March 25, 2025 (Mar 25, 2025)

Speakers: Lt. Col. Sam Andrews-Holly Callen, Bravo Zulu House

Bravo Zulu House the nation’s first all-military sober home for veterans with PTSD. Located in Winnebago, Minnesota, this home a 13-bed community house designed to address the unique sober housing needs of veterans in Minnesota suffering from PTSD.

Bravo Zulu House offers a holistic approach to recovery, featuring a hydroponic farm, canine companions for each resident, as well as therapy, counseling services, and opportunities for community engagement. This comprehensive approach fosters both individual healing and the development of a strong community for veterans.

The Edina Rotary Foundation contributed $2,500 toward the installation of a wheelchair lift in collaboration with a larger grant sponsored by the Eden Prairie Noon Rotary Foundation.

For program details click Bravo Zulu House. Current TV coverage HERE.

MEMBER VOTE RESCHEDULE TO APRIL 24, 2025

APRIL 24, 2025 -- MEMBERS TO VOTE ON UPDATED CLUB BYLAWS - ATTENDANCE NEEDED The club bylaws require 50% of total membership attendance to achieve quorum for a formal approval vote. Please attend this week's meeting, if possible. Due to the April 10, 2025 short attendance we did not vote to amend our club by-laws. This vote has been rescheduled for the April 24th meeting. There will be a Zoom option available for those who can't make it in person. Please watch the Barker and your email for details on how you sign in and vote.

The Board of Directors recently updated the club’s bylaws and will ask for formal approval at an upcoming weekly meeting. Please "Read More" of change details.

EMRC 2025 - Plant Sale, ENDS MAR 31

LAST DAY TO ORDER, MONDAY, MAR 31. Once again EMRC has partnered with Gertens Fundraising to offer a beautiful selection of flowers and plants just right for your spring needs. The flower sale supports the effort to end Polio. Order deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2025. Click HERE for order form.

Apr 14 VOLUNTEER - Bridging Warehouse

Volunteer to build dressers and help with Bridging warehouse maintenance on Monday, April 14. SIGN UP. Signup closes April 4th.

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

Additional information about Bridging is available HERE. 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! Details below.

Spring Fireside Chats - Registration Open

Registration Open for the 2025 Spring Fireside chats.

Thursday, Apr 24 -- Erica Allenburg's Home
Wednesday, Apr 30 -- Lisa Walker's Home
Monday, May 5 -- Jen Hendrickson's Home

Click on the date above to register. These informal get-togethers are held in our member's home and attended by 10 to 20 Rotarians. During the chats, members get to know each other and about the club. Hosts typically provide appetizer and beverages, however, and while not required to attend, some hosts appreciate guests bringing and sharing treats and beverages. Chats typically run between 6:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Please contact Julie Westbrock to get additional details.

April 26 - Club Leadership Training

April 26 - Save the Date for District 5950 Club Leadership Training, 8:30 to 2:00 p.m. at the Chaska Community Center. This District Assembly gets clubs ready for a successful Rotary year by providing individual leadership growth elements to achieve their goals successfully. Keynotes: Implementation: Why It's Essential; Building a Result Driven Volunteer Team; Team Effort - a sky diving success story. Click HERE for more details and watch for future registration details.

Guatemala Gift List

Guatemala 2025 is on! We are returning to Guatemala April 26-May 3, 2025. The purpose of the trip is to deliver 654 life-saving water purifiers to remote villages in the mountains surrounding Coban, in partnership with Resurrection Priory Monastery, St Patrick’s Church of Edina, and the Rotary Club of Coban. Fellowship and travel to new, exotic places is also part of the journey! Susan Stiles is heading up a small item children's gift campaign. She has set up a gift registry on Amazon under her name "Susan Stiles" Guatemala April 2025. Scan the code to the left or click HERE.

Rotary International 2025 National Convention

The 2025 Rotary International convention registration is now open. Take part in the transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the "Magic All Around" in Calgary, Canada June 21 - 25th. Click the photo above or visit HERE for more details and registration.

"TRF - A Time of Giving"

Rotary members like you volunteer their time and financial resources to solve global issues. Now is the time to consider giving to TRF. Simply click making a gift to donate. Several members of our club will be recognized for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation at this week's meeting. Please join us in celebrating and honoring them.

Need More Information?

To review your giving history, simply sign in to My Rotary. Have other questions or want to see a few projects that our club has supported click on "Read more" for details.

Letter Bag

From Jennifer Bennerotte:

Thank you for the outpouring of support following my recent surgery. I really appreciated all of the cards, notes and text messages I received. I am also enjoying the live plants the club sent to my home. I am hopeful I will not have to have a third thyroidectomy, but if I do, I know my Rotary friends will be there for me! Thanks again! -- Jennifer Bennerotte

Good in the Hood - 2025 Grant Recipient and Holiday Gift Cards

Thank you so much for your generous donation of 60 - $25 gift cards to Good in the Hood's Adopt A Family program! Because of you, we can purchase and provide children's gifts for families struggling with financial insecurity. Thank you for making that possible. -- Sincerely, Jamie.

Cornerstone - "Together in Hope Restore & Rebuild Lives"

Thank you so much for your generous donation of Thanksgiving baskets to Cornerstone's families. We are truly grateful for your ongoing partnership in our work to create safe communities and more peaceful families. -- Cornerstone staff

Upcoming Events

Apr 14 -- Bridging Volunteer Event

Apr 15 -- Joint Meeting with EMRC

Apr 17 -- No Meeting (EMRC on Apr 15)

Apr 20 -- Eden Prairie Eco Expo

Apr 24 -- Fireside Chat, Erica Allenburg's Home

Apr 26 -- District Leadership Training, Chaska

Apr 30 -- Fireside Chat, Lisa Walker's Home

May 5 -- Fireside Chat, Jen Hendrickson's Home

May 17 -- Edina Rides, EMRC

Jun 3 -- Grooves & Foods, Billy Joel State of Mind

Jun 10 -- Grooves & Foods, Classic America Rockers

Jun 17 -- Grooves & Foods, Minute by Minute

Jun 18 -- Club Annual Family Picnic

Jun 24 -- Grooves & Foods, Beautiful Vision

Jun 21-25 -- Rotary Convention, Calgary, Magic All Around

April 10 Meeting Recap

April 10, 2025 Meeting Recap with Photos by Rich Kleber

Speaker:Heather Edelson, Dist. 6 Hennepin Cty Commissioner

"Hennepin County Update"

Our speaker today was Heather Edelson, District 6 Hennepin County Commissioner.

Commissioner Edelson gave a comprehensive overview of the state

of services provided to the citizens of Hennepin County. Our

speakers always leave time for Q&A.