On Saturday February 8, School District 112 will host Hooked on Books and the Arts Too at Chanhassen High School, 9:00 AM to Noon. Every year our club donates funds to purchase books that are given free to attending children with their parents. It is a fun event with diverse activities provided for and by your neighbors.
· On March 13 we will be announcing the George C. Klein Award for 2023. A breakfast will be served. Past recipients will be invited.
· Pat Wittrock has been renewing her acquaintance with our Rotary Club these past weeks and is submitting her membership application.
· Susana DeLeon is the Assistant Principal at Chaska High School, and is sharing membership with Jim Bach, the school’s Principle Principal.
· Kevin Hegland asked for temporary substitute Sergeants to set up our welcome table and manage visitors, badges and raffle tickets. His awesome tasks will be handled by our two interns – Corporals Madison and Summer. Thank You both!
HAPPY DOLLARS
We’re still looking for a sense of humor that needs to blossom into fullness at our meetings, and lead our Finemaster program. Will this be YOU? That could bring in more Happy Dollars – and we need them! Five contributors today: Vic Benetti, Gretchen Oppriecht, Dan Keyport, John Roebke and Peter Ivy.
Peter will be celebrating his retirement from the Carver County Attorney’s Office after 37 years of serving this community. On March 14, a 3:00 PM gathering will occur at the Emergency Operations Room in the Justice Center (604 E. Fourth St.) Then, we are invited to a private reception at the Schram Haus Brewery at 4:30 PM.
ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT - MARCOS ALONSOS
Marcos is receiving lots of memory experiences with Ken Hiller and family. This past week he played pickleball, lake skating on clear ice, completing his required viewing to enable him to join the Ted Lasso Fan Club, and is officially a MN Visitor now that he’s seen Minnehaha Falls in the winter.
PRESENTATION: Miracle League Field and Playground, Matt Podhradsky
Needing no introduction nor computer projector, Matt Podhradsky focused his presentation on our fund-raising for the Chaska Miracle League Field and Playground (link). The land acquisition and feature design are nearing completion. Construction will start in 2026, with an anticipated cost of $1.75 M. One million dollars is needed from non-city sources.
The Rotary Foundation will hopefully provide $300 K, as will the Chaska Lions Club. The Chaska Cares Golf Days has generated about $100 K, and the Minnesota Twins Foundation has donated $20 K. Without even using Artificial Intelligence for the calculation, that leaves about $300 K to be come from sponsors and contributors.
That’s where Matt would like our help. Matt has developed a list of businesses that might be approached for sponsorship, partnering or establishing advertising at the Field. Donation commitments can be spread over several years, and Rotarians can specify this project and direct their Rotary Foundation contributions. Dan Keyport, Kevin Hegland, Vic Benetti and Greg Anderson will work on our Foundation grant application.
Before Feb. 6, please contact Matt and let him know which businesses you will approach, so we avoid multiple requests of the same potential source. A four-page brochure was distributed, and we can direct inquiries to the Chaska city website.
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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