It takes many Rotarians, family members, friends and local Boy Scouts to make the annual Thanksgiving Dinner a success.  We serviced close to 250 area Seniors a great Turkey feast. 

The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Memorial Association has commissioned internationally-recognized artist Charles Gilbert Kapsner to design and paint canvases depicting the history of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Five 8 x 10-foot oil canvases will be hung in the cemetery’s committal hall to represent all who served, commemorating their sacrifices in all wars, rather than eulogizing a particular war. Beyond being a memorialto our nation’s fighting men and women, the paintings will serve as an educational tool to help future generations understand our history and the vital role our military plays in maintaining our freedom and democracy.

On January 11, 2012, SRRHS Teachers Lori Posch and Laura Arndt came to Great River Rotary to talk about the One District One Book program. The idea behind the program is to encourage families to read together and read the same book and the same time.  Great River Rotary is supporting this program by donating $100. 

On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, one of our newest Rotarians, Jim Cota, spoke to Great River Rotary about his business JC Signs and Graphics in Foley, MN.  JC Signs and Graphics can be found online at www.jc-signs.com. 

On December 7, 2011, Great River Rotary elected its 2012-2013 Club Officers:

President: Bob Rueter, Boy Scouts of America

President-Elect: Betsey Lund, Neils, Franz, Chirhart, Law Firm

Treasurer: Eric Reisinger, US Bank

Secretary: Melissa Schmidt, St. Cloud HOspital

Director(s): Greg Vandal, Retired Sauk Rapids-Rice Superintendent 

*The 2012-2013 term begins July 1, 2012. 

On Sunday, November 20, 2011, the Great River Rotary of Sauk Rapids and East St. Cloud prepared and served a Thanksgiving dinner to 275 senior citizens from central Minnesota.  For 23 years, Great River Rotary has prepared and served a turkey dinner with all of the fixings, including pumpkin pie, for senior citizens from Good Shepherd Community, Country Manor, Carefree Assisted Living, Russell Arms Apartments, and Ridgeview Assisted Living.   This year a record number of senior citizens were served and twenty turkeys were cooked.  Several senior citizens commented that they have come to Great River Rotary’s Thanksgiving dinner for many years and look forward to it each year. 

The event could not have been possible without the help of several Cub Scouts from Pack 8, Mississippi Heights, Sauk Rapids and their family members who helped set up for the event and serve the food to the senior citizens.   Also in attendance, were several St. Cloud State University students who volunteered their time to help make the day a special event for the seniors.  St. Cloud Metro Bus once again volunteered their drivers and buses to transport the senior citizens from their respective senior living communities to the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School where the event was held.  Staff at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School also played an important part in providing the space and preparing the high school for the large number of attendees.

Many of the senior citizens also took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”  The senior citizens were even given a special pre-show preview of the play by the cast members who displayed their outstanding talents.  

New this year, Great River Rotary also hosted a food drive and collected 160 pounds of food and cash from Rotarians, play attendees, and the community at large.  Food donations were delivered to the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Living Waters Lutheran Church.