Join us the first three Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. for fellowship and engaging speakers in person or online.  Learn how.

Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club unites a dynamic network of leaders dedicated to fostering meaningful connections, mutual support, and impactful service that enhances lives locally and globally.  Welcome.

Upcoming Speakers

May 14, 2025
Wilson Oliveira


Wilson Oliveira

COL Rotary Foreign Exchange Experience
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May 21, 2025
Dr. Bruce Gleason


Dr. Bruce Gleason

Cold War Cadence: A Military Musician's Berlin Memoir
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June 4, 2025
Scott Welle


Scott Welle

Outperform the Norm!
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Upcoming Events

Board Meeting
Board Meeting
May 27, 2025 7:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Youth Exchange Farewell Party
Youth Exchange Farewell Party
Jun. 09, 2025 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Home of John and Darlene Vandermyde
International Service Committee Meeting
International Service Committee Meeting
Jun. 12, 2025 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Alight Office
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Our Impact

By the Numbers

What's Happening at City of Lakes?

Four Acclaimed Performers, 
One Unforgettable Evening.
 
 
 
Celebrate the summer season with a special evening of incredible, familiar arias, featuring four outstanding vocalists and a family-style Italian dinner.
 
THURSDAY, JUNE 19 AT 5:30 P.M.
Hosted at the historic Minneapolis Club by Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary
729 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis
EVERYONE WELCOME!
 
Opera Night debuted last year to a sell-out audience and rave reviews. Join us again for the celebratory highlight of summer with a special evening of dinner interspersed with outstanding vocal performances.
 
imageJOHN TAYLOR WARD, BARITONE
Praised for his “Stylish abandon” by The New Yorker and “Intense clarity and color” by The New York Times, John has been featured countless times in venues such as Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Paris and Berlin Philharmonics.

 

TRACEY ENGLEMAN, SOPRANO
With a voice the Boston Globe has called “Extraordinary in range, tonal quality, musicianship and dramatic effect,” Tracey Engleman has performed with the Minnesota Opera as well as at Tanglewood, Sun Valley, and more, having been praised for her "Crystalline purity" by the Wall Street Journal.		image

 

imageABI LEVIS, MEZZO-SOPRANO
Named "Debut Artist of the Year" by the Joy in Singing Foundation, Abi Levis is among the most exciting and versatile performers of her generation. Critics the world over have described her artistry as “Fearless,” “Dazzling,” “Impressive,” and “Breathtaking.”

 

CELESTE MARIE JOHNSON, PIANIST
Currently Principal Coach and Chorus Director at Minnesota Opera, she has held music staff positions with companies and festivals across the country, including the Lakes Area Music Festival, Opera Saratoga, the Boston University Opera Institute, Odyssey Opera, Inland Northwest Opera, the Atlantic Music Festival, and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. She also served as a past faculty member at the Tanglewood Institute.		image

 

$95 per person. Parking for this event is free at the Minneapolis Club.  Get tickets https://givebutter.com/colopera25

Where Leaders Laugh, Connect, and Make a Difference - 40 Years of Rotary in Action
On February 15, 1985, a group of forward-thinking leaders came together to charter the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club. Forty years later, our club continues to unite a network of community leaders and changemakers.
 
From launching community initiatives to supporting international projects, we have made a lasting difference while creating a strong sense of belonging among our members.
 
As we honor our past, we also look forward to the future, continuing to be a force for good in Minneapolis and beyond.
 
Click the button below to see photos from our Anniversary Party at the Minneapolis Club.  This is the face of Rotary today: dynamic, welcoming, and fun.
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Big Crowd.  Big Insights. 
 
Our online conversation with decision strategist Annie Duke drew a strong audience—and for good reason. Annie shared sharp, practical wisdom on how to make better decisions under uncertainty.  
 
Annie is a champion poker player, decision-making expert, speaker and author of best sellers Thinking in Bets, and Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. 

The conversation was hosted by our member Kurt Nelson, PhD, a behavioral scientist and master of asking the right questions.  If you'd like to learn more, go to Kurt's Behavioral Grooves podcast with Annie https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/leaving-the-matrix-annie-duke-and-insights-into-how-you-can-improve-your-thinking/

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this thoughtful, high-energy session.
Build Goodwill and Better Friendships with Us

Rotary is all about Fellowship, Service, Leadership, Diversity, and Integrity. We build better friendships through these core values.  These are the pillars of Rotary.

Belonging to our club means you'll join a diverse group of business and community leaders where you’ll feel welcome, have fun, and make a real difference. It is also where service meets personal development.
 
