Welcoming new member Dietrich Nissen (middle) are Dan Hennen and newer member, Sandra Krebsbach
January 16th meeting kicked off with a “Rotary Connects the World” Video Series: featuring former member Kenny Smith. He gives examples of why Rotary has inspired him and what he saw first hand.
President, Josh Sprague, ties Kenny’s message in and relates that back to the Guatemala trip our club took this past year. Rotary builds connections and relationships.
Jon Kaufman and H2OOpenDoors team on a water purification site stand in front of an installed Sunspring Water Purification System
We found out on our Guatemala trip; 5-11 children were dying per week because of their water quality. Contamination was at a staggering 51%. John Crudele, the current Eden Prairie AM President, met with Rotarian Jon Kaufman of the Penninsula Sunrise Rotary Club located in California’s Silicon Valley and clean water partner with H2OOpenDoors, a company that purifies water. An installed Sunspring system costing $25,000 can purify up to 10,500 gallons of water a day. This purification system arrived at the Escuintla hospital two weeks ago; and the purification system was installed two days ago. It is anticipated to dramatically improve the infant mortality rate at the hospital in addition to providing pure water for employees and clients who visit that hospital.
Deirdre Kvale lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Four-Way Test
John Buttolph introduced guests & visiting Rotarians
Guests of Rotarians
1. Sterling Thomas guest of Sylvester Thomas
2. Dane Loberg guest of Shelly Loberg
3. Catherine Ahern & daughter Allison Ahern guest of Catherine Gump’s
4. Mike Tinghnm guest of Joe Christensen
5. Andrea Fahrenking guest of Lisa Walker
Visiting Rotarians
1. Eldon & Addie Tessman- Brooklyn Park Rotarians promoting their raffle promo
2. Hokyu Lee- Seoul (Namson Club)- International Business
3. Carolyn Jacason- Edina Morningside
Royce Pavelka made an announcement about the upcoming Prospective Member Day which will be held on Jan 23, 2020.
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Sutton McGraw made an announcement about the upcoming bowling event on 2/22/2020 held at Park Tavern.
Jean Morrison thanked our club for the generous donations of gifts to 66 West & Corner Stone.Our focus was buying shoes this year which are a bit more expensive. In addition we also had 4 truck loads for toys for youth.
Dan Hallberg & Wayne Harmon updated us on Salvation Army.
We did 18 hours of ringing which included 36 plus Rotarians who donated their time and we collected a total of $7,000.In the past 10 years, Edina Rotary has raised just over $80,000.
Jessica Raboin came from the Salvation Army and spoke to what our funds help them with. She spoke about the 2020 program and services and their need to help overcome poverty, continue to help with housing, food. in 2019, $2.5 million dollars was raised within the Twin Cities.
President Josh Sprague, introduces past President Bob Solheim
Bob Solheim introduces today’s Speaker: Allan Law, Love One Another and 363 Days Food Program
Allan’s program started in September, 1967 and is still going strong today. Allan was formerly a Minneapolis Public School teacher. He has three core programs within his foundation called Youth Builder, Samaritans Outreach and 363 Food Program.
363 Food Program: In 2019, he handed out 850,000 sandwiches to the poor/underprivileged in addition to 3,500 blankets. He mostly works at night, feeding people at on average 2,200.00 sandwiches a night to the homeless and hungry. There are about 10,000 homeless people within the Twin Cities with an additional of 3,000 who are below the age of 17.
Youth Builder Program: Is a program that Allan started in 1967 for inner city children to have a free after school program. Through the years it also has provided educational and personal development activities for youth in the summer time and on weekends. Currently, this program packs 350 backpacks filled with school supplies for the underprivileged.
Samaritans Outreach Program: helps provide basic living necessities for the homeless, poor and vulnerable families and their children. Allan makes multiple stops a day with perishable food, clothing, personal care kits and emergency funds for urgent needs. This program helps refer clients to appropriate agencies to get help with counseling, housing, chemical dependency, job placement and healthcare.
Question/Answer Session:
Edina Rotarians wanted to know how they could help. He asked for bus tokens and if anyone had extra funds to donate overall to the program as it runs on a tight budget of $200,000 per year. Alan also wished there was more support with other agencies within the Twin Cities at night as that is when the highest need is for these vulnerable individuals and families.
Rotary members Mark Stageberg and Gordy Lewis no doubt solving the world's problems.
Thom Winninger, members and guest enjoyed the popular buffet lunch.
Speaker Allan Law kept member Scott Blake's attention.