Events

Veteran's Program Emcee: Mark Shockey

Keynote Speaker: Bill Wenmark

Date and Time: Thursday, November 14, 2024 - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave, Edina MN 55424

Attending Edina Noon Rotary non-veterans program cost is included in member quarterly meeting fees. Non-veteran senior active and guests program fee is $27 ea and will be added to your senior active January 2025 billing statement. There is no charge for Edina Noon Rotarian veterans and their veteran guests.

Please register yourself and your veteran guests with a notation of your branch of service in the "Comments" section. Non-Veteran Edina Rotary Noon members and non-veteran guests should note in the Comments "Non-Veteran".  Registration is closed, please contact Lisa Walker for cancellations.

This program is sponsored by Rotary Area 3 clubs which includes Edina Noon, Edina Morningside, Eden Prairie AM, Eden Prairie Noon, Bloomington Noon, South Metro Minneapolis, Twin Cities Ecoclub. To attend, please register through your home club. 

Cheri began her aviation journey at age 17, inspired by an Aerospace Science class. She completed her flight training during her senior year and earned her Private Pilot license before attending Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU) for an Aviation degree. After graduating, she served as a flight instructor and became Assistant Chief Flight Instructor. She flew for Great Lakes Aviation and corporate jets for North Star Aviation before joining Northwest Airlines (now Delta Air Lines), where she advanced to Captain of the Airbus A320 and took on roles such as Pilot Recruiter and Ambassador. 

Cheri also co-founded the annual WING (Women Inspiring our Next Generation) Flight, providing female high school students with an inspiring flight experience to explore aviation careers. In addition to her work at Delta, she has been an Adjunct Professor at MNSU, advising various aviation student organizations and helping to build partnerships, such as with Delta’s Propel University program.

For over 30 years, Cheri has volunteered with the MN Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camp, aimed at introducing high school students to aviation careers. She is a founding member of two Women in Aviation chapters in Minnesota and contributes to numerous aviation-related organizations, including serving on boards, planning events, and giving talks. In April 2024, Cheri was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame, recognizing her significant impact on the state's aviation community and her dedication to mentoring and fostering opportunities for young people in the field.

5:30-6:00 Social & networking time — the rum punch will be flowing! 
6:00-6:15 Introductions around the room, including each attendee's business background
6:15-6:45 Featured Black Entrepreneur presents their business story to the group
6:45-7:00 Q &A session and wrap up

Hollies Winston, the historic first Black mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has a deep-rooted commitment to community and economic empowerment. Born into a family where his grandfather was a sharecropper and his parents were corporate professionals, Winston’s journey reflects a commitment to growth and equity. He graduated from Northwestern University and earned his MBA from the Carlson School of Management, leading to roles in business development and consulting with Fortune 500 companies. He also founded Guaranteed America, supporting small business growth and advancing economic equity for underserved communities. In addition to his mayoral duties, Winston has been honored as a Chief within Nigeria’s Igbo community of 30+ million, a role that underscores his dedication to bridging cultures and communities globally. At home, he shares his journey with his wife and two children, embodying values of service, inclusivity, and integrity as he works to build a safer, more vibrant Brooklyn Park.

ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BASKET DELIVERY- TEAMS NEEDED -

SIGN UP BY Friday, November 22

On Wednesday, November 27th members of the Rotary Club of Edina, along with members of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, will pack baskets and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need throughout the Twin Cities region. A roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberries, potatoes and gravy along with vegetables, oranges, even a delicious pie, make their way to area homes via active Rotarians and their families. With warm knit mittens and hats to help with the coming winter, these Thanksgiving Baskets bring some brightness and joy into the holiday season.

PLAN and REGISTER FOR THE 2024 EVENT

• REGISTER: As a Team, attending Rotary members and the names of family and friends (TEAMS) - Morningside Members Register as one guest and Team Members in the Comments (TEAMS)
• ADD REGISTRATION COMMENT: Lunch Only or Basket Assembly/Delivery
• ADD REGISTRATION COMMENT: Name of the team who you'd like to share and combine the assembly and delivery of baskets.
• PICK YOUR TEAM’S ASSEMBLY and DELIVERY TIME

DAY OF EVENT DETAILS:

• WHAT: Thanksgiving Basket Preparation and Delivery (85 baskets total - 2 to 3 baskets per team).
• WHERE: Assembly at the Edina Country Club; home delivery throughout Twin Cities Area
• WHEN: Wednesday, November 29th
• TIME: Doors and lunch open at 11:30 a.m. Basket and assembly is Noon to 1:30 or until last basket is out the door.
• WHO: Members and families of the Rotary Club of Edina and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club
• LUNCH COST: Guests of members is $27 per adult and $16 per child 16 and under.

