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NEXT MEETING - September 10, 2026
Speaker: Holly Callen, Bravo Zulu House
Doors Open 12:15 p.m., Program Begins 12:35 p.m.

**ALL GALA RAFFLE TICKETS SOLD OR UNSOLD MUST BE
RETURNED BY SEPT 17, 2026**

Stories
September 10 Speaker: Holly Callen, Bravo Zulu House

Holly Callen is a member of the Eden Prairie Noon Rotary Club. A Rotarian since 1991, Holly was 5950 District Governor in 2001-02. She has also served in various capacities at the Zone and International level including Co-Chair of the 2011 Zone Institute, Zone Training Leader for Foundation Chairs and District Governor Nominees, and RI Promotion Committee Member for four Rotary International Conventions.

In addition, from 2017-2020, Holly served on the Fund Development Committee of The Rotary Foundation reporting directly to the TRF Board of Trustees. On the committee, she was responsible for Donor Recognition. In this capacity, she helped create the Legacy Society for donors bequeathing at least $1,000,000 in their estate plan.

Founder and President of Callen & Associates Financial Services, Inc., an investment firm specializing in retirement and charitable planning, Holly retired at the end of 2007. Additionally, Holly was the Director of Development and Fundraising for Women's Athletics at the University of Minnesota from 1991-1996. Holly now spends her time volunteering for Bravo Zulu House, an all-veteran sober housing organization for veterans suffering from addiction and PTSD. She also serves on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Marketing Committee of Stablish Foundation, a small community foundation helping donors to create their charitable legacy.

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Wednesday, September 9, Rotary Happy Hour

Join us at "The Mezz" on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Lunds & Byerlys is located at 7171 France Ave, Edina

This gathering is a casual, vocational and business network opportunity centered on featuring an Edina Noon or Edina Morningside Rotary member's career story. Guests are welcome. Personal food and beverage choices are available to order and purchase. Featured speaker is Mark Hogstrom, Certified Exit Planning Advisor with Business Owner Succession Strategies (BOSS) and Partner at DSB Rock Island Wealth Management, LLC. Registration is not required. *Please not the change to the day of week because of the holiday on Monday.

 

Proposed for Membership - Carol Chen

Carol Chen
Classification: Marketing Technology
Sponsor: Jean Morrison 

Carol Chen is Director of Marketing Automation Technology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, where she leads marketing automation strategy, governance, and adoption. She specializes in Salesforce Marketing Cloud architecture, CRM integration with Salesforce Education Data Architecture (EDA), user enablement, and scalable operating models for communications. Her work includes building training pathways, governance frameworks, and enterprise communication systems that reduce dependency on tribal knowledge and support sustainable adoption. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, golf, fitness, healthy living, and arts and cultural events.

The Rotary Club of Edina’s Membership Committee recently approved the following applicant. Written objections to the applications below must be submitted before Midnight, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to Rotary Club of Edina, PO Box 24481, Edina, MN 55424 or emailed to administrator@EdinaRotary.org. 

Proposed for Membership - Meriwether Felt

Meriwether Felt
Classification: Architecture
Sponsor: Catherine Gump

Meriwether Felt has a residential design and architecture practice focused on custom home remodeling and architectural solutions in the twin cities. You can find out more about her firm at meriwetherinc.com. She is also beginning her second term on the Edina Planning Commission and is excited to hear from fellow Rotarians about their thoughts to keep Edina vibrant.

The Rotary Club of Edina’s Membership Committee recently approved the following applicant. Written objections to the applications below must be submitted before Midnight, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to Rotary Club of Edina, PO Box 24481, Edina, MN 55424 or emailed to administrator@EdinaRotary.org. 

Proposed for Membership - Ellen Kennedy

Ellen Kennedy
Classification: Human Rights
Sponsor: Josh Sprague 

Ellen Kennedy is the Founder and Executive Director of World Without Genocide. She advocates for human rights at the local, national, and global levels through legislation; presentations and courses at faith institutions, public organizations, and universities in Minnesota and nationally; and publications of articles, books, and other materials. She is also a representative to the United Nations Department of Global Communications. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters-Edina, and co-chairs a social justice committee, and is on a social justice committee at Mount Zion Temple, a Reform Jewish congregation in St. Paul. Ellen was a member of Edina Noon Rotary Club from 2002-2011, and served as president, 2009-2010.

