We pledge ourselves to: "Create Hope in the World". We will accomplish this by reaffirming our mission to inspire leaders with passion to serve humanity, strengthen youth for tomorrow's leadership and dedicate ourselves to enhancing lives in our world. Before we speak, act, or make decisions, let us pause and ask ourselves: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These are our compass and will ensure that our actions are filled with integrity and genuine care.
Inspiring leaders with passion to serve humanity; strengthening youth for tomorrow's leadership and enhancing lives in our world. trouble
If you are having trouble viewing this email, look on the top of this email and "click here" to see if that improves the formatting and your experience.
ROTARY CLUB OF ELK RIVER Date: March 19th, 2026
Location: Rockwood’s Bar and Grill
Presiding: Mark Kuyava
Call to Order
President- Elect Mark called the meeting
to order at 12:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Welcome and Attendance Attending: Melanie Clemons, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Tove Lichty,John Osterman, Pete Reiner, Debbi Ryberg, Alan Sakry, Theresa Slominski, Joe Stremcha, Bruce Tyler, Nicole Wojcik, Michael Zeman, Charlene Zielin
Guests/Visitors: Jack Bauer, Carter, Ryan and Cheryl with the
Robotics 3023 Team – Stark Industries
Club Business
Rotary Foundation –The 2025–26 Conference of Clubs:
“Make Peace Visible” is almost here! April 17–18 | DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul East, Rotary District 5960 |
Minnesota and Western Wisconsin
Mark – We will be doing a service project with Guardian Angels, most likely serving seniors lunch and eating with them at the Guardian Oaks campus. Neil – A Rotary Social is coming up April 16th , MC’s Pub (The old Tipsy Chicken) at 5 p.m.
Club Engagement Activity Mark asked us all if we had a personal robot, what would we have it do? Some answers: Be a personal chef, clean, drive, do the complicated duties, jobs, exercise, shovel snow, pick up sticks, get the ball from the Tee to the Green, fly, marketing, win competitions, program our robot, landscaping, pick up dog poop.
Program Tove L. introduced Jack, Carter, Ryan and Cheryl from the 3023 Robotics Team/Stark
Industries (Yes, I learned later this is from Tony Stark’s Iron Man movie reference).
They have 16 members
They receive a lot of support from their teachers
This group provides a lot of skills that transfer to jobs and internships such as: teamwork, leadership, problem solving, coding, marketing, wiring, public
speaking, designing, competing, communication and outreach, mentoring, manufacturing, CAD.
They spoke about the Competitions. They each have their robot throw a ball into a target, the most that end up in the Target location, wins. They also get recognized for design, mechanics, cleanliness, electrical components, editing on the fly.
There are 2 regional competitions that are expensive! One competition alone is $7,000. This goes into parts for the robot, but also transportation to and from, food, new motors, marketing and sustainability from year to year.
These competitions are open to the public
They will be applying for a Rotary Donation
Carter is going to the U of M – Carlson School of Management with a Marketing Major
Jack is undecided as he has offers from Purdue and Texas A&M, but is waiting to hear back from Georgia Tech and Stanford. He will be going into Aerospace Engineering. Upcoming Programs
Following weeks:
March 26th – Board Meeting
April 2nd – Bob Maxwell, Eric Albertson and Cate
April 9th – Joe Libor
April 16th – Cal Portner
April 23rd – Board/Committee Meeting
Community Events
ER Chamber Fire and Ice Gala – March 26th
50/50 Drawing
Card drawn: No winner; pot continues.
Delights and Dilemma’s Theresa – Rotary International approved our grant for Rwanda! Nicole – Happy to Be here, great Florida trip, she did 3 performances in a row including the National Anthem Debbi – Attended an Archery Tournament and was extremely impressed by how well run it was with over 1,000 participants, sad she won’t be at the Board Meeting but it’s the Chamber’s Fire and Ice Gala Tove – Will be going to a company retreat in Lake Geneva, WI Buck - Well, you will have to ask him ��
Rotary Four-Way Test
Birthdays: March 30th -Julie Fish
Closing Thought: Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.
That is why it is called the present.
Eleanor Roosevelt
------
My visit to the Sierra Vista, AZ noon club at Cochise College on Monday 23, 2026. Exchanged banners and heard from their District Governor
Date: March 12, 2026
Location: Rockwood’s Bar and Grill
Presiding: Mark Kuyava
Call to Order President- Elect Mark called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Welcome and Attendance
Attending: Melanie Clemons, Glen Ertl, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark
Kuyava, Tove Lichty, John Osterman, Pete Reiner, Debbi Ryberg, Alan Sakry, Bruce Tyler, Michael Zeman, Charlene Zielin
Club Business Rotary Foundation –The 2025–26 Conference of Clubs: “Make Peace Visible” is
almost here! April 17–18 | DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul East, Rotary District 5960 |
Minnesota and Western Wisconsin
Mark – We will be doing a service project with Guardian Angels, most likely serving
seniors lunch and eating with them at the Guardian Oaks campus.
Neil – A Rotary Social is coming up April 16th ,
MC’s Pub (The old Tipsy Chicken) at 5p.m.
Club Engagement Activity Mark asked us all what our “Walk Up Song” would be. Some answers:
Red, Stronger, Better in Stereo Regards to Broadway, Tiny Dancer, Bon to be Wild, Eye
of the Tiger, If I had a Million Dollars, Walking on Sunshine, Born this Way, Don’t Worry
About a Thing, Born to Run, Let it Ride, Takin’ Care of Business, John’s was a Rick James song, any Disney Song, TSU by Drake
Program
John O. introduced Coach Mynahan and Elsie Ostmoe and Joanna Talso
Has been the head Varsity Girls BB Coach for the past 4 years and was coaching the ERHS JV team prior.
They went 22-7 this season
Both Elsie and Joanna scored over 1,000 points this season! (The average player scores about 300 points a season)
A highlight was the game against Brainerd, where they were down by 9 points with less than 2 minutes. Two underclassmen scored, and then Elsie made the
winning basket with 1 second left! Elsie is going to go to U of M Duluth, play D2 Basketball, and going to study
Occupational Therapy Joanna is going to Northwestern in St. Paul, play D3 Basketball, and is going to study Elementary Education
The ERHS Girls BB Team was Conference Champions this year.
Both girls started playing basketball when they were in kindergarten.
They predict UConn is going to win the College Tournament (Charlene is a UConn Alumni) Elsie also participates in Elk Buddies at ERHS with other students, where they do monthly activities with students with disabilities
Taste Update – Heather –
Deciding on the Signature Recipient, most likely between Open Doors for Youth or Mainstream Family Services.
She sent around slips for us to vote. She also sent an email out to those not present at the meeting to vote.
We would like to be able to send out Save The Dates, publish on our website and socials, since we have the date, Thursday, August 13th, 2026, at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center (in The Yard). We also have access to the
Flex Space adjacent to The Yard. Upcoming Programs
March 19th -Tove Lichty, Jack Bauer with Elk River Robotics
March 26th – Board Meeting
April 2nd – Bob Maxwell, Eric Albertson and Cate
April 9th – Joe Libor
April 16th – Cal Portner
April 23rd – Board/Committee Meeting
Community Events CAER Food Shelf Trot of Gold – March 14th
ER Chamber Fire and Ice Gala – March 26th
50/50 Drawing
Card drawn:
No winner... pot continues.
Delights and Dilemmas Heather is happy with the weather forecast as it will snow Friday and then stop for her Trot of Gold Event and start up again afterward, also that she and Coach
Mynahan are related Alan is excited to go to Naples, FL Monday Mike is happy to have Terry Bizal back as a Vice Principal for awhile Pete – well, he met Max the Mayor…you’ll have to ask him about it Julie- happy to have Garrett here
Rotary Four-Way Test
Birthdays: March 30th - Julie Fish
Closing Thought
Rotary, sometimes you don’t really want to go but are always happy you went
afterwards!
Adjournment, Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Last Weeks' Student of the Month -Tyler Berklich
Adjournment, Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Last Time We Met 3/5/2026
Today our meeting was held in The Overlook at the Furniture & Things Event Center and was led by President-Elect Mark Kuyava.
