Events

Attorney Marshall H. Tanick of the Twin Cities law firm of Meyer Njus Tanick will make a presentation to the Rotary Club. “Dylan’s Lyrics and the Law” celebrates the 85th birthday (May 24th) of Minnesota's Bob Dylan. To commemorate it, the presentation reviews some of the court cases citing and relying upon the songs of the Nobel Prize winning troubadour in judicial decisions.

Join us for lunch and a Board meeting. Planning for Taste & Tour will be discussed.

After time in state and county government, Theresa Schyma moved into local government in late 2007 and quickly realized elections would be her long-term focus. She got her start as a Deputy City Clerk for the City of Richfield, where she learned the ropes from a seasoned clerk—just in time for her first three elections to go to recount.

In 2016, she became City Clerk for a smaller city on Lake Minnetonka, where she could fully manage elections and quietly refine processes. She joined the City of Golden Valley five weeks before the 2020 Presidential Election (yes, that one), and thoroughly enjoys being part of the team within the Legal Department. Since then, she has focused on improving systems and operations and is preparing for whatever 2026 decides to bring.

We'll hear from Theresa Schyma, Golden Valley City Clerk, about the election security process and the steps our city takes to make sure our elections are secure.

Tim Mulcrone, PolioPlus Chair for Rotary District 5950, will share Rotary International’s mission to eradicate the disease and how Rotary Clubs continue to make a difference around the world. A colleague said: “Tim can always be counted on for the latest data and progress on Rotary’s flagship initiative, the worldwide eradication of polio.” He is the last remaining charter member of Chanhassen Rotary founded in 1987, serving three times as President and on numerous Club and District committees. Since 2012, he has served as the PolioPlus Chair for Rotary District 5950 which encompasses 71 Rotary Clubs in Minneapolis and Central Minnesota. Tim shared: “I retired from a career in law enforcement and reside with my wife, Ginger, in Savage where we hand-built our home on the Credit River.”

Dr. Natan Paradise is Director of the Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Minnesota, where he also serves as Director of Undergraduate studies. He teaches courses in Jewish history and cultures, Jewish American literature, and Jewish humor, in addition to his research and writing on the American Jewish experience, antisemitism, and strategies for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion that are both effective and truly inclusive. He regularly serves as an invited speaker to local, national, and international audiences on antisemitism and DEI.

This meeting will be hosted at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minnesota, 5905 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55422.

The Golden Valley Rotary Club will gather with members of the community to celebrate all things Rotary during the 2025-2026 year. We will present the Citizen of the Year award to Michelle Christensen of One Good Deed and the Rotarian of the Year award to Bryan Rossi. Our high school scholarship recipients from Hopkins High School, Perpich Arts High School, and Robbinsdale Armstrong High School will be honored. Club President, Alisha Weis, will kickoff her second term. A great celebratory event in the fifty-three year history of the Golden Valley Rotary Club!

Ann C. Kay is the co-founder and education coordinator of the MN nonprofit Rock ‘n’ Read Project, dedicated to helping families, educators, and organizations use singing and basic music skills to develop young brains for reading. Ann created a PreK/K curriculum, "A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers", and provides professional development for early childhood educators. Prior to focusing on early childhood, Rock ‘n’ Read received $600,000 from the MN Legislature to conduct a five-year state project that helped 2,500 elementary students make phenomenal gains in reading after using a singing-based software - one year (avg.) after 14 hours of usage. Formerly, Ann was an elementary and middle school music teacher, choir director, instructor of music teachers and classroom teachers, and associate director of graduate music education at the University of St. Thomas.

Rotary Summer Family Picnic at Brookview

UPDATE: Brookview Golden Valley (too hot to be outside!)

(Families/Partners invited!)

316 Brookview Pkwy S, Golden Valley, MN 55426

REGISTRATION HERE

Dave serves as a Senior Partner of Community Outreach and Institutional Adjunct Instructor who works directly with civic organizations and community leaders to strengthen our network of Community Partners, Employment Partners, and Support Services Partners. As an instructor of the Virtues for Success™ course, he helps Associates build the foundation for a successful reentry. He also plays a role in matching Associates with Partners who will walk alongside them, ensuring they have the guidance, opportunities, and support needed to thrive.

