Alexandria Rotary Club

International Service Project : Haiti

Larry Zilliox and Bill Bolm
Conversation #1 about their recent service project visit to Haiti.

District 5950 Conference

Zilliox Installed as Governor Rotary District 5950

Larry Zilliox, a member of the Alexandria Rotary Club, was installed as Governor of District 5950 in a ceremony held July 8 in Alexandria. Zilliox is just the second Alexandria Rotarian elected to this office; Joe Perino served as district governor in 1968. Zilliox is one of 533 district governors worldwide.

As governor, Zilliox presides over a district comprising much of Southern and Western Minnesota, which includes 65 individual clubs and about 3,000 members. Over the next several months, Zilliox will visit each of these clubs. He has selected as his theme for the year, “I’m a Rotarian: I KNOW I Can.”

“I have always been impressed with trains and the children’s story ‘The Little Engine That Could,’” Zilliox explained. “I try to be positive and look forward to the challenges daily life brings. Rotary’s motto, ‘Service above Self’ has always been a part of my life.”

WCCO to Honor Rotary

WCCO Radio (830 AM) will honor Rotary this coming Friday, February 19th, in connection with the 100th anniversary of Minneapolis Club 9 and Saint Paul Club 10.

The station's 'WCCO Radio/Popp Telecomm Good Neighbor Award' honoring Rotary will air at 7:52 a.m., 12:40 p.m., and 5:50 p.m.

Arise and Shine Day Care Center, Kisumu, Kenya

Pictured is Jeff Ohe (Edina Rotary), Renee Thompson (Hope for the Child), Akinyi Menya and Larry Zilliox (Alexandria Rotary Club). Akinyi is the daughter of a couple that operates Arise and Shine Day Care in Kisumu, Kenya. The check being handed to Akinyo is possible because of funds the Alexandria Rotary Club and other clubs in District 5950 donated to the Fast For Hope program. The check Akinyi holds will allow Arise and Shine Day Care to feed pre-school children for six months.

Akinyi came to the United States with a $150 check made out to Anoka Hennepin Votech, $100 in cash and a sweater in January several years ago. She worked at three or four fast food establishments to earn enough money to live and attend school. Today, she works for United Health as a consultant and will be finishing her MBA at the University of Minnesota in May. She is working on getting her parents to Minneapolis to attend the graduation ceremony.

Akinyi's father worked in the oil industry and her mother was a vice-president of Barclays Bank. The Menya's have retired and moved back to Kisumu and then started a day care center called Arise and Shine for pre-schoolers. They have hired several teachers and a cook and have plans to build a primary school with dormitory space. Land has been purchased and if you visit the web-site hopeforthechild.org, you will see plans for the school grounds.

Rotary, Center for Ethical Business Cultures sponsor essay contest

Rotary International Districts 5950 and 5960 and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures are sponsoring an essay contest for high school students. Cash prizes will be awarded.

Live from the District Conference at Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center

This video was streamed live to the internet from the Rotary District 5950/5960 Conference at Arrowwood Resort. The time was around 2 pm on Saturday, April 26th, and the afternoon session had just ended so it the reason the room in which this video was taken was fairly empty.