Posted by Mark Weber
JIM NELSON AND TIM MURPHY - THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Past district governors Jim Nelson and Tim Murphy spotlighted The Rotary Foundation at Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary’s meeting on Nov. 28.
 
Rotarians are not required to give to The Rotary Foundation; nevertheless, last year District 5950 members, including those from Eden Prairie, donated $806,087, an average of $291 per member. A.M. Rotary’s per-capita giving was even higher than that, and we are one of the few district clubs where 100 percent of members donate annually.
 
The Foundation has three “buckets”: the Annual Fund (where one-half of the money gets back to the district in the form of grants, three years after it’s given); the Polio Plus Fund (immediately deployed, with a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation 2-to- 1 match to eradicate polio worldwide); and the Permanent Fund (the earnings of which go back to districts to use for projects).
 
 
 
These dollars serve humanity across the globe, in six areas of focus:
  • Peace and conflict prevention and resolution;
  • Disease prevention and treatment;
  • Clean water and sanitation;
  • Maternal and child health;
  • Basic education and literacy; and
  • Economic and community development.
A.M. Rotary members are among the biggest contributors to The Rotary Foundation. Please consider giving an extra $50 this year, so even more good can be done in the world.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Plan on attending the next Swallowship get-together, 5-6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Dan O’Brien’s house. The club’s Holiday Party will take place Dec. 12 at Bearpath. Volunteers in the morning or all day are needed for the Test Drive event Jan. 11 at Eden Prairie High School. This event teaches students about budgeting and financial matters. Consider attending the District 5950 mid-term assembly on Jan. 27.
 
SPOTLIGHT ON DICK WARD
Dick Ward, in his vocational, related his experience attending the now-defunct Dana College in Blair, Neb. to study accounting. But he later transitioned to sales and then a long career in commercial real estate – many of those years with General Growth Properties and now through his own business, Equity Property Group. He and  Martha have two daughters, and he’s been a longtime community activist through organizations such as the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Eden Prairie Community Foundation, PROP, the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District, and of course A.M. Rotary. A big motivation to join Rotary was when he explored a jewelry box belonging to his late father and discovered his dad’s Rotary pin. Thanks for all that you do for Eden Prairie, Dick Ward!
 
HAPPY BUCKS
We are happy and willing to kick in $5 to explain why. Jenifer Loon is happy to report that her former STRIVE student is becoming a U.S. citizen today. Dan O’Brien is recovering from two Thanksgiving celebrations – one of them a gathering of friends that has been an annual event for 30 years. John Crudele is happy to be once again preparing for a mission trip to the Philippines. Carol Bomben is happy to relate that our Mo Mara was an elite host when the Bombens recently visited J Carver Distillery. Roger Jorgensen is looking forward to occasional visits to another warm climate because of his son’s impending move to California.
 
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING
On December 2, Eden Prairie AM Rotarians  rang the bell for the Salvation Army outside Cub Foods.
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
VISITORS
Mark Freiberg - Prospective Member
Suzanne Kutina - Prospective Member
Sharon Borine - Prospective Member
Rekha Claus and Phillip Kuhn - Student Interns