May 22-26, 2027 Rotary International Convention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates LINK
May 26-30, 2029 Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis LINK
Link to District 5950 Calendar of Events This includes March – August activities and meetings related to Rotary Foundation, Polio Plus, President-elect Education, activities of other clubs, special events. Note: Grant Management Seminar 3/26/26. Education for Rotarian Leaders, April 25.
Link to Carver County Local News Community Events This includes events and activities such as the Landscape Arboretum, regional parks, Carver County Library, Public Health, Chaska Historical Society, local entertainment, non-profit and church events, and Spring events: Bike rodeo, Vehicle Fair, Movie Mondays, Taste of Chaska.
Happily, donations were provided by Gretchen Oppriecht, Ken Hiller, Gary Hardel, and Kevin Hegland.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: CLUB FLAG
Our own club flag was presented by Ken Hiller as he described this part of the program to our guests. He also summarized the Youth Exchange program and highlighted Dr. Simon Milankovic – our student from Croatia in 2015-16. Ken’s tour guide photos and descriptions of that country may have inspired some future visitors to the Istrian Peninsula.
ROTARY INTERN: Gonzalo Romero
Gonzalo described the past week as having a lot of fun – cheering for the Chaska High School basketball team, bowling with friends, and interviewing selections for the next school principal. He also had the opportunity to play his recent composition on Joe Beckman’s guitar. WELL DONE Gonzalo!
PRESENTATION: Human Connection Matters - Joe BeckmanLINK
Through the wonder of digital video recording, Bob Roepke provided the introduction of our presenter – Joe Beckman.
Mr. Beckman immediately got us all involved and perhaps a little uncomfortable by directing us to turn to our table neighbors and declaring “I love your face!” Our nervous laughter followed and Joe didn’t slow down until it was past 8:30 AM. Few, if any, minded the extra minutes of his vitality and ability to share his belief in the power of human connections.
The startling number of teen/young adult suicide attempts is one of Joe’s motivations in stressing the value of breaking away from loneliness and staying emotionally healthy while inundated by social media and peer pressures.
Joe also encouraged us to share our gratitude with people who inspired us or just do things that help us feel valued. Ken Hiller, Erin Kerber and Phil Solseng hopefully left our morning meeting feeling that gratitude. Joe stayed a little longer to autograph his books that are available through Amazon.
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.