The Redemption Project (TRP) is a Saint Paul–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting justice-involved individuals. At TRP, the  mission is igniting potential and transforming lives through innovative education and powerful partnerships. Every year, individuals return to our communities after incarceration without the support systems they need to succeed. At TRP, they work to break the cycle of recidivism by providing practical resources, mentorship, and meaningful opportunities that help people rebuild their lives with purpose and dignity.

Ellen Schreder started her practice at Carson, Clelland & Schreder doing criminal prosecution and family law. As her family law practice grew, her time as a prosecutor decreased. Ellen soon became a partner, and the law firm has since been known as Carson, Clelland & Schreder. Ellen now practices solely in the field of family law, and works with all types of family law cases, including but not limited to dissolution, custody and parenting time, post-Decree issues and modifications, third party custody, grandparent visitation, adoptions, and step-parent adoptions. Ellen spends the majority of her time away from the office working on all aspects of the sewing program which she runs in Cap-Haitian, Haiti. She recently applied for and received a Rotary Global Grant to further this work in Haiti, where women from two different villages are employed sewing items needed by and purchased by the Haitian people. Ellen also enjoys bicycling and all things outdoors, including spending time at her cabin. She is a longtime member of the Brooklyn Center Rotary Club.

Bryan Rossi has been a professional musician and educator all his life. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, the Sorbonne in Paris, and has a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas and a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota. He taught French for 15 years and was a school principal for 8 years before becoming a consultant and adjunct professor. Dr. Rossi is currently Program Director at High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) where he oversees both the academic and recording programs. Bryan has played with such groups as The Mary Jane Alm Band, Orquesta Sabroson, Bomba, Sabor Tropical, and The Latin Sounds Orchestra, all Minnesota Music Awards Recipients. In May 2008, he was inducted into the Mid-American Music Hall of Fame for his work with the Judd Group. He currently is performing with Salsa del Soul and his own group, the Latin Jazz Ensemble. Bryan has been a member of the Golden Valley Rotary Club since 2005. He has served as Club President twice, hosted Rotary Youth Exchange students, has multiple Paul Harris Designations, and was awarded the Golden Valley Rotarian of the Year in 2026.

Michelle Christensen is the Founder and Executive Director of One Good Deed, a non-profit volunteer group committed to making a positive difference in people’s lives. Driven by a lifelong passion for helping and caring for others, she established the organization 10 years ago to channel community goodwill into tangible, compassionate and impactful actions.

Michelle brings a well-rounded perspective to the organization’s leadership. She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Normandale Community College before completing a Bachelor's degree in American Studies, with a minor in French, from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Grounded in a deep understanding of cultural and community structures, she also gained valuable global insight during a semester spent studying in France.

By blending a strong foundation in social and cultural studies, and with a genuine dedication to community care, Michelle guides One Good Deed in its mission to uplift individuals while also creating a culture of kindness.

Michelle, and her husband Jeff, have been Golden Valley residents for 33 years. Their (now adult!) children attended Meadowbrook Elementary, North Jr. High and Hopkins High School. While guiding One Good Deed, Michelle has also maintained a full-time administrative position at Frana Companies, a Hopkins-based General Contractor, for over 26 years.

When not working or coordinating volunteer initiatives Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, regularly visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and traveling near and far!

Dr. Barb Curchack is Interim Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Normandale Community College. After earning her Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuropsychology and teaching psychology at four-year institutions like Augsburg University, she found vocation at Inver Hills Community College, an open-access institution that recognizes the potential of higher education for all. In 2020, Dr. Curchack moved into a dean role where she could affect policy and initiatives that support open access to higher education. This student focus has driven her professional work, which now includes executive leadership of Normandale's Center for Teaching and Learning, Library, K-12 Partnerships, Student Learning Assessment, Faculty-Led Travel, and collaboration between student affairs and academic affairs. Outside of work, you can find Barb at the loom or on a trail.

