations collect gifts for all ages, donating to the local Twin Cities Clubs. The City of Lakes Rotary has ‘adopted’ the Jerry Gamble Club this holiday season.
How much should I spend?: Most people spend approximately $50.00, with a maximum of $75. Choose gifts in the $15-20 range for all ages from birth to 100+years.
* Wrapping paper/gift bag donations are also appreciated.
Unwrapped Gift Drop-off: at City of Lakes Rotary meetings
December 4th
December 11th
Volunteer Opportunity: Jerry Gamble Kids Can Give Holiday Sale
When: December 18th from 2pm – 7pm
Where: Jerry Gamble – 2410 Irving Avenue North, Minneapolis
What: Shop with kids; Wrap gifts; Assist with holiday crafts and cookies!
On Wednesday, November 13th, we held our annual City of Lakes Rotary Awards Ceremony. This is the day each year when we recognize outstanding club members for contributions to our club, to our community, and to Rotary. We celebrated a number of individuals at the meeting:
Dick Devore Fellows — those who have given in excess of $1,000 to the City of Lakes Rotary Foundation
Paul Harris Fellows — those who have given in excess of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
Awards for volunteer service and leadership throughout the year
2019 Richard Parrish Emerging Leader Award – Christine Hutcheson
2019 Merle Else Heart of Rotary Award – Jean Johnson
2019 John Fischer Rotary Hope Award – Jessica Bartholomew of ACT United
Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners. We are exceptionally grateful for their commitment to Service Above Self.
Braving a light dusting of overnight snow, on Saturday morning, November 2nd, 46 members and guests of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club raked 15 yards for seniors and other residents of South Minneapolis who are unable to do so themselves. This year marks the 20th year that the Club has completed this much-appreciated service project. In keeping with tradition, the hardy rakers then adjourned to Matt’s Bar to enjoy their famous Jucy Lucy burgers and fries.
On the evening of Wednesday, October 16, City of Lakes Rotary Club gathered at Jax Cafe to kick off a new year for the City of Lakes Foundation. While enjoying a wonderful dinner, club members and guests heard from a number of fellow members and community leaders about the great work being done with the support of our club foundation. We look forward to another great year ahead as we continue to partner with a variety of organizations doing good work both locally and around the world.
Feed: Quickly surpassing our initial goal of 10,000 meals, we set a new goal of 40,000 meals, which we exceeded, with a final tally of 53,890. Our feed initiatives have included partnering with Sheridan Story to stock weekend food bags for students at Jefferson School, the popular Saturday mornings at CES Food Shelf and building large projects out of food cans designed by Kodet Architects to benefit Second Harvest.
Read: The Literacy Champs committee took on the 10,000 book challenge. Result: 12,793 books have been donated from our club. From an initial start of collecting used books from members & partnering with City of Minneapolis’ 4th Police Precinct and Project for Pride in Living to design, build & fill Little Free Libraries (special thanks to Kodet & O-A Design), our focus has narrowed to providing diverse books for young kids, working with Minneapolis organizations with a successful history & key focus on literacy. We have hosted book & book bag give-aways at schools and preschools, sorted books, read to kids, celebrated reading success at various celebrations, provided books to kids at an author party, stocked a middle school library and created books for kids at a morning meeting. We have brought in authors to speak, books to buy, and added books to our holiday gift drive present.
Over the last three years, City of Lakes Rotary Club has partnered with the following organizations as part of the Read & Feed initiative:
Boys & Girls Club Edison High School Hennepin County (Holiday Gift Drive recipients) Hennepin County Corrections (through Hennepin County Library) Jefferson School Joyce Preschool (dual immersion preschool) Kerlan Library at the University of Minnesota Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Minneapolis Police, 4th Precinct Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute New Horizon (N. Penn Ave) Project for Pride in Living Reach Out & Read MN Reading Partners Way to Grow CES Food Shelf Second Harvest Food Shelf Sheridan Story
The Minneapolis City of Lakes Foundation provided $1,500 to Joyce Preschool in south Minneapolis to support reading and related learning tools for the 3, 4 and 5 year olds. Supplies and books were purchased in both English and Spanish and these young learners and their teachers are excited to have these new resources to inspire learning in their classrooms. Thanks for your support of the Minneapolis COL Foundation, we are able to continually support great organizations like Joyce. Thank you!
Young learners enjoying new resources in the classroom
You are invited to join Sheila Gothmann and Maria Bavender to travel to Pietermaritzburg South Africa to celebrate our water and sanitation project for the SAVF home. The Rotary Club of Pietermaritzburg Azalea is organizing a celebratory cheese and wine event in the evening Wednesday, March 27. We plan to be in the area March 25-28. South Africa has an immense range of opportunities for travelers, whether you are looking for rugged adventure, a food and wine tour or an historical experience. Please contact Sheila or Maria for more information, stgothmann@comcast.net, maria.bavender@gmail.com.
