Home Page | Rotary Club of Crystal-New Hope-Robbinsdale

We had a busy meeting recently. We heard from Holly and Becky with Robins Adapted Sports, Club member Jim Benshoof, and Seven Dreams Board President Richard Gentner.

At a recent meeting, we heard from former Club member and President John Slama and received an update about PRISM from Jason Wittak.

Robbinsdale Chamber President Kevin Lytle (a former member of our Club) and Secretary Dave Kiser updated the Club on what's happening with the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce.

Tom Goodrich of Fishing for Life shared with the Club exciting plans for a permanent facility for their operations.

Girl Scout Emi Filing updated the Club on her troop's activities, including Girl Scout Cookie sales.

At a recent meeting, our speaker was Jerry Kosel. Jerry Kosel is on the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad on the Tuesday squad. He is a veteran of the US military, active duty from 1971-1975. He was assigned to the USS Decatur (hull # DDG31) .

On the Wednesday before Valentine's Day, Assistant Governor Mary Timmons visited our Club with pink roses and a Valentine's poem. Our program that day was an update from Ceallaigh Smart on the work currently being done by Haiti Outreach.

Our Club hosted an Area 4 meeting and heard about the good work going on at TreeHouse. We also heard about how our Club's partnership with TreeHouse to sell coffee helps the youth at TreeHouse. District Governor Mary Timmons attended as did presidents and representatives of the Brooklyn Center, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park Sunrise Clubs.

Thea and Ron of NEAR provided a presentation of the remodeled NEAR space, including the renovated conference room, funded by a District grant and a grant from the Benshoof Foundation.

At a recent meeting, Club member Mark Neubauer was recognized for receiving his Paul Harris Plus One pin for contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Mark talked about the importance of the Foundation in our Club's ability to fund grant applications. Ron Nida was also presented with his Paul Harris Plus pin for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation,

Andrew Agosto with assistance from Marcello updated the Club on the annual TreeHouse Coffee Sales project. At the same meeting, Crystal Mayor-Elect Julie Deshler shared some thoughts with the Club.

Jim Benshoof updated the Club on his recent trip to Guatemala. And the program that day was learning about community engagement by the YMCA with Kurt Kamppainen of the New Hope YMCA.

At a recent meeting, we welcomed new member Kevin Lytle and heard from Robbinsdale Police Captain and New Hope Mayor-Elect John Elder.

John Elholm, Crystal Recreation Director, updated the Club on the Crystal Aquatic Center improvement project at a recent meeting,

Steve Kraemer, Executive Director of Conversations with Friends, talked about the Backpack Project that our Club helped fund.

Isaac Wheeler with TreeHouse shared the latest on how TreeHouse is supporting youth in our Club's area.

Land Trust Twin Cities President Aarica Coleman spoke to the Club about what LTTC is and does.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Lunde was at a recent meeting to provide a County update.

ISD 281 Board Member Helen Bassett was our program at a recent meeting.

At a recent program, Club Member Daniel Bakken provided a history of independently owned Citizen's Bank.

Karina Forest Perkins of Vail Communities spoke with the Club about efforts to improve mental health for Minnesotans.

St. Thomas University Women's Basketball Coach Ruth Sinn returned for the Club's program.

At the last meeting, a former exchange student, Lorena, returned for a visit.

Service Projects

Our Club tries to do at least one service project each quarter.

Several Club members were able to assist NEAR with its toy distribution event.

This year's December holiday project was helping PRISM pack 200+ cold weather packs.

Also that day, one of our Club members, David Dumas, lead the toy buying spree for toys for youth at domestic violence shelters throughout the metro area.

In September, our Club participated in the Robbinsdale Chamber of Commerce's Meet and Greet. Great to talk with so many people about what Rotary is and does.

In April, a mighty group packed rice at The Food Group.

Our January service project was doing a shift packing rice at Second Harvest.

In December, we did our annual holiday food basket assembly and delivery. The Club assembled and delivery 90 baskets to families in need in our area.

Club Grant Recipients

NEAR Food Shelf partnered with our Club and the Benshoof Foundation for renovation of its space, including its office/meeting space. Several Rotarians at the ribbon cutting for the updated space.

The New Hope YMCA partnered with our Club and the Benshoof Foundation for new turf for the Y's play area. Club member and YMCA staff Nina Wolf receiving the Club's grant.

Our Club supports Baztec. Baztec hosted a Mother's Day event in Robbinsdale.

In December, our Club partners with TreeHouse to sell coffee for TreeHouse programming. At a January meeting, Club Treasurer Andrew Agosto presented Hector with TreeHouse a check from the proceeds from the coffee sale.

Our Club, along with other clubs, received a District grant to assemble and provide Dignity Backpacks to Conversations with Friends. Participating clubs recently packed these backpacks.

Ever wonder what Rotary is? We invite you to visit our Club!

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our Club members are awesome!

Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man - Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world's first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on February 23, 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary's name came from the group's early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting - we meet Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. at Frankie's Pizza in New Hope.