- Tuesday, January 26 @ 7:30 a.m.
- Club Meeting - Chip Rankin - Minnewaska Schools Superintendent, MN National Guard
- Tuesday, February 2 @ 7:30 a.m.
- Club Meeting - Matt Lewis - Greater MSP
- Tuesday, February 9 @ 7:30 a.m.
- Club Meeting - Margaret Rose - State of EMRC
- Club Meeting - Lee McGrath - Institute of Justice
- Tuesday, February 23 @ 7:30 a.m.
- Club Meeting - Lindsey Wimmer - Star Legacy Foundation
- Tuesday, March 2 @ 7:30 a.m.
- Club Meeting - Derek Sharrer - St. Paul Saints
- Club Meeting - Derek Sharrer - St. Paul Saints
Nearly 700 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard are getting ready to deploy to Africa. The soldiers from the Mankato-based 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, start reporting to Camp Ripley June 1.Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Chip Rankin said this deployment is particularly challenging, given all the uncertainties the soldiers' families face here at home because of the pandemic."Yeah, it's been a lot of juggling," Rankin said.
Rankin has many duties here in Minnesota. He's not only a National Guard commander, but he is also the superintendent of Minnewaska Area Schools and a father of four.
"You know, time keeps ticking and so you're constantly having to prioritize what you're not going to be able to do because there just won't be enough time," Rankin said.
Rankin said his battalion will be on a peacekeeping mission in Djibouti as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. "I think a lot of people in America forget that we have soldiers and service members deployed across the world all the time," Rankin said.
As he prepares to be gone for the next year, he is trying to spend quality time with his wife and kids, while also wrapping up the school year for 1400 students in his district who have been dealing with the challenges of distance learning.
Rankin has deployed two other times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He noted it is always a sacrifice but said he is so proud of the soldiers who will be serving alongside him in Africa. "They're from your hometown. They're from your neighborhood," Rankin said. "They come from every walk of life and they're going to do their very best to make this world a better place." In lieu of deployment ceremonies at all unit Armories due to social distancing requirements, the battalion will have a private departure ceremony at Camp Ripley on June 19. They deploy to Africa in July.
- January 28th - 7:00 a.m. - Rotary Club Ending Human Trafficking Zoom Meeting (click here to visit the website and find meeting information)
- February 3rd - 6:00 p.m. - EMRC/Edina Rotary Vocational Development (see Event Calendar for details about speaker Lisa Walker)
- Wednesday, February 10: Service Project at Matter
- Noon to 1:00, 1:00 to 2:00 (up to 12 people per shift) - sign up here
- More details below.
- Thursday, February 11: Service Project at Matter
- 4:00 to 5:00, 5:00 to 6:00 ( up to 12 people per shift) - sign up here
- More details below.
- Tuesday, February 16, 6:00 p.m. EMRC/Edina Rotary Leadership Development Series
- Jan Lehman: Priority and Time Management (see Event Calendar for details about Jan Lehman)
- April 10th - District Assembly
- April 23rd - District Conference