The League of Women Voters Dakota County will host a public forum concerning gun violence in America and related public policy issues. The forum is free and all are invited to attend. The forum will consist of a brief presentation on gun violence data, a review of current Minnesota gun laws by Burnsville Police Sergeant David Powers, and a panel discussion considering potential strategies to reduce gun violence and related 2nd Amendment issues. The panel discussion will be moderated by Mary Rice, President of LWV Bloomington. Panelists will include Rev. Nancy Nord Bence, Executive Director of Protect Minnesota, Bryan Strawser, Chairman of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, Rep. Erin Maye Quade, MN House District 57A, and Rep. Steve Drazkowski, MN House District 21B. The panel discussion will include a question and answer session. Members of the public may submit questions for the panelists either in advance via email to lwvdakotacty@lwvmn.org or in writing during the forum. The forum will be recorded and video of the event will be published online at lwvdakotacounty.org and on LWV Dakota County’s Facebook page. LWV Minnesota and LWV of the U.S. have adopted various policy positions with regard to guns and violence prevention. However, this forum is intended to be educational and feature a variety of viewpoints, rather than support the policy positions adopted by the League of Women Voters. Monday Nov 12 6:30-8:30pm at Nativity Episcopal Church, 15601 Maple Island Rd, Burnsville.
Learn more and help shape the conversation about the future of our wilderness.
Wed. Nov 14 6:30-8:30pm at The School of Environmental Studies, 12155 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd, Apple Valley. Featured Presentation: Will Steger – Eyewitness to Global Warming Will Steger, world renowned polar explorer, educator, photographer, writer and lecturer will present a retrospective of a life in the arctic regions of the world. His presentation “Eyewitness to Global Warming” is his vivid account of the changes that he’s witnessed firsthand, caused by global warming.
Presentation: Lebanon Hills – Conserving Nature Close to Home Dakota County Parks Natural Resources staff will provide an update on restoration progress at Lebanon Hills. Learn about several project areas, buckthorn management, and more. There will be opportunity for Q/A and discussion with staff.
Doors open at 6pm. Seating is limited. Following the event, all are welcome to join for a social gathering with Will Steger at The Mason Jar, 1565 Cliff Rd., Eagan
The Walk to End Hunger is a family-friendly 5K fun walk held on Thanksgiving morning 7:00am-10:00am, in the Mall of America. It is a great way to start your holiday off right - giving back before you give thanks!
Kick-Start's own Karen Dare has formed a team to benefit The Open Door and invites you to walk with her. To register, simply follow this link, click on the icon for The Open Door, and join Karen's team Dare2Give. Registration on the day of the event will take place on Floors 1 and 2 of the East Side of the Mall of America, by Sea Life. Day-of registration opens at 7:00am on Thanksgiving; the registration fee at the door is $35. The formal program, with the countdown, will take place on the main stage of the Rotunda at 7:30am.
Kick-Start had the distinct honor of hosting District Governor Irene Kelly on Sep 13, and then District Membership Chair Lloyd Campbell, as well as District Governor Nominee Tom Gump and Executive Director Carol McDonald on Oct. 18. All offered their perspectives on how Rotary can make a difference and how to grow and inspire our club membership. For more on this critical topic, see the article Step Right Up in the August 2018 edition of The Rotarian featuring Tom Gump and the Rotary Club of Edina/Morningside.
As much as we Rotarians enjoy the fun, friendship, and networking aspects of Rotary, we should always remember that Rotary has the power to enact positive change on a global scale. Rotary has recently undertaken perhaps one of the most difficult challenges in its history - ending human trafficking. This may seem like an impossible task given how ingrained human trafficking is all over the world, the powerful criminal enterprises that profit from it, and cultural obstacles against the empowerment of women, the predominant victims of human trafficking. What can you do?
Identify a Club Champion who can serve as an ongoing club advocate for this initiative. Thank you Mary Nell Zellner for stepping up to be Kick-Start's Club Champion!
If you ever think that human trafficking is too big a problem to tackle, remember this Ethiopian proverb: When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
Each of our local Rotary Clubs is one strand of that spider web; together we can end human trafficking.
Eagan's Rotary Clubs are sponsoring two foreign exchange students at Eagan High School during the 2018-19 school year. There are still opportunities to be a host family. Families of all types are suitable - with or without children, empty nesters, working or retired - but must live in the Eagan High School attendance boundary. If you or someone you know live within the Eagan High School attendance boundary and would consider hosting a student, please contact Nate Danielson at 612-499-0193 for more details.
Take a minute to think about what you are truly passionate about. Then, the next time you are among your Rotary friends, take a look around. The people you see are the horsepower ready and willing to turn your passion into action. Then take a look at the Rotary District 5950 Grants webpage. There awaits a pool of funds to do the same.
Helping to turn your passion into action is why we all meet each week. So develop your idea and harness the club to do what it does best!
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