Rotaract Club of the Athlete Village

World's Biggest Hug

2011-06-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

Join us for the Guinness Record Attempt for the WORLD'S BIGGEST HUG June 19 approximately 2:30 PM at the Mendota Bridge, Minnesota USA. We are hosting this with the Bloomington Daymakers Rotary Club to welcome the Peace Riders who are led by Chief Arvol Looking Horse on their way to Bdote to pray during World Peace and Prayer Day.

WORLD PEACE AND PRAYER DAY 2011

FACE BOOK
Friend Bdote Peace Park on Facebook for more photos of the area, history etc.

Rotary Convention, New Orleans

2011-05-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Club Advisor Stephanie Smith went and represented our club at the RI Convention and Rotaract Preconvention in late May.

Last year in Montreal, she presented President Kenny and incoming President Ray Klinginsmith with our club "End Polio" hockey jerseys. She also was a plenary session speaker, sharing our club's model for taking an existing club/group and mobilizing them around the causes of Rotary.

Consider attending RYLA in Washington DC next month.

See everyone in August when we start back up for the coming year!

ROTARY ON FACEBOOK

Incoming District Governor Chuck Berg will be joining us for our meeting October 13.

Preparing for New Year

2010-07-10T05:49:00.000-07:00

While almost all of our members are away from Minnesota this summer, our club does not meet and encourages its members to attend Rotary/Rotaract meetings. Our first meeting for 2010-2011 year will be in September. Schedule to be posted soon.

Young adults 18-30 years old who are interested in learning more about our club are invited to contact club advisor Rotarian Stephanie Smith (952-888-4311) who would be pleased to share details with you while the incoming officers are away.

Congrats on Qualifying for the USA Hockey National Tournament

2010-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Twin Cities Northern Lights Junior A hockey team won Round 2 of league playoffs this weekend which qualifies them to participate in the USA Hockey National Tournament. Our Rotaract club was chartered with 25 players and three staff members of this hockey team so this is a very exciting time for our club members!

The five games in five days National Tournament will to be held in Marlborough Mass. We invited our Rotary friends from Mass to our game on Friday evening 3/26 (details to be announced here soon). District Governor Carol Toomey will be in attendance and we would appreciate your support of these young men at the game. Stay afterward the game for a brief meet-and-greet with members of the team. Good luck notes to the team should be emailed to: northernlightshockey@juno.com

The Northern Lights team is guaranteed three games March 26-28. If they advance through round robin, they will play in the semifinals on Monday 3/29 and the Championship Finals 3/30. GO LIGHTS! Follow the team's progress at the website above. Also check out athletevillage.com for more information about our Goodwill Peace Ambassador trip to British Columbia during the Winter Olympics!

Rotary International Theme 2010-2011 announced

2010-01-19T05:19:00.000-08:00

Congrats to RI President-Elect from Kirksville, Missouri USA

Welcome! Beinvenue!

2010-01-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

Добро пожаловать Tervetuloa! Välkommen! Velkommen! Laipni lūdzam! Vítáme vás! Vitajte! Willkommen! Добре заварили!

A special warm welcome to our Rotary family, especially to Rotary Districts 5950/5960 Minnesota/Wisconsin with 5040/5050 British Columbia and Washington plus clubs in 5030 Seattle, 7450 Pennsylvania, 1420 Finland, 2220 Russia, 2350 Sweden, 5010 Alaska, 5450 Colorado, 5970 Iowa, which represent our club member's home communities.

Through this Rotaract/Rotary tour and through community events hosted by the Northern Lights Athlete Village including scrimmages against local Vancouver junior hockey teams, we will promote international good will and understanding between Canadians, US citizens and world spectators who are in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

PURPOSE OF OUR VANCOUVER TRIP
At the invitation of city and Rotary leadership, our Rotaract club will:

1) use the public platform created by the scrimmages between British Columbia junior hockey teams and the Twin Cities Northern Lights Junior Hockey team to challenge local children to a) to increase physical fitness through sports & unstructured play b) to spend time each day reading and c) to find a way to serve in their community

2) provide an opportunity for local children to attend a live international hockey game who would not be able to attend an Olympic event

3) attend/participate in community celebrations in conjunction with the Olympic Torch Relay

4) bring public awareness to the service projects of Vancouver Rotary clubs and the Rotary International "End Polio Now" campaign; serve alongside Rotarians and Canadian hockey players.