On Wednesday, November 14, the Community Service Committee of The Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club (COLRC) delivered 750 much-needed hats and pairs of gloves to eight Minneapolis social service organizations. This Warm Hands, Warm Heads, Warm Hearts program is an annual event and is made possible by COLRC members who so generously donate to the COLRC Foundation in support of numerous “service above self” initiatives throughout the year.
Warm Hands, Warm Heads, Warm Hearts program update
It is time once again for our annual City of Lakes Rotary Gift Drive! Our generous COL members, in partnership with Hennepin County, provide anonymous gifts to individuals and families that are in need of extra help this Holiday season. We ask all COL members to participate, and have assigned a recipient to each member who hasn't yet declined. If you would like to decline, please let Lisa Moncrief know by sending an e-mail to lisa.moncrief@cnb.com.
On the attached list, each COLRC member is given the name of an individual to purchase a gift for, along with gift ideas. Please see the family story on the right column, you may have to look at a previous page. We ask you to purchase a gift, wrap it, and include a name tag indicating the family letter (A,B, etc.) and the recipient’s name. Please bring your wrapped gift to one of the next Wednesday meetings on November 28th or December 5th. Click 'Read More...' below for additional information.
15 senior and home-bound homeowners in South Minneapolis are able to enjoy leaf-free yards this winter thanks to the efforts of Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotarians and their friends and relatives. Despite a gloomy forecast of rain, 35 volunteers showed up on Saturday, November 3 to help these people out with their fall yard cleanup. Fortunately, the rain held off and the temperature rose into the upper 30°s so that the task was not so daunting.
The Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club has been doing fall cleanup for elderly and infirm homeowners in South Minneapolis for 25 years and our efforts are always greatly appreciated by the homeowners who, without our help, would be unable to remove the leaves from their yards and get them bagged for pick up. Said one homeowner: “Thank you so much! You are such a help to us.”
Following the raking, we all adjourned to Matt‘s Bar for a well-deserved feast featuring their famous Jucy Lucy burgers and fries.
Thanks to all of our members who continually put forth the extra effort to make life a little better for those in need in our community.
Check out all these immediate opportunities below to get in on the literacy action! Each project is estimated to take 2-4 hours total and can be done on your own schedule. Great feel-good opportunity to make a positive difference for kids. Lots of context & background information available from Jean Johnson and/or Hugh Pruitt.
Reach Out & Read MN - Coordinate with matching grant person to make a donation on behalf of COL, coordinate a book sorting in late February. This one is HOT and we’d like to get someone to adopt it as soon as possible so that we can get our $2K matched right away.
Way to Grow - Coordinate book purchase with agency & bookstore. Contact our ongoing partner to determine their needs, provide the funding we’ve already budgeted. Explore opportunities for club engagement.
Reading Partners - Coordinate with our bookstore partner to purchase diverse books identified by the organization & ensure they’re delivered. Possibly arrange participation in year-end graduation. We have an ongoing relationship with the organization & bookstore.
Joyce Preschool - Get a list of desired titles from the Preschool, order & deliver books to the school for the kids. Receive lots of hugs.
New Horizon - Coordinate a family book giveaway. Contact the organization to learn when their upcoming Family Night will be & what kind of books they’d like. Use/modify existing book list, order books, pick up from bookstore & encourage club members to attend Family Night to help families pick out books.
Save the date - our annual Rake, Rattle, and Roll event will be happening on Saturday, November 3! We'll meet at 8:30am in the US Bank parking lot (2800 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406) and finish raking by 11am followed by an optional (but, oh so delicious) lunch at Matt's Bar.
We are excited to host the annual Foundation Dinner this year at Jax Cafe. We are keeping the program short and the fun high - with great food, wonderful fellowship, and Karaoke to top it all off.
It all starts at 6:00 PM at Jax Cafe in North East Minneapolis and will last until 8:30 or so. Bring a guest and learn more about what great work we do at COLRC.
Click here to register so we have a good estimate for food!
Did you attend the community forum in April hosted by the St. Paul Sunrise Club? Due to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the April Forum, the Rotary District 5960 ethics team is hosting Better Angels' workshops. Better Angels is a national bipartisan citizen's movement, dedicated to depolarization and unifying our divided nation by bringing liberals and conservatives together to understand each other beyond stereotypes and to form working alliances.
