John Flynn opened the meeting with Rotary Moments videos featuring Jeff Ohe and Joe Mahoney. Kris McCreary, who has supervised the Edina Country Club serve staff, was also featured in a video. Kris was recognized for you her service and received our best wishes for every success in her new responsibilities with the Mall of America Hyatt Regency.John welcomed back members who attended the International Convention in Hamburg and announced that International Rotary Convention will be held June 6-10, 2020 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He also announced that Edina Rotary and the Minneapolis Police Dept. were hosting a Homeless Breakfast, Sat. June 15 from 7:30-11:30 at the Salvation Army Shelter. The breakfast was organized by former president Ann Platt.
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Susan Stiles lead us in the invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and Four Way Test.
Toshie Metzger introduced guests and visiting Rotarians.
Brad Hepp welcomed new member Greg Gable who was sponsored by Royce Pavelka.
Paul Harris fellows were recognized by David Clynes and Susan Stiles:
Mary Hustad PHF+4
Sam Thompson PHF+4 (PHS)
Dick Teegen PHF+5 (PHS)
Charles McGoldrick PHF+6
Brad Pearson PHF+6
Susan Stiles PHF+6 (PHS)
Dennis Hykes PHF+7
Arthur Rouner PHF+8
Local Grant presentations were made by Bonnie Rolstad to Meg Schnabel, Executive Director of Cornerstone and Co-chair Paul Peterson who presented a grant to Dave Rannow, Distribution Coordinator of VEAP.
Sam Thompson invited Rotarians to attend the meeting of the newly chartered Rotaract Club Edina. This club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Edina and Edina Morningside. The celebration will be held at the Edina Country Club on June 26 from 5:30 to 7:00.
Renee Harberts reminded Rotarians to register by today for the Rotary Club Family Picnic to be held Thurs. June 20 from 5:30-8:30 at the Centennial Lakes Park Hughes Pavillion.
Joe Mahoney encouraged Rotarians to march in the July 4th Parade. He also announced the 1st Annual Car Show will be held from 12:00-4:00 in the Southdale Center Parking lot in front of the old Herbergers store.
Scott MacDonald introduced our speaker Angela Champagne-From who made a presentation on Personal Safety.
In 2012, Angela Champagne-From experienced many women's worst nightmare of being attacked by a stranger. Intuitively, she fought back, and despite sustaining life-threatening injuries, she survived. Angela discussed the event, her recovery, the criminal process, and the incarceration of her attacker.
Since the attack, Angela has spoken publicly about her experience, sharing the emotional details with transparency. Her goal is to refute the unspoken submission principle that exists in society that women should not fight back. She fought for her life that spring afternoon and believes she wouldn’t be here to share her story if she had not done so.
Angela indicated that 1 in 3 women around the world will be a victim of assault during their lifetime. Given the impact of her personal experience, she has made it her mission to empower women and children to fight back by providing information and training in self-defense.
Angela graduated from Hamline University and majored in legal studies and women’s studies and earned conflict studies and paralegal certificates. She resides in Dayton, Minnesota with husband, Adam, and sons, Asher and Anders. In her spare time, she enjoys coffee, working out, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Angela's presentation is appropriate for women of all ages, including high school and college students. For more information, please go to www.thefightbackproject.weebly.com or The Fight Back Project on Facebook.
Sylvester Thomas thanked our speaker.
John Flynn reminded Rotarians to register for the Rotary Picnic and announced the Edina Rotary Transition meeting will be June 27. He closed with a quote by Jennifer Lee: "Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."