We said the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Debbi Rydberg, Alan Sakry, Theresa Slominski, Joe Stremcha, Michael Zeman, Charlene Zielin, Glen Ertel, John Osterman, Bruce Tyler
Guests Attending Stacie Wendt, HOME Program Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, and Cynthia Child, Senior Community Services Program Coordinator
Club Engagement Activity
Everyone answered the question, what did you want to be when you grew up? Responses were Tide Pool Controller, Ballet, Teacher, TV Personality, 1st Female Supreme Court Justice, Nurse, Lawyer, Athlete, Astronaut, Veterinarian, Dairy Farmer, Architect, Major League Baseball Player, Football Player, Rotarian, and Mechanic.
Student of the Month Michael Zeman introduced Tyler Berklich, and we also met his parents Wendy and Tim. Tyler is a National Merit Finalist, which is in the top 1% of the national student population and there are only 15,000 total. His favorite subject is History, and his future plans are to attend the University of Alabama on a full ride and then go to law school. His definition of success is being happy and satisfied, and his hero is his great grandpa.
Program Stacie Wendt told us that Senior Community Services is a nonprofit organization that helps seniors stay in their home in Wright and Sherburne Counties. They offer services for seniors like lawncare, snow removal, yard work, laundry, minor repairs, housekeeping, and moving furniture. They have 105 clients in Elk River and work with clients in Guardian Angels housing too. The services costs are income based, although no one is ever turned away. There is also a Licensed Social Worker that runs support groups and is also available for one-on-one sessions. Cynthia Child talked about the technology services they provide. They do tech clinics for groups, and presentations on a variety of tech topics on how technology can help and augment their lives, as well as how to use it safely. They will help set up devices and internet services, reset routers, and even log back into gmail when you forget your password! There is a technology hotline for people to call, and they will also provide in-home services that range from $15, $35, and $50.
Happy Birthday – No birthdays today
Delights and Dilemmas
Neil Gagnon had a dilemma that he showed up at Rockwoods today, and a delight that because of that he was able to get Alan Sakry to Rotary today.
Julie Fish had a dilemma that her momma fell and bruised her side badly. She went to ER and ended up in Rehab for three weeks and is now at The Willows in Monticello that is only a few miles from where she lives. Michael Zeman was delighted for the wrestling team going to state, boys’ basketball making sections, girls’ basketball making sections, and boys’ hockey making the finals. 9 of the 13 sports at Elk River Highschool made it to the championships this year. Go Elks!
John Osterman had a successful Lake of the Woods fishing experience. They had Eelpout Hord ‘oeuvres with their fish fry and encouraged everyone to try it if you have not. They are ugly but they taste good!
Debbi Rydberg was delighted with curling tonight at Boondocks, and the Fire and Ice Gala for the Chamber is coming up so get your early bird tickets before the price increases next week.
Heather Kliewer had a dilemma that she was not on the email list for the F&TEC meeting place today. She was delighted to have the student of the month here today, the girls’ basketball team success, her grandma is also recovering from having fallen, and attending the Maple Grove Sip ‘N Sample event for a field trip.
Alan Sakry had a dilemma that he was late as he went to Rockwoods instead of The Overlook.
Card Draw – No card game today
Announcements
Debbi reported that after the club voting was tallied, the priorities for funding local donations are as follows: youth and mentoring, education and literacy, mental health, food, elderly, disabled, and veterans. The committee will focus on the top four categories but that doesn’t mean other categories won’t be funded at all. Grant applications are open until the end of the month. The information is on our website.
Closing Thoughts: Daylight Savings Time – The hour I lost today was the hour I was going to the gym. Darn.
Date: February 19th, 2026
Location: Rockwood’s Bar and Grill
Presiding: Cal Portner
Call to Order President Cal called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance
Welcome: Attending: Melanie Clemons, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer,
Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Joe Stremcha, Robert Maxwell, Bruce Tyler
Guests/Visitors:
Bill Olson, Otsego ACE Hardware
Club Business
Rotary Foundation – “Share the Love” Month (February)
February is recognized as “Share the Love Month” for Rotary Foundation giving in recognition of Valentine’s Day.
The Rotary Foundation continues to be one of the most highly rated charities globally:
15 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator
A+ rating from CharityWatch
Since its founding, the Foundation has invested more than $4 billion in sustainable, life-changing projects worldwide.
District Goal: $500,000 for the Annual Fund
The District is approximately halfway to its goal at the midpoint of the year.
Approximately 50% of member contributions return to the District to fund local and regional grants.
Members were encouraged to consider giving via Rotary Direct: $30/month qualifies for 5 Paul Harris Fellow recognition points per year.
Discussion included potential use of future grant funds for local projects, including possible improvements around the Elk River water tower park.
Open Doors for Youth Gala – If Rotary buys a table, are Rotarians interested in attending? The event is on March 5th, 2026 Club Engagement Activity
“Cal named famous sidekicks; we had to name the “Star”
Notable responses included:
Batman
Lucille Ball
Winnie the Pooh
Jackie Gleason
Andy Griffith
Paul Simon
Jerry Seinfeld
Hans Solo
Johnny Carson
Sherlock Holmes
Laverne and Shirley
Program Mark introduced Bill Olson, the GM of the Otsego ACE Hardware
The location opened 18 months ago
Their goals are to be service-driven, helpful, find solutions and be the go-to
hardware store
ACE was founded by 4 men in 1924 who decided to come together and buy a
whole truck full of sponges, which they learned buying in bulk saved money so
why not expand that to other items.
Now they’re in 70 countries
Have won the JD Power award 14 of the last 15 years
They are owned by Coborns (who owns 7 ACE locations)
Likes to support other local businesses and provides their products in his store
Upcoming Programs
Feb. 26th – Board Meeting
March 5th – Dr. Laura Dockendorf – Stacie Wenndt, Write and Sherburne
County Home Program Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
March 12th - Joseph Libor, Open Doors for Youth
March 19th -Tove Lichty, Jack Bauer with Elk River Robotics
Community Events
Thumbs Up 5K Party with a Purpose – February 27th
Open Doors for Youth -10th Anniversary Gala –
March 5th
CAER Food Shelf Trot of Gold – March 14th
ER Chamber Fire and Ice Gala – March 26th
Rotary Four-Way Test
50/50 Drawing
Card drawn:
No winner; pot continues.
Delights and Delema’s Neil had a great time in Arizona with friends/family and golf!
Closing Thought
Shared quote:
We can complain that rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have
roses - Abraham Lincoln
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner.
We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending Wade Bastian, Melanie Clemons, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Julie Fish, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Bob Maxwell, John Osterman, Debbi Ryberg, Alan Sakry, Theresa Slominski, Bruce Tyler, Nicole Wojcik, Mike Zeman
Guests Char Zielin Estella Yanquoi – Student of the Month Gladys Yanquoi – Estella’s mom
Rotary Moment – Share the Love this month by contributing to the Rotary Foundation. Imagine the impact your donations will make. District 5960's February SHARE THE LOVE campaign in support of our Rotary International Foundation. Contributions to the Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE are the funds that come back to our District to use for grants that positively impact people in our communities and around the world. The more we all give, the more impact we can make!
Club Engagement – Cal asked the group if they could be in the Olympics, what sport would they play? Answers: Hockey, Girls Hockey (John), Ice Dancing, Ski Jumping, Curling, Biathlon, snowboarding, ice skating, spectating, the luge. Then Cal gave us an impossible trivia list of 20 questions about the Olympics ( Estella, Gladys and Mike with 12 correct! ) was the top group.
Program Jack from Open Doors For Youth – He spoke briefly about the history of Open Doors, how it’s celebrating it’s 10th anniversary with a Gala coming up in March, which is to hopefully help fund some transitional housing. OPEN DOORS FOR YOUTH | ELK RIVER | HOMELESS YOUTH RESOURCE CENTER
Freedom Aviation Network Student of the Month – Estella Yanquoi Estella is a gifted artist with her paintings even showcased in NYC! She plans to attend MCAD in Mpls for Science and a minor in Art. Her hero is her mom who is her #1 supporter
Club News and Updates Mark – Feed My Starving Children tonight in Coon Rapids. Be there by 4:45 p.m. We were......