5) provide an international hockey and cultural experience for players on Canadian junior hockey teams

6) attend Rotary meetings/interact with local Rotarians to learn about the culture and service opportunities in British Columbia; sharing about our home and invite Rotarians to experience Minnesota Rotary hospitality; lay the framework for creating an Rotary ICC (Intercountry Committee) for Friendship Exchanges

7) Experience the excitement and the cultural melting pot atmosphere of the Winter Olympics while site-seeing in Vancouver and attending an Olympic hockey game

2009-12-15T07:05:00.000-08:00

A picture of our club's Service Model

Rotary World Understanding Month: February 2010

2009-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

The month of February is special in the Rotary calendar since it is designated World Understanding Month. The month also includes the anniversary of the first meeting of Rotary held on 23 February 1905, now designated World Understanding and Peace Day.

In designating World Understanding Month, the Rotary International board asks all Rotary clubs to plan programs for their weekly meetings and undertake special activities to emphasize “understanding and goodwill as essential for world peace.” World Understanding Month is a chance for every club to pause, plan and promote the fourth Avenue of Service - Rotary’s continued quest for goodwill, peace and understanding among people of the world.

To observe this designated month, many clubs arrange international speakers, invite Youth Exchange students and international scholars from schools and universities to club meetings, plan programs featuring former Group Study Exchange team members, arrange discussions on global issues, present entertainment with an international cultural or artistic theme, and schedule other programs with an international emphasis.

Many clubs take the opportunity to launch an international community service activity or make contact with a Rotary club in another country. It is a good month to initiate a Rotary Friendship Exchange, a 3-H project or encourage support for PolioPlus and other Rotary Foundation programs.

And to celebrate, our club membership is going to Vancouver!!

Inukshuk: The ancient symbols of Inuit culture were traditionally used as landmarks and navigation aids. These grey granite statues represent a human form with outstretched arms, the symbol in Canada of northern hospitality and friendship

The Northern Lights Athlete Village nonprofit organization has graciously provided the logistics to create this opportunity for our Rotaract Club and for the Northern Lights Junior Hockey Team. Our group has been invited to stay over half of this coming February in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in order to serve during the 2010 Winter Olympics -- which happens to be Rotary International World Understanding Month! It is our hope that this trip will serve as a catalyst for creating a standing Rotary ICC - Intercountry Committee between clubs in 5950/5960 in Minnesota and 5240 in Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

2009-12-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

Archaeological evidence shows that the Coast Salish people had settled the Vancouver area by 500 BC. In the 1870s, Vancouver was founded as a sawmill settlement called Granville. And in 1886, the city was incorporated and renamed Vancouver after Captain George Vancouver, a British naval captain who explored the area in 1792.
Historical Video Link

Local Site Seeing

2009-12-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

From the mountain area of Squamish and Whistler down to Vancouver and Port Moody, our team will have plenty of photo opportunities!

Olympic Ceremonies and mens' Olympic hockey will take place at the home of the Vancouver Cannucks (white dome) in downtown Vancouver

Vancouver Area Map

Our tentative schedule includes visiting clubs in Vancouver downtown, Richmond, Surrey, Squamish (just north off the map on the way to Whistler), Abbotsford (just east off the map), Burnaby, Port Moody, and Coquitlam. We plan to be in these communities when the Olympic Torch Relay passes through their part of town and to attend their community celebrations, some of which will be in conjunction with the Northern Lights Junior Hockey scrimmages against their local junior hockey teams.

