Westonka Rotary gets visit from district governor

The Rotary Club of Mound-Westonka officially kicked off its 2024-2025 calendar year at its July 2 meeting.

The club has been busy lately– helping to sponsor Mound’s ongoing Music in the Park every first Thursday, helping fund the recently completed Eli Hart Memorial Playground and the Eli Hart Foundation, and awarding scholarships to three Mound-Westonka students. They’re looking forward to helping the surrounding community assemble at the Spirit of the Lakes festival July 18-20.

Recently selected Rotary District 5950 Governor Sharon Bloodworth joined the club for lunch to share future plans for the region.

Bloodworth’s plans are clear: reach younger generations, “wear Rotary on the outside,” and prepare for the Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis in 2029.

Mound-Westonka’s membership has remained stable over the years, but is capable of growth. Bloodworth plans to institute “sub clubs,” miniature rotary clubs for people that cannot meet at the typical mid-day rotary club times. The sub clubs may be specific for certain groups, such as a club made up of educators, and would meet in the evenings– or whenever is best to allow for the greatest number of attendees.

Bloodworth shared two major upcoming trips for the club. The District 5950 polio vaccination trip to India as part of the End Polio Now campaign, scheduled for February 2025, and Carnival Cruises’ plan to ship 10,000 pounds of goods to the Bahamas.

Closer to home, Minnesotan rotary clubs will have a presence at the Minnesota State Fair. Prospective members or those interested in all things rotary can stop by and learn more.

With the International Convention coming to town (Minneapolis) in 2029, Bloodworth detailed the 5950 Water Project - Mississippi. Hailing from all over the globe, Bloodworth shared that foreigners she’s met are enamored by the Mississippi River. The 1.4 million Rotarians across the world will be thrilled to experience Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi, and the 5950 Water Project - Mississippi will help ensure this cultural and regional marker will remain clean and safe for all to enjoy.

The Rotary Club of Mound-Westonka meets most Tuesdays at the Lafayette Club at Noon. More information on the club can be found on its website, portal.clubrunner.ca/6739, or its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/moundwestonkarotary/ .