Craig Lamothe is a certified urban and regional planner (AICP) with over 15 years of transportation planning and project management experience in the private and public sectors. He has been working to improve and expand the regional transit system while serving in a variety of capacities with Metro Transit for over the last 11 years. Currently, Craig is serving as the Project Director for the METRO GreenLine Extension (Southwest Light Rail Transit) Project, the Twin Cities’ third LRT line. In his free time, he enjoys serving the community in which he resides as a City Planner Commissioner and spending time with his wife, daughter and son.
Reminders:
►World Community Service Committee will meet on Tues., April 7, after the regular meeting..
►We have many upcoming events and it's time to sign up! Please check the "Events" list (left column of this webpage) to view the events and sign up online.
►Ana Boekhorrst, our youth exchange student, would love to see Duluth and Lake Superior as well as International Falls.She'd like to canoe, kayak, go hiking and enjoy other outdoor activities, and she'd love to see the Grand Canyon. To reach her, call her cell: 952-769-6774 or email her: analinda2121@hotmail.com
Jane McGinty introduced Wooj Byun, former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and, more recently, Past President of the Edina Rotary Club. Wooj recalled the 1946 movie “The Best Years of our Lives.” The movie featured Harold Russell who had lost both arms in World War II. Russell won two Oscars, one for Best Supporting Actor and a special Oscar for creating hope in other people. The theme of Wooj’s presentation was “How to turn this into the best year of your life.”
In 1946 a few good men, 12 Rotarians to be exact, created the Ambassadorial Scholarship program which grew to the largest scholarship fund in the world benefiting over 40,000 students in 120 countries. Wooj came to the University of Minnesota from Korea on August 15, 1990 as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. On one of his first nights here a new American friend stepped outside in to the rain, looked skyward and said “oh, sh*t” which Wooj assumed was slang for “rain.” Thus began his Rotary journey. After embarking on his successful lawpractice, Wooj approached Rotary and offered to pay back his scholarship. They turned down his offer but suggested he join Rotary. Since then, Wooj has seen the source of his actions have shifted from his mind to his heart. He went on to share anecdotes of his Rotary experience: a young boy with just 2 fingers on each hand who was inspired by a Korean pianist with a similar affliction introduced to him through Rotary; a young boy from Africa who, through the efforts of a number of Edina Rotarians and our own Angela Wandera, overcame a severe birth defect; Rotarian Dick Kremer who sold Wooj his house on a handshake; reconnecting at the 2012 International convention with the Korean Rotarians who sponsored Wooj in the first place. His final message…embrace service above self. Love means leading you back to yourself.
Announcements
Sign up now for Eden Prairie Reads on April 7.
Swallowship is Wed., April 8, 5:00 P.M. at Biaggi’s.
April 18 we will be cleaning the ball fields adjacent to Flying Cloud Airport. Sign up on line if you’d like to help.
Also on April 18 5 Rotary clubs will come together to pack meals for the local community similar to what we do at Feed My Starving Children. Again, sign up on line if you’d like to attend.
The Ethics Lunch is scheduled for April 23, 11:30 A.M. at the Edina Country Club. This is an annual event put on by the southwest suburban Rotary clubs. Contact John Crudele if you’d like to attend or sign up on line.
Looking a little further out, the District 5950 Twins game will be on June 20th.
Spotlight on the Esteemed Jared Chester
President Jared Chester was born and raised in Texas. At twelve he and his family moved to Burnsville. After graduating from Burnsville High School and Gustavus Adolphus he began his career in banking and currently works for Wells Fargo. He met his wife, Holly, also a Gustie, married and they have three rambunctious boys, Blake, Cole and Ashton. Jared claims to have joined Rotary for the networking and stayed for the service. He is “grateful to be part of such an active club and proud to be an Eden Prairie Rotarian.”
Happy Fines
Cathy Haukedahl’s son was just hired by Boston Scientific and she is heading to Texas on vacation.
Jack and Ann were excited to reconnect with friends they recently met on an Australian Friendship Exchange.
Jane, Chris and Madeline McGinty are heading to the big apple while Jack and Ann watch Krista and Ian.
Dana Quinn’s baby slept through the night…Hallelujah.
Glenn Olson just visited 21 states in 6 weeks covering 6,200 miles. In the process they visited Mark and Corrine Lewis. Corrine is rehabilitating from a torn ACL.
John Crudele spoke in Forest Lake and ran into a 30 something he had inspired when she was still in grade school.
Visitors
Visiting Rotarian (club)
Jack Kuehn (Burnsville), Jack and Ann (Jane McGinty’s parents), Madeline and Krista McGinty, Mike Thomas (Eden Prairie noon),
Prospective Members and Guests (Sponsor Name)
John Rabusco, Ethics Lunch Keynote Speaker (John Crudele)
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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President Jared Chester was born and raised in Texas. At twelve he and his family moved to Burnsville. After graduating from Burnsville High School and Gustavus Adolphus he began his career in banking and currently works for Wells Fargo. He met his wife, Holly, also a Gustie, married and they have three rambunctious boys, Blake, Cole and Ashton. Jared claims to have joined Rotary for the networking and stayed for the service. He is “grateful to be part of such an active club and proud to be an Eden Prairie Rotarian.”