Events

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

EVENT WEBSITE - VOLUNTEER SIGNUP -- VOLUNTEER TASK DESCRIPTION links can be found in "EVENT LINKS" to the left.

GROOVES & FOODS FESTIVAL | Edina
PRESENTING TITLE SPONSOR | Rotary Clubs of Edina
VENUE SPONSOR | McNellis & Asato Wealth Management
VENUE | Centennial Lakes Park
Free Admission to all - Thanks to our Sponsors

Four Weeks of exciting live music under-the-stars at our beautiful Centennial Lakes Park in Edina.

SHOWTIMES:
The Mick Sterling Radio Hour with Live Music & On the Air Interviews | 5:30PM to 6:30PM
Live Music begins at 7PM and ends at 9PM

You’re invited to a fascinating Vocational Off-Site at the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility! This meeting location replaces our meeting at Edina Country Club. There is no additional cost to RCE members. Senior active members and guests will be billed $27.

📅  Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
🕧  Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM (Box lunch included)
📍  Location: 7525 Braemar Blvd, Edina, MN 55439
📝  Registration is required

🚗 Limited parking is available on-site. More parking is available across the street in the lower parking lot of Braemar Arena. If it is easy for you to walk, please park at the Arena, leaving the spots closest to the facility for our members and guests who use canes and walkers or who cannot walk as easily.

This behind-the-scenes experience will include tours of:

Indoor shooting ranges

A defensive tactics gym

A fire tower

The exciting new tactical shoot house under construction

Our guide will be Bob Slater, the facility's director, who will walk us through how this cutting-edge facility supports the ongoing training of police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and first responders from Edina, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Don’t miss this chance to learn about the incredible work being done to keep our communities safe.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Paul Peterson
President, Rotary Club of Edina

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. 

Chaz Sandifer is the Founder & CEO of theNEWmpls, Let Go Let Flow and Stories Behind the Menu. Her work has focused on serving a diverse population, and promoting racial health and equity through the lens of fitness, wellness, and nutrition. Chaz has a background in Marketing and International Business, is a Certified group fitness instructor, Certified Life & Wellness Coach in Diabetes, Arthritis Prevention, and Trauma Healing. She offers individual coaching, consulting for organizations, fitness classes, meal-prep courses, and is the only Black woman who owns a farmers’ market in MN. She has coached over 700 men and women who are pre-diabetic and overweight. She offers custom health and wellness programming to support those who are working through trauma. Chaz was an Executive Producer on the documentary “Stories Behind the Menu,” which debuted and opened the 2023 Twin Cities Film Festival. She is the honoree for MSP Journal Women in Business Award 2023, TRUST Leadership Award for Women in Healthcare 2023, Minnesota Twins Game Changer of the Year 2023, Team Women Wave Maker Community Impact 2023, and National Community Based Organization Network Unsung Hero Award 2024. 

You, your family and friends are invited to join together with fellow Edina Rotarians and show our enthusiasm for the good work we do throughout our community. Strong member participation will help to bring this message to the public's attention. You don't have to participate in the whole route, you can join us from the sidelines for as long as you want.

We do need 5-6 people to help as a driver for President Lisa Walker's car, banner carriers and candy distributors are the positions that require volunteers in the parade from beginning to end. These tasks can be can be job-shared and are very time flexible depending on the number of people willing to help. SIGN UP HERE

Anderson is a highly accomplished retail leader with over 30 years of industry experience with a proven track record of value creation as a public company CEO. He brings deep operational discipline, merchandising skills, and branding expertise and has a passion for leadership development while building strong cultural tenets.

Most recently, Anderson served as the CEO of Five Below, Inc. where he led the company's U.S. expansion from 366 to over 1,500 stores and eCommerce site launch, optimized operations, significantly increased productivity, expanded into new categories, and drove revenue growth from $500 million to more than $3.5 billion.

Anderson previously served for three years as the President and CEO of Walmart.com, leading the multi-billion dollar dot com business unit from 2011 to 2014, and for four years before that as divisional Senior Vice President of the Northern Plains division of Walmart stores, overseeing over 100,000 associates and more than $25 billion in annual sales. Anderson currently serves as a director of Sprouts Farmers Market and is a member of the audit and compensation committees.