The Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club wishes everyone a healthy (and can we say prosperous?) New Year.

Rotary has a great tradition in Eden Prairie, where two very successful clubs exist. If your New Year’s resolution includes “giving back to the community” or “networking with other business types,” you should give Rotary a try.

Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen this morning outlined to fellow Rotarians a second phase in the fire department’s “HeartSafe Eden Prairie” program.

The program – which has already resulted in Automated External Defibrillators being placed in city and school buildings in Eden Prairie – is being expanded to encourage the placement of AED’s in restaurants, shopping centers, movie theaters and other businesses where large numbers of people congregate.

Tickets are now available for “2008 Vino Classico: Eden Prairie Uncorked,” a wine tasting and silent auction fund-raiser being held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Eden Prairie Community Center, 16700 Valley View Road in Eden Prairie.
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A former president of the Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club, Dick Pryse, passed away on Aug. 21 at the age of 73.
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The Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club is gathering donations of household supplies, toys, school supplies and clothing that will be shipped to Honduras and given to needy children.
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The drive is part of the club’s overall mission to aid Honduras.

You can get your name – or your company’s name – out into the Eden Prairie community by helping sponsor the Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club’s Vino Classico wine-tasting fund-raiser, which will be held Oct. 11, 2008 and is one of the largest social events and fund-raisers in Eden Prairie.

There are various sponsorship levels, and they’re outlined below. If you are interested contact Cynthia Minnihan (952-937-6998 or cminnihan@comcast.net) of the Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club’s wine-tasting committee.

Ahhh, sweet immortality!

A longtime member of the Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club – Bob Lambert, former city of EP parks director – was recognized this week by having his name attached to a park building.
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Congratulations to Jay Simpson, Cheryl Schraeder, Bob Solohub, Gary Chanen and Scott Neal, who are among Eden Prairie (A.M.) Rotary Club members recently recognized by Rotary District 5950.
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As Minnesota and Eden Prairie celebrate their 150th birthdays this year, it’s worth noting that we have one of the country’s pre-eminent state historical societies.
Mark Haidet

Spend your life wisely. That was a key message given this morning to Eden Prairie Rotarians by Ross Levin.
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He is the author of a book titled “The Wealth Management Index” and a frequent writer/columnist for newspapers and magazines.