Notes from October 3, 2023

Jewelie Grape, our 2023-2024 District Governor for Rotary District 5950, is doing her best to visit each club in the district–we are her 26th! She keeps busy being an assistant to help each club thrive however she can to fulfill this year’s theme: “Create hope in the world!”

 

Jewelie shared that Gordon McInally, 2023 Rotary International President, chose to focus on empowering women and girls, polio eradication, promoting peace, and mental health this year, issues which are close to his heart and he hopes each club will continue to promote. Our district’s current initiatives include new member orientation, the Year of Service initiative, and professional LinkedIn profile training to better network through an online directory. Jewelie herself grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm in between 2 sets of brothers. She got her degree in HR and worked for various companies including American Express, until she decided to transition to legal and moved to Michell Hamline as an Employee Benefits Attorney. Half of her current work is with nonprofits, CFOs, and small to midsize companies, while the other half involves police procedures and handbooks. She loves her job, and also is passionate about traveling, especially her trips to Cuba, Kilimanjaro, and Antarctica, and her Rotary trips to Haiti and Pasadena.

 

Jewelie has been a part of Rotary for 15 years, but says she went from being just a ‘club member’ to being a true ‘Rotarian’ because Rotary’s core values clicked with her core values from her childhood. She feels Rotary has truly been a blessing in her life and wants everyone to have the opportunity she did to travel, volunteer, and meet with Rotarians all over the world. Grape frequently travels and spends time with friends from Rotary, and encourages all members to invite non-Rotarian friends to service events to get more people engaged so they see what we can do!

 

 

Jewelie underlines the importance of giving whatever you can to Rotary: 50% of what you give stays with the foundation, and 50% comes back to the district in three years. Our district gave almost $700,000 last year, so we are now able to give half of that money in district grants. Although Rotary is an incredible organization, sometimes that story isn’t fully told or done justice in the media–Rotary is “the best kept secret in the world!” Because of this, the district is here to help Rotarians learn how to tell the story by aiding with membership, branding, marketing, articles, and whatever else is necessary to ensure Rotary clubs thrive and the organization continues for the foreseeable future. Don’t forget that Tuesday, October 24th is World Polio Day! Happy hour will be 5:30-8:00 at Surly Brewing in Minneapolis, as they generously gave us their space for free as part of a ‘Nonprofit-Tuesdays’ program.  

 

Andy Gregory, our newest member, has lived in Eden Prairie since 2016. He moved here with his wife from Virginia, where he went to school. He is originally from Detroit. After a career in social security with the federal government, Andy decided in 2019 to go back to law school, and persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic to graduate in 2022. Andy then opened his own firm which deals with wills, trust, and probates. Andy was drawn to Rotary because he was seeking community involvement, of the kind he enjoyed in his smaller Virginia town, such as service projects around the community. Once he found Rotary’s website, he was hooked, and decided to participate and get involved. Andy is looking forward to getting to know all the Rotary members, and loves meeting new people each week!

 

 

 Irene Kelly said that the Eden Prairie High School Senior Intern Program is looking for volunteers to help accept phone etiquette practice phone calls this Friday, October 6. Irene will send out an email with more information.

 Tim Conners reported that his wife had ear surgery, his sister had brain surgery and Tim had Covid lately. Tim is happy that all are now doing better!

 Kelly Salwei is the volunteer CFO for Eden Prairie News. Kelly was happy to announce that there are two EP News events in October—the annual meeting at City Hall in the middle of the month and a Town Hall meeting with a panel later in the month.