Learn about upcoming speakers, events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
July
13: Mary Hernandez, Mi Casa July
20: M Kraus & K Payne, New Presidents July
27: Kris Howland, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
Upcoming Events
Club Announcements
Invocation: Gretchen Oppriecht
John Goodman, who will be a Senior at Chaska High School in the next term, will be our Rotary Intern for 2023-2024. John serves as the DECA President, and during his free times, he works multiple jobs, and plays on the school's golf team.
Dan Keyport provided a summary of a very successful year of Rotary Foundation donations and individual thanks for contributors receiving Paul Harris Award recognition.
Jodi Hesse brightened our breakfast tables with colorful bouquets and Rotary signage this morning. She also sent out an email to all members on June 28 asking for help:
Calling all Rotarians! We need you! Please use the link below to sign up for Thursday morning Sergeant At Arms Duty... This role is a simple one, but essential to our meetings; it includes minor set up, greeting our members and guests, and a quick take-down and pack-up at the end. We need volunteers beginning July 13th, and you can pick and choose the days that work best for you, just please remember your commitment or find a substitute if you're unable to be there. This is a permanent link to this sign up, so save it for future use.
Peter Ivy had his big book of idioms to put our brains into calisthenics mode. We had to provide the idiom related to the definition Peter provided. He came straight at us “as the crow flies.” Two out three challenges had to be correct to avoid a fine for the table. Only a few of us emerged unscathed (or “clean as a whistle”)!
Happy Dollars were donated by Viv Benetti, Gretchen Oppriecht, David Brecht, Steve Wein (in a guest appearance), Neil Wingert, and Matt Podhradsky.
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT - Natasha Palmelund
In her last presentation, Natasha summarized her Exchange Student bus trip to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Disney World in Orlando.
Her highlights included the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia University, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, many memorials in DC, long lines in Orlando, and an impromptu self-invited appearance at a Jewish wedding.
Natasha and her exuberant personality and fascinating weekly anecdotes will be missed by us all. We wish her success and happiness in her college years in Denmark and hope we see her on a return trip to the USA.
PRESENTATION:
Matt Podhradsky, Club President’s Review
Matt cheerfully introduced himself for his review of the past year of his term as President of our club.
He thanked all who quietly help the meetings run from week to week:
Erin Kerber - Zoom and Meeting A/V
Nate Bostrom - Scheduling all speakers
Our multiple Sergeant of Arms
Neil Wingert - Produce Weekly Futura
Sienna White - Meeting set up and Futura Help
John Roebke - Organizing morning prayers
Vic Benetti - Organizing Fine Master
Jan and Krista - Providing our Food and Venue Each Week
Our Board of Directors were recognized for their hours of discussions and decisions each month:
o Cindy Anderson
o Nate Bostrom
o Bob Chinnock
o Gary Cooper
o Gary Hardel
o Andy Haugen
o Erin Kerber
o Michelle Kraus
o Steve Muller
o Gretchen Oppriecht
o Keith Payne
o Pat Schaffran
Matt then thanked those who put extra effort into running programs and community activities that that added to vibrancy of our club:
Strive, Chaska Cares Golf Classic, Heroes and Helpers,
Annual New Teachers Breakfast, Annual Cinco De Mayo Breakfast,
Scholarship Program and Breakfast, Pond Hockey Event,
Design and Fundraising Group for Miracle League, Rotary Foundation,
Polio Plus Fundraising, Roadside Cleanup, Annual Holiday Auction,
Chaska Rotary/Lions Tree Initiative, Christmas in May,
Rotary Leads the Way in May Editorials, Wine Booth Fundraisers,
Rotary Exchange Program, Marsh Lake Hunt, and Bridging.
The goals Matt set at the beginning of the Rotary year, and the progress we made were presented. This set the stage for an in-depth review of the Miracle League Field and Universal-designed Playground projects.
Matt’s highlights included:
Fundraising of $371,000
Forming a Visioning Group
Organizing a Fundraising Group
Discussions with companies and potential sponsorships
Grant submittals
Closing with his thoughts about the satisfaction coming from involvement in the many club activities and the people contributing their efforts, Matt welcomed the 2023-2024 Co-Presidents Michelle Kraus and Keith Payne.
Upcoming Invocation
July 13: Gary Goeman July 20: Keith Payne July 27: Caroline Ness
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