Speaker Date Topic
Karen Wojahn Nov 12, 2024 12:15 PM
Rotary E-Club Global Travelers trip to Egypt
Rotary E-Club Global Travelers trip to Egypt

Karen Wojahn was raised in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Business with a degree in Accounting. She worked in government and public accounting and has actively volunteered with many non-profits, including the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. In her spare time, she enjoys embroidery, traveling, reading, golf, and cross-country skiing. Her love of embroidery has developed over many years.

In April, 2024, Karen and 40 Rotary E-Club Global Travelers and their families/friends went on an amazing trip to Egypt. They combined service and learned about grant opportunities with incredible sight-seeing.

Regan Birr, Founder & Executive Director Nov 19, 2024 12:15 PM
Lupus Research Foundation - Moving Beyond our Challenges and Meeting our Goals
Lupus Research Foundation - Moving Beyond our Challenges and Meeting our Goals

Regan Birr is the founder of the Lupus Research Foundation, along with her husband, Todd Birr.

Regan is the executive director of the LRF team, comprised of people passionately working towards a cure.

Regan is a lupus survivor. With a diagnosis several years ago of severe kidney involvement due to lupus, she was facing a grim future. Her health needed immediate attention. The treatment was 2.5 years of a breast cancer chemotherapy called Cytoxan (even though Regan did not have breast cancer). The goal was to suppress her over-active immune system and prevent it from attacking her kidneys. Early diagnosis, and the right diagnosis, saved her life: the Cytoxan, along with high-dose prednisone, put her into remission and her lab results eventually returned to fairly normal levels. However, she still felt very ill. Daily, she experienced severe joint pain, the kind that kept her up at night and caused her to walk with a cane, and she dealt with extreme fatigue. Her fatigue was such that trips to the grocery store would exhaust her, and all she could do was buy groceries – not unload the car. Some days a load of laundry was too much; other days making a meal was all she could do. This period of time was mentally grueling. She is a mechanical engineer, and is always analyzing and problem-solving, so having a weak body only amplified the frustration and at times she was feeling depression and desperation. Her journey towards health took almost a decade. But because of the early diagnosis, along with diet change and exercise, she did recover, and now enjoys a high quality of life and remission. But she realizes that most others aren’t so lucky. That is why she is passionate about finding a cure, because that’s the best way she can help people living with lupus.

Together, with Todd, who is a competitive curler, they are focusing on the NEXT 5 years towards a cure. For more information about Regan and Todd’s teamwork towards a cure, visit “Lupus Spiel USA” and “Curling & Lupus”.

No Meeting for the Thanksgiving Holiday Nov 26, 2024
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Miriam Williams Dec 03, 2024 12:15 PM
Work-Life Balance
Work-Life Balance

Miriam Williams is an entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and author with 20+ years of experience developing emerging and experienced leaders. She works with groups, individuals, and organizations to amplify their authenticity and empower them to become better versions of themselves. Miriam is also the author of “Remind Your Mind Who’s Boss” and the upcoming book, “Faithfully Fierce: How Biblical Women Rocked Leadership”. She holds an M.Ed. from Kent State University and a BA in Psychology from Bay Path University. She lives with her husband and son in Cottage Grove, MN.

Dr. Teri Staloch, Superintendent Dec 10, 2024
Robbinsdale Area Schools
Robbinsdale Area Schools

Dr. Teri Staloch has a long and distinguished career in K-12 education, which includes previous experience as an English teacher, assistant superintendent at Osseo Area Schools from 2012 to 2015, all the way up to a district superintendent, serving at Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools between 2015 and 2022. Most recently she was the Director of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships for PartnerED Consultants and a Senior Educational Consultant for SitelogIQ. She began as superintendent of the Robbinsdale Area Schools on July 1, 2024.

No Meeting - Winter Break Dec 24, 2024
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
No Meeting - Winter Break Dec 31, 2024
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
Clyde Doepner, MN Twins Memorabilia Curator Jan 07, 2025 12:15 PM
MN Twins History
MN Twins History

Joint meeting with the Rotary Clubs of St. Louis Park, hosted at Brookview.

Clyde Doepner, the official Minnesota Twins curator, will bring alive the history of the Twins through stories and baseball memorabilia.

Before he became the only full-time curator in Major League Baseball, a position he has held with the Twins since 2009, Clyde Doepner was both an avid collector of Twins memorabilia and a longtime history teacher at Tartan High School.

His association with the Twins grew out of a chance encounter with former owner Calvin Griffith, and his collection of team memorabilia became particularly notable when the organization had its first TwinsFest at the Metrodome in 1989. Being hired in 2009 as a full-time employee, he said, was a dream job.

Doepner has logged memorabilia from all generations of Twins baseball — Harmon Killebrew to Kirby Puckett to Joe Mauer and now. Among his favorite pieces are those from Killebrew, a player he considers his hero. But the collection still is growing as are the stories.

