Let’s keep building!
Our club is now 3 years old and, as with any toddler, milestones are met and growth continues sometimes seemingly overnight and sometimes slowly. In this past year we started to fund our foundation as well as approved our first grant. Our Programs & Projects committee researched and approved a number of organizations our club now endorses. They also approved our first grant and will soon be reviewing another project proposal. In addition a team has been exploring an economic development idea that includes microloans as well as training for women in high risk areas. More to come on those project possibilities! We added a new Associate Membership level which allows members of other Rotary clubs to join us and those members now make up almost ⅓ of our club. Club members continue to connect and share ideas and collaborate on projects and presentations around the world. On the PR side of the house our brand look and feel was developed last summer and rolled out in our newsletter and other communication tools. Our YouTube channel continues to grow and gain an audience as our past speaker videos are shared with other Rotary clubs as well as the general public. We tweaked our Strategic Plan to include economic development and add a greater emphasis on partnering with groups with proven Outcomes measurement results. And I know many of you have lost sleep worrying about this, but our back end policies and procedures have been kept up to date. All humor aside we share those and other club resources with new clubs to give them a leg up on their governance and people have been sincerely grateful for them.
As is true in any organization, but especially any volunteer group, nothing happens without individual contributions. Our club has grown due to the work of some very key people who I would like to take the time to thank now. In no particular order:
- Lisa Podolny for jumping into the Treasurer role and stepping up as the President- Elect. I am sincerely grateful for your leadership and I look forward to continuing to work with you! The best is yet to come.
- Mary Fiadese for all of your work on the newsletter. AMAZING job and very appreciated! I enjoy your dedication and creativity and our meetings are a highlight of my week.
- Speaking of websites - Jerry Nelson for keeping ours up to date and for keeping all of our policies current. If I listed everything you have done for our club it would take pages so let me just say that without you far less would have been done! Although we may never meet in person I consider you a wonderful friend and I enjoy our volunteer time together.
- Matt Friedman for your continued work on the speaker's committee and for sharing your work with us during many of our meetings. You are an inspiration and global leader in this fight and wonderful person to know!
- Dalton Brannen for leading our communications team and getting things rolling. Although you had to take a break to go to flight school, we hope you will join us again someday. We miss your talent, ideas and energy!
- Shirley Hsia for leading the speaker’s committee and stepping up for treasurer next year. Your energy and dedication are boundless and I appreciate that you just jump in and get things done. I look forward to working with you more closely next year!
- Veralice Navarro and Brightna Hu who were our summer interns who got our social media channels and newsletter started. They wouldn’t exist without your fabulous work!
- Erin Maloney for her work leading the programs and projects committee and for keeping the heart of our club front and center. You share great ideas and are inclusive and caring. It is a joy to know and work with you!
- Michael Podolny for being the best disrupter ever. Full of actionable ideas and motivated to make a difference you are a primary driver for our club and I look forward to where you take us next!
- Cindee Sapoznik for your work on the programs and projects committee and for being a positive light that always shines. Your icebreakers were fantastic and your personal support is even better. Many thanks for just being you!
- Helen Sworn for your ideas and work on the speaker's committee as well as for sharing your wisdom and knowledge with our group. You are a connector and relationship builder making a difference to end human trafficking. I am grateful you are with us.
- Annette Mansfield for your work on the programs and projects committee and your wonderful ideas. Not only do you share your suggestions, but you take steps to make them happen. You are a gift and I look forward to working with you more closely.
- Maria Moreyra for stepping up to be the club’s secretary. You bring such a great perspective to the board and always share from the heart. I appreciate your dedication to this cause and our club.
- Ashley Aiken for your efforts starting our fundraising team. Thank you for getting things going.
- Justina Ansah for your work editing and posting our YouTube videos. I am grateful you stepped up to take on this task.
- Colin Christensen for sharing great ideas and for your interest in economic development to combat human trafficking. You will be integral in our solution. Oh and thank you for that cocktail recipe. It is a keeper.
- Anne Delain Clark for jumping in to be both our social chair as well as joining the newsletter team. I like how you think outside of the box and include both head and heart in your suggestions. I really enjoy working with you and look forward to more time together - both virtually and in person!
- Karen Walkowski for creating this club and being an amazing mentor and friend. I can’t list everything you have done, but we literally wouldn’t be here as a group without you and you are a primary reason I joined. I have truly enjoyed volunteering with you and look forward to where things go next year!
We still have a lot to do and I know we can make them happen. I look forward to continuing to work with and get to know you all better as we move forward making a difference. I appreciate that you are with us!
Moving intention into Action,
Michelle Seets
Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking President, 2022-2023
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Service Above Self
Eden Prairie, MN
United States of America