Welcome to the Futura! Learn about upcoming speakers and events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
May - Rotary Leads the WAY!!
19 - Dan Keyport on 100 countries of travel - if you are a regular attendee and d/n register, it is okay - we've got you
26 - Scott Bradley, Flags & Honor MN
June
2 - Joseph Mahon; Federal Reserve Minneapolis
Upcoming Events
May - Water Safety Month, Mental Health Awareness Month & Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
19 - Rotary Board Meeting 6:30 am
30 - Memorial Day
PRESENTATION
Carver County Sherrif and Chaska Police Chief Update
Invocation: Peter Ivy
Peter Ivy introduced our two speakers – Sheriff Jason Kamerud (pictured upper right) and Chief of Police Ryan Seibert (pictured lower right). Both leaders explained their teams’ Missions and Values. Ryan illustrated his belief in the service provided by the department – “One by one policing” and making a difference each day. Jason provided details of what activities the deputies perform – citing about 450 mental health calls each year. Many of these are related to chemical-dependency. Staff has been added to the Sheriff’s department and Call Center personnel have received crisis intervention training.
Chief Seibert mirrored this attention on resources and noted a focus on “enhanced services.” The public perception of policing may not include these non-criminal aspects of their teams, so Ryan and Jason both would like to achieve a more favorable understanding within the community.
Staffing of officer positions appears to be critically short of the needs. Where at one time there were 200 applicants for each opening, now it is difficult to get multiple people interested in joining or receiving a law enforcement degree.
What can we Rotarians do to help? Show kindness.
This week is our county’s annual celebration of the service and sacrifices made by public safety officers. May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Finemaster and Happy Dollars: Dan Keyport took us to foreign lands by testing our ability to provide the English/American equivalent of idioms from Sweden, Poland, Italy, Norway, Iceland, and Arabic. What fun! Happy Dollars were donated by Gary Hardel and Gretchen Oppriecht, but everyone else must have been anxious to get outside to enjoy the May weather.
Matt Podhradsky thanked participants of the Christmas in May house-fixing on May 7. Our Rotary has been helping for 26 years!
Gary Cooper and Vic Benetti and chaperones were off to visit Dunwoody wth STRIVE students later in the morning.
Andy Haugen is looking for 12 volunteers to assist the Prior Lake Rotary with the annual Music Fest. Their efforts would let our club share some of the proceeds. Mark your schedule for July 8 + 9.
A Taste of Chaska has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 18. Our Club will have a membership-attracting table. See you there!
Gary Hardel thanked Jody Hesse and the other participants and sponsors supporting the Shredding Event.
Still Missing
We are looking for the two vertical Chaska Rotary, blue and white, flags that were last seen in the fall at the Solseng Farm Social. If you have them or have seen them since, please let Gretchen know. They are cased in black bags approximately five feet in length and four inches around.
Volunteer/Sponsorship Opportunities
We are looking for volunteers and sponsors for these upcoming events:
Chaska Rotary Pond Hockey (Jan. '23) - contact any board member if interested.
All help and contributions would be greatly appreciated!
Upcoming Invocation
May 19th: Kevin Hegland
May 26th: Matthew Szybnski
noted a focus on “enhanced services.” The public perception of policing may not include these non-criminal aspects of their teams, so Ryan and Jason both would like to achieve a more favorable understanding within the community. 
