Welcome to the Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans

 
DISTRICT GOVERNOR INSTALLATION

                                   DISTRICT GOVERNOR INSTALLATION:

We are installing Mark Shockey, a distinguished Member of our Club, as the District Governor for Rotary District 5950 for July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026, at 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 28th, at the Fagen World War II Fighter Museum at the Granite Falls. It is a fabulous museum developed and administered by Ron and Diane Fagen of Granite Falls. They opened the museum to honor Ron’s father, Ray, who landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6th, 1944 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 - 1945.

All of the aircraft there are fully operational [in flying condition]. There’s are also many other fully operational displays including General Omar’s Wileys Jeep, a restored Hosea glider [The only one that exists in the world], a battle equipped Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a very, very sobering display—a rail car used by the Germans during WWII to transport Jewish people and other “Undesireables” to concentration camps.  

The museum is truly a gift to Minnesota, the USA, and everyone in the world that wants and loves peace.

There are different options to attend including : (1) A round trip bus from Edina, a buffet lunch in Renville in route, and museum admission; (2) Lunch and museum admission only, and (3) Museum admission only. 

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR NEXT MEETING; NEW DAY/NEW TIME/NEW LOCATION

 
 
Thursday, July 10, 5:30 - 6:30 PM
 
Chanhassen American Legion Post 580
290 Lake Drive East
Chanhassen, MN
 
 
 
 

Tentatively, our presenter will be our new District Governor, Mark Shockey, a Member of Our Club.

Our meetings are always open to anyone desiring to serve, support and walk beside veterans and their families. At our 2nd week of the month meetings, we enjoy a topic of interest to veterans, Rotarians, and our metro community families. 

Our other gatherings occur around service projects or social connections with the veteran community. This is held in various locations and times as scheduled. If you are part of a veteran organization and would like to host a gathering of club members, please reach out to our President, Guy M. Marzano, (612)839-7288 [Phone or Text] or at guymarzano@gmail.com. We truly enjoy working on projects that benefit veterans.
 
On Saturday, many of our Club Members are meeting for breakfast at 9:00 AM at Keyes Cafe on Snelling Avenue to form carpools in route to attend the Open House for Sofas for Service, the Number One organization we support, to attend their Open House [11:00 - 2:00] at their warehouse in Spooner, WI. A check for $3,000.00 from our Club Foundation will be presented there at Noon. 
 
 
PARTICIPATE IN OUR RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
 
Club Member Jeff Staads volunteered at the drive and donated!
 
 
The Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans is committed to strengthening our community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations. Blood drives are a way of giving the community an opportunity to help save lives. Veterans are known for being concerned about the safety and wellbeing of others. That is why Rotary is such a good fit for those who want to serve veterans and their families. 
 
It all began in 2020, after a Red Cross speaker presented at one of our club meetings about all that the Red Cross does for Veterans. When a club member asked what we could do to help, he suggested hosting a blood drive. Our veteran club has successfully hosted 21 Blood Drives! More than 2500 patients have received blood products from our efforts.  We are especially thrilled when our donors discover that their blood products end up at the VA to help vets! 

 

Our next drive will be Thursday, July 24, 1:00-7:00pm Click here to sign up for an appointment  Summer is a time when fewer donors come out. Can we count on you?

 
 
 
 
VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION GRANTS
Grant Distributions Announced
 
 
It wasn't easy to narrow down the organizations that serve veterans and their families in our community. Ten organizations were nominated. In order to have the greatest impact, the top three organizations receive a $1000 - 3000 grant selected by our club members.
 
We are honored to partner with the following three organizations. Click on the logos below to learn more about the good they do for vets:
 
 
 
                                 
 
 
 
                      
About Rotary Veterans
 
We are a group of Veterans and other service minded men and women living in Minnesota who were chartered as a service club within Rotary International in October, 2019.  Our sense of service derives from military core values of "Service before Self"  that parallels those of Rotary International "Service above Self." 
 
Service includes: actively caring for one another and our extended families - especially during times of hurt; serving in our communities - youth, civic organizations, schools and the elderly; duly honoring other veterans & their families - especially during times of grief; and serving those in area/regions where we have served, such as projects in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, etc.  

JOIN A PROJECT


Change your community with us by volunteering on a local project.
 
 

PARTNER WITH US


We work with groups and organizations of all sizes to accomplish even more.
 
 

DISCOVER NEW CULTURES


Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organization.