Click for: OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ROUTE

Downtown Vancouver Map

HR McMillan Space Centre: VIP party location

Lots to photo opportunities along the way as we tour BC
Stanley Park - 1000 acres with , redwood trees, light house, zoo
First Nations Totem Poles at Totem Park

Inukshuk (Olympic symbol)

Prospect Point

Canada Place - indoor murals tell the story of Vancouver. Home of the Olympic media village. Seabus connections

Grouse Mountain - Gondola ride to top, skiing, skating & snow shoeing

Downtown Vancouver -Home of the Olympic Opening/Closing Ceremonies and GM Place (Men's Hockey venue), interesting blend of architecture, Yaletown District. Walk north to Gastown & east to Chinatown

Gastown - Souvenir shops, cafes, steam clock with musical chime

China Town - China Garden & plenty of great ethnic food. The Chinese New Year Festival is February 13-15 weekend while we are in town.

Seawall - Paved seaside path from Stanley Park past downtown, Telus Science Centre/Omnimax, Athlete Village at Falsecreek to Granville Island. Or take a ferry ride between points...

Telus Science Centre

Granville Island - Live music, public market, shops

We will also spend several days in Squamish, WHISTLER
and the mountain area

Our Group's Winter Olympic Experience

2009-12-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Nearly 200 communities across Canada will have the opportunity to gather and participate in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebrations...and we'll be in British Columbia during the excitement. Our home base for the trip will be in northern Port Moody BC near Belcarra. The itinerary includes school visits to read with children, meetings with Rotary Clubs and Rotaract clubs, several Junior Hockey games and a roadtrip packed of Olympic torch community celebrations. More trip details will be added as they are confirmed.

British Columbia Torch Relay Route has actually been named the Northern Lights tour...pretty cool connection.

Our team will leave Minneapolis Tuesday February 2 after the Northern Lights Junior A Hockey team's send-off game January 31. Where we will be during our trip...

Torch Relay cities are listed below in italics

Wed Feb 3 Rotary Vancouver Sunrise Club 7:30 AM / China Town Club 12:15
Thur. Feb 4 Squamish schools; Rotary luncheon; SQUAMISH Rotary meeting 12:15 Howe Sound. NL GAME vs SQUAMISH WOLFPACK SQUAMISH CELEBRATION

Fri. Feb 5 WHISTLER CELEBRATION School programs

Sat. Feb 6
Sun. Feb 7 *ABBOTSFORD CELEBRATION GAME vs ABBOTSFORD PILOTS afternoon game then Superbowl party

Mon. Feb 8 Aldergrove and Surrey SURREY CELEBRATION

Tues Feb 9 Surrey * White Rock* PEACE ARCH* N Delta* New Westminster* Tsawwasen * Ladner * RICHMOND CELEBRATION Rotary Surrey 12:15

Wed. Feb 10 Rotary Port Moody 7:00 AM North Vancouver

Thurs. Feb 11 W Vancouver * Belcarra PORT MOODY CELEBRATION Coquitlam * Burnaby NL GAME vs PORT MOODY PANTHERS
Rotary Burnaby/Deer Lake 7:15 AM

Fri Feb 12 Burnaby Rotary 12:15 VANCOUVER We will be at the VIP party at the HR. McMillan Space Centre

The rest of schedule is TBD based on the Olympic hockey schedule

Experiencing the Winter Olympics

2009-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Stats about the Winter Games:
60 Days
80 Countries represented
6000 athletes
Sports tourism spectators
3 Billion viewers worldwide
Add over 1/2 million Vancouverites, one third of which speak a language other than English living in the third largest city in Canada

The Rotary International "World Understanding Month" Challenge”
Opportunities to share your story while pin trading and attending hockey games
Learn about other cultures by meeting local Vancouverites and world-wide spectators
Your Calling: Explore your intersts during free time
Make plans to share what you have learned/experienced with District clubs back home
Perform the Six Olympic Acts of Kindness
Interact with Vancouver Rotarians from 14 clubs and learn how we can partner with them
Celebrate the Olympic Games atmosphere– enjoy the fun & energetic cultural sports melting-pot
Share about our club and Minnesota with Vancouver Rotary clubs

We will be in Vancouver during the Olympic Torch Relay, the Opening Ceremonies and the beginning of pool play for men's hockey.

