Bloomington Noon Rotarian Sandhya Gupta has been experimenting with ways to shift the focus of education from teaching to learning, especially with young learners. She is deeply involved in creating spaces and setting up environments which encourage learning, as opposed to teaching. Together with her husband, she is realizing the dream of a learning center, which is a space for curious and creative minds to experiment and explore the world around them. She also continues her efforts with the Nari Gunjan girls whom we have followed this year as they have experienced camping, hiking, and excelled at karate.
Sandhya Gupta with her husband, Sarit Sharma currently leads Aavishkaar, a center for learning and livelihood training. She headed Sambhaavnaa – Institute of Public Policy & Politics near Palampur in Himachal before coming to Aavishkaar. She also worked as a technologist in a semiconductor manufacturing company for several years. She has a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University, and a Masters in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota. As a Rotarian, she and her husband have been involved with the issues of clean water, health and education in marginalized communities in Himachal and Bihar. She spends most of her time in a village near Palampur and loves to cook, bird-watch and dance with her 12yr old daughter!
Past and present Rotarians, spouses/guests, Rotary District 5950 leaders, and community members are invited to
Celebrate the40thAnniversary of the Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club Bearpath Country Club - Lower Level, 18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie MN 55347
June 28, 2016 6:00 Social 6:45 Dinner: Choice of Sirloin Steak, Chicken Aurora, or Vegetarian Entree
plus Salad, Vegetables, Potatoes, & Dessert.
Coffee & lemonade included plus cash bar 7:30 Program: “Rotary Club of Eden Prairie: Past, Present and Future” If you have photos to share of early Eden Prairie Rotary days,
please email: jeanne.zetah@hotmail.com or call 952-937-0411.
COST: $38 per personEPAM Rotarians can be billed.
Other guests are asked to pay by credit card online or by mailing or bringing check.
Click on Gold Button to RSVP by June 24th Please indicate entree choice for you and your guests in the comments section of your registration.
Please join us to celebrate the Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club
40thAnniversary
June 28, 2016
Bearpath Country Club - Lower Level
18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie MN 55347
6:00 Social 6:45 Dinner 7:30 Program: “Rotary Club of Eden Prairie: Past, Present and Future”
If you have photos to share of early Eden Prairie Rotary days,
please email: jeanne.zetah@hotmail.com or call 952-937-0411.
Dinner: Choice of Sirloin Steak, Chicken Aurora, or Vegetarian Entree
plus Salad, Vegetables, Potatoes, & Dessert Coffee & lemonade included plus cash bar
Cost: $38 /person - EPAM Rotarians can be billed
Other guests are asked to pay by credit card online or by mailing or bringing check.
RSVP by June 24th
Please indicate entree choice for you and your guests in the comments section of your registration.
- See more at: http://epamrotary.org/event/eden-prairie-am-rotary-club-40th-anniversary/#sthash.LvGwuAVN.dpuf
Please join us to celebrate the Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club
40thAnniversary
June 28, 2016
Bearpath Country Club - Lower Level
18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie MN 55347
6:00 Social 6:45 Dinner 7:30 Program: “Rotary Club of Eden Prairie: Past, Present and Future”
If you have photos to share of early Eden Prairie Rotary days,
please email: jeanne.zetah@hotmail.com or call 952-937-0411.
Dinner: Choice of Sirloin Steak, Chicken Aurora, or Vegetarian Entree
plus Salad, Vegetables, Potatoes, & Dessert Coffee & lemonade included plus cash bar
Cost: $38 /person - EPAM Rotarians can be billed
Other guests are asked to pay by credit card online or by mailing or bringing check.
RSVP by June 24th
Please indicate entree choice for you and your guests in the comments section of your registration.
- See more at: http://epamrotary.org/event/eden-prairie-am-rotary-club-40th-anniversary/#sthash.LvGwuAVN.dpuf
Speaker Rachel Weyandt, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2015
Irene introduced Rachel Weyandt who is the daughter of Jerry Weyandt, a friend with whom she reconnected recently. The Weyandt family has had 27 foster children and 2 adoptions.
Rachel’s passion is foster care. She is the reigning Miss Minnesota’s Outstanding Teen.
As the only girl with three brothers, Rachel implored her parents for a sister. The family tried adoption but was disappointed in the journey that led to several failed opportunities to adopt. They became aware of the need for foster care families through the county. Eventually they had 3-month-old Emily available for adoption. In December 2013, admittedly one of “the best days” of Rachel’s life, Emily was adopted into the Weyandt family.
