Our guests today were Natasha Palmelund and her family. Natasha was our 2022-23 Exchange Student from Denmark and is in the middle of a weeks-long road trip across the USA.
Happy Dollar donors again proceeded without an introduction by a Finemaster. Phil Solseng, Erin Kerber, Wayne Ward, Matt Podhradsky, John Roebke, Vic Benetti and Neil Wingert donated. Our guest Dorte Palmelund gave us American dollars, Danish Cookies and heartfelt thanks for giving her daughter lifelong memories.
Erin Kerber presented Dan Keyport with another Rotary Foundation Paul Harris award. Thanks for your continued donations, Dan!
Erin Kerber reminded us that 9 Exchange students will be hosted by Rotarians next week, and we’ll have a potluck (at Solseng barn) after working at Feed My Starving Children on July 19. See the photos at the end of this newsletter.
Ken Hiller has heard from Simon Boothman-Milankovic, our 2015-16 Exchange Student from Croatia, who was a swimming star at Chaska High School, is now a medical physician.
Cindy Anderson worked though our tables to encourage staffing our wine + beverage Pub on Wheels at River City Days – July 26, 27 + 28. Sign up with Cindy 612-386-6156.
Dave Pokorney and Bob Roepke would like our help to move small household items into the West Creek Apartments that will serve as a turning point for homeless young adults. On Tuesday, July 23, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, please help at 104 West 4th Street in Chaska, across from the school bus depot.
Our next meeting on July 25 will be held at the Crown of Glory Lutheran Church, starting at 7:30 AM. No meal will be provided, but Erin will be offering coffee. Our speaker will be the new Superintendent of School District 112.
Rotary Club Committee Meetings – Erin Kerber, Jean Heyduck
Our Committees met to continue discussions about future events, projects and ideas. Brief summaries closed our morning.
· Past Presidents (Michelle Kraus): A 2023-24 Annual Report is being prepared so that our club’s history can be documented and referred to when wisdom of lessons-learned might be helpful.
· International (Ken Hiller): A virtual Rotary e-club exists for those interested in service projects.
· Administration (Cindy Anderson): A “pop-up” Social will happen on July 19 as part of the Northstar Youth Exchange (link). A potluck meet-and-greet at the Solseng “tin shed” begins after the Feed My Starving Children service project. Quarterly Social gatherings are a goal.
· Public Relations (Greg Anderson): They are working on updating and improving our presence on Facebook.
· Community (Bob Roepke): The committee is generating ideas to partner with and support efforts within the community, county and city projects.
· Youth Services (Bob Chinnock): Investigations into Rotaract (link) and discussions about scholarships are keeping this group busy.
· Membership (Gary Hardel): previous Corporate memberships have been continuity-sustaining pieces of our club, so efforts to rebuild those relationships will be made.
Rotary International Areas of Focus (link) – Protecting the Environment
One of the goals within Rotary International’s environmental protection focus is Restoration of Habitat. Within Chaska, there is an excellent example of this thanks to the city’s management of a section of Audubon Road, uphill of Highway 61 (Chaska Blvd.), starting at Engler Boulevard continuing north up to Howard Lane. The former grass-covered land was replaced with prairie vegetation seeding a few years ago. With the milder winter, annual burn-off and frequent rain this year, the resulting bloom is spectacular. You would have to travel far from the metro area to experience the colors and natural beauty available locally. The City and its staff are to be congratulated on their decisions and upkeep of this treasure that provides suitable habitat and food for over a dozen bird species, bumblebees, honeybees, Monarch butterflies, dragonflies and other creatures.
Northstar Youth Exchange Students Service Project and Club Potluck Social
With Erin Kerber leading the planning and organizing, Jean Heyduck, Michelle Kraus, Gretchen Oppriecht, Dan Keyport, Cindy and Greg Anderson hosting them, nine students spent Friday and Saturday with them following a service project at Feed My Starving Children. Rotarians also contributing efforts at the food-packing included Neil Wingert and Sarah Carlson, and Robin and Julie Nesburg. The whole bunch then met at Phil and Claudine Solseng’s Tin Shed for a potluck social. They were joined by Sheryl and Jim Hough, Peter Ivy, Vic Benetti, Ken and Barb Hiller, Bob and Rorie Chinnock, Georgian Keyport, and Rotary friends. Special photography helper – Emma Kerber. The students:
Sophie – Ireland
Viktoria – Czech republic
Gabin – France
Daniel – Spain
Halin – Slovakia
Luccia – Italy
Liva – Denmark
Felix – Germany
Louis - Germany
Upcoming Invocation
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.
Our guests today were Natasha Palmelund and her family. 
Natasha was our 2022-23 Exchange Student from Denmark and is in the middle of a weeks-long road trip across the USA.
Happy Dollar donors again proceeded without an introduction by a Finemaster. Phil Solseng, Erin Kerber, Wayne Ward, Matt Podhradsky, John Roebke, Vic Benetti and Neil Wingert donated. Our guest Dorte Palmelund gave us American dollars, Danish Cookies and heartfelt thanks for giving her daughter lifelong memories.
h School, is now a medical physician.
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