Sign up for a shift at the Cub store on Diffley from 1 to 3 on Saturday Feb 4. We need at least 10 volunteers. You can pickup a 1 or 2 hours shift to help bag groceries. All donations will go to The Open Door. See Jason for sign up times.
Thank you for attending the Guild Incorporated Ladder of Hope luncheon event in St. Paul last week and/or contributing to Guild. A total of 666 persons attended the event and contributed a total of $217,000. Your support and generosity resulted in our table having the tenth highest contribution total out of 68 tables!
You demonstrated the Rotary spirit of service and generosity in supporting Guild's mission on behalf of those facing the challenges of mental illness. I am proud to be part of a group that is so passionate about serving others in need!
I hope that as a group and individually we will include Guild among the organizations that deserve our continued support in the future.
Tuesday morning several club members attended the EHS Interact club to present a check to help sponsor the activities of their club. Doreen Rundquist, Jerri Neddermeyer, Eric Swanson and Dave Verbeke were on hand to make our $250 donation to the club. Jerri called on network to gather donations for the Interact baby blanket project. The Interact club hopes to create 100 blankets for local charities.
Batman ( Buzz Anderson) and his loyal sidekick Robin (Greg Oxley) delivered the Club's donation of hats and gloves to 360 Communities. No word if the Joker also attended but knowing Buzz there was were a few bad jokes made during the delivery. Adam West was the best Batman followed by George Clooney and then Buzz Anderson.
Do you have ideas for making District 5950 more vibrant?
All Rotarians received a November 22 email inviting them to complete an online survey about why we join Rotary, why we stay, and what can be improved. Your responses are confidential. District leaders will use this information to improve our membership approach and public image.
If you haven’t completed the survey yet, please follow this link and spend 5-10 minutes sharing your opinions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WLPWJTJ. The survey is available until December 30. Data will be compared to similar questions from the October 2013 survey when 1,205 Rotarians responded. Results will be shared with members on the District 5950 website, DG newsletter, and at District gatherings such as Mid-Term Assembly and Pre-PETS. Clubs can also request a club-specific compilation of responses.
District leaders sincerely thank you for investing your time and thought in this survey
Make plans now to attend the upcoming District Mid Term meeting on a Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at Earle Brown Center in Brooklyn Park. Attending the District meetings with other Rotary members from across the metro is a great way to learn more about Rotary and the projects that are going on. Our club would like to see 10 members attend the meeting. The cost is free and includes lunch. Look for more details in an upcoming newsletter
Inver Hills News at the Community College published an extensive article about Career Day that Eagan Kick-Start Rotary supported. Many students benefitted from talking with professional in many business areas. One student secured a internship recommendation with the Minnesota Vikings! Read the complete article at: https://news.inverhills.edu/blog/career-major-day/
During its regular monthly meeting the Board of Directors approved the following changes to the officer positions. Dave Verbeke has accepted the position of President-elect replacing Kristin Reither who has left the club due to a promotion and transfer to the Y in Shoreview. Karen Dare has been appointed to the Secretary position replacing Dave. An additional position of Member at Large was created and filled by Jerri Neddermeyer. Jerri will assist Karen with the newsletter and will serve as the Club's Webmaster. We wish all of our new Directors good luck in their new position!
Join Artworks Eagan on Give to the Max day at the Fire Administration building on Pilot Knob Road across from the Municipal Center. There will be an exhibit of community art pieces, performances throughout the day, art activities for participation and some "make and take" projects. One of the organizers for the event is our own club member Jerri Neddermeyer. This event is a fundraiser to help the group secure a permanent home for their group. The festivities run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m at 3795 Pilot Knob Road. ART-it's the canvas of our life!
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) is sponsoring a food drive for the holidays. They are asking riders, drivers and everyone else to help them Stuff the Bus Help them fill the needs of local food shelves during the busy holiday season. Proceeds will be donated to 360 Communities. "I am committed to MVTA being part of the community" said Luther Wynder MVTA Executive Director and Kickstart member. " I've have been involved in a similar promotion in Delaware and believe this will be very successful for MVTA.
Highest need items are canned fish & meat, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegtables, rice & pasta and cooking baking items. Personal items such as toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products are also in demand. Cash donations will also be accepted.
Items will be collected at meetings on 12/1 and 12/8. Donations will be delivered to the MVTA after our meeting on 12/8. Please be generous and support the MVTA and fellow Rotarian, Luther Wynder's project.
Hi Kick-Starters! I’m a supporter of the Eastview Community Foundation. The foundation helps students at Eastview and it’s feeder schools with funds for Random Acts of Kindness, Grants, and Scholarships. Here’s an example! The foundation provided funding for an elementary student to rent a band instrument they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. On November 12/13, I’ll be helping with the inaugural “Deck the Halls Holiday Home Tour”. I’d love to see you there! Questions? Call Karen Groves: 952-693-1049. Tickets can be purchased at evcf.org.
The following events will be added to the calendar but I also wanted to bring them to everyone's attention so we can get our members signed up to help.
1. Walk to End Hunger
Date : 11-24-16
Location: Mall of America (Kick off = MOA Rotunda)
Time: 7:30 am
Register: http://www.walktoendhunger.org/site/PageServer?pagename=register
Registration Fee: $25.00
2. Ronald McDonald House – Cooks for Kids Dinner
Date 12-22-16
Location: Children’s Hospital – St. Paul – 345 Smith Ave N., St. Paul
Rotaries needed: 6
Time: 3:00 to 7:30
3. The Open Door – Cub Food Bagging Event
Date: 02-04-17 and 02-05-17
Time: TBD
Location: Cub Foods, 1020 Diffley Road, Eagan
Our Happy Bucks from September will keep 21 kids happy an warm this winter. Our club collected $357 from our generous members. Proceeds will be used to buy new winter coats for kids. Our donation will be pooled with the Knights of Columbus to help kids in need this winter. Thank you for contributing Happy Bucks over the last month.
