Home Page | Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club

Join us the first three Wednesdays of each month at 7:15 a.m. for fellowship and engaging speakers at the Minneapolis Club 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

December 3, 2025

Hennepin Healthcare

Warm Winter Clothes Drive

Tracy Keibler

Brain Health Basics and Early Warning Signs

Ronn Lehmann

The Force of Habits

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

Awards Day Celebrating Service, Leadership & Rotary Spirit

City of Lakes Rotary gathered for one of our most meaningful traditions—Awards Day, where we honor individuals whose service and leadership shine a bright light on Rotary’s mission.

Merle Else Heart of Rotary Award — Bill Jackson

Bill’s steady leadership, kindness, and hands-on service have shaped both our club and communities around the world. From major international water and sanitation projects to mentoring service teams, supporting Youth Exchange, and advancing PolioPlus, Bill exemplifies the very heart of Rotary.

Richard Parrish Emerging Leadership Award — Lars & Chanda Olson

Lars and Chanda jumped into Rotary with full hearts—from supporting Youth Exchange students to hosting gatherings, counseling students, and building global service connections. Their early leadership and welcoming spirit strengthen the fabric of our club.

John Fischer Rotary Hope Award — Mamady Konneh

Founder of WeNetworkNow, Mamady creates powerful pathways of opportunity for immigrants, refugees, and first-generation Americans. His work provides mentorship, networking, and community that helps aspiring leaders thrive. His commitment to lifting others embodies the hope this award celebrates. Visit https://WeNetworkNow.org to learn more.

Foundation & PolioPlus Recognitions

We also celebrated new Foundation Fellows whose new contributions reached $1000 levels for our COL Foundation, The Rotary Foundation, and $100 or more for Polio eradication. Major donor gifts total $10,000 or more. Their generosity fuels Rotary’s impact:

Dick Devore Fellows (COLF)
Paul Harris Fellows (TRF)
PolioPlus Society Members

Read more for full list of these honorees for this Rotary year.

A Message from Our President. Touch Grass. Join Rotary.

In today’s world, we can spend hours online and still feel like something’s missing. The truth is—real connection happens face to face. That’s why I invite you to “touch grass” and join us at Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary.

Every week, we gather to share a meal, hear inspiring speakers, and work together on service projects that make a difference in our community and beyond. It’s a place where friendships are built, business connections are made, ideas are shared, and purpose comes alive.

As President, I see every day how Rotary helps people step out of the digital noise and into real community. If you’ve been looking for something meaningful, this may be it.

I’d love to personally tell you more about what belonging to Rotary could mean for you. Feel free to reach out to me at https://bit.ly/3VWjmZu and come join us in making a difference.

— Maria Bavender, President, Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary

Trivia and Teamwork

Each fall, there’s one evening that brings together everything City of Lakes Rotarians love — fellowship, laughter, and doing good in the world. This year’s Foundation Drive Kickoff was no exception.

Held at Bricksworth Beer Co. in the North Loop, Trivia Night combined friendly rivalry with Rotary purpose.

Think of it as trivia with a mission: questions that tested our smarts about Rotary International, our own City of Lakes club, and Minneapolis itself — all while fueling the projects for 2026-2027 made possible through the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation. Please visit our Impact Statement.

Between rounds, we kept spirits high with pizza, wings, beer, and prizes — because impact should come with a side of fun.

Our thanks to Foundation Fundraising Chair Brock Ray and his organizing team Brian Kimmes, Jen Van Wyk, Bailey Morrison and Bob Baker for one of the signature events of our Rotary year — the night when generosity and good times go hand in hand.

Coats, Kindness and Rotary Impact

Thanks to the leadership of Lynn Otis in fundraising and Bill Jackson in grant writing, our club—partnering with several other Rotary clubs—secured a Rotary District Grant of $18,750 to purchase 721 winter coats. These coats will be distributed at the 3,000 Acts of Kindness event on December 8, 2025, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Hosted annually by Danielle Igbanugo's non-profit Coated in Love, this event provides guests experiencing homelessness with warm clothing, haircuts, personal care items, and connections to over 80 social service agencies. Last year, the event fell short of meeting the coat needs of all guests; this year, Rotary’s grant ensures that everyone will leave with the most essential item for surviving a Minnesota winter—a quality winter coat.

Our $5,000 club contribution multiplied nearly fourfold through this grant—an inspiring example of how Rotary amplifies generosity into greater community impact.

Mark your calendar! Register to volunteer on December 7 to help with setup at the Convention Center, https://colrc.org/event/3000-acts-of-kindness-set-up/. It’s a hands-on chance to bring warmth and hope to our neighbors in need.

COL Hosts Community Forum on Artificial Intelligence

Our club proudly sponsored the Annual Community Forum, a signature service event open to all community members. Each year, this forum brings Rotarians and the public together to explore timely and important topics shaping our world.

This year's forum was titled “Making Sense of AI: Risks, Rewards, and Responsible Use” and examined how artificial intelligence is influencing decision-making, communication, and innovation across sectors. Four distinguished panelists discussed how to evaluate new technologies responsibly, and ways to identify credible sources of AI information.

Approximately 150 people attended our forum presented in collaboration with Rotary Clubs of Roseville and St. Paul.

Rotary Friendship Takes Flight

City of Lakes member and pilot Mark Labovitz recently gave our Rotary Youth Exchange students Nicole (from Brazil) and Rasmus (from Denmark) a breathtaking airplane tour over the Twin Cities! From high above the metro, they saw lakes, downtown skylines, and autumn colors — an unforgettable Minnesota experience.

At City of Lakes, our members go the extra mile (and sometimes a few thousand feet up!) to make sure our exchange students experience the very best of Minnesota and the USA. These shared adventures reflect the heart of Rotary — friendship, hospitality, and global connection in action.

Calling Exchange Students for the 2026-2027 Exchange Year

And it is already time to invite the next group of students to apply for exchange. Long term applications are due annually by November 15. Short Term Exchange Program (STEP) applications are due by December 6 for priority placement, and additional STEP applications will be accepted until March. Visit our website - northstarrotary.com - for additional information.

Entrepreneur Pitch Competition Winners

Club member Liban Kano’s Strangers Meeting Strangers (SMS) hosted a gathering of 100 Minneapolis builders, dreamers and everyone in between. It was split into two parts:

A public conversation where everyone could speak, and all listen about why did you start, why do you continue, and why haven't you given up?
A keynote from Ying Sa, founder and CEO of Community CPA, and a pitch competition from 20 entrepreneurs.

At the end of the evening the audience voted and selected the winners of the pitch competition and $1000 from City of Lakes Rotary Club:

Xavier Thomas founder of Miracle Arts, a platform that promotes artistic expression and provides resources to artists to turn their passions into careers.
Heatherlee Nguyen who is developing a platform to connect and assist fellow moms and solo parents.

This event continues the SMS and Rotary tradition of creating meaningful spaces for community connection and entrepreneurial growth. Congratulations to Xavier and Heatherlee and all those who pitched showing their creativity and business acumen. We are also grateful to the audience for being so kind and receptive.

Board of Directors for YOU

Our Vocational Service Team offers an opportunity for a member to meet with a group of accomplished Rotarians from relevant 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 Champion Russ Michaletz.

Be the Change

Elevate Your City, Elevate Your Self

Support our Work

Upcoming Speakers

Hennepin Healthcare

Tracy Keibler

Ronn Lehmann

Upcoming Events

By the Numbers

What's Happening at City of Lakes?