Leif Hagen grew up in Stevens Point and graduated from St. Olaf College in 1988 with a BA in German and French. His early career included teaching languages in Zug, Switzerland, and high school English in Gero, Japan. In 1992, he entered the financial services field as a financial planner with Lutheran Brotherhood, later joining LPL Financial in 2002. He now owns Achievement Financial in Eagan, Minnesota, offering financial planning and Medicare supplemental insurance services.

Leif has held multiple leadership roles within Rotary, including two terms as President of the Eagan Rotary Club and serving as the two-year charter president of the MN Pride Rotary Club. His Rotary involvement includes leading a GSE team to Bangalore, India; hosting GSE visitors from Finland and Brazil; serving as District Conference co-chair; Assistant Governor for Area 2; and on the District Foundation grant committee. He is a Paul Harris Society member, a Major Donor, and has attended Rotary International conventions in Birmingham, New Orleans, Bangkok, Hamburg, Calgary, and Taipei. 

Leif lives in Eagan with his partner, Valdir Oliveira, and has three daughters: Kajsa, Svea, and Britta. He enjoys foreign languages, international travel, collecting art, and attending art shows.

His District Governor's theme is “The Art of Rotary”.

John Vanderheyden (Treasurer) holds BSB and MBA degrees in international business from the University of Minnesota. He began his career in technology with IBM in 1980 followed by roles at both the University of Minnesota and Dain Rauscher. He then transitioned careers to focus on financial services while at Dain Rauscher and progressed to hold executive level positions at Fidelity, Kestra Financial and Bluespring Wealth Partners. John and his wife Mary have been involved in many charitable organizations together over the years including youth sports, scouting, church organizations, Meals on Wheels, street outreach, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and Tanzania Life Project (TLP). They have traveled to Tanzania regularly as part of the TLP team to work with the wonderful people of each village and the partners at TLP to evolve the program. John feels very fortunate to be learning so much from the people of Tanzania as he and the TLP team partner with them to solve the issues caused by a lack of clean, accessible water.

Mary Vanderheyden (Secretary) holds a BA degree in Professional Communications. Her life experience has been a mix of motherhood, entrepreneurism, teaching, and volunteerism. While raising five children in Minnesota, Mary worked for IBM and then left to create two administrative services businesses. She spent ten years teaching pre-school and later, while living in Boston, MA, worked with EduConsultants teaching computer skills to children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Throughout her life, Mary has volunteered to serve others of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Church ministry, Meals on Wheels, Caring Therapeutic Touch in a hospital setting, and being a child advocate in the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program of Travis County, Texas have all been paths of outreach near and dear to her heart. Mary travels to Tanzania with her husband as part of the Tanzania Life Project team on a regular basis. She is fascinated with the opportunity of two cultures coming together to solve problems and is working on improving her Swahili to better communicate with the people of Tanzania.

Arne Carlson, former Minnesota Governor "Back to Excellence"

Joint meeting with the Rotary Club of St. Louis Park, hosted at Brookview by the Rotary Club of Golden Valley.

The cost of the event is $25 per person. ALL ATTENDEES MUST RESERVE A TICKET. Tickets include a buffet-style lunch. Members from the St. Louis Park Rotary Club will be billed through their Club. All other guests will pay at the door with cash or credit card.

Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson will share his perspective on leadership, public service, and the challenges facing Minnesota and our nation in “Getting Back to Excellence”.

Carlson served as Minnesota’s 37th governor from 1991 to 1999, following 12 years as Minnesota state auditor and earlier service in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minneapolis City Council. A moderate Republican, he was elected to two terms as governor and became known for working across party lines during a period when Democrats controlled both houses of the Minnesota Legislature.

During his time as governor, Carlson made fiscal management, education, health care, and environmental protection priorities. His administration's efforts to control spending and improve long-term financial management helped restore Minnesota’s AAA bond rating. He also played a key role in the 1992 health care reforms that created MinnesotaCare and championed stronger wetlands protections and environmental stewardship.