Thursday, October 18 at 630pm in Roseville - Register on the Rotary District 5960 website: https://www.rotary5960.org/Stories/better-angels-skills-workshop
Follow up from April Forum - Beyond Political Polarization
Talk & Tour at American Refugee Committee exclusive for Rotarians of D5950 and D5960
In June of 2016, the Roseville RC, Kiwatule RC (Uganda) and American Refugee Committee (ARC) partnered to start the world’s first Rotaract Club in a refugee camp - the Nakivale Rotaract Club in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda. D5950 worked with the Nakivale Rotaract Club on the creation of a new sewing center. With the energy and success of Nakivale, there is a growing momentum to build on the collaboration between ARC and Rotary to be able to develop more Rotaract Clubs in refugee camps throughout the world. RI President Barry's #1 goal for 2018-2019 is to double Rotaract clubs in the world.
ARC is inviting us to their Minneapolis headquarters for a private Rotary tour and talk! ARC President Daniel Wordsworth will host this in-depth look at the organization and update on the Rotaract Club of Nakivale Refugee Settlement. Plus, you’ll be one of the first to hear about exciting opportunities that may be possible between ARC and Rotary! Things will kick off at 5:30PM, and the program will begin at 6PM. Appetizers and drinks are hosted by ARC and it’s free to attend, but we ask that you register so we can give an appropriate count.
Questions? Please reach out to Amanda Ottman – AmandaO@arcrelief.org or 612-607-6496.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2: Talk and Tour at American Refugee Committee!
A big congratulations to Team Kodet for winning 'Best Original Design' at the 2018 CANstruction event. An incredible 7000 cans of food were donated to 2nd Harvest Heartland Food Bank! Thank you City of Lakes Rotary, especially all who helped on Build Day and Practice build day!
It's finally here! Funds raised during our club's 30th Anniversary helped to remodel three areas at the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club in North Minneapolis. Please join us to celebrate the opening of these shiny new spaces that will help make learning fun for the club kids, just in time for the new school year. Free, no rsvp required. Questions: contact Jodi Massey.
Celebrate our legacy project Sept. 6 at Jerry Gamble B&GC
Wish as we may, we are fast approaching the end of summer. The State Fair is right around the corner, pre-season NFL football is on the air, and school children everywhere have that look of impending doom about them.
Fear not. The City of Lakes “Farewell to Summer” Picnic is Thursday, September 13th, beginning at 5:30PM at the home of Gary Stang (2174 Lakebrook Drive; New Brighton). You and your family will not want to miss it!
Please bring an item to share plus your favorite adult beverage. The club with provide a main dish and non-alcoholic beverages. Please send an e-mail to john.e.rent@wellsfargo.com if you can make it, so we have a rough idea on food to order.
Mark your calendars now and we’ll welcome fall with a healthy dose of Rotary fellowship!
Attention Rotarians - Rotary Race Day is almost upon us! Districts 5950 and 5960 are hosting an evening of live horse racing, silent auction, kid's activities, and cards at Canterbury Park!
Who: Everyone is welcome! Bring your friends, family and kids!
When: Friday, August 10, 2018
Where: Canterbury Park - Silks Party Area (1100 Canterbury Rd, Shakopee, MN)
Time: Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Live racing starts at 6:15 p.m.
Cost: $10.00 per ticket which includes admission, hot dog and soda. (coupon will be handed out at event)
Children 17 and under are free, but must buy $10 ticket if they want hot dog and soda.
How: Purchase tickets from any Rotarian (Rotary president has access to more tickets)
100% of Ticket Sales will benefit Polio Plus!
Thank you to Canterbury for donating admission, hot dog and soda!
Please join other Rotarians and Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at MOA for Canstruction 2018! Canstruction(r) is the construction of creative structures made of canned goods to benefit Second Harvest Heartland food shelf. Our theme this year is "Button up Hunger," based on the children's book, Corduroy.
Canstruction(r) Event at Mall of America (Main Rotunda) Dates: *Saturday, September 15th - 10:00 a.m. - approx. 5:00 p.m. - Team Canstruction Building (Likely to be 1 hour building shifts; more detailed schedule to follow after practice build)
Monday, September 17th - 6:00 p.m. - Team Awards Event (This will be an informal gathering with teams to announce awards. Food and drink will be provided and it will be held at an MOA restaurant. Exact location TBD.) Monday, September 17th - 7:00 p.m. - Decanstruction (Help us pack all of the cans so they can be delivered to Second Harvest Heartland)
*Participants must be 18+ to participate in the Team Canstruction Building at MOA.
Note that you don't need to be building on the competition day at MOA to participate in the practice build, and vice versa. If you are interested in doing the practice build or helping to build at the Mall of America, please email Ken Stone at kstone@kodet.com.
I am very pleased to share the news that we have received a membership application from John Coskran. He is proposed for membership by Anna Coskran.
John is SVP in Accounting and Finance at YA, an end to end engagement and promotions marketing company. He is a member of the senior leadership team and oversees accounting, financial operations, financial planning and pricing. A graduate or Carleton College with a BA in Economics, an MS in Accountancy from Depaul and an MBA from Augsburg, he was previously with Capella. In addition to his work, he is a board member for Consumer Advocacy in American Real Estate, and also enjoys travel and metalworking.