Our Club had explored the idea of securing a grant from the District to help support the construction of outdoor classroom space at Caponi Art Park. When we approached the District for grant help, we found out that the available funds were already committed for the year. While this was disappointing for the Club, Caponi decided to move ahead with the project with the hopes that funding would be in place by the end of the year. Grants from other organizations helped fill some of the need but they are still a few dollars short of their goal. Our Board of Directors has agreed to a $500 donation to the project. Caponi Art Park is also running a crowd funding campaign to help make up the short fall. If you are interested in making a personal donation, please visit their Indiegogo site:
Our first Adopt a Street cleanup was held on Saturday October 8th on O'Neill Drive in Eagan near the Vikings new training center. David Bullock, Mike Ferber, Gary Hansen, Jerri Neddermeyer, Mike Supina Eric Swanson and Brooklyn from Can Do Canines helped with the cleanup! Our commitment to the the city is for two clean ups per year. Look for another opportunity to help out in the Spring! Thanks to all who helped!
Guild Incorporated, a St. Paul non-profit organization that provides integrated services for persons with mental disabilities, has a major fundraiser, the Ladder of Hope luncheon, scheduled at noon on December 7 at the Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront. Gary Hansen, a table captain for this event, invites Rotarians to join him for lunch to learn about Guild’s programs and hear inspiring messages from a few who benefit from them. Ask Gary about this event at a club meeting or contact him at garyhansen@1stcounsel.com. More information about Guild is available at http://guildincorporated.org/.
Thank you to all who attended the Tree House benefit at Vivo. Eagan Kick Start's version of Ringo Starr provided the entertainment. Please make sure to support this worthy cause.
Eagan High School Interact Club hosts event at Feed My Starving Children
EHS Interact Club has selected a date for an Interact Club/ Feed My Starving Children event. We are packing meals from 2:30 – 4:30 on Monday October 10.
We will need some adult volunteers to join us. I have passed this message along to several Rotary club members I know that I thought might be interested. I am hoping for 40-50 kids which would mean 8 – 10 adults volunteering. Are any of you available and interested? It has been super fun in the past.
Rotarians that are interested, please email Bill Wirsbinski, EHS Interact Coordinator at William.Wirsbinski@district196.org
Walk for Water is on Saturday, September 17 at Upper Landing Park in St. Paul. It is sponsored by PENTAIR and Pace Analytical, supporters of Rotary International’s goals to provide safe water, proper sanitation, and economic development to those who are most in need.
Let’s be a significant Rotary presence at the walk! I HAVE SET UP A TEAM: "ROTARY 5950" To get more information and register to walk at
http://events.watermissions.org/site/TR/WalkinaBucket/General?team_id=3908&pg=team&fr_id=1571Remember, to register under our team! The cost to register is $20. [Can't make it, you can donate if you like.] You get a tee shirt (pick your size when you register), snacks and entertainment. I am bringing my wife Colleen and our two grandchildren. Kids participate free. Our group is trying to raise $2,500, but I would like us to swamp the top team! Can you imagine 250 Rotarians, that's $5,000!
Treehouse is a metro-wide 501(c)(3) wired into the large public high schools. With the help of guidance counselors and social workers, Treehouse identifies and reaches out to youth struggling mightily with addictions, dysfunctional families, bullying, etc. Treehouse helps youth rebuild their lives, stay in school and focus on serving others. Check out the record of success at www.treehouseyouth.org. It's amazing work!
The event will be held October 3rd, 630-830 pm at Vivo Kitchen in Apple Valley. provided free will be heavy hors d' oeurves, good wine, and music by Thick Friends. That will be the fun! TreeHouse director, Paul Maloney, will deliver the message about Treehouse' work, and we hope to stir up some generosity with an ask for a free-will offering...a very simple approach. We want to fill Vivo with 100+ generous souls. 100% of the money raised will go to Treehouse to help youth!
Our youth exchange student welcome party is coming up so please mark your calendar. Come and help welcome Arianna from Italy to Eagan! Please join us for an open house from 4 to 6 pm.
Have you signed up yet for our new Fall Training called One Rotary Summit?
September 23, 2016
8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Lafayette Country Club
This program will be delivered in a NEW FORMAT that you will really like! You will come away from this training with fresh ideas to understand how Membership, Foundation and Public Image - when coordinated together - powerfully impact your club. You can expect to get concrete ideas to put into action in your club right away, making your club "Great, On Purpose!"
Food will be served! Enjoy both breakfast and lunch!
Cost: Your club has already paid for you to attend, so it doesn't cost anything out of pocket, but you do need to register!
Sign up at: https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=1e9fbc00-3de6-45d8-9f09-2dcab6b705ee
Bring a Friend and help our club reach it's membership goals! During the first quarter, if you bring a friend to Rotary breakfast is free for the guest. From our Visioning process we set a goal of 50 members. Do your part by inviting a guest who is interested in joining Rotary.
We had a great visioning process which has lead us to focus on 4 main priorities of our club over the next few years. If you were unable to attend our event, please determining which of these opportunities you would like to help us reach!
1 Ton of food to open door- Karen, Tom, Dave, Doreen
Mentoring program for members- David, Barry, Kristin
Visible Career Day- Eric, Dean, Cathy, Christina
Connect with large local organizations- recruit new members- Buzz, Gary, Scott, Jason, Mike