85 Baskets total to be delivered by 21 teams from Edina Rotary and 9 teams from Edina Morningside.

DETAILS:

Buffet style soup and sandwich lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. with a short meeting during food service. Afterwards, we'll assemble the Thanksgiving baskets for area families in need. Volunteers are being requested for the basket assembly and deliveries. We are asking all Rotarians and guests who plan to attend to register by Friday, November 24 so we can plan for the luncheon and basket assembly/delivery. Please make sure to register all your guest names.and note in the comments when you register if you are signing up to assemble and deliver baskets or you and your guests are just joining us for lunch. Please let us know if you have a preference for who you would like to join you in delivering baskets. You can also contact Tom Cook or Mary Hustad with questions or special requests. 

There is no Noon meeting on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, so this counts as the official Rotary meeting for that week. Rotarians with regular memberships do not have to pay for lunch at the door. EMRC members, senior active or honorary members will be billed and guests will be charged to the Rotary member $27 for adults, $16 for children under 16. 

Join us for this wonderful event that allows you to give back to those in need during the holidays, and spend time with your fellow Rotarians, family and friends! We'll see you there!

BASKET CONTENTS

Bridging empowers people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture and household goods for those pursuing housing stability.

When and where?

Date: Tuesday, January 28th

Time: 3PM-6PM

Volunteers: 10-25

Location: Bridging- Bloomington 201 W. 87th St. Bloomington, MN 55420

**Family & Friends welcome!  Must be 14 years old to participate.

What will we be doing?

• Assembling 10 dressers in teams

• We will take a brief tour of the facility, hear more about the organization and how they serve their clients

What to bring:

• You should dress comfortably and in clothing that can get dusty.

• Comfortable, close-toed shoes (required).

• Donations: Bring a bag, box, or a carload (optional)! Look here for items we accept.

Additional information about Bridging is available on our https://www.bridging.org/.

Thank you for supporting this mission with your incredible gift of time and talents! Please let us know if you have any questions or requests for accommodation.

Please share with friends and family and RSVP by December 20th!

For 20 years, Jason was a reporter and morning news anchor at WCCO-TV, in 2022 he shifted shifts and shifted gears by becoming a talk radio host. DriveTime with DeRusha is on WCCO-AM 830 from 3-6pm weekdays. He's also the food editor of Minnesota Monthly and an in-demand social media influencer and emcee. Jason serves on the Board of Directors of Second Harvest Heartland the the Philanthropic Board for M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. 

Listen to Jason on WCCO radio or check out his podcast; you can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram. WCCO: https://www.audacy.com/stations/wccoradio/shows/drivetime-with-derusha-1c157  Blog: https://www.jasonderusha.com/  X/Instagram: DeRushaJ Facebook: TheJasonDeRusha

He left a successful two decade TV news career to bring new energy to drivetime talk radio and podcasting. He won an Emmy for anchoring morning news and another for breaking news. He helped launch a news and lifestyle show “WCCO MidMorning” at 9am.An online innovator. A James Beard Award nominee for his television food reporting. And the food and dining editor for Minnesota Monthly magazine.

This Marquette University political science/broadcast journalism graduate went from interning at ABC “World News Tonight,” to reporting/anchoring at KWQC-TV, WISN-TV, and WCCO-TV before moving to radio.

Jason’s first job was as a referee of a 4th grade basketball game. High School morning announcement guy. College TV station News Director. His TV career took him from an internship at ABC News’ investigative unit, to reporting and anchoring jobs at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa, WISN-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and finally WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

At least a dozen Regional Emmy Awards. A national James Beard Foundation nomination for outstanding TV segment. 40 Under 40 from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Young Alum of the Year for the Marquette University College of Communication.

But the most important award is the trust of listeners, and readers – who count on Jason to help them jump-start every day.

Dawanna S. Witt was elected as the Hennepin County Sheriff on November 8, 2022. She was sworn in and took office on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. She is the first woman and person of color to hold the office.

