Events

Brenda Langton will discuss her mission within the industry of educating people on the importance of eating a healthy diet and supporting sustainably raised food. Through her restaurants she served delicious balanced meals that nourish our bodies and protect us from serious illnesses. Brenda remains committed to help change our American diet to a much healthier one. The Mill City Farmers Market inspires and nurtures a healthy community by building a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.

Brenda Langton has been a presence in Twin Cities dining since 1972. She started the natural foods restaurant, Cafe Kardamena, at age 21 in St. Paul, and then moved it to Minneapolis and renamed it Cafe Brenda in 1986. Cafe Brenda operated until 2009. In 2006, Brenda opened Spoonriver and founded the Mill City Farmers Market. After 14 years, she sold Spoonriver to a collaboration between the Minnesota Farmers Union and Birchwood Cafe in 2019. She is a senior fellow at the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota and an educator and consultant on healthy eating.

Ready for some great conversation with other City of Lakers? Join us for discussion of the book:  "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown.  

Book Synopsis:
A mesmerizing tale of Joe Rantz and the 1936 Olympic eight-oar crew from the University of Washington. But it is much more than a story of athletic endeavor. It’s about a child abandoned by indifferent parents, Americans’ struggle to survive during the Great Depression, a young man’s love of a young woman, and the amazing physical and psychological demands of rowing. It’s about loss and redemption. It has drama and pathos and moral scope. And it culminates on an extraordinary international stage in Berlin in 1936, with Adolf Hitler looking on.

Nachito Herrera is one of the world’s greatest Cuban pianists. Combining Western classical music with traditional Cuban rhythms, he is in high demand in the US and abroad. Last year, Nachito was a featured guest artist with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra for the 2019-2020 season, working closely with Marlene Pauley WSO Music Director. Marlene Pauley will join the Zoom meeting for Q & A with Nachito to discuss his immigration to the US, music education and playing with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra. 

In 2012 a committee of experts chose the ten plants that most changed Minnesota from nearly five hundred citizen nominations, hosted by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The idea that plants, as few as ten, could shape a state and how it developed economically, culturally, and historically, is at the core of the Ten Plants that Changed Minnesota project, which also includes a companion website and a popular freshman seminar at the University of Minnesota. With careful review by more than thirty experts and scientists and with research drawn from newspaper and journal reports, historical photos, diaries, and interviews, Mary Hockenberry Meyer and Susan Davis Price highlight the importance of the selected plants and their impact—both positive and negative—in the development and future of our state. The plants are the apple, alfalfa, the American elm, corn, lawn or turfgrass, purple loosestrife, soybeans, wheat, wild rice, and white pine.

Join us for a presentation from one of the country’s leading experts on pandemics. Dr. Michael Osterholm will provide a current, in-depth review of COVID-19 and offer a glimpse into the future of this pandemic, explaining how it will continue to unfold and its impact worldwide. 

Michael Osterholm is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota. From June 2018 through May 2019, he served as a Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State. In October 2008, he was appointed to the World Economic Forum Working Group on Pandemics.

Ron Wirtz will discuss COVID-19’s impact on firms and workers in Minnesota and recent efforts by the Minneapolis Fed to develop better real-time measures of economic activity during the pandemic.

Ron Wirtz is the Regional Outreach Director for the Minneapolis Fed, tracking current business conditions, with a focus on employment and wages, construction, real estate, consumer spending, and tourism. In this role, he networks with businesses in the Bank’s six-state region and gives frequent speeches on economic conditions. 

Join our meeting by clicking here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388274149?pwd=U25QUVN5cXpvYkVSNlVPeDVaUVU0UT09#success

Join the International Services Committee (ISC) as we discuss plans and projects for the upcoming 2020/2021 Rotary year.

Zoom details - join our meeting by clicking here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388274149?pwd=U25QUVN5cXpvYkVSNlVPeDVaUVU0UT09#success

As Director of Employer Inclusivity, Sam Ndely leads the Center’s efforts to accelerate racial equity and inclusive economic growth in the region. He works directly with private-sector employers, regional leaders, and community champions to equip them with the knowledge, tools, resources, and networks to disrupt racially and economically exclusive policies and practices and institutionalize new, racially inclusive talent, procurement, investment, and stakeholder policies, practices, and actions.

