Learn about upcoming speakers, events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
Meetings will be at Crown of Glory church, unless noted
October 2026
Oct 29 – Carver County Drug Treatment Court (Mike Wentzel) LINK
November 2026
Nov 5 – To Be Determined (Kevin Hegland)
Nov 12 – Mark Labine - Little Rapids Fur Trade Post (Mike Drazen) LINK
Nov 19 – Dr. Erin Rathke, ISD 112 (Nate Manaen) LINK
Nov 26 – No meeting Thanksgiving
December 2026
Dec 3 – To Be Determined (John Roebke)
Dec 10 – Dominic Papatola, Community Giving (Vic Benetti) LINK
Dec 17 – Holiday Auction (Sheryl Hough + Helpers)
Dec 24 – No Meeting
Dec 31- No Meeting
January 2027
Jan 7 – To be determined (George Glaros)
Jan 14 – Youth Exchange Student (Emma Keus)
Jan 21 – To be determined (Dave Pokorney)
Jan 28 – To be determined (Hunter Panning)
Upcoming Events
Oct 22 – Rotary Reception for Paul Harris Donors
Oct 24 – End Polio Now Walk, Mall of America – Macy’s Court, 7:30 AM LINK
Oct 31-Nov 15 – Nepal International Service Project – trip is not directly affected by the flooding disaster. There are still openings for more participants. Email: mariepress@hotmail.com or talk with Ken Hiller.
Nov 10 – Veterans Luncheon Eden Prairie AM Club LINK
Nov 10 – Art Pop-Up, Robbin Gallery, Robbinsdale, 5-7PM LINK
Nov 13, 14, 15 – Rotary Holiday Market at Solseng’s SunMeadow Farm LINK
Nov 22 – Chaska Tree Lighting, 6 PM Firemen’s Park LINK
Dec 17 – Our Club Holiday Auction
Jan 23, 2027 – District 5950 Mid-Term Assembly, Plymouth Community Ctr LINK
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May 26-30, 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain LINK
May 27-31, 2028 Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis (tentative) LINK
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Link to District 5950 Calendar of EventsThis includes October - March District activities like Goal Achievement Roundtables, club fundraising and special events like the End Polio Walk at Mall of America 10/24, Veterans Lunch in Eden Prairie on 11/10/26, President-Elect Education and Mid-term Assembly on Jan. 23.
Link to Carver County Local News Community EventsThis includes events and activities and the new Carver County2026 Election and Voter Guide.It also includes Chaska City Parks + Rec events, County Parks events, Arboretum events, Historical Society events, and County Family Resource Center events.
INVOCATION: Phil Solseng
Announcements
Celi Haga summarized the emails she sent regarding a survey from our club, a survey sent by District 5950, and an invitation to a reception promoting Rotary Foundation support and Paul Harris Society donations.
Cindy Anderson invited us to volunteer to staff the club’s holiday beverage booth at the Holiday Market at the Solseng’s Sun Meadow Farm on Nov. 13-15. Watch for a sign-up to stand a two-hour shift.
Vic Benetti asked for supporters to follow up on Tim Mulcrone’s presentation about Polio eradication. Led by Tim Mulcrone, the District is holding a publicity walk at the Mall of America at 7:30 AM on Saturday Oct 24. Take The Importance of Eradicating Polio course in Rotary’s Learning Center to learn more.
HAPPY DOLLARS
There was a rallying call to donate Happy Dollars, and many answered: Matt Szybnski, Gretchen Oppriecht, Phil Solseng, Sheryl Hough, Dave Pokorney, Lindsey Hagen, Celi Haga and Brian – Bob Roepke’s guest.
Emma was excited to share her experiences visiting Chicago – museums and the aquarium among other places. Use the link to see a good array of her photos.
Ken Hiller gave a report on the flag from the palindrome club of Oruro, Bolivia. Ken’s geography teacher would have been proud. Use the link to read about Ken’s report, in case he decides to give us a pop-quiz. Michelle Kraus noted that she hosted the 1996-97 student Tatiana Aguilera, who delivered the flag.
PRESENTATION: Gretchen Oppriecht – Her Africa Experience
Gretchen Oppriecht was given too little time to distill the thousands of memories she absorbed from almost four weeks visiting Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa in September and October this year. Traveling by air, boat and land brought Gretchen through the looking glass and into worlds of new creatures, unique habitats and diverse members of the human collage.
The bright sunshine during our meeting was matched by Gretchen’s beaming smile, but her photos were diminished on the screen. Use the link to see the scenes captured by her phone’s camera. LINK
However, the slides won’t give you the memorable experience of Gretchen demonstrating the mating dance of African ostriches, or how to identify female zebras on the hoof. Those instances will stay with those of us who were at our meeting. Gretchen brought a carving that depicts the “big five” mammals seen duringher safaris – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros. She was also impressed with cheetahs, impalas, warthogs, wildebeest, secretary-birds, kori bustards, baobab trees and the interconnectivity of life that seems more evident in the Ngorongoro plains in Tanzania.
Thank you, Gretchen, for sharing your special moments and images.
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Photos from the Paul Harris reception on Oct. 22
Below – District Governor Leif Hagen at the 9 Mile Gallery event space; Alexa Rundquist – the person behind most of the Rotary District 5950 emails you receive; and a different look at the Four-Way Test banner.
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Photos from the End Polio Now walk at the Mall of America on Oct 24
Below – the group of committed Rotarians getting ready to test their mall-waling shoes and to test their willpower when passing by the Cinnabon store; and Tim Mulcrone encouraging continued support for ending Polio Now.
Invocations can be a faith traditional prayer, or a meditation, or inspirational verse or quote. Brief 20 – 30 seconds. Light-hearted is okay. Option: focus on our Mission of Service Above Self. Need an idea – Google Rotary Invocations. Schedule Changes? – Arrange a switch and then contact Neil.