If you would like further information about, or have any objections to, Bill's application for membership, please contact Carol Russell before August 7, 2018.
A huge congratulations to our Read & Feed effort for ALREADY surpassing our 'feed' goal with last week's CES! We're currently sitting at 8,843/10,000 books and 40,970/40,000 meals. Please take a minute to say thank you to those leading this charge and DON'T FORGET to purchase your ticket for our upcoming Books & Beers event. This event will be instrumental to reaching our 'read' goal! If you have any questions or want to help out, please reach out to Jean Johnson or Jodi Massey.
Our club's first-ever literacy fundraiser, The Land of 10,000 Books and Beers, is this Tuesday, July 24. Thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket, invited a friend, donated a silent auction item, sponsored the event, donated to purchase an extra book, secured a growler, visited another club to promote the event and more.
Did you know: in addition to drinking beer for a great cause, you'll have a chance to win a wall of growlers from 10 local breweries, plus bid on incredible silent auction items including a private plane ride, three night stay on the North Shore, boat cruise and dining on Lake Minnetonka, beekeeping experience, private tour of the Russian Museum, photography session, tickets to the Hennepin County Library Pen Pals series and more? It's true!
Now's the time - if you plan to attend but haven't yet purchased a ticket, please do so today. Can you also invite three friends to join you? We'd love a great turn out from both Rotarians and non-Rotarians! If you are attending and willing to volunteer for a short shift at the event (4:30-6:15p or 6;15p-8p), please contact me. (You can still drink beer!)
We only have 1,100 more books to go to reach our 10,000 book goal. Let's make a dent in this number on Tuesday!
Special thanks to our sponsors Gray Plant Mooty and The Lantern Group.
Join us at our next Rotary After Dark, with guest Margaret Anderson Kelliher!
Margaret Anderson Kelliher is the President and CEO of the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA). Together with the associations 350-member companies and organizations, Margaret works to fuel Minnesota’s prosperity through innovation and technology. United behind a common vision to make Minnesota one of the country’s top five technology states, MHTA members represent various technology sector, including IT, bio-sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean, green and edtech.
Minneapolis COL is supporting a literacy project with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, (finally!) using funds raised during our club's 30th anniversary year. We are excited to provide an update on both the literacy initiatives happening at the Jerry Gamble Club and our COL project. Click "read more" to get the latest scoop.
Help COLRC help Way to Grow reach their goal of 50 books in the homes of their client families. It’s EASY and it makes you feel good. Here’s how:
1. Go to this link:CLICK HERE 2. Pick from a variety of books and educational games selected by Way to Grow Preschool Teachers and Family Educators. 3. Checkout online. BE SURE TO ADD " COLRC' in the line after your name so we can count these books toward our goal of providing 10,000 books to kids in Minneapolis. 4. All done! All items will be delivered directly to Way to Grow.
COLRC was warmly welcomed by students and teachers at Joyce Preschool to give books & bags to students heading to first grade. Hugs & smiles galore! Thanks for the chance to be part of the great work you're doing!
Political and social divisiveness permeates national and local news every day. While the issues are complex, finding shared values is possible. An annual event will take place soon to discuss this topic. "Beyond Political Polarization: Finding Common Ground for the Common Good" will take place April 12 at the St. Paul Town and Country Club. Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club is an annual sponsor of this event along with event founder St. Paul Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Woodbury.
Last Wednesday I offered The Reflection on the subject of "gratitude", a topic that can be appreciated by all people, but especially Rotary members.
I drew my comments from a TED.talk: which was later introduced through a YouTube video link this way...
Nature's beauty can be fleeting -- but not through Louie Schwartzberg's lens. His stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast, serves as a meditation on being grateful for every day.
The Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Rooters performed at Abiitan, a senior living community in the Mill City neighborhood of Minneapolis. See photo's below:
COL congratulates Julia De Georgeo who has been awarded the Rotary District 5950 Global Scholarship 2023-24. This provides $30,000 for a master’s degree at a foreign university in a major that relates to one of the Rotary six Areas of Focus and would enhance the scholar's future career. Julia plans to receive an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London England. Julia will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Golders Green, London England.
I am pleased to share the news that we have received a membership application for Jennifer VanWyck. Jennifer's sponsor is Jean Johnson.
Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club is moving our weekly meetings to a new venue beginning in August. Get a preview of our new home to be with a special happy hour on the rooftop patio of The Woman's Club. 
Our Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club turns 36 this year! Zoom in for virtual happy hour on Thursday, February 18 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. as we toast the amazing members and difference the club makes in the community. No formal program or need to register, just tune in as you are able for a chance to chat with one another. (And BYOB.)
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