You contribute to causes that matter while building skills and connections that last a lifetime:  
 
Expand Networks Connect with business and community leaders to open doors for collaboration and growth.

Develop Leadership Skills Strengthen public speaking, ethical decision-making, and leadership abilities through mentorship, project management, and officer roles.

Gain Insights from Business and Community Speakers Learn about industry trends, leadership and social impact.

Exclusive Corporate Rates Enjoy special membership pricing for employees sponsored by your company.

To learn more, visit our Membership page https://bit.ly/3A1XDba or contact VP Membership Brian Kimmes https://bit.ly/3X5cOJa. Let’s accomplish great things together!
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Volunteers Help Provide Dignity and Hope to Homeless
 
Our club proudly supported 3000 Acts of Kindness which provides hope, help, and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness.  Coated in Love founder and club member Danielle Igbanugo expected to break the attendance record of 3,000 guests —making a real difference in their lives. 
 
Guests at the Minneapolis Convention Center were treated to lunch, complementary haircuts, new coats, hats, boots, toiletry kits, and access to over 50 social service agencies.  Community organizations provided resources and information to help guests potentially find housing, staffing or rehabilitation solutions.  
 
Our club provided a grant, outreach to 150 social service organizations, member Rob Scarlett acted as an interpreter, and 12 volunteers took on three-hour shifts to help set up — Lynn Otis, Cindy Lennie, Tina Sheriff, Russ Michaletz, Scott Benson, Hugh Haman, Sheila Gothmann, Maria Bavender, King Bavender, Gayle Noakes, Greg Alm, and Bill Jackson.
 
We couldn't be more appreciative of our member Danielle who reminds us, "Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  Learn more about her non-profit here http://www.coatedinlove.org/ 
 
Click to see more pictures.
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Board of Directors for YOU 
 
Our Vocational Service team offers an opportunity for a member to meet with a group of accomplished Rotarians from several fields to help scale their business or organization and address challenges.  All information shared in this Board of Directors for YOU program remains confidential.  
 
COL Rotary continues to offer members innovative programs that enhance the value of Rotary membership.  Questions? Contact Vocational Service Chair Russ Michaletz. 
Successful Days for Girls Kit Assembly 
 
A huge thank you to over 60 members and guests who assembled feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries to help them stay in school, and shatter stigma and limitations.
 
Consider:   How many School Days would you lose? 
 
What if you had to miss school because you did not have proper menstrual supplies? How many days per year would you lose in education simply because you got your period? What if no one ever taught you about menstruation, or worse: if menstrual taboos and myths made you feel ashamed of your body? This is the situation for more than 500 million women and girls worldwide. It's called Period Poverty.
 
COL Rotary makes a difference by organizing Days for Girls events to assemble kits that are safe, reusable, beautiful and backed by educational services.  International Service Chair Lakka Benti announced our club's $2000 donation to help Judy Johnson and the Maple Grove Rotary Foundation continue supporting Days for Girls International. 
 
Thank you to project champion Bill Jackson with Chanda and Lars Olson, Todd Marshall, Jim Nelson, John Vandermyde, and Sheila Gothmann.
 
Click here for more photos.
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Promoting Rotary Youth Exchange at MPLS High Schools
 
Rotary Club members John Vandermyde, Heather Heefner, Lakka Benti, and Lars and Chanda Olson along with son Jorgen visited Edison High School to introduce students and community partners to the exciting opportunities available through Rotary Youth Exchange. They shared insights about the life-changing experiences students can have by studying abroad, immersing themselves in new cultures, and building lifelong connections around the world. 
 
High school visits like this have generated so much enthusiasm that in July our club will host two year-long inbound students and sponsor two year-long outbound students.  We are also sponsoring two students in the new short-term summer program. We are contributing to a more peaceful world one student at a time. 
 
Annually students interested in a short-term summer exchange should submit their applications by March 1, while those considering a year-long exchange have until November to apply.
 
For more information on how to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange, visit https://northstarrotary.com/  
 
Don't miss this chance to explore the world!
Rotary Member Brock Ray Shines in RED by John Logan

 

We’re thrilled to share that our own Brock Ray is taking the stage in RED, the Tony Award-winning play by John Logan!

Set in the 1950s, RED offers a gripping look into the mind of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko as he struggles with fame, artistic integrity, and the arrival of a new generation of artists. Under the watchful eye of his young assistant, Rothko faces his greatest challenge yet—creating a masterpiece for an extraordinary commission while wrestling with his own inner demons.

Don’t miss the chance to see Brock in this powerful production.

🎟  Click here