Sheryl Hill, Executive Director & Founder of ClearCause Global Travel Eye-Openers: Do You Know How to Identify and Mitigate Risks While Travelling Abroad?
Sheryl Hill is a passionate advocate for safe study abroad. Her family has hosted eight international youth for more than twelve years. Her 16 year old son, Tyler, died a preventable death on a People to People trip to Japan in 2007. She and her husband, Allen, founded ClearCause to save lives and protect students abroad in a $200+ billion student tourism industry operating without any federal rules. ClearCause is the catalyst behind two sunshine transparency laws in Minnesota, SF 1975 in honor of Thomas Plotkin (Hopkins, MN) for Higher Education sponsored by Senator Terri Bonoff. HR 1542 in honor of Tyler Hill (Mound, MN) for K-12 sponsored by Representative Yvonne Selcer. Sheryl is invited to present workshops at International Rotary's North American Youth Exchange Network (NAYEN) Conference in 2016. Sheryl Hill is an award winning author of "Walking on Sunshine."
Announcements and Reminders
EXTENDED DEADLINE! Grant applications are due to info@epamrotary.org by November 30.
Swallowship is Thursday, November 12 at Biaggi's, 5-6:30pm. Host is John Brown.
Teen Homelessness in the Southwest Suburbs – Pam Langseth
Guest speaker Pam Langseth of the Open Hands Foundation spoke in general terms Nov. 3 about teen homelessness in the southwestern suburbs but also specifically about the new emergency teen shelter being opened in Excelsior near that community’s borders with Chaska and Chanhassen. This effort is timely because the A.M. Rotary Club is talking about the idea of creating a similar emergency shelter in Eden Prairie someday.
Langseth explained that their project evolved from a Westwood Community Church determination that youth in crisis is an issue they want to address. Research indicates that in the typical southwest suburban high school on any given night there are 3-4 students who have no place to sleep, either because of family crisis or some other reason. That’s 40-45 per year – more, if you consider there are also teenagers who stay temporarily at friends’ homes.
These teenagers not only need temporary shelter, food, clothing, and a caring adult – but often also medical care, counseling, transportation, a job, or help from a social worker. So Westwood partnered with Open Hands and The Bridge for Youth to convert a home near Westwood into a staffed emergency shelter. Though the project continues to need financial help and volunteers, there is already talk of a second facility that would be constructed with the help of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.
Announcements
The Veteran’s Day Luncheon is 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Edina Country Club.
We are participating in the “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign of the EP-Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group, sending cards to Armed Forces members, veterans, and military families.
Our Fall Membership Challenge is on! This is a membership promotion; each time you bring a guest, your name is entered in a quarterly drawing for a $50 Biaggi’s gift card.
Sign up for Salvation Army bell-ringing at Cub Foods on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Best wishes to Roy Terwilliger, who is recovering at home after a weekend heart attack.
Spotlight on Jeanne Zetah
Jeanne Zetah grew up in Chanhassen, the third oldest of eight children. After completing her education she landed in Eden Prairie, as director of the Community Education program. She worked there 38 years and is now retired. While giving a Rotary talk about English as a Second Language classes through Community Education, she came to know A.M. Rotary and soon joined the club, where she has held a number of positions, including executive secretary. She will serve as our club president next year. Jeanne is a big advocate for getting involved in Rotary at the district and worldwide levels. She and her husband, Pete Bellus, have two grown children: Alex and Matt.
Happy Fines
We’re happy. And we’re willing to pay fines for being so. John Crudele is happy about having had high school kids trick-or-treating at his house, and also happy about the Camp Enterprise program he’ll be involved in; Jan Eian is happy to have experienced Halloween with grandchildren in Florida; Jenifer Loon asked us to think good
thoughts on Thursday, when her STRIVE mentee is taking a driver’s license test; Dan O’Brien had his own driver’s training recollection involving a foreign-exchange student from Germany; Irene’s STRIVE story ends with her car being towed in Minneapolis; Dr. Curt Tryggestad has mixed feelings about Election Day, when there can be a big change in who is his “boss.”
Visitors
We had a number of visitors, including Rick Mudge and prospective members Laura Dockery and Adam Seidel.
Eden Prairie AM Rotary Club meets on Tues. mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m.
at Biaggi's Restaurant, 8251 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(unless location change is noted)
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Hill, Executive Director & Founder of ClearCause