Tim Reardon & Tim Munkeby Jan 14, 2025 12:15 PM
Minnesota Rally to Read
Minnesota Rally to Read

Tim Reardon is a strategic and entrepreneurial leader who specializes identifying the core purpose and potential of individuals, organizations, and communities to inspire them to optimize their potential. He brings a wealth of experience in government, nonprofit, corporate, health care, and educational organizations as well as grass-roots community groups. Tim earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, as an Archibald Bush Leadership Fellow. He also completed a Masters Degree in Public Affairs at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He is a licensed social worker. He holds a Masters Certificate in Leadership Development from Harvard University. His academic achievements include an undergraduate degree in psychology and economic/business administration from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and international studies in Spanish and Liberation Theology from the Universidad Catolica in Lima, Peru. https://cheassisi.com/

Tim Munkeby spent 13 years teaching junior and senior high school English and creative writing, directing theater productions, and coaching sports. He switched gears in the 1980s, founding Munkeby Financial, Inc., a financial services firm in Hopkins, Minnesota. He’s combined his two career paths by writing "If I Had a Million Dollars: How to Achieve Financial Independence Before Your Parents Do", and lecturing at colleges and universities on financial and career literacy. Munkeby has also written three novels: "Back to the Island", "Will", and most recently, "The Advocate". After years living in the Boundary Waters area (a region of wilderness straddling the Canada-United States border), Tim and his wife of nearly six decades, Mary, now reside on Minnehaha Creek in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. They’re the proud parents to six children and a dozen grands. https://www.timmunkeby.com

Joe Cavanaugh, Founder and CEO Jan 21, 2025 12:15 PM
Youth Frontiers
Youth Frontiers

Joe Cavanaugh is a nationally-renowned speaker promoting timeless values and personal character to audiences of all ages. Whether it is at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, a commencement speech at his alma mater, a conference with business leaders, or in a room filled with 200 teenagers, Joe loves to be in front of a crowd sharing the message that character matters. His message is guided by the belief that character is the thread that will reweave the frayed fabric of our society.

In 1987, Joe founded Youth Frontiers (YF), a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that provides experiences that inspire character, civility, and community. YF has impacted more than 2 million youth, educators, and community members and has received national acclaim because of its powerful programs. Joe also leads YF’s newest division, Leadership Frontiers, which focuses on inspiring character-driven leaders in all sectors.

Joe has been featured on local, regional, and national media programs including a 90-minute PBS television special titled, “Respectfully, Joe Cavanaugh”. Additionally, he has been recognized by the late General Colin Powell of America’s Promise as being “a leader in our nation’s effort to rescue America’s young people.”

Joe received his B.A. degree in Humanities from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN, where he also was given an Honorary Doctorate in 2016. He was also named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by Saint John’s in 2012. Joe and his wife, Jane, live in Edina, MN. Their daughter, Tess, is attending the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN.

Club Service Project/Club Social Jan 28, 2025
Club Service Project/Club Social
Noah Schuchman, Golden Valley City Manager Feb 04, 2025 12:15 PM
City of Golden Valley
City of Golden Valley

In a City Council Special Meeting on July 1, 2024, the City Council concluded the City Manager interview process and selected Noah Schuchman as the next City Manager.

Schuchman has more than 20 years of local government experience. He recently served as City administrator for the City of Duluth from 2018-2024 and director of regulatory services for the City of Minneapolis from 2015-2018.

Schuchman holds a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marquette University. He is a Credentialed Manager and member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota City/County Management Association.

Eric Johnsrud, Chair Feb 11, 2025 12:15 PM
North Star Rotary Youth Exchange
North Star Rotary Youth Exchange

Eric is the Chair of North Star Rotary Youth Exchange. He joined Rotary in 1985 and has been a member of the Winona and Northfield Rotary Clubs. He has served as a Club Youth Exchange Officer and, more recently, North Star Country Officer for Spain since 2014. https://northstarrotary.com/

 

Becky Amble Feb 18, 2025 12:15 PM
Transforming Your Work: AI-Driven Growth for Professionals & Businesses
Transforming Your Work: AI-Driven Growth for Professionals & Businesses

Becky Amble is a seasoned marketing executive and AI expert with over 30 years of experience. She has:

  • Led transformative projects for corporations from $100M to $30B
  • Authored five books on AI, sharing insights on leveraging AI technologies
  • Dedicated 1000+ hours in 2023 to studying and applying AI in business
  • Teaches AI principles to diverse business audiences
  • AI Certification candidate
  • Created 150+ nationally published articles and 250+ YouTube videos

Becky's work in AI optimization and strategic marketing has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Who's Who Lifetime Achievement Award. She continues to drive innovation at the intersection of AI and business strategy.

Becky is an active volunteer. She is a mentor for the Minnesota Cup and is current president and past VP of the Bloomington Rotary Foundation. As a member of the Bloomington Rotary she also helps with programming and photography of meetings and events. As a Board member of the Eagle Group of MN Veterans she provides Board leadership and organizes monthly programs.

Becky and her husband live in Woodbury with their three cats. Their two sons are young adults. In her free time Becky enjoys reading, art, music, travel and walking the beach.

Club Service Project/Club Social Feb 25, 2025
Club Service Project/Club Social