Learn about upcoming speakers, events, last meeting's presentation, and other club updates.
Upcoming Speakers
Meetings will be at Crown of Glory church, unless noted
October 2026
Oct 22 – Africa Queen (Gretchen Oppriecht)
Oct 29 – Carver County Drug Treatment Court (Mike Wentzel) LINK
November 2026
Nov 5 – To Be Determined (Kevin Hegland)
Nov 12 – Mark Labine - Little Rapids Fur Trade Post (Mike Drazen) LINK
Nov 19 – Dr. Erin Rathke, ISD 112 (Nate Manaen) LINK
Nov 26 – No meeting Thanksgiving
December 2026
Dec 3 – To Be Determined (John Roebke)
Dec 10 – Dominic Papatola, Community Giving (Vic Benetti) LINK
Dec 17 – Holiday Auction (Sheryl Hough + Helpers)
Dec 24 – No Meeting
Dec 31- No Meeting
January 2027
Jan 7 – To be determined (George Glaros)
Jan 14 – Youth Exchange Student (Emma Keus)
Jan 21 – To be determined (Dave Pokorney)
Jan 28 – To be determined (Hunter Panning)
Upcoming Events
Oct 22 – Rotary Dining at El Guanaco on Lake Street LINK
Oct 24 – End Polio Now Walk, Mall of America – Macy’s Court, 7:30 AM LINK
Oct 31-Nov 15 – Nepal International Service Project – trip is not directly affected by the flooding disaster. There are still openings for more participants. Email: mariepress@hotmail.com or talk with Ken Hiller.
Nov 13, 14, 15 – Rotary Holiday Market at Solseng’s SunMeadow Farm
Nov 22 – Chaska Tree Lighting, 6 PM Firemen’s Park LINK
Dec 17 - Club Holiday Auction
Jan 23, 2027 – District 5950 Mid-Term Assembly, Plymouth Community Ctr LINK
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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 EventsThis includes October - March District activities like Goal Achievement Roundtables, club fundraising and special events like the End Polio Walk at Mall of America 10/24, Veterans Lunch in Eden Prairie on 11/10/26 and Mid-term Assembly on Jan. 23.
Link to Carver County Local News Community EventsThis includes events and activities and the new Carver County2026 Election and Voter Guide.It also includes Chaska City Parks + Rec events, County Parks events, Arboretum events, Historical Society events, and County Family Resource Center events.
INVOCATION: Ken Hiller
Announcements
Celi Haga thanked the hospitality of Phil and Claudine Solseng for hosting our Rotary District 5950 Governor Leif Hagen (pictured below) and the Art Pop-up featuring Cindy Anderson’s glass, stone and metal gallery. The afternoon and evening of October 14 had picture-perfect autumn weather. Eight other Rotary district visitors were represented and nine of our members also attended. LINK
Gretchen Oppriecht returned from her month touring Africa and will share her stories with us in our Oct. 22 meeting. She’ll be providing personal conversations when we visit our club’s beverage booth at the Holiday Market at the Solseng’s Sun Meadow Farm on Nov. 13-15.
Matt Podhradsky continued our social interactions theme by announcing the Tree Lighting ceremony on Nov. 22, 6 PM at the Chaska Event Center. LINK. Contact Dan Keyport if you want to join the 100 Club to help sponsor the tree and other seasonal lighting and gifts to children. LINK
HAPPY DOLLARS
Dan Keyport and Gretchen Oppriecht were both happy enough to share their mood and dollars with Rotarians.
Emma didn’t attend the meeting because she was experiencing the MEA days off from school for the first time. How will she explain this custom back home in Germany?
Robin Nesburg talked about the Rotary Club in Herve, Belgium. Remembering the discussion our club had about the pros and cons of our meeting time, Robin noted the Herve club meets in the morning then the evening and if there is a 5th week in the month, they invite members’ partners. For more information about the Belgian club’s Rotary projects and their town, select the Link included above.
PRESENTATION: Tim Mulcrone - District 5950 Polio Plus Chair LINK
Sarah Carlson introduced Tim Mulcrone – our district’s Polio Plus Chair, and for the purposes of his presentation, his Indiana Jones persona. To match this, our club was given the role of his university’s Board of Regents. We were asked to continue funding his anti-polio efforts and immunization of all the world’s children.
Showing us photos of ancient artifacts depicting the crippling effect of polio, Tim worked through history depicting the widespread effect of the polio virus throughout the world. Many of us were part of the 1950’s that experienced both the drastic and sometimes fatal nature of polio, as well as the amazing creation of an oral vaccine that prevented the disease. With our memories of iron lung machines and classmates with metal leg braces, the realities of polio’s dangers kept us tuned to Tim’s presentation.
Rotary’s commitment to polio immunization has been effective. Joining other organizations and using the donations of members and sponsors, the need for continued funding was clearly substantiated. Locally, our District 5950 Rotary clubs are participating in a Mall of America Polio Walk on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 AM at the Macy’s store. Each district club has been asked to donate at least $1500 through individual members. Registration for the event will allow members the opportunity to donate to the Polio Plus fund. Donations will count towards Paul Harris Society fellowship. LINK to the event. The Carver County Local News has published a related article: LINK
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.
