Kyle Haugen has been a Rotarian since October of 2003. In reality, he has been around Rotary most of his life. As the son of a longtime Prior Lake Rotarian, Jack Haugen, Kyle grew up learning what Rotary does and is, and so it was not a question of if but when he would join Rotary. Since 2003, however, Kyle has himself been learning what it really means to be a Rotarian.
It is clear that this strong foundation is the reason he became District 5960 Governor in 2017-2018. A lifelong resident of Prior Lake, Kyle graduated from Prior Lake High School where his mother, Mary, was the school’s Activities Director. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hamline University. Currently, Kyle is an Agent/Registered Representative of Haugen Agency, Ltd providing insurance and financial services to individuals and businesses in Prior Lake and the broader Twin Cities. He resides in Prior Lake with his wife Carrie and their son Cooper, who was born in September of 2015.
After joining the Rotary Club of Prior Lake, Kyle’s first leadership role was as co-chair of the club’s DARE committee. His next leadership position was as Club President in 2009-2010. That year Kyle was involved in planning efforts for the inaugural Lakefront Jazz and Blues Fest. This became Prior Lake Rotary’s Lakefront Music Fest, the club’s signature event. He continues to be involved as a steering committee member, talent committee co-chair, and event spokesperson.
Kyle is a founding member of the Prior Lake Rotary Foundation, where he has served as Vice Chair/Secretary and is currently Chair. He’s also been a longtime member of the club’s Rotary Foundation and International Service Committees, while spending time on virtually all other committees within the Club at some point. Personally, Kyle is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation, a Paul Harris Society member since 2012, and a Rotary Foundation Bequest Society member.
He has shown a commitment to service by travelling to Haiti in August 2010 with club members to provide earthquake relief, to execute the District Grant sponsored by the Rotary Club of Prior Lake, and to gather information for potential projects. He easily considers it one of his top Rotary moments. He has attended two International Conventions, in Birmingham, England in 2009 and in New Orleans in 2011. In 2011, Kyle also was selected to attend the Zone 28-29 Institute as an invited Young Rotarian representing District 5960. Additional roles in the District have included the Vision Facilitation Team, the Polio Plus committee and Membership Retention committee, which he chaired. He has also served as Area 6 Assistant Governor, Assistant Governor Team Leader, and as a member of the District Board of Directors.
Kyle’s demonstration of “Service Above Self” has gone beyond Rotary. He has given his time and talents to numerous community posts and organizations. These include the River Valley YMCA Community Board, City of Prior Lake Parks Advisory Committee (Chair), Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce (former Board Member), and Prior Lake Amateur Baseball Association (PLABA), where he was a Coach, Board Member and Chair. He has also volunteered his time as a coach in several sports for Prior Lake Athletics for Youth (PLAY).
Kyle’s hobbies include spending time with his family, playing baseball, attending sporting events and concerts, cheering on local sports teams, and travelling.
Each year the Rotary Club of Saint Paul presents the “David and Elizabeth Fesler Award” to an outstanding Rotarian or community leader who has made a difference in the Saint Paul community through dedicated service as a volunteer. The award recognizes the volunteer contributions of former member David R. Fesler in the Saint Paul community and is funded by a major memorial gift by David and Elizabeth Fesler to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
This year’s award winner is Valdi Stefanson. Since joining Saint Paul Rotary in 2000, Valdi’s passion has been our club’s international programs. Valdi is also a member of the District International and Matching Grant Committee. In 2011 he was presented with the Rotary International “Service Above Self Award”…one of only four people in our District to ever receive this award. He is co-chair of our international program and has set up programs in Guyana, Nicaragua and Bolivia. Valdi also found matching gifts funding for our 100th Anniversary programs.
Pictured with Valdi (left) are selection committee members B.J. Fesler, Nancy McKillips, Past RI Director Jerry Meigs and Jay Pfaender.
This weekend, an article was distributed around Finland about my daughter and her love of Finnish. Her Finnish professor was also noted (Dan Karvonen), who was also a Rotary exchange student to Finland in 1980-81.
Emma found out about it when all of her host families and friends sent emails to her about seeing her in the Finnish newspapers which included Helsinki, Oulu and Seinajoki (the largest city nearby from the area where she was an exchange student).
Google Translate does not do a good job with the translation, in other words, who really wants to learn Finnish, the whole reason for the article!
See the link below, if you want to see what Finnish looks like!
Please join us to celebrate our Immediate Past President, Chuck Whitaker, on Wednesday, August 16 at the beautiful White Bear Yacht Club.
The "Bar will be Open" at 5:30 p.m. for a social hour with a delicious dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.
A "Chuck Roast" will commence following dinner. It is sure to be an exciting and fun evening as we look back on all of our club's activities, meetings, and memories under the astute direction of President Chuck!
Don't miss out on great Rotary Fellowship! Sign up today!
LYNX VS. PHOENIX MERCURY Tuesday, August 22, 2017 @ 7:00pm
Join us to see the Minnesota Lynx take on the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, August 22nd with Rotary of St. Paul. Prior to the game, enjoy a pregame Happy Hour at Wild Tymes for St. Paul Rotary Members and their families from 5 - 7 pm. A portion of each ticket sold will go back to support the St. Paul Rotary Club. Friends, family, colleagues welcome!
Plus, the first 50 people to purchase tickets through this offer will get the opportunity to receive autographs from two of the Lynx players following the game!
We are now moving into a new Rotary year and a big CONGRATS to our new President Jerry Faletti. Todd Nicholson is now taking over at Sergeant at Arms for club and will be lining up the volunteer roles for each meeting. Let’s help him get off to a great start and fill the schedule for the next couple months.
We currently have openings for Greeters, Introducer of guests, Scribes, Giving the inspirational minute, and Leading song. Having these roles filled each week makes for a well run meeting and keeps us all active in the club.
Sothe answer to "how do I sign up to help out at a meeting?" is "click this link and sign up."
You do not need to create yet another login and there are no passwords to remember! Just follow the link, confirm your email and start signing up for meeting teams. SignUp.com will send you reminders, and will let me know where the needs are for upcoming meetings.
Attention new members: serving as a greeter and taking the microphone, either to offer the inspirational moment or to introduce guests and visiting Rotarians, is an excellent way to network and get your face in front of the club!
We are urging every member to sign up for a few spots in any of the roles available. Through SignUp.com you can view the open spots for all upcoming meetings in any of the 6 roles and sign up for what works in your schedule and what you would enjoy. It’s easy to sign up and help from everyone makes us a stronger club.
Thank you for whatever you can do to make our weekly meetings a great experience!
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Pictured with Valdi (left) are selection committee members B.J. Fesler, Nancy McKillips, Past RI Director Jerry Meigs and Jay Pfaender.
