In review

 

Assisting with our meeting today were the following:
 

San Asato opened the meeting early due to a full schedule. Scott MacDonald introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. Buzz Bainbridge, on behalf of our Local Funding Committee, presented a check to Hearts and Hands, an organization that provides comfort and assistance to families who have children facing life-threatening illnesses. Coincidentally, their landlord is our own Dave Hatzung. 

 

David Clynes was at Rotary today after a stay in the hospital, and is very glad to be back—great to see you up and around, David! He came up to the podium carrying a paper suitcase from Jerry’s Foods and gave us a TRF (The Rotary Foundation) update. There are two facets to TRF—the Annual Fund and PolioPlus. We are on track for reaching this year’s goal of $100,000 in donations to TRF. Please consider making a donation if you have not already done so; donations should made by June 22 to allow for administrative time to process during this Rotary year. Our own Tom McNellis, whose brother had polio as a child, made a $40,000 gift challenge, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matches donations 2:1. We can end polio!

 

Susmita Gautam, our exchange student from Nepal, talked to us about her year attending Edina High School. She talked about her first impressions, favorites (food, activities) and adventures while here. She participated in a lot of activities and took classes that aren’t typically available at her school in Nepal. After college, Susmita wants to pursue social work. 

 

Jennifer Bennerotte introduced the topic for today—the Women in Leadership Award. She gave a recap of 1988, the year Edina Rotary admitted our first female member, and noted that was 30 years ago. Our club is currently celebrating our 60th anniversary, so women have been a part of our club through half of our history. Due to three women being asked to join a small Rotary Club in Duarte, California, in 1977, a lawsuit after Rotary International revoked their charter, and a unanimous 7-0 Supreme Court ruling, women have been admitted to Rotary since 1989. Our club, being forward-thinking, admitted Chrysanne Manoles as our first female member in 1988. Our District goal is for 53 percent female membership, reflecting the percentage of women in the District’s population. Our Women in Leadership Award is given in May, the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling and also Chrysanne’s membership anniversary.

 

Chrysanne Manoles presented this year’s Women in Leadership Award to Lexi Reed Holtum, Executive Director of the Steve Rummler Hope Network. Lexi has been devoted to fighting the opioid epidemic, for which overprescribing by physicians and dentists for pain is a major contributor. Steve Rummler, her fiancé, passed away from an overdose, and Lexi works tirelessly on preventing any more unnecessary deaths from opioids. She recently was a key presenter during two Edina Rotary programs on the opioid crisis. She embodies the 4 Way Test in all that she does through her organization. Lexi was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a Paul Harris Fellow. Lexi stated that it is an honor and a privilege to receive the Women in Leadership Award, and appreciates the love and support Edina Rotary has extended to her and the Steve Rummler Hope Network.

 

Jennifer Bennerotte introduced our speaker, Lauren Morse-Wendt, who is last year’s winner of the Women in Leadership Award. Lauren is a Lutheran Deacon at Edina Community Lutheran Church. She and her church were instrumental in getting 66 West built, a residence in Edina for youth who have experienced homelessness.

 

Lauren presented some history on how 66 West came to be. The entire process of acquiring land, rezoning, obtaining funding, design and construction took six years. Her church worked with Beacon Interfaith Housing and other collaborators, including Edina Rotary, on the project. It has now been open for one year. Lauren witnessed the first resident get off the bus and walk in the front door with a suitcase. Two thirds of the residents are from Edina and neighboring communities, and 70 percent are long-term homeless.

 

66 West serves not only as a residence, but also offers support services through on-site case managers. They help to build trust and relationships as well as assist the residents with life skills, education and job skills. They have built a community which includes baking and sharing with their neighbors, council representatives chosen by their peers, open mic night, birthday parties, and a mini on-site library made possible by the nearby Hennepin County Library. Several area employers provide job opportunities for the residents. The case workers also refer youth with mental health challenges to medical resources in the area. Lauren closed by thanking Edina Rotary for our support for 66 West and expressing her appreciation to the City of Edina for its inclusionary zoning policy which made 66 West possible.

 

Ann Platt thanked Lauren for her presentation, and also congratulated Lexi on her Women in Leadership Award.

 

San closed the meeting noting that today’s meeting was about change. While visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) earlier this week to view a collection of Dutch masters lent to the Mia by clients of his, San realized he is living his wish. Thirty years ago, he told his wife Sheila that he wished he could use his talents to help widows and orphans. San recently used his talents to help these clients transition to assisted living and memory care; San is indeed living his wish.