Thanks to Erin Kerber for supplying the notes from meetings on May 7, 14 and 21 which follow those from this meeting.

INVOCATION: Peter Ivy

YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT-Ane Otsby

Ane introduced her parents who have been in the US for a week. Her dad Magne and her mom Gro hadn’t seen Ane since last August. They were happy to be here to watch her graduate later in the day. Ane’s host parents were also present – Clive and Jen McKena. Gretchen Oppriecht contributed flowers for Ane and donuts for the rest of us to make the day memorable.

INTERNATIONAL FLAG

Phil Solseng presented the Neva club flag from St. Petersburg in Russia. Two of our exchange students have come from there – Olga Kotelnikova in 2002 and Danil Koralev in 2015.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Erin Kerber asked us to each place a Chaska Rocks music festival poster in prominent locations around town.  Cindy Anderson produced the flyers.

HAPPY DOLLARS

Phil Solseng, Greg Anderson and Matt Podhradsky all contributed dollars to signify their happiness!

PRESIDENTS’ Discussion of Chaska Rocks Music Festival

Ryan Seibert talked about the efforts of Bob Roepke to raise funds and solicit sponsorship for the music festival. The goal is to cover the fixed costs through donations so that the proceeds from drinks and raffle tickets will be profits. Members can invite others to help with all the work that will be required for the event, and a sign-up list has started. Categories of participation: Setup, Drink Tickets, Identification and Wrist Bands, Drink Service, Raffle Ticket Sales, and Cleanup.

The raffle ticket sales will end with the drawing at the last regular Chaska Cubs baseball game in July. The prize will be $5,000. Bob Roepke noted that the ticket sales and sponsorship requests are meant to raise funds and to also align our club with businesses and other Service groups. 

PRESENTATION – Neil Wingert - Rotary Foundation

Neil Wingert provided a short review of the Rotary Foundation mission; areas of focus and the path our donations take to support global and district programs and projects. We are encouraged to regularly donate to the Annual Fund SHARE or to specific focus funds.  Starting at the www.rotary.org web site, we can make single or recurring donations that lead to recognition with Paul Harris awards.

May 7 Meeting Notes

Rotary Club Meeting – Youth Exchange, Christmas in May Recap & Hispanic Community/Consulate Presentation

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Opening, Invocation, Pledge, and General Announcements:

• Nate led an invocation focusing on gratitude, service, justice, fairness, and community relationships.

Youth Exchange Officer Transition and Host Family Recruitment:

• Gretchen announced that as of July 1, Erin is passing the Youth Exchange Officer baton to her. She attended Youth Exchange training in Calgary last summer and is excited to assume the role. Request made for 3 host homes for incoming exchange student Emma from Germany for next year. Expected arrival will be mid-august and each host family commitment will be about 3.5 months. Host families must be district residents in club‑served cities: Chanhassen, Victoria, Carver, or Chaska. Emma will turn 16 just before arrival and will spend the year as a high‑school junior. Club members were asked to leverage their broader networks if they cannot host themselves.

Christmas in May Projects and Community Impact:

• Rotary volunteers worked on a home on 2nd Street, led by Dave and Mike Pokorney. Homeowner uses a wheelchair; the existing front ramp was so deteriorated Dave feared falling through on inspection.

• Project outcomes: new front and backyard ramps for accessibility, exterior painting, landscaping, LED light bulbs throughout the house, and new appliances.

• About 35 volunteers started around 7:00 AM and completed work shortly after 3:00 PM.

• Matt read an unsolicited message from the homeowner expressing feeling “overwhelmed and very thankful,” noting volunteers brought children and shared lunch; homeowner concluded, “There is still good in the world.”

• This year marked the 30th anniversary of Christmas in May; Jeff Burzinski (former member) spoke at the opening breakfast, showing 30‑year‑old photos of members painting a house later purchased and torn down by the city (site now where the library is going).

Other Service Projects and Announcement:

• Thanks were extended to members who participated in Adopt‑a‑Highway clean‑up about a week prior; reported as a “nice time” and successful highway pick‑up.