Heather – The Taste of Elk River – Figuring out the timeline for everything. We have the date, August 13th and the venue, The Yard at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center. • Tickets – Do we raise or keep the price the same? Choose to keep the price at $40 (pre-sale) and $50 at the door. We will discuss a VIP price, if we have a VIP section. • Committees – o Sponsorship – Theresa – could use a few more people to assist with selling these! o Food Vendors – Debbi & Roger o Drink Vendors – John (talked about adding some non-alcholic, mocktails, Dirty Sodas and other options) o Marketing & Publicity – Joe, Bob, Melanie and maybe Starr (from the City) o Logistics & Event Day – Heather and Melanie o Ticket Sales – Cal, Neil, Joe o Volunteers – o Possible Silent Auction – • Heather, John and Melanie to talk with Phil at Pour • Talk with Katie about access to the website and sponsor packages (Heather, Theresa & Melanie to meet and discuss packages) • Theresa and Julie will create the packages on Canva • Send out online vote on who should be the Signature Recipient this year (listing 3 options) • Once we have the Recipient, we can send out Save the Dates and push on our Socials and website. • Host a meeting at the Furniture and Things Community Event Center when they have it set up for Prom so we can see what it will look like. Have lunch at the Overlook. • Talked about only having the commemorative glasses for VIP’s and having disposable logoed glasses as we could save about $1,400. •
Maple Grove’s Sip & Sample Event, February 28th from 6 – 10 p.m. Sip and Sample. Heather and Doug are going, John O., Melanie & Roger Clemons – everyone is invited to come and we can see if we get any ideas from their event.
Birthdays – 2-13- Dirk Barrett 2-28 – Ben Zawacki
Upcoming Programs – 2/19 – Mark Kuyava – Bill Olson, Store Manager, Ace Hardware 2/26 – Board/Committee Meeting – encourage Taste Committees to meet up that day
3/5 – Dr. Laura Dockendorf – Stacie Wenndt, Wright and Sherburne County Home Program Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
Delights and Dilemmas Ran out of time
Card Draw – No winner
We recited the Four Way Test
Cal’s Quote of the Day: The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well. By Barron Pierre De Coubertin
ROTARY CLUB OF ELK RIVER –
MEETING MINUTES
Date: February 5th, 2026
Location: Rockwood’s Bar and Grill
Presiding:Cal Portner
Call to Order
President Cal called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Rotary Four-Way Test Review
Welcome & Attendance
Cal welcomed members and guests, noting it was nice to see several members who had been away return to the meeting.
Attending: Melanie Clemons, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Debbi Ryberg, Theresa Slominski, Joe Stremcha, Michael Zeman, Robert Maxwell, John Osterman, Bruce Wilson
Guests/Visitors:
Alex Jensen, Student of the Month (Elk River High School)
Angela & Jensen (Alex’s parents)
Announcements & Club Business
Rotary Foundation – “Share the Love” Month (February)
February is recognized as “Share the Love Month” for Rotary Foundation giving, in recognition of Valentine’s Day.
The Rotary Foundation continues to be one of the most highly rated charities globally:
15 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator
A+ rating from CharityWatch
Since its founding, the Foundation has invested more than $4 billion in sustainable, life-changing projects worldwide.
District Goal: $500,000 for the Annual Fund
The District is approximately halfway to its goal at the midpoint of the year.
Approximately 50% of member contributions return to the District to fund local and regional grants.
Members were encouraged to consider giving via Rotary Direct:
$30/month qualifies for 5 Paul Harris Fellow recognition points per year.
Discussion included potential use of future grant funds for local projects, including possible improvements around the Elk River water tower park.
Club Engagement Activity
“What movie could you rewatch and never get tired of?”
Notable responses included:
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Notebook
Dumb & Dumber
Gladiator
Moana
Mighty Ducks
The Godfather I & II
Harry Potter series
John Wick
Cal shared that while stationed in a remote area of Alaska, they watched:
Top Gun – 74 times
Gremlins – 53 times
Footloose – 38 times
Student of the Month – Alex Jensen
Introduced by Mike Zeman, Principal of Elk River High School
Activities:
Football (starting center as junior and senior)
Swim & Dive
Track & Field
Honors & Character:
Known across the conference for his leadership and enthusiastic support of teammates, especially divers.
Respected by coaches and peers for his positivity and encouragement.
Frequently helps in the school office and is considered a strong role model.
Injury & Recovery:
Tore his shoulder in a semifinal football game.
Surgery completed; expected return to swimming/diving by June.
Post-High School Plans:
Will attend Lawrence Technological University (Michigan) and play football.
Alex’s parents, Angela (nurse) and Tyler, were recognized and thanked for their support.
Taste of Elk River Planning Update
Heather presented on behalf of the Taste of Elk River Committee.
Event Date
August 13, 2026
Venue – Furniture and Things, The Yard
Key points discussed:
The space is larger than the previous ice arena but is draped around the perimeter to create a more intimate feel. It saves us $3K to not have to rent it.
Ceiling height approximately 24 feet (rafters slightly lower).
North side includes a garage door for vendor load-in/load-out.
Electrical outlets available along the perimeter; additional power can be dropped from the ceiling if needed.
Bathrooms:
Existing men’s and women’s restrooms.
Considering adding two family restrooms by converting adjacent storage space.
Layout Concepts (Preliminary Ideas)
Melanie presented sample visual concepts (non-final), including themed areas such as:
Wine Tasting Wing
Bourbon Speakeasy
Craft Beer Flight Room
These are exploratory ideas meant to inspire sponsorship packages and attendee experience, not finalized plans.
Ticketing & Traffic Flow
Possible two-lane entry system:
General Admission line
VIP/Volunteer corridor
ID check and ticket scanning station near main entrance.
Sponsorship Discussion
Consideration of a “signature sponsor” versus multiple smaller area sponsors.
Opportunity to build themed sponsorship packages tied to specialty tasting areas.
Next Steps
Committee meeting planned following next week’s regular Rotary meeting.
Finalize time of event
Members interested in participating in planning were encouraged to connect with Melanie.
Proposed Signature Recipient for 2025 Taste
Heather recommended Open Doors for Youth as the proposed beneficiary, noting:
They are working toward a transitional housing project.
They have received support in the past but not recently.
No vote was taken; discussion will continue in future meetings.
Upcoming Programs
Next week:
Feb. 12th, Bonnie Koste, Student of the Month presentation
Guest speaker from Open Doors for Youth
Possible Taste planning breakout session afterward
Feed My Starving Children event in Coon Rapids, Feb. 12th at 5 – 6:30 p.m., for details see Mark
Following weeks:
Presentation from Mark, Ace Hardware
Feb. 26th – Board Meeting
March 5th – Dr. Laura Dockendorf – Stacie Wenndt, Write and Sherburne County Home Program Volunteer Outreach Coordinator
Community Events
Thumbs Up 5K Party with a Purpose – February 27th
Open Doors for Youth -10th Anniversary Gala – March 5th
CAER Food Shelf Trot of Gold – March 14th
ER Chamber Fire and Ice Gala – March 26th
50/50 Card Drawing
Card drawn: Eight of Hearts
No winner; pot continues.
Delights & Dilemma’s
Bob – Gopher’s Wins, Wild on a Roll
Heather: Trip to Costa Rica (90° and sunny).
Two granddaughters’ birthdays:
Maddie – turning 2
Allison – turning 5
Theresa – highly encourage members to give this month, working on the grant for Rwanda.
Julie – Heather & Joe – giving a great presentation and explanation of possibilities for the Taste of Elk River (great visual aids)
John - Olympics beginning; member shared pride in local athletes competing.
Grants Update - Theresa
District grant application still in progress.
Preliminary review by Rotary International completed; full approval could take up to 90 days (possible April/May timeline).