Sam is Co-Founder of Graveti, an organization that helps BIPOC communities break into the technology startup industry in Minnesota. Most recently, Sam was a business consultant for Meda (2017-2020), where he worked with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and connect them to resources, capital, and educational and networking opportunities.

Join our Zoom meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388274149?pwd=U25QUVN5cXpvYkVSNlVPeDVaUVU0UT09#success

Join COL members for an outdoor gathering to mix and mingle - at a distance, of course!

We'll gather in the yard of Christine Hutchenson's home located near the Peace Garden/Rose Garden in Minneapolis. Bring your own beverages and snacks, and a chair if you'd like to sit. 

Food Items:  (bold = particular need)

·       Olive oil and vegetable oil                          ·       Flour, sugar – 4# bags or smaller

·       Meat soups                                                 ·       Chili with meat

·       Canned chicken, tuna or salmon               ·       Canned fruit, in light syrup or own juice

·       Rice                                                                   Assorted canned vegetables

·       Pasta sauce                                             ·       Diced tomatoes

·       Coffee in small bags                              ·       Tea

·       Whole grain cereals                                ·       Old fashioned oats, instant oatmeal packets

·       Jelly and jam                                          ·       Peanut butter

·       100% fruit juice

Hygiene:

·       Toothbrushes                                      ·       Toothpaste

·       Bar soap                                             ·       Shampoo, conditioner

·       Deodorant                                          ·       Razors and shaving cream

·       Feminine products                             ·       Toilet paper, facial tissues

·       Dish soap - small bottles                   ·       Laundry soap

Pet Needs: 

·       Pet food for dogs or cats                 ·       Kitty litter

FAIR School needs:

• Spiral Notebooks                          Pens, Pencils
• Colored Pencils                            Fine Tip Markers (Crayola is best)
• Folders (the plastic kind are great because they last a whole year usually)
• Jump Drives

In addition, we are connected to Achieve Minneapolis who hosts our financial 'donation' account  (https://www.achievempls.org/give) that then allows us to buy SWAG (cool items for kids with our logo on them) that we can not purchase using district funds.  Last year we did lanyards, t-shirts, bumper stickers etc.

Susan Brower, Minnesota's State Demographer, will join us to talk about the 2020 census and the new social and economic realities that are brought about by recent demographic shifts in the state.

Susan Brower is the Minnesota State Demographer and directs the MN State Demographic Center. Susan became the State Demographer in February 2012. In that capacity, she travels the state talking with Minnesotans about the new social and economic realities that are brought about by recent demographic shifts. Susan's work applies an understanding of demographic trends to changes in a range of areas including the state's economy and workforce, education, health, immigration and rural population changes.

Susan joined the State Demographic Center after working as a researcher on the Minnesota Compass project at Wilder Research in St. Paul. Prior to that, she worked at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan. Susan earned her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Michigan, specializing in demography and family sociology. She also holds a master's degree in public policy from Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

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Current events have awoken many to the stark reality of the inequities in our communities. While it came as a shock to some, it was all too familiar to others. No matter where you reside on the awareness spectrum, most will end up with the same questions. What part do I play? What can I do about it? Today, let's begin by understanding your IQ and what you can do to improve it.

Rosemary Ugboajah is the founder and CEO of Neka Creative, a brand development agency committed to bringing the power of inclusion to organizations through their proprietary process, Inclusivity Marketing™. In addition to over ten years of brand agency ownership, Rosemary gained her breath of experience from various advertising agencies where she worked on numerous brands such as 3M, Frango, Xcel Energy, Cargill and Johnson and Johnson Vision Care. She also gained corporate experience as a marketer for Target Corporation. 

As founder and CEO of Neka Creative, she has led several strategic and creative projects such as: CareerForce—Minnesota’s statewide workforce system, Hennepin County’s LRT extension corridor, The Commons Park, US Bank Stadium and The NCAA’s Final Four Tournament to mention a few. A testament to her zeal for excellence, her agency has won multiple awards and continues to be recognized as a leading voice on inclusion in the industry. Rosemary studied art and design at West Kensington College of Arts in London and has a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from the University of Minnesota. Rosemary currently serves on the board of Art Buddies and the Minneapolis Downtown Council/Downtown Improvement District. She is also the co-founder of ArtWest, a non-profit with a mission to advance equity in art education.