• Bob shared a “happy dollar” announcement: Chaska Cubs opened their 98th season of amateur baseball.

International Rotary Highlight and New Member Induction:

• Ken presented an international Rotary spotlight on the Rotary Club of Lucena North, Lucena City Philippines. The city was used as a steppingstone by Spanish forces; Japanese forces were later expelled; American liberation forces and Philippine Commonwealth troops restored freedom, with handover on April 4, 1945.

• Ane was able to visit Kansas City with her second host family and visited another student from Norway on exchange in Kansas City. She found a Rotary International sign to take a picture with. She is enjoying Flag Football and they recently beat Chanhassen, with Ane scoring one touchdown.

New Member Induction:

• Keith Winters was inducted into the club and received his welcome packet and official name badge and pin.

Hispanic Community & Consulate Presentation (ADISA and Regional Consulates):

• Erika presented on the Hispanic Consulates and their functions in Minnesota.  She touched on how they help their citizens abroad, visa services, protecting interests, promoting relationships and working with local authorities.

• There are several Hispanic/Latino consulates in MN: Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, and Spain.

• Mexican consulate services include: handling applications, responding to ICE detentions, referrals to immigration lawyers, assistance with legal documents, and facilitating interaction with U.S. authorities.

PICTURES TO FOLLOW:

May 14 Meeting Notes

Rotary Club Meeting - Downtown Master Plan Update, Student Presentations & New Member Intros

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Opening, Invocation, Pledge, and Announcements:

• Invocation delivered by Dan Keyport, emphasizing honesty, happiness, doing good, and giving one’s best regardless of others’ reactions.

Happy Dollars and Milestones:

• Gretchen gave a Happy dollar for completion of coaching duties.

• Dan announced celebrating 40 years of marriage with spouse Georgiann.

• Wayne, noted 53 years of marriage.

Student Presentations (High School Updates):

• Gonzala

  • Has been absent for ~2 weeks due to many AP tests; happy AP tests are now done.

  • Decision Day photos: group of classmates going to University of Minnesota; others going to Madison, Iowa State, Missouri.

  • Asked prom date late the prior night/early morning after a Bruno Mars concert, using a Bruno Mars–themed poster.

  • Recently started golfing now that weather is nicer.

  • Looking forward to last two weeks of school.

• Ane shared:

  • Photos mostly taken by Ken.

  • Trip to the State Capitol; toured the building and surrounding area.

  • Visited the sculpture garden

  • Attended a school movie night sponsored by student council.

  • Student council handed out Mr. Bach temporary tattoos; Anna wore tattoos on each leg for a football game, symbolically playing with Mr. Bach “in our spirit” despite the team not performing well.

  • Attended the Chanhassen Dinner Theater 

New Member Introductions (Hunter & Sarah):

• Club invited two newest members, Hunter Panning and Sarah Carlson, to the front for introductions and pinning.

• Hunter:

  • First came to Rotary several months earlier for a drone presentation. Spoke with the police chief afterward and decided to get more involved; invited to attend as a guest in the prior month. Born and raised in Chaska; Chaska High School graduate, Class of 2014. Motivation: wants to “pay it forward” for today’s youth; excited to give back. Married; expecting first child in September. Lives in Chaska; spouse is a police officer and detective in South St. Paul with daytime hours. Currently a PhD student; notes he has very little free time, often spending nights studying.

• Sarah:

  • Moved to Chaska with Neil in the early 2000s. Her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and their children were already in Chaska; she had long visited Chaska for vacations, enjoying its smaller-town feel. She and Neil moved from California to Chaska. Neil joined Rotary after being invited by Gary Cooper; Sarah has been “tagging along” to Rotary events for years. At a recent book fair she was asked if she was Rotary; replied she was “just a spouse” and then decided she wanted to be a Rotarian herself. Expressed appreciation for Rotary’s role in building and improving the community; glad to now officially walk beside members as a Rotarian.

