Home Page | Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club

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

June 11, 2025

Offsite MeetingShaun Irwin

Ringing Out the Rotary Year

Special Thursday Evening EventOpera Night

at The Minneapolis Club

Register

July 9, 2025

Join us in our New Home!Maria Bavendar

Charting the Course: Fresh Ideas from the Calgary Convention

By the Numbers

I feel fortunate to be a part of such a great community of caring, compassionate individuals who, together, make a difference to each other and the community.

Jodi M.
Member since 2011

Virtually every member of our club has a passion for one or more areas of service and there is absolutely nothing more satisfying than having the opportunity to help others when you do it with a group of your best friends.

Gary M.
Member since 1987

Every Peer Group, Strategy, Planning, and New Membership meeting has taught more about the meaning of Service above Self. I hope to take these invaluable life lessons from Rotary and give a little to a world that has given me so much.

Sangam N.
Member since 2019

We're Moving to the Minneapolis Club!

Starting July 9, City of Lakes Rotary will begin meeting at the Minneapolis Club—in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

If you’ve been curious about Rotary, now is a perfect time to visit.

The Minneapolis Club isn’t just a beautiful venue—it reflects the caliber of experience we offer:

Energizing speakers and thought-provoking programs

A welcoming network of leaders and changemakers

Opportunities to give back locally and globally

Complementary parking

A culture of belonging, purpose, and fun

Our club has a 40-year legacy of community impact—and we’re excited to bring that spirit into a new season at a venue that’s as dynamic and inspiring as our members. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, find meaningful ways to contribute, or simply meet good people doing great things, you’ll find a place here.

We’d love to welcome you on July 9 or any Wednesday morning that works for you. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/3A1XDba Let’s accomplish great things together!

$30K Global Grant Scholarship Open for Applications

Do you know aspiring Masters Degree students who wish to study abroad in one of Rotary's seven areas of focus? These areas are Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Saving Mothers and Children, Supporting Education, Growing Local Economies, and Protecting the Environment.

Please encourage them to apply for our district $30K Global Grant scholarship by October 15. Our club has sponsored several grant recipients and we're ready to help new candidates.

Candidates must either live or have grown up within District 5950 (roughly Minneapolis, surrounding suburbs, and Greater Minnesota communities to the west and northwest). Per IRS rules, candidates may not be a Rotarian or the spouse, child, or grandchild of a Rotarian.

Visit https://www.rotary5950.org for the application.

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.

JOHN 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.

ABI 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.

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

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.

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 and business leaders.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Be the Change

Elevate Your City, Elevate Your Self

Support our Work

Upcoming Speakers

Offsite MeetingShaun Irwin

Special Thursday Evening EventOpera Night

Join us in our New Home!Maria Bavendar

Upcoming Events

By the Numbers

What's Happening at City of Lakes?