The Rotary Club of Chaska Minnesota

Well done!

A huge congratulations to Joan Seedorf! She won our split-the-pot raffle at this year‘s music fest!

What a great feeling knowing that half of the money is going toward the ballpark, the kids, and the playground, and the other half is going to help a supporter realize her own dreams!

Thank you to everyone who came out for this year’s event! We are still tallying up the totals, but it is looking pretty successful! We can’t wait for next year, when we go even bigger and better again!

Ken Hiller introduced the founder of the Global Travelers e-Club, Mike DeLuca. He has been in leadership positions within Rotary’s Youth Exchange, District 5950 and the city council of Maple Plain.

The unique club started in 2021 with 24 initial Rotarians. It now has 131 regular and associate members from 7 countries and 29 states. They meet via Zoom, twice a month, but also have monthly social times and several in-person events have been held. Sponsorships, grants and partnerships with other clubs have allowed its members to serve in global projects dealing with water, health and education. These activities have been instrumental in attracting and keeping membership that is younger and more diverse than typical clubs (like ours). Dan Keyport and Ken Hiller are Associate members of the club. Mike listed upcoming travel and service opportunities and welcomed our interest and participation:
· Cuba – winter 2024-2025
· Eastern Europe Service – March 2025
· Ethiopia Service – Jan/Feb 2025
· Ecuador Service – Oct 2025
· Hawaii Service – Dec 2025
· Mexico Monarch Butterflies – March 2026

We enjoyed hearing all about the new Carver County Park on Lake Waconia Coney Island project. Sam Pertz is the Parks and Trails Supervisor with Carver County.

A few more from the Chaska Cares Music Festival 🎶

Special thank you to everyone who helped out at the Chaska Cares Music Festival! Excellent time had by all :-)

Tami Lagow provided training on various nuisances related to drink service at the Chaska Cares Music Festival, with a focus on maintaining a safe and fun environment for everyone.

District 5950 Governor and Rotary Rock Star - Sharon Bloodworth! :-)

After ensuring our club members were bedecked with crowns and sashes, Erin Kerber introduced Sharon Bloodworth – Rotary District 5950 Governor 2024-25. From her bio on the District’s webpage: “In 2023 she completed the largest ever fundraiser for our Rotary District – raising $3 million on top of the usual annual $1 million as District Foundation Chair. For fun she coaches the top 150 women in global tennis on financial behaviors. She is a five-time Minnesota State Fair blue ribbon winning flower arranger and she collects shoes of very famous women including Margaret Thatcher and Audrey Hepburn.”
Born in England, then travelling the world with her family, Sharon developed her British accent and global perspective. She is a professional financial advisor with White Oaks Wealth Advisors in Golden Valley, and a member of Minneapolis Rotary club #9. Sharon gave us insight into her belief in the importance of education and health care; providing examples she has encountered where the actions of a single person have had worldwide effects.
Data from our club’s generous Rotary Foundation history may have shocked some of our newer members, but Sharon encouraged us to continue our philanthropy to surpass the million-dollar threshold. Although membership numbers have declined throughout the country, “Don’t be shy!” was her enthusiastic advice to grow our merry band of sisters and brothers. Indicating more information to be forthcoming, Sharon mentioned District involvement in Polio Plus in India, donations to the Caribbean and the International Convention in 2029.
Ending her rapid-fire presentation with a smile, Sharen joined our crowned sash-wearing group for a memorable photo.
Contact Information:
[email protected], 763-607-3514

Last meeting was a recap of the Chaska Rotary member survey and we now have several key insights for us to be a better club for all of our members.
Thank you Erin and Jean for your leadership and direction.

One of our favorite events of the year is the New Teacher's Breakfast where we invite each school within the 112 boundary area to bring in their new educators for a welcome to the community, fun way to kick off to the school year, breakfast.
Our keynote speaker was 2024 Teacher of the Year Lani Grafelman who gave loads of helpful insights to the new hires.
We want to thank Chanhassen Rotarians David Brecht and Lisa Anderson as well as our own Gretchen Oppriecht, Sheryl Hough and Celi Haga for a job well done. Here's to a successful 2024-2025 school year!

Back at our meeting on April 11th, Andy Mooney the owner of Red Bench Bakery 😉 gave us a description of the "speak easy" he was building on the north side of his building. Last week was the Grand Opening of Rogue 41 and based on the enthusiastic response, Chaska was ready to embrace this next level gathering place.
Congratulations Andy and team!
The place is beautiful!

Last week, Sarah Carlson, chair of the Chaska Human Rights Commission, spoke to us about the commission's various year-round initiatives in Eastern Carver County. Sarah has a long connection with our club through her many other community activities and leadership roles.

2023 Chaska The Rotary Club of Chaska Minnesota scholarship winners! Each year one of our favorite things to do is to give deserving, talented kids some educational seed money to begin their next season beyond the halls in district 112 schools. You make us proud Class of 2024!

Two quick days hosting with some young Europeans on their Minnesota cultural tour.
So many ways to engage with citizens of the world through the various Rotary programs! Bring the world home!

Excellent turn out of to do set up for the new West Creek Place apartment for at risk community members. Lots of man hours to get this rolling.

One of the great gifts of Rotary is the connection to the world through the inbound international exchange program. Rotary clubs sponsor students who study here for a school year and take part of high school activities, make friends all while being hosted by community members. Once in awhile we have "Chaska RotaryExchange Alumni Students" who return so we can get updated on what they are doing in life and when we are really lucky, we get to meet their family.
Those are good days.
This was such a day.
Natasha from Denmark who lived here during the 2022-2023 school year brought her lovely family for a weekly Rotary meeting after touring lessor spots in the US like, Hollywood, the Grand Canyon and the Black Hills. Coming to Chaska made the trip of course! 😉 We were delighted to meet her family and get caught up with her once again.

2024 River City Days "wine tent" 🍷 was next level this year!!! 👌