Notes from October 13, 2020

Posted by Julia Wang

Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club Assembly

On October 13th, 2020, board members spoke about club announcements and some history of the EPAM club.  Club assemblies are for board members to give updates on their committees and also for special presentations. 
 
Jane McGinty shared the story of the Rotary Legacy Project "Soaring Bird: Peace through Service."  Jane believed a legacy project would make the Rotary more visible.  In 2012, The City of Eden Prairie said more artwork or sculptures would be great to beautify the city, but were always hard to fundraise for.  The EPAM Club decided to build the Soaring Bird under the theme Peace through Service at the Eden Prairie Community Center in 2012.  The project was completed in July 2013.
 
Dave Anderson and Roy Terwilliger shared a bit of the EPAM club history.  The EPAM Rotary Club was chartered in June 1976 as the first morning club in the district and started with around 25 members.  Roy stated that the EPAM Club was one of the instigating organizations that set up the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, and Eden Prairie Crime Fund.  Mark Weber shared that the Eden Prairie Community Foundation has generated over $1 million in the last five years, and Jane built on that saying that there is a strong legacy in the EPAM club of having leaders in the community who are help grow the Eden Prairie community in various ways.  Dave talked about previous blood drives and his experience raising donations for pints of blood.  He also talked about the Golden Eagle Award that was meant to honor the top athlete scholar at Eden Prairie High School and fundraise money as an event.
 

 

Announcements

  • Hybrid meetings at Bearpath will resume October 27th, 2020.  For those who would like to attend meetings at Bearpath, please send breakfast and beverage preferences to Carol Kampman by the Thursday or Friday before Rotary Meetings.

  • The Rotary District 5950 is holding an Amazing Race to End Polio Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, October 24th from 9am – 10am

  • Irene Kelly is asking for more involvement in the club regarding fundraising inputs.  She'd like to know where members will be involved.  Two events will be outdoors and related to wellness sometime in the spring or summer.  Some other possible fundraising events would be a restaurant benefit or an online concert event.

  • Irene also noted that speaker inputs would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Nathan Nyren for speaker suggestions.

 

Spotlight on Sophia Rizzo

The newest EPAM Rotary member, Sophia Rizzo, shared a bit about herself.  Sophia moved to Eden Prairie in 2018 with her family.  Sophia is originally from Sochi, Russia, and at the age of 22, she moved to the United States to learn more about health sciences in America.  She enrolled in Winona State University and received a degree in Nursing.  Sophia then continued her education and attended New York University in the College of Dentistry.  Sophia and her husband recently launched their dental clinic, Modern Day Dental, in Eden Prairie.  Sophia enjoys volunteering for the Salvation Army, the PROP Food Shelf, and many other organizations.  In her free time, Sophia enjoys hiking, reading, and playing piano.  Sophia and her husband met in college and have two sons and a dog.