The Rotary Club of Edina’s Membership Committee recently approved the following applicant. Written objections to the applications below must be submitted before Midnight, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, to Rotary Club of Edina, PO Box 24481, Edina, MN 55424 or emailed to administrator@EdinaRotary.org. 

Meeting Recap, September 10, 2026
Dave Sinykin, KFAN host speaks at ERC meeting. Photos by Hannelore Brucker

At our last meeting, we welcomed Dave Sinykin of KFAN 100.3. Dave has hosted “Packer Preview” on the Vikings’ flagship station for 30 years, making it the only local radio show devoted to an “enemy” team. (President Gerry Norton also showed his true colors by wearing a Packers jersey — much to the dismay of the Vikings fans in the room.)

Dave shared how the show has become a catalyst for passionate — and often very opinionated — discussion among football fans. Over the years, he has even come to appreciate one of the inevitable side effects of being a Packers voice in Vikings territory: getting booed.

“Packer Preview” has moved through a number of time slots over the years, some more desirable than others. The rise of iHeartRadio changed that dynamic by making the show available on demand and allowing listeners to tune in whenever it works for them.

Dave also fielded plenty of questions and predictions about the upcoming Vikings and Packers seasons. The conversation expanded to the changing sports media landscape, including the growing role streaming services play in determining where — and how — fans can watch their favorite teams.

You can listen to Dave’s broadcasts here and follow him on Twitter at @TCHeadCheese.
 

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Edina Car Show 2026, Sunday, Sept 20th, 50th & France

We need volunteers for this year's Car Show! Sign up today, HERE!

Mark your Calendars! The Rotary Club of Edina, with support from the 50th & France Business & Professional Association and Explore Edina, will host the eighth-annual Edina Car Show 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 in downtown Edina. Watch the web and Barker for further event details and volunteer opportunities. Sponsorship proceeds go local community non-profits via the Edina Rotary Foundation with $133,500 raised since 2019.

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2026 Rotary Foundation Gala- Purchase Tickets Today!
The 2026 theme for the Edina Rotary Foundation annual fundraising gala is "Service is FUNdamental". This event will take place on Thursday, September 24 at Church of St. Patrick Edina. Join us for an evening of great food from D'Amico's, a cash bar, live entertainment with Free and Easy band, meaningful connections, and generous giving. Together, we'll celebrate the joy of service while investing in programs that strengthen our community. Ample seating is available!  
 
Event tickets are available and can be purchased HERE 
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Return Raffle Ticket Stub/Unsold Tickets by Sept. 17

All Service is Fundamental Gala raffle tickets SOLD or UNSOLD must be returned by Thursday, September 17 to Madeleine Isaacson. Please return completed raffle tickets and payment to Madeleine Isaacson or send to Edina Rotary Foundation, PO Box 24481, Edina MN 55424 by Sept 17.  Per state and city permit guidelines, all tickets and stubs must be accounted for before the drawing on Sept 24. 

Each member is encouraged to sell the raffle tickets to friends and family. This helps to spread the word about Rotary and the great organizations the funds support throughout our local community such as:
Thanksgiving Baskets to Edina school students in need
Camp Enterprise
Way to Grow
Bridging
My Very Own Bed

We have exciting prizes this year!
• First Prize: $1,000
• Second Prize: $250
• Third Prizes: $100 (there are four third-place winners!)

Tickets may be purchased with cash, check, or ACH withdrawal. State law prohibits credit cards to be used to purchase raffle tickets. Deadline to turn in raffle tickets is Thursday, Sept 17.