Born in Chicago and raised in Minneapolis, Sheriff Witt became a mother at 15 but nevertheless excelled at school. She earned several scholarships to college, including the Justice Alan Page Scholarship. As a condition of that scholarship, she volunteered in several community organizations in various roles and saw firsthand how her actions could make a positive difference in the lives of young people. Her passion for working with kids remains to this day.

The International grants committee evaluates and funds grants that address our 7 areas of focus. We meet bi-monthly to discuss and review grants that are presented to our club. Please talk with Jennifer Hendrickson if you are interested in joining this committee. 

Meet Alex Merritt, The Love Engineer, who is on a mission to bring logic to love. With her unique blend of mechanical engineering and deep undersanding of human relationships, TwinAlex translates complex emotional dynamics into manageable, easy to undersand processes.

Her love engineering philosophy centers around what she calls the "gravity of love" therory and the idea of exploring relationships as systems that one must design, build and maintain. This approach has empowered countless individuals and couples to build resilient and fulfilling connections. In addition to personal relationship dynamics, Alex applies her methods to professional settings, helping teams and leaders foster environments of respect, collaboration and butal success. Her workshops and keynotes on communication and team connection deliver practical and actionalbe strategies that transform lives.

Teams are forming and it looks to be a very competitive year. Who will walk away with the "big" trophy? 

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2023 

Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Where: Park Tavern, St. Louis Park

Cost: $25/per bowler covers lane and shoe rental. Pre-registration and payment by Feb. 20 is required. Note in "Comments"  if you are part of a specific team. 

Park Tavern menu and drinks will be available for purchase. 

Contact: Joe Hayes at jrhayes331@gmail.com or 952-334-9909 with any questions. 

India Association of Minnesota + Rotary Club of Edina and Edina Morningside Rotary Celebrate Asian Indian Culture, Charity and Connection

The Rotary Club of Edina March 6 meeting program will center around the Asian India culture with India Association of Minnesota speakers, dancers and feature the food of India. This member attended event is a collaborative effort of IAM, Rotary Club of Edina and Edina Morningside Rotary Club to foster a global understanding of shared challenges and the promotion of mutual prosperity. The program presenters will be Srividya Vaidyanathan, President of India Association of Minnesota (IAM), Shajive Jeganathan, President of the Hindu Society of Minnesota (HSMN), and Ram Gada, honorary Board Member of the India Association of Minnesota. 

Registration to attend is required. Regrets appreciated. Deadline is NOON, Monday, March 3rd. For Rotary Club of Edina members this event is included in their quarterly meeting fee package. RCE senior active, guests, general public and Edina Morningside member cost is $27/per person.

Bryan Piatt is a mental health therapist, specializing in supporting people living with OCD and anxiety. He is a former news anchor and reporter at KARE 11, and the host of the “Take What Serves. Leave the Rest” podcast—which creates a safe space to talk about mental health. For the last five years Bryan has been speaking publicly about his own journey with OCD and anxiety. He is also a Breathwork facilitator, meditation guide, and yoga teacher. Woven throughout all of his work is the message that—no matter what you're experiencing—you aren’t alone.

Heather Edelson is a County Commissioner on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners and was elected in May of 2024.  She represents District 6 of Hennepin County, which encompasses 16 cities, including Hopkins, Edina, Minnetonka, Orono, Excelsior and Wayzata.

Edelson received her undergraduate degree from Hamline University where she majored in Legal Studies and received her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Edelson worked as a Clinical Therapist at outpatient clinics and served on many boards and commissions that advocated to improve education outcomes and human rights including serving as a Guardian ad Litem.  

Edelson served 3 terms as a State Representative in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  At the Minnesota Capitol, she served as Vice Chair on the Ways and Means and Public Safety Committees and was a member of the Education Finance, Human Service Policy and Environment Policy and Finance committees.  For three years Edelson ran the Civility Caucus that worked to improve and strengthen bipartisan work at the legislature. Much of her policy work at the Capitol focused on literacy, the intersection of mental health, public safety, and health and human service policy. 

Edelson resides in Edina with her husband and three sons.

Bridging empowers people to thrive in their homes by providing quality furniture and household goods for those pursuing housing stability.

When and where?

Date: Monday, April 14th

Time: 3PM-6PM

Volunteers: 5-25

Location: Bridging- Bloomington 201 W. 87th St. Bloomington, MN 55420

What will we be doing?

• We’ll kick it off with a quick welcome.

