In his four decades as a hands-on developer and serial entrepreneur, Larry Abdo has cultivated a killer knack for spotting, seizing and maximizing opportunities. The Abdo businesses cut across categories, from commercial and residential real estate to food service to hospitality. What they have in common is vision—and the Abdo team.
Years before anyone was using the term “work-life balance”, Larry had integrated his two great loves, family and business, into one impressive enterprise. At Larry’s side throughout his journey is Caryl, his wife and CFO—Chief Family Ocer. The two met as business students at the University of Minnesota and have been exploring opportunities together ever since.
Rotary Club of Edina President Paul Peterson and his Board of Directors want to hear from you! Please complete this short survey about The Purple Gala, our club's service projects and weekly meetings.
Please contact Jennifer Bennerotte if you have any difficulty accessing the survey, which should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Otherwise, please aim to complete it in the next few days. Thanks!
The Edina Rotary Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations in Edina and its contiguous communities for grants to be used for capital purchases. Applications are due Oct. 31. Grant guidelines can be found HERE. Grant application can be found HERE.
Just a reminder our grant application process is open now through October 31, 2024. With the help and guidance of our Public Relations Director, Chris Laskowski, the Community Grants Committee has produced a quick way to introduce our guidelines for submitting a grant to potential grant recipients. Click HERE for access. This is a 3 minute You Tube video will give your grant applicants a quick understanding of our guidelines.
We are doing a winter clothing drive in conjunction with the Edina Country Club with the final drop off at Noon, Thursday, November 7. At your convenience, bring your gently used or new coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, gloves/mittens, winter hats and blankets to ECC anytime. These items will be donated to Involve MN who feeds over 5,000 meals each week to the local area unsheltered using a special van to visit encampments and other areas where they gather. Involve MN is a Minnesota based non-profit collaborating with community, business and government to provide for the unsheltered and vulnerable people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Your friends and family are welcome to participate.
Questions? Please reach out to Ann Platt at 952-292-6043 / 952-837-1877 or Jack Kennefick or 612-220-4972. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Mark your calendar for the 2024 Veterans Day Lunch Program. REGISTER HERE.
When: Thursday, November 14, 2024, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Edina Country Club, Area 3/Southwest Metro Rotary Clubs
This year's program emcee is Mark Shockey. Keynote speaker is Bill Wenmark.
This is an Area 3/Southwest Metro Rotary Club sponsored event . The $30 cost for non-veteran Edina Noon members will be offset by their meeting fees with a $3 up charge billed to their January 2025 invoice. There is no charge for Rotarian veterans and their veteran guests. Non-Veteran guest cost is $30 per person.
On Wednesday, November 27, members of the Rotary Club of Edina, along with members of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, will prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need throughout the Twin Cities region. A roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberries, potatoes and gravy along with vegetables, oranges, even a delicious pie, make their way to area homes via active Rotarians and their families. With a side of warm knit mittens to help with the coming winter, these Thanksgiving Baskets bring some brightness and joy into the holiday season.
Register HERE for additional details and the volunteer link to reserve your assembly spot plus safety procedures delivered to your email. Two different team captains (1 per station) may sign up for each 5 minute assembly period. Registration is now open for team assembly and delivery. Please let Becci Michalski at rmichalski@edinarotary.org know if you need you'd like to attend lunch.
Guatemala 2025 is on! We are planning to return to Guatemala April 26-May 3, 2025. The Rotary Club of Edina invites you to join the 2025 International Service trip to Coban, Guatemala. 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! Click Read More for trip itinerary and ZOOM Info sessions. Contact Josh Sprague for travel details and to answer any questions.
Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, leaving countless families in need of urgent assistance. Rotary Zones 33/34 are responding swiftly, and your support is crucial in helping the hardest-hit areas. Through the generous anonymous donation from a fellow Edina Rotarian an additional $5,000 donation was sent to the Rotary Zones 33/34 disaster relief fund. This quick and helpful additional response to a catasophic event was made possible by the thoughtful action of just one person embracing and putting into really practice the Four Way Test. Thank you for your extended generousity.
Lunch Menu: Chicken Cordon Bleu or Fall Harvest Salad w/Salmon
DEADLINE for newsletter story and event submission is Monday Noon for Tuesday publication.
The Rotary Club of Edina's Administrator, Becci Michalski, works part time and will respond to your inquiries. Contact her at rmichalski@EdinaRotary.org.
In his four decades as a hands-on developer and serial entrepreneur, Larry Abdo has cultivated a killer knack for spotting, seizing and maximizing opportunities. The Abdo businesses cut across categories, from commercial and residential real estate to food service to hospitality. What they have in common is vision—and the Abdo team.
Just a reminder our grant application process is open now through October 31, 2024. With the help and guidance of our Public Relations Director, Chris Laskowski, the Community Grants Committee has produced a quick way to introduce our guidelines for submitting a grant to potential grant recipients. Click 
We are doing a winter clothing drive in conjunction with the Edina Country Club with the final drop off at Noon, Thursday, November 7. At your convenience, bring your gently used or new coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, gloves/mittens, winter hats and blankets to ECC anytime. These items will be donated to Involve MN who feeds over 5,000 meals each week to the local area unsheltered using a special van to visit encampments and other areas where they gather. Involve MN is a Minnesota based non-profit collaborating with community, business and government to provide for the unsheltered and vulnerable people in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Your friends and family are welcome to participate.
Mark your calendar for the 2024 Veterans Day Lunch Program. 
On Wednesday, November 27, members of the Rotary Club of Edina, along with members of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, will prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in need throughout the Twin Cities region. A roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberries, potatoes and gravy along with vegetables, oranges, even a delicious pie, make their way to area homes via active Rotarians and their families. With a side of warm knit mittens to help with the coming winter, these Thanksgiving Baskets bring some brightness and joy into the holiday season. 
Hurricane Helene has caused widespread devastation in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, leaving countless families in need of urgent assistance. Rotary Zones 33/34 are responding swiftly, and your support is crucial in helping the hardest-hit areas. Through the generous anonymous donation from a fellow Edina Rotarian an additional $5,000 donation was sent to the Rotary Zones 33/34 disaster relief fund. This quick and helpful additional response to a catasophic event was made possible by the thoughtful action of just one person embracing and putting into really practice the Four Way Test. Thank you for your extended generousity.
