Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes
We want to keep you informed of club planning and activities, so you'll find Board Minutes and other updates here!
 

 

EPNR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

5/29/2025

 

Present: Bill Hooke, Martin Rathjen, Rick Johnson, Amanda Ottman, Mike Thomas, Bob Danielson, John Urbanski, Anna Riebl, Dave Carter, Tom Thorfinson, Joseph Wallace, Holly Callen, John Steinlicht

 

Approve Minutes of Last Meeting: approved

 

Old Business

 

Eagle Express at meeting May 15

  • Good event welcoming the bus that fits well with our literacy emphasis
  • Consider including the Eagle Express in our grant giving next year

My Book Day

  • Very good day of celebration
  • Thanks to all involved
  • To date the club has spent $10,186.99
  • We received $4000 from FEPS for My Book Day
  • $6200 is our cost
  • 10 extra Spanish books to be shared with club members
  • $4000 from FEPS is not guaranteed, but positive participation from FEPS board

Bob Danielson – New Club Shirts are in!!!

  • Discussion about ways to cover the cost of the shirts ($35)
  • Invite members to pay for their shirts, but the club can cover/subsidize the cost if needed.
  • Bill to send out email.
  • Rick will include the expense with an invoice following member’s approval
  • 5 extra shirts were ordered and available

 

New Business

 

Bravo Zulu House - Holly report

  • Grand opening a great success
  • Mike, Todd, Kim and Holly attended with about 300 people
  • Very good press for Rotary
  • Rotarians from 6 clubs present
  • Martin to share press links with the club
  • Hope to get the story into the Rotary magazine
  • Women’s house planning to begin.  Goal to go national.

Rib Fest Planning - Dave

  • Sign set up – to be setup 10 days prior (Bob)
  • City provided 10 posters that have minimal Rib Fest information
  • Volunteer Signups:
    • volunteer signups are lagging.
    • Bring a computer to the Thursday meeting to get club members to signup online.
    • Encourage people to bring a friend
    • Highlight in Monday email
  • Some vandalism on a bridge on the disc golf course.  Nick to check if help is needed.
  • Grill for hotdogs available from Home Depot ($130).  Bob to purchase.
  • 5 outhouses will be on site
  • Extra Recycling bins will be available
  • 4 compost bins will be available
  • Ticket Sales: Presale going slowly, probably due to few club meetings at the end of May
  • Boom Island:
    • Will print beer menu signs and Culver signs
    • Sponsor signage signs also to be printed by Boom Island
  • Publicity:
    • Press Release sent to: EP Local News, StarTrib, Fox9, Jazz88 and 97.1
    • StarTrib – included Rib Fest in “54 Things to Do this Summer”
    • EP Local News story to be published June 5.  The EP Local News reporter’s partner is apro photographer and will be at Rib Fest.
    • Bob to setup signs around the city.
    • Email sent to all club contacts (512 emails sent, 230 opened)
  • Suggestion/recommendation that we meet weekly each May to help prep for Rib Fest in future years. Board in agreement that this would help with communication and preparation.
  • High School Jazz Band to be playing in-between sets at Rib Fest.  Possibly give a gift to recognize their participation.

Lima, Peru Presentation and Next Steps

  • Peru Ambassadors – Tom, John and Amanda.
  • June 19 club meeting – they will use the whole meeting time to present about the trip and possible projects for us to support.
  • Possible second trip to Peru in late October or early November.

Rotary Foundation 

  • Club members encouraged to contribute before end of year.
  • Holly to write a paragraph for communication with the club.

Grants & Giving

  • $1600 of Shredding funds went to PROP summer food program.
  • Approximately $8,000 in grants still available to be gifted.
  • Maybe some funds to be gifted to a Peru project.

Grant Distribution Proposal: 

  • Can we develop a percentage distribution for grant distribution for: International – Literacy - Homelessness?
  • Amanda to take this up early in her term as president

Incoming President

  • In transition professionally but will have time in the next weeks to help with transition and development of a grant distribution proposal.
  • June Board Meeting to be scheduled – to work on Board transition

Events: Edina Music Series - Grooves and Foods Music Festival — https://www.groovesandfoodsfestival.com/edina

  • taking place every Tuesday in June at the beautiful Centennial Lakes Amphitheater.  This festival is all about sharing our Rotary story with the community through music, food, and fellowship. There will be several volunteer opportunities available, and we’d love for your clubs to get involved!
  • Martin to share links with the club.

 

Next Meeting:  TBD

 
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