Lee and the Board of Directors set the strategic direction of the organization to effectively accomplish their mission of developing affordable housing. Lee is responsible for the organizations overall operation, including financial management, fund development, public relations and housing development and operations.
Lee has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit management of housing organizations, including as executive director of CARITAS, the largest homeless shelter program in Richmond, VA; director of operations for Faith Housing in Columbus, OH; executive director of the Community Stabilization Project in St. Paul, MN; and executive director of All Parks Alliance for Change in St. Paul, MN.
Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota (1982) and was a Sloan Fellow in Science, Technology & Public Policy. In June 2012 she received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Carleton Alumni Association for her career creating high-quality housing for low-income people and engaging others in the movement to end homelessness.
Announcements - April 18th – Board Meeting
- April 20th – Vocational Ethics Lunch at Edina CC 11:30 – 1:30
- April 21st – STRIVE Meeting
- April 22nd – Park Clean Up – Flying Cloud – 8:30 to 11:00 am
- April 24th – PROP Shop 10th Anniversary Celebration 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
- April 25th - Above & Beyond Awards Dinner – Register- Donate for textbook scholarships
- April 28th – District Conference at Westin in Edina
- April 29th – EP Gives 6:00 – 11:30 pm at Oak Ridge Conference Center
- April 30th – Choice Family and Friends Event 6:30 pm at the Marriot Southwest Minnetonka
- May 1st – 5th – Meals on Wheels
- May 15th – Community Service Grant Applications due
Spotlight on Gary Bergren  Gary hails from Lincoln, Nebraska. Came to Minnesota in 1959. Received a degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota. Met Helen and they married in 1966. Gary began graduate school in Washington but then enlisted in the Army where he was stationed in Fort Gordon in Georgia and then in Saigon. He became a portfolio manager after the Army but then joined his father at Hydraulic Equipment. Was there for 28 years with the last two as President. He started Power Systems in 1981 and in 1998 sold the company but stayed on to run it for 5 years. Gary retired in 2004. Gary and Helen have two sons in the Twin Cities with 4 grandchildren. He was invited to Rotary by Dave Anderson. Seems Dave gets blamed for a lot of things;) Gary is a past president of our club two times. Once as solo President and once sharing it with Dan O’Brien, Joe Stoebner and Jim Bissonett. Park cleanup Eden Prairie Rotarians participated in the park cleanup on April 22. Happy Fines - Glenn Olson – Spent time with grandsons; woodworking exhibit this weekend at EP Mall. Glenn has a submission
- John Brown – John and Vicki sold their house in 4 hours (Thx Craig Blixrud)
- Bob Starr – Loves tax day, last client at 10:00 am then will do his own.
Visitors Jack Kuehn- Burnsville Rotarian Ale Pena Gonzalez - Exchange Student Parker Hewitt and Bailey DeMets- Student Interns |
alez will share about her personal experience of coming to Eden Prairie from Paraguay. We will hear about the fun things she has done in Minnesota, how school has been for her in the Eden Prairie system, and other highlights of her stay here.
Lee spoke to our group specifically on teen homelessness. On any given day there are estimated to be 200 to 300 suburban youth homeless in the South Metro suburbs. 66 West and Nicollet Square are two of the housing units available. Lee stated that Homelessness doesn’t have a look and becoming homeless is actually quite easy. Of the residents at Nicollet Square, 95% are employed and up to 70% are in post secondary education. 18 months is the average length of stay. Some will need 6 months and some 3 years. Beacon partners with Simpson Housing to help in the counseling and guidance of it’s residents.