Expected funding:
~$12,000 from District
~$10,800 from Rotary International
Birthdays
Tove celebrated 40th birthday
Closing Thought
Shared quote:
“There’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
Today our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by Cal Portner, Club President.
We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending: Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Julie Fish, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Debbi Rydberg, David Vinje, Nicole Owjcik, Glen Ertel, Bob Maxwell, John Osterman and Bruce Tyler
Cal led us in the discussion of “What is the weirdest food you have ever eaten?”
Answers that came forth - lutefisk, oysters on the half shell, head cheese, squid-after dissecting it in biology class, cow tongue, deer heart, balut (fertilized duck egg in the shell, eaten by Mark Kuyava), liver worst, Limburger cheese and barbecue sauce spaghetti!
Program Today our program was a Club Assembly led by Cal Portner. He shared a bit of information from the board of directors meeting that was held last week.
-Civics Bee - Elk River Rotary is going to be a sponsor at the $500 level for a Civics Bee, held by the Monticello and Elk River Chamber of Commerce. -The Signature Donation Recipient for the Taste of Elk River will receive $10,000 for the upcoming 2026 Taste of Elk River.
-Survey Donation Focus - survey sheets were passed around by Debbi Rydberg for members to vote on to assist the donations committee.
-Forest Lake Rotary is hosting their 14th Annual Plunge! Anyone interested??
-Service Project Update: Mark Kuyava, Service Chair has a project lined up with and a partner Rotary club to add to the fun! Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 5 to 6:30 pm we will travel to Coon Rapids to participate in a Feed My Starving Children event. It is open to any aged kindergarten to old age! Jewelry is not allowed. If you want to wear your wedding rings, you can but will need to wear gloves. Mark is looking for 5 to 10 volunteers to make it a fun completion with the Coon Rapids Rotary. After the volunteer service, Mark has arranged for us to go to the Muddy Cow in Coon Rapids. Watch your email for the sign up. The email will come from Mark.
-February 4th is History Day and Debbi Rydberg will send out an email to see if there is interest to join in as a judge.
-The Board of Directors is looking for our Club President for 2027-28, following Mark Kuyava. If you have interest, please reach out to either Mark Kuyava or Cal Portner.
-Membership Update - with regret, Cal informed us of the resignation of member Garrett Prehatney. Cal reminded us to think of folks that would make good members. We could use a membership drive!
-Party With A Purpose is an evening fundraiser to raise funds for both You’re Not Alone and Thumbs UP. The event will be held February 27th at 6 pm in Rogers at the 21st Century Event Center.
-Taste of Elk River will be the subject of our meeting next week. Heather Kliewer has graciously agreed to chair our event. She is looking for a co-chair so please reach out to her if you are interested! It will be held Thursday, August 13th and there are many things to ponder so please be sure to be in attendance next week, Thursday, February 5 to help get a good start on our upcoming event.
-Next week, we will also have a Student of the Month in attandance.
Happy Birthday song, the $10 version, was sang to the one and only Bob Maxy Maxwell!
Delights and Delima's -Nicole Wojcik was happy to have her husband Marc at our meeting today. He is currently laid off due to all of the things going on in Minneapolis, and he is bored! She was also delighted because they have plans to go to Florida in February! -Debbi Rydberg was grateful that her heat in her house works and was delighted to have her car back from repair, although she reports no one noticed because the loaner car was the same has her car!
Card Draw was a 10 of diamonds and there was not a winner today!
Together we recited the 4 Way Test!
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”
~John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America”
Last Time We Met 1/15/2026
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner. We recited the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Attending
Melanie Clemons, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Bob Maxwell,
Debbi Ryberg, Bruce Tyler, Ben Zawacki
Guests - No Guests
Rotary Moment – Cal outlined the 4-Way Test and the step-by-step process and how it relates to our
everyday lives. We need to think outside the box and solve problems. He gave the example of being at
the airport and picking up your baggage in the past. Traveler’s would have to wait quite a while to pick
up their luggage. The solution was moving baggage claim further away from where the terminals are.
Club Engagement – How many iconic cartoon characters of all time can you name? Heather and Tom won with listing 29 characters. Some included: Tom, Jerry, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety, Tasmanian Devil, Sponge Bob, Beavis and Butthead, Smurfs, Cinderella, Barney, Dora the Explorer…..
Program
Tom Kerber –
Freedom Aviation Network
First organization of its kind to transport survivors of human trafficking and their advocates to safety.
Established in 2020
Founded by Stephanie Lemar (Captain of Go Jet Airlines) and Jared Miller (life-long
philanthropist)
Based in Nashville
43 states are involved so far
54% of survivors stated that transportation is one of the biggest barriers to reaching safety
They’ve had 93 mission requests
Flown 123 passengers
They have 64 Anti Human Trafficking partners
167 Active Pilots
Rotary is one of their partners.
Tom is going to see how we are involved
Club News and Updates Mark - spoke about mock interviews at ERHS in February. If you’re interested in volunteering, please see Mark. He also emailed out the link to volunteer this morning. Cal – Spoke about how next week is a board meeting (1/22) and a Club Assembly on 1/29.
Birthdays – 1-13- Tove Lichty
1-31 – Bob Maxwell
Delights and Dilemmas Cal – Fined Neil for leaving his briefcase last week at the meeting. He told us about his Alumni Hockey
game in New Ulm where his team won 10-3. They had over 700 spectators! Neil- Thanked Cal for the fine. He’s excited to go ice fishing with a group of 10 from the Bank of Elk River
this weekend in Lake of the Woods. Julie – Thanked Jim Boyle from the Star News for the nice article. She’s also thankful for her retirement! Tom – Told us about his step father-in-law had been battling cancer the past three years, started to
decline quickly and passed away yesterday. Bob – Celebrated the Gopher win at the Bowl Game.
Card Draw – No winner
We recited the Four Way Test
Cal’s Quote of the Day: I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.
Last Time We Met 1/8/2026
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner.
We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending Melanie Clemons, Glen Ertel, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Cal Portner, Alan Sakry, Joe Stremcha, Bob Maxwell, Bruce Tyler, Mike Zeman
Guests Ryley Rydell – ERHS Junior – Camp Enterprise Ryan Rydell – Ryley’s dad, Minnetonka Rotary Member Tom Ryan – Feed My Starving Children Kizzy – Feed My Starving Children Ryley Rydell –
Ryley Rydell – ERHS Junior – Camp Enterprise
Camp Enterprise Junior at ERHS, attended Camp Enterprise Nov. 6-8th. The Camp taught her about leadership, teamwork, more about herself. First day they had activities for the group. They had a company challenge for the groups. They were to create a company – she was elected CEO and realized she needed to guide her group, keep them focused, listen and prioritize. She learned she had to trust her team, use their strengths to succeed and if you make mistakes, to adjust. Their team developed Vital Air – a medevac drone for organ transport.
Program Neil introduced Tom Ryan & Kizzy from Feed My Starving Children Tom is part of the MN Council, volunteers and is on the Speaker Series for FMSC, Kizzy is new to the Speaker Series and is shadowing Tom today. • FMSC was established in 1987. • Over 6,200 children die every day from malnutrition or hunger. Half of the deaths of children under the age of five are due to malnutrition. • FMSC is a Christian Non-profit, but you don’t need to be Christian to volunteer or receive the donations. • FMSC donates to over 100 countries around the world. • They believe hope starts with food. Their pillars are Feeding Kids, Feeding Spirits, and Empowering Communities. • FMSC is completely donation-funded. They purchase the raw materials, volunteers pack them, and deliver them to where they are needed. They have a 98.9% delivery success rate. • They have permanent and mobile packing facilities. Volunteers pack 6 bags to a box and 36 boxes to a pallet. • They follow all FDA guidelines. • You can sign up as an individual or as a group.
Club News and Updates
Mark spoke about the Literacy Project and how he received 23 apology letters from the students of Parker Elementary School for acting “rowdy,” and a thank you letter as well from the teachers.
Julie – handed out old Rotary clips from Jim at the Star News Theresa – Asked for a volunteer to join the Grant Committee – Joe Stremcha stepped up!
