Rotary International is the world’s largest service organization, the only non-governmental organization with a seat at the UN. Our Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club, one of some 30,000 clubs worldwide, is an active, enthusiastic group which meets weekly for fellowship and an informative presentation. We work on local and international projects with a primary emphasis on projects benefiting youth. It’s a great group of local leaders who put “Service Above Self,” Rotary’s motto.
Tour of PAR Systems

Recently, members of the Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary Club had the pleasure of touring PAR Systems and quickly learned what a world-wide gem operates out of Shoreview.
From automated manufacturing of life saving medical devices, to safely dismantling Chernobyl, sending rockets into deep space, and adaptive manufacturing of aerospace components, for over 60 years PAR has been designing ingenious solutions that bring their customers’ innovations to life. With expertise in highly regulated and precision industries of Life Sciences, Aerospace, and Nuclear, they design and integrate engineered systems for the world’s most renowned visionaries.
Since 1961, PAR has created fully integrated systems. They are headquartered in Shoreview with an additional location in Brunswick, Georgia.
Many thanks to the staff at PAR Systems for providing a very informative explanation of their mission and projects plus a tour of the various departments within their Shoreview facility.

Packing snack-packs for students with food insecurity at Ralph Reader Food Shelf
Christmas Stockings for Solid Ground's Holiday Express



Club members filled Christmas stockings with toys and candy for 57 children from 23 families. The estimated value of the stockings is $1,400. Other club members donated $1,000 directly to Solid Ground for this and other projects.

During her recent official visit, District Governor Dayle Quigley presented several awards to the club recognizing our financial support of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and PolioPlus during the 2021-22 Rotary Year. Awards recognized us as a 'Every Rotarian, Every Year Club', a '100% Participation in Foundation Giving Club', being number 3 in per capita giving to TRF in the District, and for contributing to PolioPlus (End Polio Now certificate). Pictured with DG Dayle are Immediate Past President Mike Spellman and President Charlie Oltman.

Camp Enterprise Students visit our club.
We sponsored two students to this year's Camp Enterprise. Moundsview High School students Kathryn Fitch and Kate Demeny spoke to the club on November 29 regarding their experiences at the camp. They were accompanied by Rebecca Allard, a teacher at Moundsview.
Pollinator Garden



Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club, partnering with the Shoreview Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department and the Rice Creek Watershed District, planted the city’s first pollinator cum rain garden at McCullough Park, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
A crew of 27 volunteers from the Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club and Shoreview Garden Club, along with Shoreview’s Natural Resources team, worked in two shifts from 9 am to 1 pm to plant over 400 plants. The 2000 square foot garden, designed by Brian Olsen, urban planner for Ramsey County, includes a variety of native Minnesota plants, well suited to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths, as well as to filter the runoff water from the parking lot.
Charlie Oltman, President, Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club, led the project with help from past President, Mike Spellman and Community Service committee member, Kent Peterson. They applied for grants and a total of $11,664 was collected which included a $6,114 grant from the Shoreview Community Foundation and $2,550 from a Rotary District Grant. The Arden-Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club contributed $3000. Since the club regularly helps with McCollough Park park’s clean-up and maintenance it was the ideal location for the pollinator garden.
El Corozo Water Project

Drilling rig arriving at site

Pump testing

Construction of the pump house

Pump house

Pump house with storage tank

Digging trenches for water lines

Delivering the storage tank.

Installing the pump.

PDG Jim Hunt, our own Dave Newman. DG Dayle Quigley, and Scott Arndt recently visited the project site.

Hand trenching for water lines

Trench for water lines

First water
We support the Rotary Club of Stillwater Sunrise's Global Grant project in Nicaragua.
The community of El Corozo is a small, rural community of approximately 140 households and 400 residents. The current water source for the whole community is piped water from a larger community of San Jose, which is about 3km (2 mi.) from El Corozo. The well in San Jose has limitations in the dry season to meet the needs of their own community so in the dry season (December – May), the water source in San Jose is shut off so that San Jose can prioritize service to their own community. During this time, there is no water flow to El Corozo. Timing of delivery of water by truck is unreliable and does not visit every house in the community. Therefore, the residents can run out of water between water truck visits.
The community’s only remaining source of water is another neighboring community of San Pedro, which is about 3.6km (2.2 mi) away. The residents must walk to San Pedro with water jugs daily to get their water.
Hindu Temple of Minnesota in Maple Grove


Club members, spouses and DG Dayle visited the Temple on September 27

What is Rotary?
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision.
For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
In 1943, Rotary adopted a simple 24-word code of ethics as a guiding principle.

PRIOR EVENTS
End Human Trafficking: A Community Forum for Al

On April 15, 2021 the Arden Hills/Shorview and New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary Clubs held a community forum to raise awareness about human trafficking. This is not a border problem or an east/west coast problem, this is a problem within our communities that brings tragic consequences to the victims.
Angela Davis from MPR News moderated the virtual event that included a panel of four subject matter experts. The forum was recorded in its entirety and can be viewed by clicking the box below.
You can learn more about human trafficking, available support and resources, or find help through a Safe Harbor Navigator. Click here to access the East Metro Safe Harbor Navigator web page. Click here to email Mary McRoy, the East Metro Navigator.
Supporting Are You Hungry

On April 24th, the Rotary Club of Arden Hills & Shoreview provided more than 490 snack bags to Are You Hungry, a group of volunteers dedicated to helping the hungry and homeless. Everything they collect goes directly to people in need.
If you would like to know more about the organization or to help out, click the link below.