More than 25 years after leaving the governor’s office, Carlson remains an active voice in Minnesota public life. He continues to write and speak about government accountability, fiscal responsibility, leadership, and the challenges facing Minnesota. In recent years, he has continued to offer his perspective on the state’s political and civic landscape, including through commentaries published in 2024, 2025, and 2026 and a recent interview discussing current issues facing Minnesota and the nation.

Now nearly 92, Carlson brings nearly seven decades of experience in Minnesota public life to a conversation about what it takes to lead effectively, work across differences, and pursue excellence in public service.

ALL ATTENDEES MUST RESERVE A TICKET.

Joint meeting with the Rotary Club of St. Louis Park, hosted at Brookview by the Rotary Club of Golden Valley.

The cost of the event is $25 per person. ALL ATTENDEES MUST RESERVE A TICKET. Tickets include a buffet-style lunch. Members from the St. Louis Park Rotary Club will be billed through their Club. All other guests will pay at the door with cash or credit card.

Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson will share his perspective on leadership, public service, and the challenges facing Minnesota and our nation in “Getting Back to Excellence”.

Carlson served as Minnesota’s 37th governor from 1991 to 1999, following 12 years as Minnesota state auditor and earlier service in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minneapolis City Council. A moderate Republican, he was elected to two terms as governor and became known for working across party lines during a period when Democrats controlled both houses of the Minnesota Legislature.

During his time as governor, Carlson made fiscal management, education, health care, and environmental protection priorities. His administration's efforts to control spending and improve long-term financial management helped restore Minnesota’s AAA bond rating. He also played a key role in the 1992 health care reforms that created MinnesotaCare and championed stronger wetlands protections and environmental stewardship.

More than 25 years after leaving the governor’s office, Carlson remains an active voice in Minnesota public life. He continues to write and speak about government accountability, fiscal responsibility, leadership, and the challenges facing Minnesota. In recent years, he has continued to offer his perspective on the state’s political and civic landscape, including through commentaries published in 2024, 2025, and 2026 and a recent interview discussing current issues facing Minnesota and the nation.

Now nearly 92, Carlson brings nearly seven decades of experience in Minnesota public life to a conversation about what it takes to lead effectively, work across differences, and pursue excellence in public service.

ALL ATTENDEES MUST RESERVE A TICKET.

For more than four decades, Jim Brimeyer has helped organizations and communities navigate change, develop leaders, and build stronger futures through a career spanning public service, executive leadership, business, and coaching.

Today, Jim serves as an executive coach and strategic advisor, working with leaders to strengthen their organizations and maximize their impact. A certified executive coach through the Center for Executive Coaching, accredited by the International Coaching Federation, he combines practical leadership experience with a passion for developing others. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor's degree from Loras College.

Jim's career in public service includes executive leadership roles with cities in Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota, most notably serving as City Manager of St. Louis Park. In recent years, he has continued to guide organizations through periods of transition as an interim administrator and executive director for several Minnesota communities and public agencies.

In addition to his public sector leadership, Jim founded The Brimeyer Group in 1992, building a successful executive search firm that recruited leaders for cities, counties, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and private companies before transferring the business to new ownership in 2013.

A lifelong believer in service above self, Jim has been deeply involved in Rotary and civic leadership. He has twice served as President of the St. Louis Park Rotary Club and currently serves on the Board of the St. Louis Park Rotary Foundation. His community service also includes serving as an at-large member of the St. Louis Park City Council and as a member of the Metropolitan Council representing the southwest metro, where he chaired the Management Committee and served on the Transportation Committee.

Drawing on a unique blend of leadership experience in government, business, and community service, Jim brings practical insights shaped by decades of helping organizations solve challenges, develop leaders, and create lasting impact. His presentation promises to offer attendees thoughtful perspectives informed by a lifetime of leadership and service.

Highway 55 Clean-Up
Thursday, October 8, 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
NE Corner of Hwy 55 and Winnetka Ave.

SIGN UP HERE

The Golden Valley Rotary Club is in its 30th year of caring for our stretch of Highway 55! Community members are welcome to join us in this fun and easy project. Dinner at Doolittle's to follow the service project.

