Learn about upcoming speakers, events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
February 23 - Grace Northamer - 2018/19 Intern
March
2 - Dr. Simon Adams, Center for Victims of Torture
9 - Deb McMillan, Mayor of Victoria
16 - Angelina Amerigo, Miss West Central 2023
23 - Patrick Stieg, Communities of Belonging
30 - Gary Wittrock, Fishing with Friends
Upcoming Events
February 21-23 - Winter Storm Warning
Club Announcements
Invocation: Jodi Hesse
Steve Curtis, the Chair of the Board of Directors for the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce, invited us to participate in a First Responders Luncheon on April 26, 2023. The event honors first responders and raises funds for the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association and the Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Association. For more information and event registration: www.swmetrochamber.com or phone 952-474-3233.
FINEMASTER
Jodi Hesse once again provided her energy and imagination to fire up our brain cells as her Finemaster challenges kept us humble. Jodi provided statements and our attendees donated fines when we incorrectly identified her information as TRUE or FALSE. She trusted our honesty to pay a fine when we weren’t correct. (Who knew that Scotland had adopted the unicorn as their national animal? We must have missed that in the Harry Potter books.)
Hopefully there were enough dollars on our tabletops to reward Jodi’s efforts and for many of us to lament the slow degradation of our synapses. Happy Dollars (finally!) came from Michelle Kraus, Lisa Anderson, Kevin Eide, Mike Fahey and Matt Podhradsky.
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT - Natasha Palmelund
Natasha reported a busy week that included a sleepover with 14 other girls, a visit to Duluth with her host family, and something that happened that involved her church and a McDonald’s restaurant.
Lisa Anderson introduced the Mayor of Chanhassen – Elise Ryan. Interspersed with friendly-rivalry comments that involved Chaska’s mayor and city manager, Elise provided a skilled presentation that highlighted her fellow municipal employees, recent projects, and future plans for the city. She immediately had us on her side when she expressed her gratitude for the team efforts and common goals among her neighbors in Chaska, Carver, and Victoria.
Photos and architectural graphics illustrated Avienda Village – a development of 128 acres near Highway 212 and Powers Blvd. that will include restaurants, residences, retail businesses and a recreation center. Elise described her City Hall as needing an upgrade, so like Chaska, a new civic campus is planned. It will include open space and a veterans memorial. Improved access and new trails will be added to the park around Lake Ann.
During Q + A, Elise discussed the uncertain future of the former Gedney Pickle site, efforts to fund and define the Highways 5 and 41 corridors, and her pleasant satisfaction serving as Chanhassen’s mayor.
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