NOTES FROM MAY 5, 2015

Posted by Mark Weber 
 
STRIVE CELEBRATION
Superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools Curt Tryggestad had the message of the day when we gathered May 5 to recognize students who participated in the STRIVE mentoring program at Eden Prairie High School this year: “Kids: Great work!”A total of 16 EPHS juniors and 22 seniors were recognized, along with their adult mentors.
The focus was really on the kids, however, as mentors introduced each one and offered a little background. Emmett Dysart, a student, spoke on behalf of many of the teenagers when he said the program was a big help – and in fact will help him become the first in his family to graduate from high school. STRIVE has been “a great opportunity to learn who I am,” he said. “STRIVE is amazing. Thank you!”
Each student was presented a certificate of accomplishment.
 
 
Jay Simpson of the A.M. Rotary Club and Bill Hooke of the Noon Rotary Club welcomed attendees, and thanked teacher Karen Brettingen for another outstanding year of leading the program. A special tip-of-the-hat went to longtime mentor and Rotarian Pat Jensen, who will “retire” from this particular club activity; all agreed that if there were an award for best mentor, Pat would probably be a multi-year winner.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
  • Sign up by May 6 to attend the Above & Beyond Awards Dinner Wed. evening, May 13, at Olympic Hills.
  • Swallowship will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thurs., May 7 at Biaggi's
  • Grant Requests are due by 5/15 for consideration for funding. Please review the grant criteria before completing the grant application, both of which can be downloaded from the left column of this page
  • Attend the District Conference on May 16 and be reimbursed by the club for up to $75 of your costs.
  • The Golden Eagle Awards Breakfast is at St. Andrew Church instead of Biaggi’s on Tuesday, May 19.
  • District 5950 is planning an outing to a Twins game on June 20; check the district website for details.
HAPPY FINES:
We’re happy. And we’re willing to pay fines for being so.
  • Roger Jorgensen was happy to have accidentally found an “I Love You, Dad” drawing made by his daughter in 1999.
  • Jeanne Zetah was happy that her son completed his college research at Kansas and starts an internship in Baltimore this summer.
  • Jan Eian was happy to have had about 15 Rotarians participate in a recent club visioning process that identified goals for the next five years.
  • Mike Kraines was happy about the lovely spring weather.
  • Mo Mara was happy and thankful for all the help that went into transferring the meeting and breakfast to the Eden Prairie Community Center on this Tuesday.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests:     
Many Eden Prairie Noon Rotary Club members and community members who are involved in the STRIVE mentoring program at Eden Prairie High School were in attendance for our special observance of STRIVE’s completion for the 2014-15 school year. Welcome!