Darrin Janisch, Retired Army Infantry Officer
Folds of Honor
Darrin Janisch is a retired US Army Infantry officer with over 31 years of service. He has deployed in support of Combat operations both as an enlisted Soldier and Officer, completing 6 tours during his service. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit, Two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, The Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star and numerous other awards and citations. He joined Folds of Honor in 2026 and currently resides in Savage, MN with his wife and kids.
Please click on the link below to review the notes from the November 3, 2026 meeting:
Dan O'Brien
Rotary Foundation
Dan O’Brien, who was The Rotary Foundation Chair of our club from 2000 to 2019, has returned to that role. He will present history, facts and figures about The Rotary Foundation. For example, since our inception, the members of the Rotary Club of Eden Prairie (AM) have contributed nearly three quarters of a million dollars to The Rotary Foundation.
Eden Prairie AM Rotary began in 1976. Among many other accomplishments over the past 50 years, EPAM Rotary has:
- Funded grants totaling $174,000 to Eden Prairie nonprofits and other local causes.
- Awarded $66,000 in student scholarships.
- Hosted 38 Rotary Youth Exchange students from other countries and sponsored 44 local students involved in traveling around the world as part of the program.
- Funded $91,000 worth of grants for international Rotary projects, helping provide everything from medicine, food and clothing to safe water.
- Contributed $733,000 to the Rotary Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the international organization and transforms members’ gifts into service projects.
- Worked with other Rotary clubs to advance Eden Prairie’s public-art effort by commissioning the creation of an eagle sculpture called “Soaring Bird: Peace Through Service” that stands outside the Eden Prairie Community Center.
Join us in celebrating EPAM Rotary's 50th anniversary on Thursday, October 29th! To register, go to "Upcoming Events" on this page and click on the 50th anniversary notice.
Please click on the link below to read and review the October 20, 2026 meeting notes:
Dan Gasner
My Friends Call Me Gaz
Dan Gasner is a business teacher at Bloomington Kennedy High School with three decades of experience. He has written a memoir titled “My Friends Call Me Gaz,” which details his experiences growing up in Rochester, Minnesota, and surviving significant loss and heartache. The book also touches on his own mental health struggles, including panic attacks that were managed with medication. Despite the challenges, Gasner’s memoir celebrates life and emphasizes the importance of living fully in the present.
Please click on the link below to read and review the notes from the October 6, 2026 meeting:
Michael Martin, Founder/CEO
r.World and Effect Partners
Described by Billboard magazine as the “Guru of live event greening”, Michael Martin is an innovator in business-based tech and social change campaigns leveraging culture for impact. He is the founder of several successful companies, including being CEO and Founder of Effect Partners and r.World, two purpose-driven organizations committed to creating global awareness of and meaningful change in environmental sustainability.Michael contributed to helping Earth Day become the world’s largest secular event, and developed the first-ever national global warming campaign with Ben & Jerry’s and Dave Matthews Band, uniting the nation’s top 20 environmental groups and putting the concept of climate change on the map.
Please click on the link below to read and review the notes from the September 14, 2026 meeting:
Cathi Williams, Executive Coach
Healthy Leadership
Cathi Williams is an executive coach, keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and wellness expert with more than 20 years of experience in the wellness field. She helps entrepreneurs and executives manage stress, build confidence, and achieve lasting results by focusing on emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and the ability to channel energy into what truly matters. Her approach is grounded in real life experience and designed to create meaningful change both at work and at home. A triathlete and mom of two, Cathi brings grounded energy, authenticity, and insight to every session.
Please click on the link below to read the notes from the September 1, 2026 meeting:
Carolyn Kinzel, Founder and Executive Director and
Amanda Novak, Board Member
Brighter Days Family Grief Center
Carolyn and Amanda from Brighter Days Family Grief Center will talk about the work they do for families in grief. Their presentation will include a video showing Camp Erin
The EPAM Rotary Foundation Board has approved the following Spring 2026 grants totaling $13,000:
Their generous support helps sponsor all that our club does in our community and around the world!
Interested in becoming an Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club Sponsor? CLICK HERE
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
United States of America