The Rotary Club of Edina presented Kathy Rendleman with its 2020 Chrysanne Manoles Women In Leadership Award at its May 21 meeting. Reflecting society in 1905, the Rotary organization was limited to male members and remained so officially until 1989, when the Council on Legislation, Rotary’s parliament, voted to eliminate the male-only provision, opening up membership to qualified women across the world. However, the forward-thinking Rotary Club of Edina welcomed its first female member, Chrysanne Manoles, a year earlier in 1988. Manoles continues to be active in Rotary.
In Manoles’ honor and to celebrate the work of women in the community, the Rotary Club of Edina established an annual women’s leadership award in 2008. Previous winners include Dr. Laurel Wills, Ann Byrne, Donna Tilsner, Katey Taylor, Kim Foote, Kris Marshall, Lauren Morse-Wendt, Lexi Reed Holtum and Laura Hope Melton.
Rendleman has led the Edina Education Fund as Executive Director since 2016. Her service to the Ed Fund consistently demonstrates Rotary’s “Four Way Test” in her thought process and actions. An recent example is her leadership of the Ed Fund’s sponsorship of the Edina Meal Fund COVID-19 Response. The diligence with which Rendleman has led the Ed Fund in past years prepared the organization with the necessary platform of sound financial management, an updated website and a secure means of accepting donations. This allowed the organization to quickly respond to the food insecurities of Edina Public Schools’ students and families that has become acute during the pandemic. Rendleman has been a collaborative partner with the Edina school district, Edina Give and Go and the founders of the Edina Meal Fund to assist in organizing the fundraising efforts as well as food procurement and meal packing.
“Kathy’s work has gone above and beyond her specific role of managing the Ed Fund’s finances, messaging and website,” Regina L. Neville and Karen A. Gabler, co-chairs of the Edina Education Fund Board of Directors, in their nomination of Rendleman. “Each week since the meal response began, she has personally purchased grocery gift cards and fresh produce for the meal bags and has assisted with packing. She has led conversations to ensure that outreach to families is equitable and of the highest quality we are able to provide.”
Collaboration is a hallmark of Rendleman’s service and personal dedication. She is a willing partner in staying connected with the Edina Public School’s leadership teams in the administrative offices and at each of the district’s 10 sites. In addition, Rendleman is often the Ed Fund’s lead representative in communicating with individual and corporate donors as well as with its community’s partner organizations such as the Rotary Club of Edina. Every connection is essential to meeting the Ed Fund’s mission of
supporting the educational needs and opportunities for all Edina Public School students with goodwill, transparency and equity.
supporting the educational needs and opportunities for all Edina Public School students with goodwill, transparency and equity.
For winning the 2020 Chrysanne Manoles Women in Leadership Award, Rendleman received flowers, a plaque and a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Edina. For more information about the Chrysanne Manoles Women In Leadership Award, contact club Past President Jennifer Bennerotte, 612-201-3467 or jbennerotte@EdinaRotary.org.