Birthdays – No birthdays today
Delights and Dilemmas
Julie – Thank you to Ryley and Camp Enterprise. She’s also a graduate. She’s also thankful for her retirement!
Theresa – Thankful she saw her daughter for a week over the holidays and gets to see her again next week. Mike – Thanked Ryley, and also the Swim Team and their HS Records Ryan Rydell – Thankful for Camp Enterprise, also the Broomfield Rotary where he just won a 1972 Mustang from a Raffle drawing. He’s the president-elect for the Minnetonka Rotary.
Heather – Travelled to GA to visit Harper, the newest granddaughter. She was able to spend time with five of her grandchildren and some family! Squatch Game Saturday night where the proceeds will go to CAER
Cal – Going to New Ulm for the 50th Anniversary of Hockey. Seven of his classmates will be playing in the game. Happy how fun the Holiday Party was and that he has recovered from Influenza A.
Card Draw – No winner
We recited the Four Way Test
December 11, 2025
Today our meeting was run by President Cal Portner.
Attending
Dirk Barrett, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Tom Kerber, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Pete Reiner, Joe Stremcha, Nicole Wojcik, Bob Maxwell, John Osterman, Bruce Tyler and Stewart Wilson
Club Engagement
Cal handed out a slip of paper listing A-Z with lines that follow. We broke into groups of three and the race was on to see who could fill out the sheet the fastest. Each letter list a Christmas item to match that letter. Team Joe, Pete, Stewart one the contest and received a box of pralines to share. Team Nicole, Neil, Julie came in second and won a box of Ferrero Rocher candies to share.
Rotary Moment
President Cal called up Rotarian Julie Fish to receive her most recent Paul Harris Fellow pin. This is her fifth PHF. Four under her name and in 2013, she gifted one to an amazing community member - Jane Houlton for all she has done! That was the year Julie jumped into Lake Orono for Shiver Elk River. Funds raised were for Jane’s PHF. Julie reports the secret to attaining them is to participate in the opportunities to donate $365 but receive 1000 points to earn a PHF.
Program
Dirk Barrett arranged our program and introduced us to Lance Lindberg, Elk River Historian, also comedian, also real estate agent for Keller Williams. Lance chatted with us about his history of coming to Elk River, Minnesota from California. His grandparents lived in Elk River and were aging. They asked Lance’s parents if they would buy their home on Lake Orono. Lance shared that he met John Osterman on the street and John showed him about town, and showed him to a huge hole, a crater perhaps that was made when the dinosaurs were killed off. Turns out to be the Handke “pit”! At this location, many folks came and went. A place for football, baseball, skating, hockey, lots of kids and adults spent time there. Lance attended Elk River High School. He shared that he was not the greatest student and shared experiences in French and German Clubs. He talked about the old trailer park in Elk River, where Walmart not resides. He shared that this park was Elk River’s first community! Elk River also had a nuclear (atomic) power plant. He has great memories of the Sherburne County Fair and remembers his first time there and seeing the carnival workers with all the missing teeth. His mom told him that they had their teeth pulled to save on toothpaste. The DNR exhibit contained fish from Lake Orono (carp, bullheads, eel pout, cowheads)! Similar to the State Fair exhibit of fish in Minnesota lakes. He continued on with many more stories! Fun program, Dirk!
Back to President Cal . . . Up Next
Reminder 12/18/25 is our evening SOCIAL! at 5:30 at Cowboy Jack’s in the backroom!
12/25/25 and 1/1/26 – No Meetings
1/8/26 – Neil Gagnon will present Ryley Rydell from Elk River High School who attended Camp Enterprise
1/15/26 – Tom Kerber
Delights and Dilemmas
-Bob Maxwell was delighted that 24 years ago on 12/7, he was brought back to life when he survived a heart issue. He owes a lot to God, his family and his Rotary family. With tears in his eyes, he thanked us for all we have brought him through the years. He was also delighted to share that he attended Phantom of the Opera with his daughter, family and friends. Final delight was that the Vikings won the game last Sunday!
-Cal Portner had an IOU to share a story about his wife and daughters attending Phantom of the Opera and a debacle with his wife’s phone locator! Funny story!
-Julie Fish had a delight buck for having the opportunity to watch Frosty the Snowman and The Grinch (original) with her parents and it was their first time seeing them. They are 93!! She also had a very delightful $20 to share with the group that in 20 days, she will be retiring!
-Nicole Wojcik was delighted for Bob’s story – we are blessed to have him; delighted to have attended a convention in Stillwater for work where she learned a new skill with dryer balls!
-Stewart Wilson was delighted to tell us that he was in Elk River instead of Florida this time of the year because yesterday, he officially retired from the Board of Directors at the Bank of Elk River after 50 years of service!
-Dirk Barrett was grateful that Bob Maxwell being here with us today!
-Tom Kerber had a delight for all of the snow we have received! He is hitting the snow trails this weekend!
Card Game – our guest drew a 6 of diamonds. No winner!
Together we recited the 4 Way Test of the things we think, say and do!
Closing thought
It’s all fun and games till Santa checks the naughty list!
Elk River Rotary Meeting
Date:12-4-25
Location: Rockwoods Bar & Grille, Otsego
Attendance: Melanie Clemons, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Cal Portner, Debbi Ryberg, Salan Sakry, Joe Stremcha, Michael Zeman, Glen Ertel, Bob, Maxwell, John Osterman, Bruce Tyler
Guests:
Logan Van Deusen and Caleb Healey were introduced as Melanie’s guests and marketing job-shadow students for the day.
Cinnamon Glassbrenner - School Fundr
Aaron, Trisha and Eva Kallunki – Student of the Month
Rotary President Cal called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m and kicked off with some light-hearted banter about “bad news” (bills being due) and “good news” (it’s Christmastime!).
Question of the Day
What city, state, or country would you never visit again — and why?
Members shared a variety of colorful answers, including:
Lanesboro, MN – Surprise Amish community shutdown at 6 p.m. left one hungry Rotarian wandering for food.
Kremmling, CO (“The Kremlin”) – Described as a ghost town with no one around.
Waterloo, IA – One hockey tournament was enough.
Somerset, WI – A notoriously tiny, not-so-favorite hockey rink.
El Salvador / Guatemala trip (1991) – Hair-raising roadside drop-offs and unsafe-feeling travel.
San José, Costa Rica – Stark contrast between “haves and have-nots” made the visit intense and uncomfortable.
Torreón, Mexico – Large industrial city with “not much there” once the local connection had moved away.
Mexico City (1968 student year abroad) – So many wonderful memories that the member prefers to preserve them rather than go back and change the picture.
North Battleford, Saskatchewan – Endless, flat winter driving, nothing open until late morning, and careful fuel planning needed.
Rotary Moment
A brief Rotary Moment highlighted recent youth engagement:
Members shared about visits to local schools where students especially loved the jokes and interaction.
Handed out our Becky and Lin's Apple Orchard Park by Andrew J. Shoup.
Camp Enterprise dates were announced for November 5–7 next year, with a student scheduled to come speak about their experience at a future meeting.
A QR code is available for those who still need to sign up for upcoming Rotary volunteer opportunities.
Student of the Month – Eva Kallunki
We welcomed our December Student of the Month, Eva, along with her parents, Aaron and Trisha.
Eva is a National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist and is involved in:
Math Team
Red Cross Club (she serves in a leadership role)
She is currently organizing a Red Cross blood drive on December 31 at Central Lutheran Church and invited Rotarians to consider donating.
When asked about her future plans, Eva shared that she hopes to study Biomedical Engineering, with a focus on cardiovascular engineering and regenerative medicine.
She expressed deep appreciation for her parents, noting her mom’s consistent support and her dad’s help with tough decisions.
Program – Cinnamon Glassbrenner, School Fundr
Melanie introduced our speaker, Cinnamon, a longtime friend from junior high, college, and the TV/radio world. Cinnamon has been working in school fundraising for over 10 years and now works with School Fundr, an online fundraising platform.
Why Online Fundraising Works
Cashless & Convenient:
People rarely carry cash or checks anymore—phones do it all.
