| Posted by Mark Weber |
 Don Samuels ,,, “MicroGrants”Don Samuels shared information about his business and political careers but foremost his role as CEO of MicroGrants at the club’s Oct. 24 meeting. The private nonprofit gives several hundred small grants annually to mostly minority entrepreneurs and workers. They are referred by partner training agencies such as Goodwill, Project for Pride in Living (PPL), Twin Cities Rise, Emerge Community Development, Summit Academy, and Neighborhood Development Center. These recipients, usually low-income adults who have earned certification in health care, construction, building maintenance or otherwise, typically are high on motivation and low on the capital to afford a tool belt or used equipment for their fledgling business, or complete a course in nursing. Last year the organization awarded grants totaling more than $700,000, “and we’ve changed a lot of lives,” Don said. MicroGrants also administers the innovative Lights On program, in which about 22 metro-area police departments are offering repair vouchers rather than issuing tickets when they stop a car because a headlight or taillight is out. More information about MicroGrants can be found at www.microgrants.net. |
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Announcements ►Contact John Goergen if you can deliver Meals on Wheels once a month. The organization recently added a route, meaning it needs five more drivers for the club’s turn at meal delivery. ► Volunteers are also needed to work on the Camp Enterprise project from Nov. 2-5 as mentors, essay readers, etc. See John Crudele.
►Mark your calendar for the annual Veterans Luncheon that will be held Nov. 9 at Bearpath. SIGN UP NOW on ClubRunner or at the tomorrow's meeting
►A Rotary Youth Exchange Info Session will be held 6:30-7:30 pm. Nov. 2 at the Chanhassen Recreation Center for students interested in becoming outbound exchange students. Click to see flyer  Trini Santillan Exchanges Flag from ArgentinaOur current student, Trini Santillan, from Argentina, exchanged Rotary club flags with President Roger Jorgensen. She also told us a few things about her home city and showed us pictures of her family, friends, and some special interests..  Milla Molsa from Finland Visits our ClubThe club welcomed the return visit of Milla Molsa of Finland, who was our club's Rotary Exchange Student attending Eden Prairie High School in 2011-12. She is now a university student in her home country, majoring in social work. She is shown here with her fiancé, Tony Handerson, and her first host mom, Pam Hursh, and her third host dad, Bob Starr. She thanked the club for sponsoring her in the past and said it was nice to introduce Tony to the people and things that were special to her her VISITORS Visiting Rotarian: Jack Kuehn (Burnsville); Jean and Blake Cadwallader Prospective Members: Holly Link (5th visit-has applied), Carlos Berger (past member, 1st visit) and Lindy Venustuc (E-club & prospective member) Guests: Pam Hursh (past member, Milla's host mom), Milla Molsa (2011-12 RYE student from Finland), and Tony Henderson (Milla's fiancé) Students: Trini Santillan (exchange student) Morgan Blixrud and Rekha Claus (interns) |
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