Notes from August 2, 2016

Posted by Prafulla Vegunta
 
Joan Howe-Pullis and Shehla Mushtaq - Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle - Bringing Different Faiths Together
Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle representatives Joan Howe-Pullis and Shehla Mushtaq shared details about their organization, whose mission is "to celebrate the commonality and diversity of our faith traditions, fostering understanding and acceptance." The Interfaith Circle is made up of people of all the great faith traditions and their various expressions as well as secular humanists. 
 
Interfaith Circle is an independent organization that hopes to help bring faith (and those who do not belong to a faith community) communities together without putting the burden on individual faith communities to plan and execute. They have a service around Thanksgiving and 800 people attended the last one at Pax Christi church. The Circle picked this time of the year since it is an American community celebration. This is a ‘feel good opportunity’ to bring people together. This was originally initiated after 9/11. There was also an increase in diversity and this group felt the need for fostering understanding among different groups. As part of this, they are also looking for a neutral venue.
 
The three areas Eden Prairie Interfaith Circle is currently exploring and will continue to do so:
- A yearly Thanksgiving event 
- Education/sharing experiences between faith communities
- Service projects
 
Spotlight on Mike Kraines
Mike Kraines is Executive Director of CHOICE, an Eden Prairie-based non-profit dedicated to creating partnerships and programs that enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Mike and his brother Alan worked with the Twin Cities Tree Trust in the mid-70s. He went to St Cloud State University and graduated with a major in Psychology and minor in Business. He dabbled for a short while in business but found his home where his heart belonged – in helping people with disabilities. He has been with CHOICE for over 25 years.
 
 
 
Announcements
  • Chicken Challenge a big success – exceeded the goal by collecting 1169 cans.
  • Vino Classico – Walmart gave their check to become the first sponsor for 2016. We also started getting some silent auction items.
  • Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s annual Brewfest on September 10.
  • Paul Harris Fellows: Greg Albrecht, Jeanne Zetah, Matt Crane, Jennifer Loon, and Yvonne Selcer.
  • Normandale College thanked our club for scholarships we sponsored.
  • We will have a joint meeting with Eden Prairie noon club on Thursday, September 8.
 
Happy Fines
  • Irene Kelly happy to be back from a family reunion in Jersey City.
  • Brad Aho, who has been a City Council member for 16 years, is filing for another term.
  • Dan O’Brien celebrating his 43rd marriage anniversary.
  • Dennis Kim was pleased that his exchange students were at the meeting.
  • John Crudele back from a speakers’ convention in Phoenix, AZ.
  • Bev Aho made a pitch for Brewfest.
  • Dick Ward for PROP.
  • Mike Kraines is happy that his son’s car was in the garage thereby preventing further accidents.
Visitors
Prospective member Cassie Bruggemann.
Student interns Bailey DeMets and Parker Hewitt.
Former member and President Jim Bissonett.
Dennis Kim’s Korean exchange students Cheongbin Lee, Hyeri Lim, and Andrea Kim.