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Q:  What is Rotary?

A:  Rotary was founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a young Chicago, Ill., attorney. The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of "service" as a basis of worthy enterprise.  Our motto is "Service Above Self."  
We also promote:

• The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service
• High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying, by each Rotarian, of his or her occupations as an opportunity to serve society
• The application of the ideal of service, by every Rotarian, to his or her personal, business and community life
• The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, through a world fellowship of business and professional men and women in the idea of service.

 As of July 2018, Rotary consisted of over 1.2 million Rotarians in over 200+ countries and geographic areas.  There are 35,000 Rotary Clubs in 529 Rotary Regional Districts.  Our local district,  District 5950 has 62 clubs.

Q:  How is the Minneapolis South Rotary Club unique?

A:  Our club was chartered in 1996 as a special project by the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club with the support of the Edina Rotary Club.  It's the first Rotary club in the nation to be established in an inner city neighborhood.  We're located in the Central neighborhood and celebrate the cultural diversity of our area.  Our unique position as an urban club provides other Rotarians the opportunity to share in our vitality, diversity and growth.


Q:  What special projects does this Rotary club take an interest in?

A:  Our current community projects include:

• Little Free Libraries in South Minneapolis
• Rotary Youth Exchange for Minneapolis high school students
• Youth mentoring/job readiness at Transitions Plus High School and other Minneapolis high schools
• Sponsor community CPR and AED training
• Creating washable hygiene kits for impoverished girls, focusing on 3rd world countries
• Warm Hands, Warm Heads, Warm Hearts (hats and mittens to Minneapolis youth)
• Back-to-school supplies for kids
• Aliveness Project - Delivering Holiday baskets
• Periodic donations to area charities and organizations, including fro 2015-16 Friendship Academy of Fine Arts, the Aliveness Project, People Serving People, Crescent Cove children's hospice and more.
• Sponsoring high school students to attend Camp Enterprise

Our current international projects include:

• Providing STEM education to young girls in Assam, India
• Rotary Youth Exchange

Past projects include:

• Dictionary Project - Providing students with their own dictionary
• STRIVE mentoring for students at risk of not graduating
• Supplying beds for a women's shelter in South Africa
• Hand-crank wheel chairs to the needy in India
• Playground project
• Solar Ovens
• Taste of Lake Street
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing
• Literacy Month - Reading contest with Friendship Academy
• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) - Sponsored 2 students to attend training

A:  

Fred Herron, 2018-2019

Fred Herron, 2017-2018

Frank Birch, 2016-2017

Lynn Keillor, 2015-2016
Alfred Bertke, 2014-2015
Ethel Lee Norwood, 2013-2014
Deborah Cavitt, 2012-2013
Jackie Ross, 2011-2012
Ryan Kanne, 2010-2011
Karin Treiber, 2008-2010
Michael Cavitt, 2007-2008
Harrison Nelson, 2006-2007
Belainish Tekle, 2005-2006
Jesse Lee, 2004-2005
Tie Oei, 2003-2004
Frank Taylor, 2002-2003
Larry Knudsen, 2001-2002    

Todd Carlson, 1999-2001

Debra Rogers, 1997-1999