Happy 2020! January marks the beginning of a new year and a new decade. We are now halfway through the Rotary year and can take some time to reflect on our accomplishments during the first half of the Rotary year. Our club has grown with several new members who bring new enthusiasm and talents to our club. We have added new service projects while continuing to do projects we have supported in the past. Consistent with the ideas from the club visioning project we are looking for new community partners to expand the reach of the club. Financially we are in a sound position due to successful fundraising efforts at the Taste of the Hops and the Slice of Shoreview. We raised money for and obtained a district grant to support a sewing school in India and are raising money for a WASH project in Nigeria for which we hope to obtain a global grant from The Rotary Foundation. Members also have generously contributed to The Rotary Foundation and several members became new Paul Harris Fellows or added to their previous status as Paul Harris Fellows.
Many thanks to Bill and Jean Kiehnbaum for hosting the annual holiday party at their home. A good time was had by all.
The club elected a slate of officers and directors at the December 17 meeting. The members elected who will be officers and directors beginning July 1 are as follows: president, Glenn Bowers; president-elect, Mike Spellman; past president, Bill Klumpp; club service director, Kay Baker; community service director, Stephanie Cosgrove; international service director, Bob Freed; and youth service director, Anoop Mathur.