Donors can give quickly via mobile, anywhere they are.
Tracking & Transparency:
Automatic receipts, thank-yous, and reports make audits and record-keeping much easier.
Helps reduce opportunities for fraud or “missing money,” which has been an issue for some PTOs/PTAs.
Expanded Reach:
Instead of going door-to-door to sell products, students can reach grandparents, relatives, and friends across the country.
Social media and email drastically expand the donor base.
Automation Helps Volunteers:
Pre-written email templates, reminder cadences, and automated analytics help combat volunteer burnout.
She emphasized that online tools don’t replace storytelling — you still have to clearly explain:
What you’re raising money for
Why it matters
How it will make a difference
About School Funder
Similar to GoFundMe in look and feel but designed specifically for schools, teams, and youth groups rather than crisis situations.
Tip-based model:
Donors are invited to leave an optional tip to support the platform.
Schools keep 100% of donations, minus standard ~3% credit card processing fees.
No contracts, no deposits, no startup fees.
The platform:
Builds a custom landing page for the team or group
Sends a 5-email “drip campaign” to each student’s list of contacts
Provides analytics and reporting
Offers customer support along the way
Currently used in about 40 Minnesota schools and ~400 campaigns, with especially strong traction in:
Greater Minnesota
Lower-income districts like Minneapolis, where keeping nearly all funds makes a big difference.
For younger students (K–2), parents still play a key role by entering emails and sharing links/QR codes with family and friends.
Announcements
Groovy Holiday Party
Date: Wednesday, December 18
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Note: No noon meeting that day.
Theme: “Groovy” holiday fun — Julie and the committee promised a hip, fun Christmas gathering.
Programs:
12-11-25 Dirk Barrett – Lance Lindberg, an Elk River Historian
1-8-2026 Neil Gagnon
1-15-2026 Tom Kerber
1-22-2026 Board Meeting
Taste of Elk River
Heather reported on a meeting with Katieat Furniture & Things Event Center.
The last summer concert will be August 6, so Taste of Elk River is penciled in for Thursday, August 13, in the Fieldhouse and adjacent flex space.
Everyone is excited to be back to a Thursday night event, and Katie is enthusiastic about helping create another great experience in the new space.
Birthdays
We celebrated several birthdays between now and the next few weeks:
Marv Sarvola– December 2
Alan Sakry – December 6th – sang to Alan
December 24th – Tom Kerber
December 26th – John Osterman
Delights & Dilemmas
John O:
Shared a delight: this marks the 30th anniversary of his Christmas caroling/Salvation Army bell-ringing tradition.
The group will be singing at Cub from 2–5 p.m. on December 19. Everyone is welcome to come sing, give, or both.
Melanie:
Thankful for guests Cinnamon, Logan, and Caleb.
Shared joy over the 10th year of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, which served 300+ people and collected $625 in donations that are being given to CAER — a wonderful “pay it forward” ripple effect.
Reported success at Santa in the Park / Fill the Fire Truck, raising about $580 and collecting bags of toys.
Debbi:
Grateful to Heather for the ride and also for finally getting her second cataract surgery done.
Lord of Glory on County Road 15 is hosting “Breakfast in Bethlehem” — a free community breakfast event with crafts, nativity displays, and a live nativity. All are welcome, especially families with young children.
She will miss next week’s meeting due to traveling to Central Missouri for a goddaughter’s wedding and is looking forward to time with family.
Glen:
One member shared returning from a cruise with a close call getting back to the ship at 4:31 p.m. when all-aboard was 4:30 p.m.
The captain’s response: “We didn’t leave you. You left us.
Card Draw – No winner
Closing – 4-Way Test & Thought for the Week
The meeting closed with the Rotary 4-Way Test:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Thought for the Week:
“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”
— Mark Twain
Last Time We Met 11/20/2025
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner.
We sang My Country Tis of Thee in remembrance and to honor Bill Yueill’s passing this past Saturday.
Attending Wade Bastian, Melanie Clemons, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Tom Kerber, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Cal Portner, Debbi Ryberg, Alan Sakry, Joe Stremcha, Nicole Wojcik, Bob Maxwell, Bruce Tyler, John Osterman Guests Dan Cibulka,Sr. Water Resource Specialist David Wick, District Technician
Club Engagement
What is the best cereal of all time? Cap’n Crunch, Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Cheerios, Grapenuts, Frosted Shredded Wheat, Reese’s Puffs, Golden Grahams, Rice Krispies -with butter, marshmallows in a pan Count Chockula, Oatmeal
Rotary Moment
We honored John Osterman as a 5-time Paul Harris honoree!!!! John’s devotion and donations to the Elk River Rotary Club have allowed us to carry out several programs and projects throughout the years, help organizations and charities, give away scholarships, help with the eradication of Polio and provide a great Alto singing voice, to name a few.
Program
Dan Cibulka, Sr. Water Resource Specialist for the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District, and David Wick, District Technician, spoke about how this district was formed in 1944 after the Dust Bowl Era. Dan spoke about Sherburne County’s forests, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and rivers. The areas of work are agricultural, education, outreach, and being a community resource. They work a lot with landowners, farmers, and schools. They also put together podcasts, webinars and newsletters. They talked about the species that can kill trees, aquatic erosion, wetland conservation, and monitoring our water sources to keep them clean. They work on stormwater projects to localize flooding and run-off. They work on shoreline erosion & sediment that infiltrates our lakes and rivers. They’re currently working on a carp project, as they can be detrimental to our water and aquatic ecosystems. They worked on the William H. Houlton Conservation Area – 180 acres of prairie planting, they use a natural restoration approach to benefit the wildlife habitat and water quality. They also worked on the Varty Prairie Project and turned ½ acre section into prairie grounds, the Union Church Stormwater Project – installing a French drain and rain garden, and the Rolshouse Urban Habitat, creating a pollinator habitat for bees and butterflies. David talked about funding, applying for grants and helping landowners apply for grants, he talked about the issue with Emerald Ash Borer – which has been an issue since 2022. He also spoke about Oak Wilt and how he meets with a lot of homeowners as an Arborist giving them advice on their trees and land. For more information - SHERBURNE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT - Home
Club News and Updates Mark spoke about the Literacy Project next week at our local elementary schools (Nov. 24 – 26th). Be prepared to tell a joke suitable for 3rd graders.
Julie – It’s going to be a ’60s theme with a contest for best-dressed and last to arrive.
December 18, 2025 - Julie Fish - SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR HOLIDAY EVENING SOCIAL - Cowboy Jacks - Back to the 60's Theme -
Look forward to seeing your best 60's.
Let Julie know if you will be coming.
Birthdays – We sang to Nicole (backwards)
Delights and Dilemmas
Bruce – Friends of Sherburne County Wildlife is looking for a Treasurer. If you’re interested, reach out to Carol. Also there are still over 20,000 sandhill cranes there. Heather – She celebrated the wonderful CAER Gala, her granddaughter being born, her son getting married and it’s Give to the Max Day – so please consider donating as Cornerstone is matching up to $25,000!
Debbi – One cataract surgery done!
Nicole – Mark and her went to Florida, were able to visit with friends, meet the baby, found a local bar and grill called Coco’s!
Tom – youngest son competing in DECA competition in Maryland this week!
Cal – Thankful for Mark stepping in last week as he got held up in a mediation.
Card Draw – Tom won! $81.50
We recited the Four Way Test
Words of Wisdom: To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment
Dear Rotarians,
It is with a heavy heart that I share that our dear friend Bill Yeuill passed away last Saturday.
Please keep Bill and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Cal
Last Time We Met 11/6/2025
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President elect Mark Kuyava.
We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending
Melanie Clemons, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Tom Kerber, Bonnie Koste, Mark Kuyava, Joe Libor, Garrett Prehatney, Debbi Ryberg, Joe Stremcha, Theresa Slominski, Bob Maxwell, Bruce Tyler, Glen Ertel
Guests
Zack Carlton – City of Elk River
Sandy Meulners – Landscape Architect
J. Bryan Calva – City Council
Club Engagement
If you were to time travel would it be to the past or future?