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As our communities grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and our nation experiences a renewed civil rights movement, the topics of equity and justice are front and center. Fresh Energy, an independent energy policy nonprofit based in Saint Paul, has been on a journey for several years to prioritize access and equity in its work to address its mission to shape and drive bold policy solutions to achieve equitable carbon-neutral economies. Join executive director Michael Noble and director of energy access and equity Ben Passer as they discuss Fresh Energy’s past, present, and future at this critical intersection of issues.

Michael Noble is a 30-year energy leader, well-known for shaping and driving the major public policy innovations that are speeding Minnesota and the Midwest’s transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. As Executive Director of Fresh Energy, Michael builds and catalyzes partnerships to secure new policies and harness market forces to achieve visionary change.

As Director of Energy Access and Equity, Ben Passer directs Fresh Energy’s work to advance equitable outcomes across Minnesota’s energy system, and also supports the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He joined Fresh Energy as a Policy Associate in May 2015. Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Minnesota and a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law. He is a member of the Minnesota Bar.

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Callling all readers and/or individuals seeking to deepen their awareness of racial justice work! If you haven't read this book, feel free to come anyway if you're interested in this topic.

For our September selection we'll read "How to be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi. It's avaiable in hardcover, audiobook or Kindle editions. 

Per Amazon, "In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.
Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society."

Join us for a lively, educational & fun session!

Looking for some fun at 8:00 AM?  Stop by the Membership Committee on Thursday, September 17 to see what's up & add your ideas.  

Here's the zoom link:  

https://alliiance.zoom.us/j/99395535904?pwd=bTVZVkRodmQxZzJqcTk0dDY1NnBFUT09

To call: Meeting ID: 993 9553 5904,  Passcode: 423587    1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

The Rotary Club of Edina and Rotary Club of Edina Morningside invite you to attend this VERY IMPORTANT workshop on Thursday, September 17^th,  from 12:00 – 1:30pm.

Every year 2.5 million people fall victims to human trafficking and it happens right here in our own cities and in our neighborhoods. This workshop is dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to human trafficking, how to identify who is at risk, and the steps you can take to prevent sexual assault in your community.

Speakers

• Jessica Bartholomew, ACT United
• John Turnipseed, Urban Ventures
• Jennifer Gaines, Affective Sober Living by JCS

Register Now

• Date: Saturday, September 19
• Time: 11:30 a.m. arrival; Golf and socializing 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. (*Arrive by 11:30 a.m. to be placed on teams. Tee times begin at noon. Warm-up before at your discretion. Some could use it more than others…)
• Location: Hiawatha Golf Club (4553 Longfellow Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407) (Just east of Cedar and 46th So.)
• Cost: $50.00 fee includes token for driving range, golf and cart fee
• RSVP: Jim Eaton and Richard Mosman

Join us for a special, re-invented Knicker Open — knickers strictly optional! 

The event will include informal post-golf "socially distant" conversation, light snacks, drinks and (maybe?) awards. We'll also collect packaged, canned goods, or money donations for CES. We will form 4-person co-ed and/or unisex teams. Using best ball format, We'll balance all teams by levels of experience.

DETAILS:

• When: Saturday, September 19th, Noon–5:00 (tee times begin at 12:00) 
• Cost: $50.00 —  Includes Golf and Cart Fee
• Where: Hiawatha Golf Club, 4553 Longfellow Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407 (Just east of Cedar and 46th So.)

For questions and more information, contact your not-so-honorary hosts:

• Richard  Mosman — 612-280-4996, dblblackdiamondski@gmail.com
• Jim Eaton — 612-310-4241, jimeaton02@yahoo.com

We all want to be informed, but the 24/7 nature of today’s news makes many among us want to crawl into bed in the fetal position. Gail’s goal is to give you back control by helping you understand the nature of news and how to use it to your advantage.

