Erin Kerber (and daughter Emma) and Jean Heyduck were at their dedicated best and got the room ready for us. Intern Madison Edwards helped with the front table in Kevin Hegland’s absence.
Erin announced that the next Exchange student will be a 17-year-old girl from Norway. We should all be exploring our social contacts to find three host families living within the Eastern Carver County School District. They will be guaranteed a life-enhancing experience!
GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT
Our guest Loren Simer spoke about the benefits to our community provided by the volunteers of the Chaska Area Fishing with Friends - a 501.c non-profit organization providing meaningful and enjoyable fishing opportunities and boat tours to senior citizens, veterans, youth and adults with disabilities from the areas of Chaska, Chanhassen, Carver, Victoria, Minnetonka and surrounding areas.
Each year this program holds approximately 75 Lake Minnetonka boat trips accommodating some 750 passengers on a 24-foot pontoon boat. These trips include groups of up to 10 passengers for youth, veterans, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Supporting volunteers assist with each trip, annually contributing approximately 1500 hours of their time.
As part of the organization’s membership drive, Loren invited us to join the other volunteers and sustain this group’s contributions. Link to their website. Loren’s phone 612-840-9939.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Happy Dollars were donated from Erin Kerber, Greg Anderson, John Roebke and Peter Ivy.
Rotary International:
Phil Solseng recalled our exchange student from Tokyo Japan, who was here in 1994-95 at the same time his daughter was away on her own Exchange tour. Phil also provided information about the Tokyo Koishikawa Rotary club. Their website LINK.
For your comparison, here are some of their club’s meeting presentations:
"Today's Issues in Health and Productivity Management"
"Report on the Current Status of the Tree Planting Activity Area on the South Face of Mt. Akagi"
"Stretching for Back Pain"
"Official Visit of the Governor"
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT -
Marcos Alonso is spending his Spring break in Colorado with Matt Szybnski’s family.
PRESENTATION on March 27: Southwest Park Input Survey
Cindy Anderson gets credit for arranging the unique and timely presentation at the meeting. Marshall Grange, Director of Chaska’s Park and Recreation department, and Brad Aldrich from Confluence provided an overview of the city’s planned development of a park that will include the Miracle Field and other components. Brad led us through questions that prompted us to prioritize aspects of the park’s design and features. Those who used smart phones could provide answers on line. Through the magic of modern connections, our answers were summarized and immediately shown to us.
PRESENTATION on April 3: Patti Sinykin, Bountiful Basket Food Shelf
Vic Benetti is a stalwart volunteer who devotes his hours to bring food and items to the Bountiful Basket locations, helping at Loaves and Fishes, and His House Foundation. “Service Above Self” describes Vic as well as the Bountiful Basket organization and its volunteers. Patti Sinykin is the Executive Director and coordinates activities at its locations in Chaska and Cologne. There is also a satellite shelf at the West Creek Apartments for homeless young adults.
Patti provided current data that indicate one in five Minnesota households experience food insecurity. In light of current reductions of Federal funding of social programs, Patti assured us that the Bountiful Basket Food Shelf (BBFS) does not receive Federal dollars, although many of those who are food-insecure may be depending on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits LINK through the US Department of Agriculture and its Food and Nutrition Service LINK.
With the recent changes in many government programs, economic uncertainty is confronting many non-profits and working families, so the BBFS resources will face more challenges. Patti showed a graph that illustrated the constant increase in services over the past four years.
In the “good news” department, the BBFS has organized its offerings to allow individuals to pick their own items (while guided by staff). Other BBFS programs include: mobile deliveries, visits to Senior housing, a School Snack program, Weekend Food program, Foster Care Emergency Food Assistance, Homeless + housing transition support, Immunization Clinic food bags, Birthday bags, and Mi Casa Partnership catering to the Latino population.
Still moving forward and implementing improvements, Patti described a new program - Outreach Navigator that helps guide clients to other social services and community resources that strengthen community cohesion.
In the “good news” department, the BBFS has organized its offerings to allow individuals to pick their own items (while guided by staff). Other BBFS programs include: mobile deliveries, visits to Senior housing, a School Snack program, Weekend Food program, Foster Care Emergency Food Assistance, Homeless + housing transition support, Immunization Clinic food bags, Birthday bags, and Mi Casa Partnership catering to the Latino population.
Still moving forward and implementing improvements, Patti described a new program - Outreach Navigator that helps guide clients to other social services and community resources that strengthen community cohesion.
Note from John Roebke: 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. Not a personal talent? Don't wait, tell me NOW, 612-790-7067, john.roebke@live.com. I will be glad to name another. If I forgot that you told me not a talent, please forgive me. Remind me. If not a good DATE, trade with a mate.
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