• Then we will tour the warehouse and tasks for the afternoon.

What to bring:

• You should dress comfortably and in clothing that can get dusty.

• Comfortable, close-toed shoes (required).

• Donations: Bring a bag, box, or a carload (optional)! Look here for items we accept.

Additional information about Bridging is available on our https://www.bridging.org/.

Thank you for supporting this mission with your incredible gift of time and talents! Please let us know if you have any questions or requests for accommodation.

Please share with friends and family and RSVP by April 4th!

The International grants committee evaluates and funds grants that address our 7 areas of focus. We meet bi-monthly to discuss and review grants that are presented to our club. Please talk with Jennifer Hendrickson if you are interested in joining this committee. 

Join your fellow Rotary Club of Edina members and guests for an evening of great conversation, stronger friendships and connections at our Fireside Chat hosted by Erica Allenburg. Fireside chats are a casual and smaller gathering of like-minded Rotarians who get to spend an evening getting to know each other better outside of our weekly meetings. Space is limited to 25 people, so register early. Thank you to Erica and Tom for hosting!

Are YOU interested in being a Fireside Chat Host? We are still looking for hosts for Spring or Fall 2025! If you are interested, please reach out to Julie Westbrock at jwestbrock@trustpointinc.com

Join your fellow Rotary Club of Edina members and guests for an evening of great conversation, stronger friendships and connections at our Fireside Chat hosted by Lisa Walker. Fireside chats are a casual and smaller gathering of like-minded Rotarians who get to spend an evening getting to know each other better outside of our weekly meetings. Space is limited to 25 people, so register early. Thank you to Lisa and Gage for hosting!

Are YOU interested in being a Fireside Chat Host? We are still looking for hosts for Spring or Fall 2025! If you are interested, please reach out to Julie Westbrock at jwestbrock@trustpointinc.com

Bream has interviewed such music royalty as the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) and Prince as well as Bob Dylan, U2, three Beatles, four Rolling Stones and all of Maroon 5. He has performed with Alice Cooper, jogged with Willie Nelson and walked the streets of New York with Bruce Springsteen. A longtime voter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bream has also written for the Los Angeles Times, Billboard, Vibe and other publications. He has a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota, where he established the Jon Bream Scholarship for Arts Criticism. www.jonbream.com

Imagine kids sleeping on a hard, cold floor each night. Unfortunately, that is the reality for far too many children in our community. For a kid, a bed is more than a piece of furniture. It’s a
place to bounce, to launch superhero flights, and ultimately a comfortable place to snuggle under the covers for a good night’s rest. Adequate sleep directly impacts kids’ physical and mental health and enhances their focus and learning at school. Kids also benefit from having a place to call their own; it increases their responsibility and independence.

You can be a part of providing a comfortable bed to kids who need them! We are partnering with My Very Own Bed, a local non-profit that provides new beds and linens to children in families who have recently moved out of homelessness into more stable housing in the Twin Cities.

With each new bed, My Very Own Bed provides a Dream Kit, which includes NEW, twin-size:

• Mattress pads
• Sheets
• Blankets or comforters
• Pillows
• Small stuffed animals

You may drop these items into the donation box that will be available throughout the month of May during the Edina Noon Rotary Meetings.  The Final day to drop off donations will be the beginning of the May 29th meeting where a team member from My Very Own Bed will be coming to collect the items.

If you prefer to shop online, you may purchase Dream Kit items from any store of your choice and ship to My Very Own Bed at 34 13th Ave. NE, Suite 106, Minneapolis, MN 55413. For ideas or to purchase and ship directly, see My Very Own Bed’s registries:
● Bare Home
● Target
● Amazon
● Walmart

The Community Service Committee will also be contributing some of their remaining budget to purchase additional items.

Thank you for contributing to this wonderful organization!

-The Community Service Committee

Join your fellow Rotary Club of Edina members and guests for an evening of great conversation, stronger friendships and connections at our Fireside Chat hosted by Jen Hendrickson. Fireside chats are a casual and smaller gathering of like-minded Rotarians who get to spend an evening getting to know each other better outside of our weekly meetings. Space is limited to 12 people, so register early. Thank you to Jen for hosting!

Are YOU interested in being a Fireside Chat Host? We are still looking for hosts for Spring 2025! If you are interested, please reach out to Julie Westbrock at jwestbrock@trustpointinc.com