Gail Rosenblum is editor of Inspired, the Star Tribune's weekly section focusing on goodness, hope and solutions. Before taking over Inspired in 2018, Gail was a Star Tribune columnist for 10 years. In addition, Gail speaks throughout the community about the importance of storytelling, and teaches news and magazine writing at the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism. Gailʼs first book of essays, "A Hundred Lives Since Then: Essays on Motherhood, Marriage, Mortality...and More," was published in 2011. She has three young adult children, three bonus kids, a new daughter-in-law and a spoiled 11-year-old whipped named Penelope Princess of the Lakes. She is a huge champion of Rotary, having spent a year in Toulouse, France, as a post-graduate Rotary International Fellow a REALLY long time ago, In addition, her mother, Estelle Rosenblum, and her brother, Jay Rosenblum, are Rotary members in Albuquerque, New Mexico, her hometown. And her youngest daughter, Carly, was awarded a four-year Rotary Scholarship while a student at the University of Minnesota.

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Join us for an interactive session hosted by Membership Committee to gather member insights on attracting our new best friends to City of Lakes.

We will engage in a fun brainstorming activity where each member will contribute ideas to help the membership committee enhance its efforts to attract diverse service-oriented professionals at various stages of their careers who live or work in or near downtown seeking more community connection in order that City of Lakes Rotary will continue to thrive as a vibrant community of leaders that give generously of their time, talent, and funds to benefit those in need.

The next Conversations Over Lunch (COL) is coming up on Friday, October 2, noon - 1:00.

Join (by zoom) new member Tony Morse to get to know more about him including his job in sales & marketing and how he got to know his sponsor Pat Joyce, among many other things. 

Targeted particularly to new members & those who occasionally miss Wednesday morning meetings, COLs are a great chance to connect with a smaller group of City of Lakes people for  rich conversation.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

zoom link: Friday, Oct 2, 2020 12:00 PM Central Time 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99073597174

for phone:   +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago),  Meeting ID: 990 7359 7174  
 

Chief Judge Toddrick S. Barnette was raised by his mother and grandmother as an only child in the Anacostia neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C., an area widely known for its crushing poverty and devastating crime.

Judge Barnette attended an elementary Catholic School a few city blocks from his grandmother’s house.  For high school, Judge Barnette traveled an hour on public transportation to attend DeMatha Catholic High School located in Hyattsville Maryland, just a few miles from the University of Maryland.

After high school, Judge Barnette commuted from his home to The George Washington University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology.  At GWU, he was particularly engaged in the Educational Opportunity Program, an enrichment and tutoring program designed to foster students of color.  Following graduation, Judge Barnette considered pursuing a graduate degree in criminal justice, but on the advice of mentors decided to go to law school.

Judge Barnette attended The University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his juris doctorate.  During law school, Judge Barnette worked for the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office as a law clerk.  After graduation, he joined the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office as an attorney.  He handled a variety of misdemeanor and felony cases, and spent a significant portion of his career handling juvenile delinquency and child protection cases.  From 2001 to 2004, Judge Barnette was the senior attorney supervisor in the Drug Court Unit.

After 14 years with the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office, Judge Barnette joined the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office as a senior assistant county attorney in the Juvenile Division.  There, he prosecuted all types of delinquency cases.  He had a special focus on certification of juveniles as adults and “extended jurisdiction juvenile” cases.  Judge Barnette was also responsible for the Criminal Sexual Conduct Team within the Juvenile Division.

In 2006, Judge Barnette was appointed to the Hennepin County Judicial District Court.  He served as the Presiding Judge of Drug Court for two years.  He also has twice served as the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division. Judge Barnette is currently the chief judge of Hennepin County District Court. 

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It's time for the annual Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation fundraising kickoff event. This year we're mixing it up and going virtual! Sound like a boring zoom meeting? Absolutely not! Look forward to an amazing MC and hear about the difference you are making in our greater comunity and around the world through our Avenues of Service.

5:30-6:00 p.m. Happy Half-Hour
6:00-7:00 p.m. Program

Attire: Business casual; pants optional!

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388274149?pwd=U25QUVN5cXpvYkVSNlVPeDVaUVU0UT09

Meeting ID: 388 274 149
Passcode: 021485

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        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

SVP: Fill out this form and email to maria.bavendar@gmail.com to secure your spot. The first two drinks are on us! Respond by Sept. 23 or it's BYOB.