Meet at the NE Corner of Hwy 55 and Winnetka Ave.

• Please bring and wear your own gloves.

SIGN UP HERE

Dr. Teri Staloch began her role as Superintendent of Robbinsdale Area Schools on July 1, 2024, bringing decades of experience in education and a history of impactful leadership. Dr. Staloch has a long and distinguished career in Pre-K-16 education, starting as an 8th grade English teacher, then serving as a professor at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, a principal at two levels and director of teaching and learning in Holmen, WI, and assistant superintendent in Osseo Area Schools. Most recently, Teri served as Superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools.

Teri is passionate about fostering lifelong learning, advancing equity, and inspiring innovation across the district. She believes in collaborative learning and holds a high value in building the capacity of others as well as networking with leaders and organizations on behalf of students. Dr. Staloch has been an active member in several educational organizations including serving as a Board of Director for the Minnesota State High School League, the Association of Metropolitan Districts, the Minnesota Association for School Administrators and Schools for Equity in Education. Additionally, Dr. Staloch has earned statewide and district recognition for her leadership and she is a Bush Foundation Fellow.

Dr. Staloch holds an Educational Doctorate in Educational Policy and Administration and a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Luther College.

Richard Bahr is a life-long resident of Minnesota having grown up in the Twin Cities area. For 21 years he was President of and partner in a successful manufacturing firm. He now coaches business leaders, helping them find success while leading balanced lives.

Due to his own life experiences coupled with a passion for service, Bahr has been involved with organizations that provide a “second chance” to those in need. In 2013, he co-founded a social ministry with his wife, Carla, called Threshold to New Life. The organization’s mission is to “Keep Families Home” through their partnerships and matching grant programs, effectively reducing homelessness. Their organization plays a part in assisting over 600 people and families in getting or keeping their housing each year.

Bahr has personally delivered over 40,000 pairs of socks to his “friends” in the street as a means of meeting the homeless, learning names and establishing relationships. He spends evenings in homeless shelters and other places where homeless people may hang out, connecting with, encouraging and helping to meet the basic needs of “the least of these”. He also operates as a volunteer Chaplain at local homeless shelters.

Bahr serves at and coordinates the volunteers for 2.4 Ministries which provides a daily breakfast and fellowship a Minneapolis homeless shelter. He also has volunteered at Project 6:8 providing a weekly, home cooked meal under the 394 bridge west of Dunwoody College.

In addition, he is a founding member of and served as President of the Hennepin Technical College Foundation for 16 years at which he established the Bahr Family Endowment, he also serves as a mentor to chemically dependent men and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.

Richard Bahr is also a published author. Proceeds from his recent book, "Amazed: Why the Humanity of Jesus Matters", go towards funding his social ministry. In October 2018, Bahr released his most recent book, "Those People: The True Character the Homeless" relating stories about his homeless friends while transforming the readers’ paradigms of homelessness.

Go here to learn more about Threshold to New Life and Richard Bahr online at www.richardbahr.com.

Tom Selinger served 27 years in the U.S. Foreign Service with overseas tours in Kyrgyzstan, Denmark, Croatia, Albania, and Trinidad and Tobago and portfolios ranging from security cooperation to American citizen services. In his retirement, he works for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, a nonprofit where he directs outreach efforts to promote public understanding of the work of America's diplomats. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, including combat service with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm, and worked as a locally-employed political specialist for the Canadian government at their Consulate in Minneapolis, MN. His interest in international affairs began during his time in Belgium as a Rotary International Exchange Student sponsored by the Rotary Club of Golden Valley. Tom is married to fellow diplomat Kirsten Selinger and has four children and three grandchildren.

Back in 1776, America's diplomats helped win the American Revolution, and over the past 250 years, they have continued to make our country safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Tom Selinger, a retired Foreign Service Officer, will share stories of how our diplomats have saved American citizens in peril, opened markets for products from our farms and factories, and built alliances to ensure our collective security and advance our ideals. He'll highlight diplomats from Minnesota and how their work has benefited communities across the state.