11 said back
6 said to the future
1 said to stay here
Program Zack and Sandy talked about our Historic Water Tower and the future plans to make it more of an
engaging space for our community. They spoke about how it was painted to its original colors 5 years ago and is now on the Historic Registry. Sandy spoke about the goals for the water tower, making it a welcoming community space, designing it for all ages and abilities to interact with the space. It will include walking paths, with story-telling markers talking about the history of Elk River the pathways, flowers, a water feature, swinging benches, café tables for people to sit at, benches and artwork. They are pursuing grants and hoping businesses or community members will adopt a tree or bench to also help fund this project.
Club News and Updates Mark spoke about the Literacy Project and how the books are all stickered and ready to be distributed to the local elementary schools Nov. 24 – 26th by Rotarians that have signed up to read. Be prepared to tell a joke suitable for 3rd graders.
Julie - Save the date December 18th for the Rotary Christmas party and 65 years celebration! It’s going to be a ’60s theme with a contest for best-dressed and last to arrive. Theresa mentioned Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, The Grinch and Peanuts Christmas movies all premiered during the ‘60s
as well.
Delights and Dilemmas Julie – joyfully welcomed great-grandniece number 32! Bob – Flew smoothly back and forth from Florida.
Debbi – That Rob got a 10-point Buck deer hunting, she’ll be having cataract surgery next month, she got her official Rotary license plate in the mail, she’s hosting Thanksgiving this year, and she just completed her radiation for her breast cancer (diagnosed this summer). Theresa – is grateful for the vision of the new Water Tower space! Tom – wife’s cousin came into town, and that’s why his wife, Nora, was able to come to lunch today!
Card Draw – No winner today, over $120 in the pot!
We recited the Four Way Test
Words of Wisdom: Always remain unique, just like everyone else.
Last Time We Met 11/6/2025
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending
Melanie Clemons, Julie Fish, Tom Kerber, Mark Kuyava, Pete Reiner, Debbi Rydberg, Theresa Slominski, Bob Maxwell, John Osterman, Alan Sakry, Joe Stremcha, Bruce Tyler, Stewart Wilson, Mike Zeman
Guests
Indira Sivaraj – ERHS Student of the Month, Ramya Sivaraj, Grace Dols and the DECA Executive Team
Student of the Month
FirstMike Zeman introduced the ERHS Student of the Month, Indira Sivaraj. Indira is in NHS, Math Club, Swimming, and Violin (12 years) is a National Merit Semi-Finalist. Her proudest accomplishments are volunteering and giving back to the community. Her parents are her biggest inspiration and role models. She plans on double-majoring in college in Engineering and Music
Club Engagement
What is a purchase you immediately regretted?
Lululemon Stock, an ugly coat, a car, stocks, Sirus FM, a carnival ride ticket, $2,000 worth of pots/pans from the State Fair.
Rotary Moment
Cal shared photos from his trips to Savannah, GA, Des Moines, IA, Idaho and Saskatchewan and the different Rotary Memorials.
Program
Grace Dols and the ERHS DECA Executive Team shared the incredible opportunities DECA provides students in leadership and career development. They highlighted the various levels of competition—from Districts and State all the way to the International Career Development Conference (ICDC)—where students apply their skills in real-world scenarios.
Through DECA, members gain hands-on experience in marketing, sales, finance, public speaking, and project management. They also collaborate with local businesses, participate in community initiatives through DERBA, and volunteer at events such as Downtown Trick-or-Treat, serving Veterans at the Lions Club, and helping at the Thumbs Up 5K Walk.
To support their activities, students manage and sell merchandise at the DECA Depot, The Lodge (FTCEC), and the Swaggon—DECA’s mobile retail cart that travels to games and school events. Each year, they lead Tackle Cancer efforts, helping raise awareness and funds for important causes. This year’s campaign supported lung cancer research, with proceeds donated to the Randy Shaver Cancer Research & Community Fund.
With the football team heading to State, the DECA team is already gearing up to design and sell spirit merchandise for students and the community.
Club News and Updates
Mark spoke about the Literacy Project and how the books are all stickered and ready to be distributed to the local elementary schools Nov. 24 – 26th. They can still use a few more volunteers, so please email Mark
Save the date for December 18 at Cowboy Jack’s Rotary Christmas party and 65 years celebration! It’s going to be a ’60s theme with a contest for best dressed and last to arrive.
Delights and Dilemmas
Julie – joyfully welcomed great-grandnephew number 31 into the family! She also handed over $5 to John after losing their friendly wager—she thought Monticello would beat the Elks in football… but the Elks triumphed!
John – pulled a few more cards for the card draw and is looking forward to cheering on the Elks as they face Minneapolis Washburn this Saturday.
Bob – is celebrating the Gophers' big win and is heading to Florida this weekend to visit his ailing aunt.
Theresa – is excited that Danielle will be home for a week over the holiday. She enjoyed a recent trip to her alma mater, NDSU, with her sister and was able to visit her niece, who is studying to become a pilot. She also shared her gratitude for Indira and the DECA team’s visit.
Mike – expressed gratitude for the recent NHS Induction Ceremony, the choir and band concerts this week, the Elk River Football Team advancing to Section Finals, and thanked Indira and the DECA students for joining.
Alan – returned from a road trip to Kansas where he attended a baby shower and shared his appreciation for all DECA does.
Ramya (Indira’s mom) – thanked the community, school staff, teachers, and Principal Mike Zeman for fostering such a supportive and welcoming environment.
Cal – shared that Katie will be taking a break from Rotary to focus on family, and Heather will be stepping in to lead the Taste event—and will do an outstanding job. He also mentioned traveling with his family to hockey games and proudly celebrated his nephew, who scored four points in River Falls last weekend!
Card Draw – No winner today, over $100 in the pot!
We recited the Four Way Test
Last Time We Met 10/30/2025
Our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President-Elect Mark Kuyava. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Mark Kuyava, Tove Lichty, Dr. Laura Mullennex, Pete Reiner, Debbi Rydberg, Theresa Slominski, Ben Zawacki, Glen Ertel, Bob Maxwell, John Osterman, Bruce Tyler
Program Today was Club Assembly and we had a project of putting the stickers in the books we will be distributing to the Third Graders on November 24, 25, and 26, times TBD.
Club Engagement How many languages do you know how to say “Hello” in? Collectively, we could say it in five: English Hello, Hawaiian-Aloha, Spanish-Hola, Italian-Chao, and French-Bonjour. Mark shared several from around the world.
Club News and Updates
A veterans’ benefit sponsored by Beyond the Yellow Ribbon will be held at Aegir Brewery, Sunday, November 2 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature a beer release, a “pay it forward” beer program, live music by Betty and Axel, military-themed music and trivia, the Nitro’s Mac Shack food truck will be on site, and the Minnesota Vikings game on a big screen, all to support the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization which helps local veterans, service members, and their families.
The Taste Signature Recipient will be awarded a flat $10,000 instead of a percentage of the profits. The change was made to be able to announce the award early on, instead of waiting to announce the amount several weeks after the event when all the funds and expenses have been tabulated. This change should help with promoting the Taste event and we will be able to have the big check presentation a week or two after the event.
We have a Camp Enterprise candidate from Elk River and will be contributing $500 towards their attendance.
Bob Maxwell updated the website with current Taste, Bowling, and Highway cleanup pictures. Debbi will soon have updated information regarding the grants request process and dates on the website.
Rotary cleanup last week went well. Ten Rotarians picked up 15 bags of trash.
Save the date for December 18 at Cowboy Jack’s Rotary Christmas party and 65 years celebration! There will be a social committee meeting for planning next Tuesday, November 4, 5:30 p.m. at Cowboy Jack’s.
Membership Chair Laura Mullennex formally inducted Ben Zawacki into our Rotary Club. Welcome Ben!
Fundraising Opportunities Delights and DilemmasBruce Tyler told of a camper fire across the river from them because of an explosion. They called 911 and with the bridge out the Fire Department could not get there before it burned completely. There was one person there but was able to get out safely.
