Feb 19, 2019 Barker (Feb 19, 2019)

MN Gophers Head Coach to Speak Feb. 21

Posted by Brad Hepp

P.J. Fleck was named head football coach at Minnesota on Jan. 6, 2017. Fleck, 38, is the 30th head coach in the program’s history. He has a career record of 41-35 and is 11-13 at Minnesota.

In 2018, Fleck led Minnesota to a 6-6 record and wins against Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana, Fresno State, Miami (Ohio) and New Mexico State.

Under Fleck, a young Minnesota team beat rival Wisconsin for the first time since 2003 and for the first time on the road since 1994 to reclaim Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The Gophers also downed Purdue’s potent offense, as they held the Boilers to a season low in points (10) and yards (233). Minnesota beat Fresno State to give the Bulldogs one of their two regular season defeats.

The Gophers have 112 players on the roster and 58 (51.7 percent) are freshmen. That's the most in the nation. The Gophers have 78 underclassmen (69.6 percent), which ranks tenth in college football.

In 2017, Fleck led a young and inexperienced Gopher squad, as 49 of Minnesota’s 110 players (44.5 percent) were freshmen or redshirt freshmen and 76 (69 percent) were underclassmen. Fleck guided Minnesota to a 5-7 record and those five wins were the most by a first-year Gopher head coach new to the program since the legendary Murray Warmath won seven games in 1954.

Off the field, Fleck and his team can often be found at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital and gave back to the community by hosting a diaper drive, canned food drive and turkey drive this year. In the classroom, Minnesota has posted program record GPAs under Fleck.

Prospective Member Day this Week

Posted by Royce Pavelka

Rotary Club of Edina will host our Prospective Member Day Thursday, February 21. All Rotarians are encouraged to bring a friend or colleague that is interested in learning more about Rotary and our club to the meeting. Lunch is on the club for all prospective members February 21! Please make sure your guests sign in at the guest table before the meeting.

The program speaker at the meeting will be P.J. Fleck, University of Minnesota Golden Gophers head football coach.

For more information, contact 2018-2019 Membership Director Royce Pavelka.

2019 State of the Community Feb. 27

Posted by Jennifer Bennerotte

Edina Mayor James B. Hovland and Edina Public Schools Superintendent John Schultz will present the “2019 State of the Community” Wednesday, Feb. 27. Edina City Manager Scott Neal will emcee the program.

The presentation is co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Edina, Rotary Club of Edina Morningside and Edina Chamber of Commerce. It will be presented as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly general membership meeting at Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave. The speech will later be broadcast on Edina TV and available for streaming online. It will be broadcast 7 p.m. Sundays, 3 and 11 a.m. Mondays, 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 1 and 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Thursdays and 3 and 11 a.m. Fridays through March 31.

Cost for the luncheon, which is open to the public, is $35. People may attend the meeting as non-lunching guests. For more information, call the City of Edina’s Communications & Technology Services Department, 952-826-0359. To register, call the Chamber of Commerce at 952-806-9060 or visit edinachamber.com.

Rotaract Club of Edina Receives Charter

Posted by Sam Thompson

It's exciting and it's official, Rotaract Club of Edina, sponsored by Rotary Club of Edina, has received its charter certificate from Rotary International.

Upon learning the news, Irene Kelly, District Govenor 2018-2019 wrote:

How heartwarming to open this message on a cold Friday afternoon!

Congratulations to each of you for being “People of Action” …
            Sam, for your dedication to young professionals and growing Rotaract
            Mark, for taking the lead in your club and inspiring your members
            John, for serving as president of your club and supporting the effort to charter a new club

I’m honored to be serving with Rotarians who have so much passion and energy for doing good in the world. And, most importantly for “Be(ing) the Inspiration”.

Truly Inspired … and grateful!

Irene

Congratulations to all who worked to make this "big deal" happen.

Rotary License Plate - Heather Edelson

Posted by Ann Platt

UPDATE: February 28, 2019

After four years of effort, today, at the Minnesota State Capitol, the Minnesota House Transportation and Finance Committee conducted a hearing on House Bill No. HF0593, which did pass - now it's on its way to the House Ways and Means Committee.
Hopefully, this legislation will eventually lead to us being able to purchase special, Rotary International, Minnesota license plates for our cars and motorcycles. Thank you to all you Rotarians; especially, Rep. and Chief House Author Heather Alstad Edelson, my co-testifiers PDGs Tim Murphyand Kyle Haugen, our 17 (so far) co-authors of the legislation (including the House and Senate) and those who came out today to support us. — withPaul Nelson, Heather Alstad Edelson, Tim Murphy,Margaret Kinsella Johnson and Kyle Haugen.

On January 31, 2019, thanks to State Representative Heather Edelson, Rotary License Plate Legislation was reintroduced or as they say in the Legislature "dropped," which is a good thing. Generally the word "dropped" usually has a negative connotation; but, in this case, it is exactly what we wanted to happen.

A step closer to this being Minnesota!

HF 593: A bill for an act relating to motor vehicles; establishing Rotary International special license plates; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 168.

Representative Edelson (District 49A) did an incredible job by securing a total of ten, bi-partisan authors for the Bill, which is more than we have ever had in years past. This includes Representative Steve Elkins (District 49B). It has been referred to Transportation Finance and Policy.