It's time for the annual Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation fundraising kickoff event. This year we're mixing it up and going virtual! Sound like a boring zoom meeting? Absolutely not! Look forward to an amazing MC and hear about the difference you are making in our greater comunity and around the world through our Avenues of Service.

5:30-6:00 p.m. Happy Half-Hour
6:00-7:00 p.m. Program

Attire: Business casual; pants optional!

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/388274149?pwd=U25QUVN5cXpvYkVSNlVPeDVaUVU0UT09

Meeting ID: 388 274 149
Passcode: 021485

Dial by your location
        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

RSVP: Fill out this form and email to maria.bavendar@gmail.com to secure your spot. The first two drinks are on us! Respond by Sept. 23 or it's BYOB.

Kim Lorenz founded two companies starting at age 26 with no backing or funding. Not only did he build and run them successfully, but he sold them both to Fortune 500 companies before he was 47. Through his years as a business owner, partner, and CEO, Kim has developed a key understanding of what it takes to succeed in business. Kim’s mission is to teach vital tools essential for business success beyond what is taught in business schools. He earned his MBA from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business. Kim is the former Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, and a 39-year Rotarian. While serving as Rotary Liaison with World Vision, the collaborative teams he initiated have completed over $20 million in clean water projects with over 1 million beneficiaries in developing countries worldwide. He is a business consultant, proven leader, public speaker and motivator, a pilot for 40 years, and holds a USCG Captains license. Kim lives with his wife in Bellevue, WA. In all his busy life, Kim claims a more than 30-year perfect Rotary attendance.

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The October Movie Club will discuss the movie: The Best of Enemies, which focuses on the rivalry between Ann Atwater and Klu Klux Klan leaeder C.P. Ellis in 1971 in Duham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration. 

Please note: The Movie Club has been renamed to better describe how it works. To fully participate in the discussion, please watch the movie prior to coming. All are welcome, however, whether you've watched the movie or not. You can rent the movie through Red Box or stream through Hulu.

zoom link:  https://zoom.us/j/98761327857

Cooks of Crocus Hill is an entrepreneurial success story. Born in a 1,500-square-foot storefront in St. Paul with just four employees, the enterprise now has three locations all with state-of-the-art cooking schools. Owner Karl Benson is responsible for heading the leadership team, organizational development, new business development, new product development, brand and marketing. Come hear Karl Benson, owner of Cooks, talk about their exciting journey as well as their latest collaboration Bellecour Bakery that specializes in amazing French pastries. 

Small businesses employ almost half the workforce and U.S. Baby Boomers, who own at least 2.3 million of them, need to sell over the next decade. Attempted sale processes fail 80% of the time. There just aren’t enough buyers. Employees are the natural buyers but don’t have the risk-tolerance, money, or experience to do it alone. Teamshares is solving this problem by buying companies from retirement-age owners and transitioning them to majority employee ownership over 10+ years. Teamshares buy companies from retiring owners, seed employee ownership, incorporate our financial software and education, and plug them into our peer network. The team has successfully completed the first three small business transitions and employee-ownership conversions at Teamshares in 1Q20, the second of which was Planforce Group, an architecture firm right here in greater Minneapolis.

Alex Eu is a co-founder of Teamshares, a venture backed company helping convert small businesses to be employee owned. He is also President of All Type Electric, a family and employee owned electrical contractor and a co-founder of Libero Sports, an emerging markets soccer agency. He previously worked at investment firm The Chernin Group and investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners

Mike Schahfer is the Director of Business Operations at Teamshares where he works on building a smooth onboarding and transition process for our companies. Mike started his career at the Boston Consulting Group before working in operations at a N.Y. based charter school network called Uncommon Schools. He received his B.A. from Duke University and remains a huge fan of its basketball team. 

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Annual yard clean-up event. We will meet in the US Bank parking lot at 2800 E Lake St.  

While we have to keep our distance, we can still have fun and make a difference! Thanks to everyone who is able to help rake.

November 11 is the annual awards program – where Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club recognizes its members for their monetary contributions, dedicated service, and leadership to the club and the wider community. 

In addition to recognizing monetary donations to the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Foundation, the following awards will be given: the Merle Else Heart of Rotary Award (given to a club member dedicated to Rotary), the John Fischer Rotary Hope Award (given to a non-club member giving community members hope for the future), the Don Backstrom Service Above Self Award (given to a club member for exceptional District service), and the Richard Parrish Emerging Leadership Award (given to a newer club member engaged in the spirit of service within the club). Don’t miss this program – you will see Service Above Self come to life!