End Polio Now

2009-12-13T16:59:00.000-08:00

Our Rotaract Club continues the Rotary commitment to eradicate polio worldwide.
Check out these resources:
Rotary Video on YouTube
WATCH VIDEO
Polio Infection Life Cycle
Timetable of Polio
How polio changed us: Historical connections
Play the accessibility game

DECEMBER NEWS

2009-11-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

SERVICE: "Keep others from throwing in the towel by throwing in yours" Rather than throwing stuffed animals on the ice when the Northern Lights scores its first goal of the game, in December our fans are encouraged to throw a rolled up towel instead. We continue to collect towels through the month and will donate them to Bridging. Fran, the founder of Bridging, visited our meeting in November and challenged us "You all have stuff...give some of it away!" Our team decided to do a towel drive in response to Fran's specific request for more new or gently used cloth goods like towels, washcloths and dish towels. Help us help families in transition...

HOCKEY SIDE OF LIFE:
Many of our Rotaractors play for or are staff of the Northern Lights Junior A Hockey Team which is based out of the Bloomington Ice Garden at the northeast corner of France and 98th Street. The team is on a winning streak and battling for first place...congrats!!!

For details about our upcoming Goodwill Sports Amabassador trip to Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics, check out older posts to the right OR scroll to the bottom of this page and click 'older posts'

We're pleased to report that two of our club officers are in the top five in points in the league. Assistant Captain #11 Josh Shingler (Sergeant at Arms, Shawano WI) who is second in the league in scoring. Club Secretary #26 Captain Garrett Windle, a forward from Downington Pennsylvania is currently holding third place even after taking five games away from the Lights while with a Tier II Junior team for an extended tryout Minnesota Junior Hockey League in scoring.

Following right behind him and in the top 20 are club member Chris Weber (Burnsville, MN) and Vice President/Assistant Captain Jon Barrick (Litchfield, MN). Other league standouts include goalie Josh Lehr (Appleton, WI) who has notched 11 wins for the Lights with a 92% save average.

We truly celebrate good things happening to these great young people!

October Activities

2009-10-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

Hey club members: Nice job volunteering this month!! The whole gang almost came out to rake leaves on National Make A Difference Day Saturday October 24. After a bagel breakfast provided by the Bloomington Daymakers Rotary club, we divided up and went to several homes to assist elderly Bloomington residents with yard work. Several hours later, the Northern Lights Hockey team went on to beat the Minnesota Wildcats 8-1. What a great day!! And the weather cooperated by giving us a great sunny and non-precipitating morning in the middle of several days of glum. Thanks also to those who let us use their rakes since our members aren't home owners and don't have access to rakes.

COMMUNITY HALLOWEEN PARTY:
Many club members served at Woodlake Nature Center located just south of 66th Street and east of 35W on Shoreview Drive in Richfield, MN. Our group helped carve the 70 pumpkins needed for the kids Halloween party last Saturday. FLASH, the Northern Lights mascot and Caleb our honorary member were both on hand for the event to hand out hockey tickets at the hockey "shoot and score" game. Thanks for volunteering!!

Also a huge round of applause from the women's BSF group that meets on Wednesday mornings. They really can't keep talking about how grateful they are that our group sets up their 300 chairs each week. That's "Service Above Self" to do ongoing service.

October 12 meeting was used for training...we practiced reading "Brady Brady and the Great Rink" for school presentations. Great job remembering the Four Way Test too!

Oct 19 meeting was 6:30 PM at Bloomington Ice Garden Community Room
The video educational program about Polio will be seen at another meeting.

