Power of 100 Southwest – Simple, Meaningful, Powerful!
Club members Irene Kelly, Jan Eian, and Pei Ling Jamison who helped launch the Power of 100 in the Southwest Metro shared some details about how they pick which non-profits to fund. It is women who meet, have fun, and make meaningful contribution. The Southwest group that started in 2014 has 118 members, both individual and team.
Simple, meaningful, powerful and here is how it works: members meet every quarter, contribute $100 and pick three charities. Nominating members speak about the charities and their initiatives for five minutes. The group votes to give direct funding to organizations that need seed funding. Winners to date have received $63,000. Average contributions have been $10,000 per meeting since inception. Both Eden Prairie Rotary Clubs and Flagship Bank are among the group’s sponsors.
Annual Rotary year wrap-up
President Jan Eian spoke about the year that was – goals that were set and visioning plan that was implemented. She was happy that quite a few of the goals were met. Membership target of 80 was not reached since the club lost more members than it gained; we are down to 72 from 74 the previous year. The club has a committee making plans to initiate a leadership academy. There has been progress in marketing the club better, with our club recognized as getting more news articles published than any other club in the district. The club is on its way in a partnership to establish a home for homeless teens. We are on target with taking up at least one international project and also with Every Rotary Every Year.
TRF goal seems close enough to be attainable. We have 33 multiple Paul Harris members and 11 Paul Harris Society members. We are doing very well in making contributions to TRF; among the highest per capita among clubs across the globe.
Jan presented the "Rotarian of the Year" award to Bob Solohub for his photography of Rotary meetings and events throughout the year. She also announced Adam Sienkowski will get the "Rookie of the Year" award for his leadership on the Spotlight on Rotary event, for being a bulletin co-editor and for work on the website. (He was on vacation so will get the award in July.)
RI President wanted all clubs to attain 13 out of a possible 25 goals to earn a Presidential Citation. Our club made 11 out of the 13 needed – and Jan reported we have plenty to be proud of.
- Becky Delestra was recognized as a ‘Gift to the World’ for her work and service
- EPAM earned an RI bronze presidential citation
- Irene Kelly is District Governor designee
The club welcomed incoming president Jeanne Zetah and Jan was happy she could go back to having warm eggs!
Jeanne presented Jan with a plaque from the club honoring her for her outstanding year as club president.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Our club’s 40th anniversary celebration will be dinner at the Bearpath Club on June 28th; no breakfast meeting.
- It is chicken challenge time again – members reminded to contribute. Becky asked people to sign up to collect chicken at Byerly's on July 9. Also she had bags for workplace or neighborhood chicken drives.
- Dan O’Brien gave an update on TRF/EREY: we had $ 27, 209 pledged and 15 members yet to contribute.
- No club meeting July 5th.
- Jane McGinty bid farewell to Art Matanboon, our exchange student for the year, who returns to Thailand next Tuesday.
- Jan also thanked Natalie Page, one of this year's interns, for the work she did for the club.
VISITORS
Prospective Members (sponsors): 4th visit - Laurie Pryor (Jan Eian) 1st visit - Rebecca Brannon (Ada Seidel) and Mary Shapiro (Adam Seidel)
Guests: Nick Eian (Jan's husband) and Rachel Soffer (Jan Eian's daughter), and Andrea Kim (New Generations Exchange from Korea)
Students: Art Matanboon (exchange student), Natalie Page (intern) and 2016-17 interns: Stella Lindberg, Parker Hewitt, Mason Carter, and Bailey DeMets