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Book Club continues. We have changed this to a Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85320017367?pwd=cHYrQVVHMVFvTFR0cDJ1d3dta3Y1QT09

Meeting ID: 853 2001 7367

Passcode: 053936
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,85320017367#,,,,,,0#,,053936# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,85320017367#,,,,,,0#,,053936# US (Chicago)

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 Any & all welcome to this friendly discussion group.

November's book:  Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One.   A charming, feel-good and universal story of one woman’s journey from boredom and dissatisfaction to happiness and fulfilment. More than 3 million copies sold world-wide.

Available in hardcover, paperback, kindle, audiobook & at the library.

Jack McCann, entrepreneurial founder of TC.Farm, will share the compelling story of how he and his wife left regular jobs to buy a 23-acre hobby farm to raise better foods than what was offered at the grocery store. After a decade, they are the largest direct-to-consumer pasture-based farms in Minnesota, facing challenges in an industry designed to provide the cheapest, lowest quality food to consumers. Jack has found success in a business and distribution model that allows them and other farmers to raise food the right way. Hear Jack’s success story, what it took to get there, and how he’s discovered opportunity in a pandemic.
Plus, he’ll share cooking tips for a perfect Thanksgiving turkey! 

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Join us on November 19 at 5:30 PM for a virtual or in person tasting at the region's newest brewery Bricksworth Beer Company in Burnsville.  We will taste four different beers with brewer Murphy Johnson.  Those tasting virtually will have four crowlers (750 ml of beer each) delivered to their homes prior to the tasting for $40.  Those who visit Bricksworth at 12257B Nicollet Ave. South in Burnsville in person will taste all four beers and get a delicious Detroit style pizza for $40. But you need to order either way from the Bricksworth website at https://bricksworthbeer.co  (Notice this is a .co NOT a .com.) Go to the Order Online tab and look for the City of Lakes Rotary tab. Order now!  Orders must be in by November 12.  If you are doing the virtual tasting, the website states that the beer is for "pickup," but we will deliver!  Just email me your address at scottallen.benson@gmail.com after placing your order and we will deliver the beer. 

The Zoom link for the virtual attendees is:

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85621757808?pwd=ZlZ6WG9aSzRLSTREczVQdGxXaUZYQT09

Meeting ID: 856 2175 7808

Passcode: 945364

Chair Zelle will review the role of the Metropolitan Council in the regional economy and describe the effects of Covid 19 on current transit operations and its future.
Charles A. Zelle is chairman of Jefferson Lines, an intercity bus company with scheduled passenger routes in 14 heartland states from Minnesota to Louisiana. He held the position of president and CEO for more than 20 years until 2012, when he was appointed commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. In that capacity, he oversaw a multimodal state transportation agency with an annual budget of more than $4 billion.

Zelle has served as a board member of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), served on its executive committee, and was chair of its Public Transportation Council. In addition, he has served as a member of the executive committee of the Transportation Research Board and past president of the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO).

Zelle has been recognized for his work in transportation policy as a recipient of the George Rucker Award by the Community Transportation Association in 2009 and the Ray L. Lappegaard Distinguished Service Award by Center of Transportation Studies in 2012.

Born and raised in St. Paul, Zelle received a B.A. from Bates College and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.

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Join us to discuss My Octopus Teacher, a 2020 Netflix Original documentary film starring Craig Foster, as himself, capturing a year he spent with a wild common octopus.

The movie is available on Netflix.

zoom info:

https://zoom.us/j/98981618010

Meeting ID: 989 8161 8010
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+13126266799, 98981618010# US (Chicago)

The Vocational Committee is excited to bring back an old favorite, the COL Vocational Fair! Members can sign up for one of 10 booth spots available to talk about what they do and share information. Think of this as a mini-Expo or Trade Show for Rotarians. You will be able to move from virtual booth to virtual booth learning about your fellow Rotarians’ business and work. Members at each booth will provide you info about their industry, their company, the products and services they provide, a bit about their role and much more. Make sure you join in the fun. 

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Join us for the unprecedented virtual holiday show! 
City of Lakers, we need your help. We want you to think of a fun holiday story or song and share it with us for our holiday program. Email them to Doug Schmitt who is building the holiday program for December 16! The more the merrier, so get going! Be sure to tell your families that we’d love their participation too. This will be great fun! 

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Get your tickets to see a special Zoom version of A Christmas Carol from the Guthrie. Watch it prior to December 21, 202,0 and then join your City of Lakes Rotary friends to discuss it at 7:00 PM on Monday, December 21! The Guthrie's McGuire Proscenium Stage was converted into a film set during November as Joseph Haj and filmmaker E.G. Bailey co-directed Dickens' Holiday Classic. A small group of beloved local actors, crew members, and staff worked together to fuse theater and film into an all-new production being edited as we speak. And the Guhtrie is not alone. As The New York Times reported, many theaters are keeping their holiday traditions alive with virtual variations of their staged A Christmas Carol productions — the Guthrie included. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online here.

If you purchase a ticket, you will create and/or log into your account on the Guthrie's website to view the prerecorded performance at your convenience beginning December 19. You and members of your household may watch it an unlimited number of times until the link expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 31.

Our group discussion will take place on December 21 at 7:00 PM via Zoom: Click to Join the Meeting

Meeting ID: 839 2239 4336
Passcode: 350405

Join us for MCOL's Holiday Cook-Along! The evening of December 30, Chef Helen Pang will lead a cooking demo as you follow along in your own kitchen. After the cooking demo, we’ll dine together virtually and make a toast to health and happiness in 2021. Feel free to invite a guest – the more the merrier!

Sign up is required in order to receive the grocery list, which will be emailed when the event gets closer.

Register for the event here.

About the Chef: Celebrated Chef Helen from Roots For The Soul offers her clients virtual cooking classes, chef-curated meals, and customized private dining experiences. Making quality a priority, she uses clean cooking techniques to create meals that provide complete nourishment and taste great. Sourcing ingredients from high quality local markets and farms, she crafts menus that are inspired by her diverse ethnic background and that honor seasonal produce. Questions can go to matthewprediger@gmail.com.

Sharon is CEO of White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc. and has been with the company since February 2001. Her experience in the financial services industry dates back to 1993, and includes positions at American Express Financial Advisors as a Financial Advisor, and the investment management firm, Lord, Abbett & Co. in New York City, as Client Liaison.

Sharon holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BScEcon) (Hons) in European Community Studies from the University of Wales, College of Cardiff with a focus on European political economics and languages. In continuing education, she received a certificate in International Business Practice from the Mountbatten Program/Oxford University and in 2019 completed the Vistage Executive Leadership Program in collaboration with the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She also holds the Certified Financial Planner ™ designation and is a member of NAPFA, a fee-only fiduciary professional association with the most rigorous continuing education requirements in the industry.

She was honored as a 2013 “Top Women in Business” and a 2010 “Forty under 40” recipient by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. She has been quoted in the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, CBS Money Watch, USA Weekend, MSN Money, The Financial Times Advisor IQ, Forbes.com, Glamour and CNN Money. She frequently speaks to conferences and CEO groups on wealth management topics.

Born in the UK, she has lived and studied in Africa, Asia and Europe and speaks multiple languages. In 2007 Sharon funded the rebuilding of a Kindergarten in Indonesia she named after her daughter – Sophia’s Sunshine School. It is her goal to build nine more and bring meaningful economic improvement to the area. Sharon is an active member of the Minneapolis community. She is currently Secretary of the Board of Minnesota Opera and serves on the investment committee. In Rotary she is the Past President of Rotary Club 9 and chaired the district-wide conference in 2015 and 2018 for their 2,000 members. In 2019 Sharon received the Marty Baskerville award for lifetime achievement in philanthropy and the Vistage lifetime achievement award for leadership in her CEO peer to peer organization.

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After the triple whammy of COVID, Recession, and Civil Unrest in 2020, let’s take a look forward at what 2021 will bring for the Commercial Real Estate market in downtown Minneapolis this year. Where are the risks and where are the opportunities, and how will your organization be affected? Join long-time MCOL members and market prognosticators, Anna Coskran and Jim Vos for their insights on the market.