Club Meeting 9/21

2009-09-21T19:12:00.001-07:00

Guests are cordially invited to join us on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Bloomington Ice Garden 6:30-8:00 PM

Service Project September 14

2009-09-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

Our first official service project of the year was at Feed My Starving Children where we had 25 members attend training. Watch the training video here by clicking the first/top video. Our club packaged 8856 meals with countless "perfect" food packs of 390 grams. These food packs of soy, chicken, rice and vegies will feed 24 children for an entire year. We heard lots of cheering and calls out for more product as our group worked for several hours on the packaging floor. Great job warehouse crew too! Pix soon... Some of the stats we learned: 18,000 children a day die of hunger-related issues around the world. Click here for fact sheet about FMSC. We have signed up to serve here two more times this year on the second Monday of December and March.

CHARTER NIGHT RECAP

2009-09-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you to those who participated in our Charter Night activities at the Bloomington Ice Garden Sunday September 13, 2009 and the Northern Lights Hockey game. Rotarians enjoyed the Famous Dave's dinner social before the game while the team left to prepare for the game. We received a charter certificate from our District Governor Sandra Schley who also dropped the puck during the pre-game ceremony. After the national anthem, she and the Honorable Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead announced the formal "Let's Play Hockey."

The Mayor gave a proclamation that it was "Rotaract Club of the Athlete Village Charter Day" in the city of Bloomington Minnesota. Club Advisor Stephanie led the crowd in reciting the Four Way Test which was printed in the game program. President Steve Dus rang the club bell to symbolize the closing of our Rotaract event that started at 4:30 and the hockey game began.

Fan highlights were hugs and high 5's with "Flash" the team mascot, driving the remote control zamboni, throwing stuffed animals on the ice when the team scored the first goal of the game and playing Chuck-A-Puck after first period. We raised $53 in donations for Polio Plus and lots of people in the stands were buzzing about the Rotary connection -- the club banner and Rotary flag display in the scorer's area were really eye-catching.

From Club Advisor Stephanie Smith: "Our club members were excited to receive their Rotaract pins after the game and the new club bell presented by the Bloomington DayMakers club, our sponsors. The team sat down to a BBQ meal after the game -- thank you to those who provided the meal! Big thanks to all who helped behind the scenes, including DayMakers who ran errands, took pictures and really made our new club members feel special at our first official function. And to our new club members and officers, a hearty congrats and welcome to the Rotary Family!"

Charter Members

2009-09-09T19:27:00.001-07:00

Prospective New Members & Guests

2009-08-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Our Rotaract Club is now open to additional members and we encourage service-oriented young adults 18-29 to submit an application for membership by emailing this completed form to rotaractvillage@gmail.com The first 30 members came from athletes, staff and volunteers affiliated with the Northern Lights Junior A Hockey team who have come from around the country to be part of a hockey team. The club is actively recruiting both male and female young adults who desire to serve their community to join them for meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month to learn about the way that Rotary clubs around the world, starting with those in our back door, are leading the way in business ethics, service and professional development. On the second Monday of each month the club will be actively engaged in service. We are excited to be part of the largest service organization in the world, Rotary International.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ROTARACT
Brochure
General Purposes/Policies
Club Handbook
International Membership Statistics
Membership Benefits
International Convention in Montreal CAN

Additional applicants who are approved for membership before August 24, 2009 will be considered "Charter Members" of the club and will be presented their pin at the Charter Night 9/13 along with our 25+ approved charter members. Starting in October, new members will be inducted on the regularly scheduled meetings which will be at 6:30 PM on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Bloomington Ice Garden. Please share this website with those that you believe might be interested in learning more about our club.

VISITORS/GUESTS/PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS We welcome guests to attend our charter night and our club meetings which will be held on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Bloomington Ice Garden starting 9/21. Our club will provide make-up slips to visiting Rotarians and Rotaractors for those who join our meetings/activities. Except as posted, meetings are $5 per guest. When possible, let us know you are coming so that we can plan for refreshments etc. (Email rotaractvillage@gmail.com). Also, be sure to check here for location if you'd like to join us for our 2nd Monday events which will be off-site. The cost for those events will be posted here too.