Events

Tom Selinger served 27 years in the U.S. Foreign Service with overseas tours in Kyrgyzstan, Denmark, Croatia, Albania, and Trinidad and Tobago and portfolios ranging from security cooperation to American citizen services. In his retirement, he works for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, a nonprofit where he directs outreach efforts to promote public understanding of the work of America's diplomats. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, including combat service with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm, and worked as a locally-employed political specialist for the Canadian government at their Consulate in Minneapolis, MN. His interest in international affairs began during his time in Belgium as a Rotary International Exchange Student sponsored by the Rotary Club of Golden Valley. Tom is married to fellow diplomat Kirsten Selinger and has four children and three grandchildren.

Back in 1776, America's diplomats helped win the American Revolution, and over the past 250 years, they have continued to make our country safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Tom Selinger, a retired Foreign Service Officer, will share stories of how our diplomats have saved American citizens in peril, opened markets for products from our farms and factories, and built alliances to ensure our collective security and advance our ideals. He'll highlight diplomats from Minnesota and how their work has benefited communities across the state.

The Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC), a program of the Board on Aging, advocates for adults receiving long-term care. The office promotes person-directed living that respects people’s values and preferences, and works to preserve individual rights.

Julia Lerner, MSW, LGSW, is a Regional Ombudsman with OOLTC. She will provide a brief overview of the work they do and the services that OOLTC provides.

Julia earned her undergraduate degree in social work from the University of St. Thomas and her MSW from Augsburg University in 2019. Her career has included a variety of long-term care settings, from large nonprofit organizations to smaller for-profit communities, as well as roles in transitional care/post-acute care (TCU), long-term care (nursing home), and secure memory care. She has also worked as a hospital social worker and served as a Director of Social Services for one of Minnesota’s largest nursing homes, giving her an insider’s perspective on the challenges and rewards of long-term care.

Julia advocates alongside residents, and partners with families and care providers. She brings brightness, humor, and hope to the residents, families, and staff she serves.

Brian Liedtke spent 37 years in education, beginning his career as an elementary classroom teacher in Larchwood, Iowa, before moving to Mobridge, South Dakota. During his time in education, he served 15 years as a classroom teacher, three years as a middle school principal, and 19 years as an elementary principal. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northern State College and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Sioux Falls.

Brian and his wife, Linda, live in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Brian moved to Minnesota 11 years ago and joined Rotary in 2014, becoming a member of our Golden Valley Rotary Club in 2016. He has two children, Jed and Kisha, and four granddaughters: Sarah, Claire, Sydney, Tayla.

Beyond the Academy - Turning Knowledge into Community Impact: How the FBI Citizens Academy experience inspired a commitment to service, outreach, and community engagement.

Shannon Tilley is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and currently serves as Secretary of the FBI Minneapolis Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBIMCAAA). In 2027, she will assume the role of Vice President, continuing her commitment to the organization's mission of promoting safer communities through education, partnerships, outreach, and service.

What began as an opportunity to learn more about the FBI evolved into a passion for service and community engagement. Through the FBI Citizens Academy, Shannon gained a unique behind-the-scenes perspective of the FBI's mission and operations, including experiences at FBI Headquarters, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the FBI Academy at Quantico. These experiences reinforced her belief that strong communities are built through informed citizens, engaged leaders, and collaborative partnerships.

Under the chapter's outreach mission, members work to support vulnerable populations throughout Minnesota and beyond. Recent projects have included assembling rescue bags for survivors of human trafficking, distributing community care kits to individuals in need, providing clothing and hygiene supplies to the Washington County Crisis Response Unit, supporting youth experiencing homelessness through Hope 4 Youth, collecting school supplies for Merrick Community Services, and assembling Welcome Home Kits for individuals transitioning into stable housing. Chapter members have also provided significant donations of winter clothing, blankets, infant supplies, comfort items, and children's gifts to victim services organizations serving the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The chapter distributed hundreds of rescue bags and care kits in 2026 and provided support to more than fifteen community organizations.

In addition to service, the chapter is committed to lifelong learning and public education. Through educational events and presentations, members have explored topics including human trafficking awareness, elder fraud prevention, wildlife conservation, major criminal investigations, hostage negotiations, and public safety issues impacting communities across Minnesota and the nation.

Professionally, Shannon serves as a Program Management Principal at Allianz Life, where she leads large-scale transformation initiatives. Outside of work, she is passionate about leadership, community involvement, creating opportunities for others to make a difference, and cheering on her daughter who plays collegiate golf.