What’s your passion and how are you going to turn that passion into a gift?
Speaker Irene Kelly
Eden Prairie A.M. Rotary member Irene Kelly coaches clients and other coaches on turning their passion into gifts for others. At Tuesday’s meeting, she spoke about the intersection between what we create and what the world sees.
She passed out cards with images on them to help inspire us to visualize new ways of turning our passions into gifts of service. Irene inspired us to think about what gets us “fired up” and how that passion can be channeled into something special for the world through Rotary.
All Rotarians were asked to check off at least 1 or 2 club projects and/or committees where they'd like to share their gifts this year. Those who missed the meeting can
download the form and turn it in next week.
Announcements
- Vino Classico - home stretch for sponsorships over the next few weeks. We also need auction items - sports event experiences tend to do well.
- Meals on Wheels August 10-14
- Swallowship - August 12
- PROP Backpack Drive - supplies or cash donations welcome. We will staff a volunteer table Aug. 16, 17, and 19 for two-hour shifts and take donated school supplies as part of the PROP Backpack Drive. Watch for the sign-up list circulating at meetings. - See more at: http://epamrotary.org/#sthash.ZyoE9DnT.dpuf
- Cathy Carlson shared that Minnetonka Rotary's Golf Tournament is coming up on Thurs., Sept. 10, and EPAM Rotarians were asked to gather foursomes to enter and compete against other Rotary teams. She also was selling raffle tickets for various prizes. See more at: http://www.minnetonkarotary.org/content/links-libations-minnetonka-rotary-charity-golf-outing-2015
New Member Induction: Jon Melander
Membership Director Elaine Larabee inducted Jon Melander as our newest member, sponsored by Matt Crane.
Jon is a colleague of Matt Crane’s at Boulay, Heutmaker, Zibell & Co. He's also a past member of the Minnetonka Rotary Club and past Assistant governor.
According to Matt, Jon kept asking him to come to Rotary with him, but the height differential between the two made it difficult for Matt to understand what he was asking. So it took a while … Matt stood on chair to pin him.
Awards
The following Rotarians were honored with Paul Harris Awards:
Becky Deelstra ... Roger Jorgensen ... Kevin Kraemer ... Gary Chanen ... Craig Blixrud ... Dick Ward ... Dan O’Brien
Roger Jorgensen was recently honored with the EP AM Rotary Club Hero Award.
Dick Ward received the Membership Award for sponsoring the most new members last year.
Perfect Attendance Awards were handed out to those who missed last week's meeting:
Jane McGinty, 8 years ... Kelly Salwei, 4 years ... Bob Starr, 6 years
Jim Loutzenhiser, 11 years ... Dave Anderson, 34 years ... Laurie McKendry, 2 years
Happy Fines
- Elaine Larabee is proud to represent EP on the school board, hopes other Rotarians will consider the 3 spots are open.
- Becky Deelstra just returned from trip to see her daughter and grandkids in Scottsdale.
- Mark Weber is happy to live in a community that cares. 16 year old high school girl — Sidney Gallagher. A memorial fund has been set up through the EP Community Foundation to try and get the new diving pool at the community center named after EP High School student Sidney Gallagher, who suddenly died at 16.
- Visiting Rotarian (and mother-in-law of Jon Melander) Cathy Carlson is happy that we now have Jon in our club.
- George Esbensen is happy for Nite to Unite and the 200 block parties that will help collect food for PROP.
- Dennis Kim was happy to see Cathy Carlson again.
- Jon Melander was happy to be rejoining Rotary and happy that the room was not 90 degrees today.
- Dan O’Brien was happy for he and Mary’s 42nd wedding anniversary.
- Jim Loutzenhiser was happy for his 13th United Way campaign.
- Jane Mcginty was happy for Dan and Mary O’Brien to be a host family for Art.
- Pei Ling Jamison was happy for her 10th wedding anniversary.
- Tony Compton is happy because the 360 Communities’ Lewis House Golf Tournament is taking place on August 24th. It supports our sexual and domestic violence shelters. For the first time in its 22 year history, men are now welcome to golf.
Visitors
Visiting Rotarian (club): Cathy Carlson (Minnetonka), Anita Rieter (Excelsior) and Jack Kuehn (Burnsville)
Students: Alex Modeas, Natalie Page and Jake Leibold (interns)
Don't miss Tuesday's meeting, we are looking forward to speaker Laura Kalombokidis' thoughts about our state economy. Minnesota's economy is robust, and her job is to help keep it there. Kalambokidis will talk about the economy at large, as well as on policies enacted by lawmakers. Among the factors that could affect Minnesota's revenue over the next two years are the price of oil, the rate of inflation, the growth of Minnesota's labor force and interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve. 
Art is our inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student, and he will be arriving Friday, August 21. Let's show him a big welcome at the airport. We'll meet up in the baggage claim area of the Lindbergh Terminal (main terminal) at 8:30 p.m.