Oct. 7 - VEAP Service Opportunity
Sign up today to help Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) serve the hungry in our community! Volunteers welcome participants to the VEAP pantry, explain the process and respond to participant questions, keep the shopping area clean and tidy, sort through food donations, stock shelves, load groceries into vehicles and overall help VEAP promote a positive shopping experience for participants. VEAP staff explain the process before every volunteer shift in the pantry. Register HERE Busy on October 7th? Future dates are available HERE!
World's Largest Polio Walk in District 5950 At MOA

On 10/24/26, World Polio Day, Rotary members across Region 36 – Zones 25 & 29 are coming together for something BIG — a bold, unified step toward a polio-free world. We are calling on 36,620 Rotarians and 964 Rotaractors across 11 states and 2 countries to take part in the World’s Largest Polio Walk — a powerful, visible demonstration of our commitment to ending polio forever. This is more than a walk. It’s a movement.

Every step taken helps raise awareness and support our collective goal of raising $1 million to end polio. Together, we are “This Close” to eradication—and this is our moment to push across the finish line.

REGISTER TODAY!!

Oct. 24, 2026 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Mall of America - Macy Court
60 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN
United States of America

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Edina Rotary Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Grant Money
Agate Housing, 2025-26 Grant Recipient
The Edina Rotary Foundation is accepting applications from non-profit organizations in Edina and its contiguous communities for grants to be used for capital purchases. Applications are due Oct. 31.

Each year, the Rotary Club of Edina raises money at the Edina Car Show and a fall fundraiser to support its projects and award grants. Each year, about $100,000 is raised for the Club’s service projects and local and international grants. Grant applications are available online or by contacting Director Corey Falls, 612-309-8112 or cfalls@mytech.com. Completed applications should be completed online or emailed to Falls. Please click "Read More" for grant details.
 
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2026-2027 Pick Your Service Committee

It's never too early to choose your 2026-2027 service committee or audit those committees you may be interested in joining.  Print and review the 2026-2027 Committee list HERE.

Edina Rotary Foundation Gala 2026

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT TICKETS OR SPONSORSHIP

Meeting Responsibilities

Sep 10 - Callen
 
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Front Desk Assistance
Mazzara, John
 
Speaker Intro & Thank the Speaker
Platt, Ann
 
Photographer
Hendrickson, Jennifer
 
Sep 17 - Allen
 
Administration
Isaacson, Madeleine
 
Podium-Intro Guest-Speaker-Thank You
Barnett, Jon
 
Photographer
Campbell, Katy
 
Rotary Birthdays
Member Birthdays
Chrysanne Manoles
September 4
 
Bill McReavy
September 7
 
Jack Kennefick
September 7
 
Jeff Ohe
September 7
 
Jim Ryman
September 8
 
David Clynes
September 9
 
Marty Kupper
September 11
 
Heidi Stinson
September 12
 
Jean Morrison
September 19
 
George Lancaster
September 21
 
Stefan Smith
September 21
 
Scott Neal
September 24
 
Will Grishaw
September 24
 
Julie Westbrock
September 25
 
Sutton McGraw
September 25
 
Bob Stehlik
September 28
 
Dan Hallberg
September 29
 
Upcoming Events:
Check our online calendar for event detail:
 
Sept. 8 – Band Together, Edina Education Fund, Nolan Mains
Sept 9 – Rotary Happy Hour, "The Mezz" Lunds & Byerlys
Sept 20 – Edina Car Show, 50th & France, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
Sept 23 – Rotary on Lake Street - Lake & Irving, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Sept 23 – Rotary Community Forum, "Resilience in Uncertain Times", 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sept 24- NO WEEKLY MEETING
Sept 24 – Edina Rotary Foundation Gala
Oct 7 – VEAP Volunteer Date, Sign up HERE!
Oct 24 – World's Largest Polio Walk, MOA, 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Nov 5-7 – Camp Enterprise, Sign up to Volunteer HERE!

NEXT MEETING - Thurs. September 17, 2026
Speaker: TBD
Doors Open at 12:15 p.m., Program at 12:35pm
DEADLINE for newsletter story and event submission is Monday at 5 pm. RCE Administrator, Madeleine Isaacson, works part time and will respond to your inquiries as quickly as possible. Contact her at rotary.madeleine@gmail.com.