As part of the Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen pageant the contestants must have a platform; Rachel’s is foster care.
People don't understand foster care. Children are abused, neglected, abandoned and that is why they go into foster care. The issues families have to face are not just about the foster kids. but also are affected by their biological children, foster parents, social workers, attorneys, and judges. Rachel explained the key to successful foster care is unity.
There are issues with foster care children aging out of foster care, lack of education, resources, and homelessness. One third do not have high school diplomas.
One of Rachel’s initiatives was Bags of Hope. They are provisions of soft blankets, stuffed animals, tooth brush and toothpaste and other necessities. Typically children show up without any possessions. Bags of Hope provides a duffel bag with age appropriate necessities for the children. Rachel recruits volunteers to stuff the bags and they drop them off at the Anoka County Government Center.
Another “best day” of Rachel’s life was when Emily’s natural born sister, Bailey was also adopted into the Weyandt family. Rachel now has two sisters equaling out the gender ratio in the Weyant family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
John Kohner from EP Noon Rotary – Announced the Ribfest on Sunday
Swallowship 6/8 hosted by Dick at the Tavern on 4 & 5
40th Anniversary Event June 28th evening $38 per person $76 per couple. 2 meal choices - steak or chicken
TRF/EREYUpdate- Dan O’Brien shared that we have a $31,000 Goal - 52 have pledged - 2 dozen left to go. $21,075 raised to date. Please donate before June 30.
Meals on Wheels June 20 to 24
June 21 Board Meeting
Vino Meeting after today’s meeting
John Crudele celebrated his 8-year Rotary anniversary
SPOTLIGHTonBrad Aho
Brad was born in Detroit, Michigan. Moved to MN in high school and graduated from Cooper HS. Went to U of M. Was on the first U of M waterski team. While in college he married Bev who also was from Detroit and their parents were friends. First daughter Amber was born shortly after graduation from college. Have lived in Edina, Brooklyn Center, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. Love Eden Prairie. Enjoy outdoor sports, snow and water skiing. Kids are spread out throughout the country. Brad worked as an electrical engineer for Medtronic, Audio Research, Control Data and Magnetic Data. Bev and Brad started a company called Information Technology Solutions which did large enterprise consulting. Erickson Technologies bought ITS. Brad is now looking for a CIO position. He has been honored to serve on the city council for 3 terms (12 years). He is going to run to serve another term.
HAPPYFINES
Irene mentioned at another Rotary meeting it was announced that Gary Bergren’s dad has given $100,000 to the Rotary Foundation over the years and he is now 99 years old
Carol Bomben, grandson has a bubble lawnmower.
Jean Cadwallader has gone to 35 Rotary International conventions.
Jeanne - Seoul also, amazing experience. TRF 100th anniversary
Roger Jorgenen– Stop the Traffiking 5k run this Saturday at Purgatory Park 8:30 am. Also, will have two young German boys age 16 and 13 staying with them. Looking for ideas.
Jay Simpson– Celebrating the completion of another year of Strive and while on a fly-in fishing trip caught a combined 1000 walleyes and his son caught a 44-inch Northern
John Crudele - 4th grade girl convinced to go to school because John ran the race last week.
Carol Sundet-Meeker - birthday yesterday - Norwegian relatives with 1 and 3 year old visiting.
Jane McGnty - Ian will turn 3 on June 9th. Madeline, our 5th grader will graduate from grade school. Chris has done two 5ks
Dick Ward - Martha came in and read newsletter and it said Dick was happy because he returned from a trip. He wants to set the record straight ..he did not return from a trip!
Bob Starr - daughter signed up for Twin City marathon but it was cancelled. Her hustband created Zanathon and posted it on Facebook. Thirty friends showed up and she ran the marathon to appease her friends.
VISITORS
VisitingRotarians: John Kohner (EdenPrairieNoon) and Jean Cadwallader (Cortland, NY)
Prospective Members and Guests (Sponsor Name)
Laurie Prior - third visit
Students:
Art Matanboon, - our Thailand exchange student introduced another exchange student friend, "Cucumber" who was staying in Moorhead with whom Jan exchanged flags.
Interns:
Natalie and Alex came up to tell their future plans.
Alex Modeas will be attending St. Johns. This Monday he will be going to Budapest, Krakow and Prague on a 10-day old history Europe trip. He thanked us for the opportunity to be an intern and how much he learned each week at our club.
Natalie Page will be going to Gustavus. She will be doing child care during the summer. She too has enjoyed her time at our Rotary meetings.
Speaker Rachel Weyandt, Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2015