Oct 31-Nov 15 – Nepal International Service Project
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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 Events This includes June– August activities and meetings related to District Change of Command on 6/16, activities of other clubs, and special events like a Barcelona Informational Meeting 6/25 and End Polio Walk at Mall of America 10/24.
Link to Carver County Local News Community Events This includes events and activities that are packed into our short summer season.It included City Square concerts, our Chaska Rocks Festival, Fire and Ice Festival, Chaska Cubs, River City Days, Touch a Truck, and Movies in Park in Carver.
Erin Kerber - With the addition of new members and our fundraising efforts in full swing, Cindy has opened our personal Rotary Apparel Store!Here is your opportunity to advertise Chaska Rotary and volunteer in-style. Click HERE to be taken to the online store, or copy and paste the following into your browser: https://chaskarotarysummer2026.itemorder.com/shop/home/
This online store CLOSES June 8, so make sure to get your orders in soon.Items will be shipped directly to your house and set to arrive BEFORE our Chaska Rocks Music Fest. If you have any issues with the process, call Erin at 612-298-1896. Special thanks to Cindy Anderson for making this happen!
Erin and Cindy handed out more posters for us to distribute to local businesses, so the community is informed about the Music Festival. Ticket booklets (3@) will be distributed to us next week.
Matt Podhradsky reviewed the activities at the Festival where our help will be needed.He recommended we partner with friends to work with us.Bob Roepke is still pursuing business sponsorships and encourages social media posting.
Birthdays this month: Susana DeLeon, Kevin Eide, Phil Solseng.Rotary anniversaries: Wayne Ward 25 years; Pat Schaffran 8 years.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Gretchen Oppriecht celebrated retirement from her academic career that gave our communities 37 of the best years in her life! Bob Roepke was alumnus-proud of the high school’s baseball season. Wayne Ward and Sheryl Hough also shared their happiness today.
YOUTH EXCHANGE and INTERN:
Ane Otsby and Gonzalo Romero both graduated last week, and they related the excitement and anticipation that evoked the same emotions in us, no matter how long ago we had the same experience. It was hot and wearing shorts was in the uniform of the day.Parties are in their immediate future!
Erin Kerber provided more details about our inbound student arriving in August, just before school starts. Her name is Emma, she will be 16 years old this summer and lives in Simmerath, Germany which is near the western border with Belgium. Three host families are still needed. Please search your acquaintances!
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL:
Ken Hiller discussed an international service project in Nepal to which our club has provided funding.There is a “boots on the ground” trip planned on Oct. 31 – Nov. 15, 2026.To join this costs just $3600. Contact him if you’re interested. Ken also presented the Rotary club flag from Lemgo-Sternberg in Germany, which has 45 members.He shared his research results and allowed us to compare how a similar-sized club interacts within their community, such as having a booth at a Christmas Market.
PRESENTATION: What’s Happening in Chaska, Julie Grove
Jean Heyduck introduced Julie Grove – Chaska’s Economic Development Coordinator. Julie has had a career in city planning and economic development for over 23 years, with St. Louis Park and the last 3 in Chaska. She lives in Prior Lake.
Her role encompasses
Supporting business growth, attraction & retention.
Providing business resources and assistance.
Coordinating and supporting development projects.
Communication & marketing. Sign up for the Chaska Business News on the city’s Notify Me Website.
Julie illustrated the recent improvements to the city’s downtown walkways/paseos, signage and City Square gazebo. She noted that the annual Farmers’ Market will begin June 11 and will be located near the Meadow Springs Church and Red Bench Bakery. Her slides showed proposed designs for City Hall Plaza, City Square West and Big Woods Business Park.
The addition of new businesses and other changes left us with an appreciation of all the city’s work in development improvement over the past year and provided reasons for optimism for our community’s growth and livability. Specifics related to Rotarians included the expected addition of Supermercado Loma Bonita in the former Cooper’s market, and Dolce Vita wine shop becoming Excelsior Village.
Apology! Erin Kerber and Neil Wingert created two different lists for upcoming invocations. Going forward, here is the list that we will use.
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 or Erin.
