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 8 – Mark Pahl, Dem-Con Companies (Jim Halloran) LINK
Oct 15 – Tim Mulcrone - District 5950 Polio Plus Chair (Sarah Carlson) LINK
Oct 22 – Africa Trip, or How I Escaped the Lions (Gretchen Oppriecht)
Oct 29 – To Be Determined (Kevin Hegland)
November 2026
Nov 5 – To Be Determined (Mike Wentzel)
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
Upcoming Events
Oct 22 – Rotary Dining at El Guanaco on Lake Street LINK
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 13, 14, 15 – Rotary Holiday Market at Solseng’s SunMeadow Farm
Nov 22 – Chaska Tree Lighting, 6 PM Firemen’s Park
Dec 17 - 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 preparing for the upcoming international conventions, End Polio Walk at Mall of America 10/24, Veterans Lunch in Eden Prairie on 11/10/26 and Mid-term Assembly on Jan. 23.
Link to Carver County Local News Community EventsThis includes events and activities that are packed into our short summer season.It includes City Parks + Rec events, County Parks events, Arboretum events, Historical Society events, and County Family Resource Center events.
INVOCATION: Peter Ivy
Announcements
Celi Haga congratulated the October birthday folks.
Phil and Claudia Solseng, Cindy and Greg Anderson were thanked for hosting the club Social last Saturday.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Wayne Ward, Peter Ivy, Matt Podhradsky and Erin Kerber were pleased to donate to the blue pig. Erin was celebrating her daughter’s competition in the I Fly challenge. In the photo below, Jean Heyduck was enjoying her flight experience in March 2023.
YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT: Emma Keus
Emma showed photos from the Chanhassen High School homecoming and shared the pleasure of making pretzels with her host family.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Dan Keyport found an old flag from the Taipei Rotary Club. Its provenance is unknown, but it reminded him of his recent attendance at the 2026 Convention there.
Rotary Bench Moment
The Anonymous Flocker sent in Flock camera images that once again stunned the attendees into laughter. Former Rotary District Governor Tom Gump’s brother visited Chaska recently, and we hope that Vic’s arm heals quickly.
PRESENTATION: Jennifer Borel, Rotarians Against MalariaLINK
Keith Winters and Dan Keyport introduced Jennifer Borel, from the Rotary Club of Maple Grove and Assistant Governor of Area 7. Jennifer is a member of the Rotarians Against Malaria, a global Rotary Action Group. This is a group of volunteer Rotarians working with local and international groups and individuals to control Malaria in endemic countries.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans by infected female mosquitoes - primarily Anopheles species.
It is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly Africa and Asia.
Symptoms include high fever, chills, flu-like illness. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, it leads to severe complications and death.
The Action Group studies and implements methods that lower malaria in an expedient timeframe. Their ultimate goal is to eliminate malaria, with an intermediate goal to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in each affected country quickly and efficiently. The group partners with governments and global health agencies to support community-level actions.
Jennifer provided examples of actions that included supplying chemically-treated mosquito netting, rapid diagnosis testing, indoor spraying, anti-malaria drugs and malaria vaccines. Rotary grants provide employment and training for community health workers and information campaigns that promote engagement.
We were encouraged to join the Rotary Action Group to help end this killing disease. Jennifer’s contact information: email jenniferborel@comcast.net; phone 612-554-8578.
Photo above L to R: Dan Keyport, Jennifer Borel, Keith Winters, Celi Haga
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.