Theresa Slominski was delighted to be here today, and delighted to be spending the weekend in Grand Forks, ND with her youngest sister, Chrissy, to attend UND vs UMD hockey games.
Tove Lichty was delighted to be here today, and to be attending the CAER Gala tonight.
John Osterman was delighted to have participated in the mock interviews at Elk River High School.
Neil Gagnon had a delight that his dishwasher was replaced this morning, and a dilemma that his dishwasher is still not working and it might be an electrical issue instead.
Julie Fish was delighted for celebrating her mother’s 93rd birthday, attending a St John’s Rugby game of her great nephew (which they won) and are the Minnesota Rugby champs and now will be attending the championship game in Missouri, and a good luck buck for the upcoming Monticello vs Elk River football game.
Card Draw – No winner today We recited the Four Way Test
We recited the Four Way Test
Last Time We Met 10/16/2025
Today our meeting was held at Rockwoods and was led by President Cal Portner.
We recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attending
Melanie Clemons, Dr. Laura Dockendorf, Glen Ertel, Julie Fish, Neil Gagnon, Heather Kliewer, Mark Kuyava, Robert Maxwell, John Osterman, Cal Portner, Garrett Prehatney, Debbi Ryberg, Alan Sakry, Joe Stremcha, Bruce Tyler, Stewart Wilson
Guests Attending
Tracy Larson, CEO Guardian Angels
Club Engagement
Trivia of Favorite Movie Quote of All Time
Diamond Team won – Stewart, Heather and Debbi
Program
Tracy Larson – CEO Guardian Angels
GA Mission is to provide exceptional health care, housing and supportive services to seniors and their families in the spirit of God’s love.
60th Anniversary in 2026
Started at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Now over 500 employees
713 residents
11 different resident facilities
Partner with Catholic Charities for Meals on Wheels
Care Center has 120 beds, 24/7 nursing care, transition care, outpatient rehab
Own Guardian Angels by the Lake, Engel Haus, Riverview Landing, Pullman Place, Lake Orono Twin Homes, Guardian Oaks, Evans Park and Angel Ridge
There’s a shortage of nurses, bringing some in from Kenya
They provide wellness centers, salons, different events, busing to and from venues, pickle ball, yoga
To donate or volunteer log onto: www.guardianangels.org
Club News and Updates:
Strike Out Poliowith John Osterman - Julie, Bob, Nicole, Heather, Debbi, Rob, Pete, Neil and Melanie went! Raised $1,552!!
Sending first student to Club Enterprise! Julie was the first student to go to this camp!
10/22/25 – Mock Interviews at ERHS, volunteers needed. See Debbi.
10/23/25– Adopt A Hwy Clean Up, start around 3:30 behind Olde Main Eatery. Mark sent out the sign up sheet, clean up from 4-6 p.m, 10 signed up so far. Need about 5 more if possible. Family/friends welcome.
Upcoming Programs & Events:
10/23/25 – Board/Committee Meeting
10/30/25 – Club Assembly
11/6/25 – Mike Zeman – Grace Dols, DECA, ERHS
11-13-25 – Cal Portner – City of Elk River Communications Team
11-20-25 – Wade Bastian – Dan Cibulka – Senior Water Resources Specialist for Sherburn County Sil Water Conservation District
11/27/25 – Thanksgiving Holiday – No Meeting
12/4/25 – Melanie Clemons – Cinnamon Glassbrenner with SchoolFundr/Hometown
Delights and Dilemmas
Julie – Club Enterprise Student, parents celebrated 74 years of marriage, Monticello HS beat Elk River Elks in football
John – 61-27 Elks won vs. Cretin Durham Hall, 1st playoff game against Cambridge next Saturday
Bob – Celebrating 33 years ago that Mighty Ducks premiered with Emilio Estafez and Brian Maxwell
Stewart – Happy to be back, thank you Guardian Angels
Heather – her partnership with Guardian Angels and CAER
Glen – Guardian Angels and his mom was there, he visited her on his motorcycle, took her for a ride and all the other women were jealous ��
Cal – Visited Iowa to attend the minor league Wild Team, visited his brother, ran into Nick Zerwas
Card Draw – No winner today
We recited the Four Way Test
Pearls of Wisdom:
I think it’s wrong that only one company makes the game of Monopoly (Steven Wright)
Tove L. introduced Jack, Carter, Ryan and Cheryl from the 3023 Robotics Team/Stark
Today our program was a Club Assembly led by Cal Portner. He shared a bit of information from the board of directors meeting that was held last week.
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”
Tom Kerber – 
granddaughter. She was able to spend time with five of her grandchildren and some family! Squatch Game Saturday night where the proceeds will go to CAER 
President Cal called up Rotarian Julie Fish to receive her most recent Paul Harris Fellow pin. This is her fifth PHF. Four under her name and in 2013, she gifted one to an amazing community member - Jane Houlton for all she has done! That was the year Julie jumped into Lake Orono for Shiver Elk River. Funds raised were for Jane’s PHF. Julie reports the secret to attaining them is to participate in the opportunities to donate $365 but receive 1000 points to earn a PHF.
Lance Lindberg, Elk River Historian, also comedian, also real estate agent for Keller Williams. Lance chatted with us about his history of coming to Elk River, Minnesota from California. His grandparents lived in Elk River and were aging. They asked Lance’s parents if they would buy their home on Lake Orono. Lance shared that he met John Osterman on the street and John showed him about town, and showed him to a huge hole, a crater perhaps that was made when the dinosaurs were killed off. Turns out to be the Handke “pit”! At this location, many folks came and went. A place for football, baseball, skating, hockey, lots of kids and adults spent time there. Lance attended Elk River High School. He shared that he was not the greatest student and shared experiences in French and German Clubs. He talked about the old trailer park in Elk River, where Walmart not resides. He shared that this park was Elk River’s first community! Elk River also had a nuclear (atomic) power plant. He has great memories of the Sherburne County Fair and remembers his first time there and seeing the carnival workers with all the missing teeth. His mom told him that they had their teeth pulled to save on toothpaste. The DNR exhibit contained fish from Lake Orono (carp, bullheads, eel pout, cowheads)! Similar to the State Fair exhibit of fish in Minnesota lakes. He continued on with many more stories! Fun program, Dirk!
delighted to share that he attended Phantom of the Opera with his daughter, family and friends. Final delight was that the Vikings won the game last Sunday!
We honored John Osterman as a 5-time Paul Harris honoree!!!! John’s devotion and donations to the Elk River Rotary Club have allowed us to carry out several programs and projects throughout the years, help organizations and charities, give away scholarships, help with the eradication of Polio and provide a great Alto singing voice, to name a few. 
Dan Cibulka, Sr. Water Resource Specialist for the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District, and David Wick, District Technician, spoke about how this district was formed in 1944 after the Dust Bowl Era. Dan spoke about Sherburne County’s forests, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and rivers. The areas of work are agricultural, education, outreach, and being a community resource. They work a lot with landowners, farmers, and schools. They also put together podcasts, webinars and newsletters. They talked about the species that can kill trees, aquatic erosion, wetland conservation, and monitoring our water sources to keep them clean. They work on stormwater projects to localize flooding and run-off. They work on shoreline erosion & sediment that infiltrates our lakes and rivers. They’re currently working on a carp project, as they can be detrimental to our water and aquatic ecosystems. They worked on the William H. Houlton Conservation Area – 180 acres of prairie planting, they use a natural restoration approach to benefit the wildlife habitat and water quality. They also worked on the Varty Prairie Project and turned ½ acre section into prairie grounds, the Union Church Stormwater Project – installing a French drain and rain garden, and the Rolshouse Urban Habitat, creating a pollinator habitat for bees and butterflies. David talked about funding, applying for grants and helping landowners apply for grants, he talked about the issue with Emerald Ash Borer – which has been an issue since 2022. He also spoke about Oak Wilt and how he meets with a lot of homeowners as an Arborist giving them advice on their trees and land. For more information - SHERBURNE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT - Home 
Nicole – Mark and her went to Florida, were able to visit with friends, meet the baby, found a local bar and grill called Coco’s! 