Birthdays and Club Anniversaries:

• May birthdays:

  • Erin Kerber – May 10 (jokingly noted as “25 years old again”).

  • Robin Nesberg – May 23.

  • Mike Wentzel – May 23.

• Rotary membership anniversaries:

  • Bob Chinnock – 9 years on May 18.

  • Ryan Siebert – 4 years on May 5.

  • Robin – 3 years on May 25.

Downtown Master Plan Update – Presentation by Nate Kabot:

• Speaker introduction:

  • Community Development Director for City of Chaska, Nate, invited to speak after a scholarship breakfast schedule change.

  • Purpose: update on Downtown Master Plan progress and outline opportunities for Rotary members to participate in the upcoming update/task force process.

• Background on Downtown Master Plan:

  • Plan adopted/approved in 2012.

  • Established a vision and framework for downtown Chaska’s physical development, districts, and activity.

  • Identified key focus areas: Fireman’s Park, City Square West, downtown gateway areas, and The Landing/riverfront district.

  • Included goals for park spaces and neighborhood parks on east and west sides; noted west side park is several blocks away from parts of the neighborhood.

• Ongoing and Future Work / Task Force:

  • City is updating the Downtown Master Plan, recognizing much of the 2012 plan has been implemented or needs refreshing.

  • Task force process planned, with approximately four meetings anticipated:

    • First meeting targeted for late June or July.

    • Second meeting in August/September/October timeframe.

    • Third and fourth meetings targeted for December of the same year.

  • Emphasis on broad stakeholder input—residents, businesses, institutions—to surface creative ideas beyond staff-only planning.

  • City aims to identify new opportunities and underutilized sites not fully addressed in 2012, including other downtown blocks and redevelopment possibilities.

• State Bonding and Tax Exemption Efforts:

  • Question raised about state bonding and opportunities for city projects.

  • Response: Governor and legislative leaders reached agreement the previous night on a bonding bill and on allocating the House portion; seen as creating a relatively clear path for Chaska’s bonding-related requests.

  • City also approached the tax committee to extend a tax exemption period by several years, as a complementary strategy.

• Task Force Participation and Logistics:

  • Nate encouraged people with a passion for downtown to apply for the task force.

  • Application due date stated as before June 1st

  • City Council scheduled to conduct task force interviews on June 1, from 5:30–7:00 pm, and appoint members that evening.

  • Nate invited questions and directed interested individuals to the city website and to contact him for more information.

May 21 Meeting Notes

Opening, Invocation, Pledge, and General Announcements:

• Ryan led an invocation.

• Ken Hiller had a special announcement that he made another pot of coffee.

• Gretchen would like everyone to write a small note to the upcoming German exchange student so we can send her something special prior to her arriving.  She is also seeking 3 host families ASAP!!!

• Gonzalo noted he earned 3 scholarships: Rotary scholarship, Carver Lions Scholarship, and Vamos Scholarship. He expressed repeated thanks to Chaska Rotary members for their support and said he will “do my best” with future opportunities. He also shared brief personal update: attended prom last weekend, went to Lake for pictures, described it as a great final high school prom.

• Ane couldn’t attend the meeting due to a Spanish Project at school

• Jim Bach announced this is “probably” his last Rotary meeting; after 10 years of working 6 days and nights; has promised his wife not to engage in numerous activities as they both enter into retirement. He thanked the club for making Thursdays a highlight and for the relationships and community impact shared each week.

Indonesia Overview – Geography, Demographics, and History (Dan’s Presentation):

Dan and wife spent much of April traveling in Indonesia; presented to Rotary as a shared travel experience.

Dan shared the geography, demographics and history of Indonesia before sharing his trip pictures. He touched on the culture, feeling safe, religious sites, as well as their economy, rural life and wildlife. A few places visited were Java, Borneo, and Bali.  They witnessed Orangutans, many scorpions, insects and birds, cremations, farmers using cows to pull single-blade plows, bobtail cats, puppet shows and dance performances.  Surprisingly, this was Dan’s first trip to Indonesia!

PICTURES TO FOLLOW: