50th Anniversary Highlights 

by  Don Heinzman

Key Dates Rotary Tab.

June7, 1960:Twenty-three men admitted to International Rotary.

June 15,1960: Club celebrates acceptance into Rotary International

1961-62 First pancake fundraiser started.

1962-63:First social gathering including wives at Lake Orono picnic.

1964-65: Visit from sister club of Bishop Auckland, England.

1966-67: Club helps sponsor AFS Foreign Exchange program.

1979-80: Began process of sponsoring new Rotary Club in Princeton.

1980-81: Princeton Rotary Club chartered. Bob Kemper awarded first Paul Harris Fellowship award.

1981-82: Elk River Club beats Monticello club in attendance contest.Rotary Gopher football game proceeds went to Courage Center.

1982-83: Paul Harris Fellowship awarded to Walter Mag Johnson.Club sponsored softball games made $550.

1984-85:Joyann Holme, Rotary Exchange Student, went to Tasmania. Club celebrated 25^th anniversary.Marianne Johnson arrives from Norway.

1985-86: Inbound Exchange Student Jacques Scarpelli Cabral arrived from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Brian Bosshardt awarded Rotary $600 scholarship.

1986-87: Club sponsors District softball tourment and makes profit of $3,054.Outbound foreign exchange student Connie Haney leaves for Finland. Megumi Sugiiyama arrives from Japan. John Plaisted recognized for 26 years as a club member. First drawings of proposed bandshell shown. Dr. BillMeyer, awarded Paul Harris Fellowship.

1987-88: Outbound student Jeannie Kroeger leaves for Sweden. MartinLovschall arrives from Denmark.Rin Rich, first woman welcomed to club. Julie Granlund awarded scholarship.

1989-1990: Mary Berning awarded scholarship. Donation made to Boy Scouts for Community Christmas party. Alejandro Morino Ramirez arrives from Venezuela.

1990-91:Club sponsors circus for first time.

1992-93:Bandshell in Lions Park dedicated.Glen Ertel and wife Jeanette drive truck loaded with supplies 4000 miles trip to Nuevo Gualco, El Salvador.

1993-94:Club sponsors clean-up of stretch of Elk River

1995-96: Club honors first sophomore student of the month.

1997-98:Julie Fish becomes first female president of club.

1998-99:Lt. Governor Mae Schunk speaks to club.Paul Bell travels to India as a member of the Rotary Group Study Exchnge program.

2000-01:Rotary Corn Feed at July 4^th celebration starts.Project to restore Handke stadium begins, with fund-raising.

2001-02: Phase 1 of Handke Restoration I (mailings to alumni, sale of winter scene portrait, sale of Handke hankies, individual donations and corporation donations $160,242) restores the warming house and part of rock retaining walls.

2002-03: Phase II of Handke Restoration (sale of summer scene portrait, on site billboard, more donations.Bill Hudson of WCO TV helps club and community celebrate completion of Phase I.

2003-04:Phase II completed, head into Phase III ofrestoration of the bell tower, brick plaza pavers, lighting.

2004-05: Phase III underway. Club coordinates joint service club pancake breakfast fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina relief.

2005-06:First Taste of Elk River.

2006-07:Club completes Handke Stadium restoration with Taste proceeds.

2007-08:Club buys walk-in Freezer for CAER from Taste proceeds. Club completes strategic planning.

2008-09:Club agrees to sponsor first phase of River Walkproject.Club begins to raise money for polio plus.Sponsors first golf tournament.

2009-10: Club has fifth Taste of Elk River. Celebrates 50^th anniversary.

Rotary Scenic Overlook

The latest Elk River Rotary long-range project is pledging $60,000 for the scenic overlook project, which is part of the city’s River Trail that will eventually go to Babcock Park.

Funds from the “Taste of Elk River”, the main fundraiser, are being used in part to finance this project.

This commitment grew out of a strategic planning session in 2008.The trail project started with the building of Rivers Edge Common Park.

In 2008, the Parish Avenue Crosswalk was improved and the walkway to the overlook site was built and native plants were completed.

The project eventually will include an elevated walkway, an improved overlook, anda bituminous trail with lighting all the way to Babcock Park, named after the first Minnesota Highway Commissioner Charles Babcock of Elk River.

Join Rotary

Join RotaryYou’ll enjoy the fellowship and become involved in projects that make the community a better place.

Rotarians meet weekly at noon at the Time Out Restaurant. The meetings include lunch, paid for through dues, announcements, and an interesting program on important topic.

Rotarians are business and professional leaders who take an active role in their community, while enriching their personal and professional lives.

The Rotary International has 1.2 million members serving communities in 160 countries.

It has a Rotary Foundation that finances projects throughout the world.

For more information or joining, visit:www.elkrivermnrotary.org.