I want to apologize for the strange formatting of the newsletter this week. ClubRunner seems to have a glitch and I have not found a way around it at this point but will hopfully have this resolved before the next issue.
Tuesday, April 21at 7:30 a.m., at the Edina Country Club
EMRC Member Jim Bizal
Holy Cross School in Belize
Jim Bizal is a builder by trade, forming his own residential building company, Bizal Built Inc., 20 years ago. But what he has built in his personal time is a testament to his dedication to others.
Since 2007, Bizal has led 18 mission trips to Belize to build and maintain Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro. The relationship with Holy Cross started as a mission trip with volunteers from St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Edina. The group built classrooms at a newly founded school serving 66 kids.
The demand for space continued to grow, and Bizal returned year after year, adding classrooms and maintaining the property. The groups Bizal now leads are a blend of members from St. Stephens and Rotarians from Edina’s Morningside Rotary Club. To raise funds for improvements, Bizal helped form a nonprofit, the Holy Cross Education Foundation, and he continues to serve on its board of directors. Today, the school serves 460 students.
Closer to home, Bizal chairs a committee of volunteers from seven local Episcopal churches; together, the self-named “EpiscoBuilders” volunteer two weeks a year for Habitat for Humanity. He is also a leader at St. Stephens for the Teens Encounter Christ Program.
Indefatigable, Bizal also serves on the board of directors of the Voyagers Conservancy, the nonprofit partner of Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park. The Edina Community Foundation recognized Bizal for his work as a youth mentor with a Connecting with Kids Award in 2018.
The volunteer list filling up quickly, but we do have some slots left, so please reply to this e-mail with your interest and what shift works for you.
For the last six Lake Front music festivals EMRC has sent a team of volunteers and in the process we have had a ton of fun, enjoyed the biggest names in classic rock and have raised thousands for EMRC causes.
We are very fortunate to have the plum spot of working the VIP tent on Rock night right next to the stage. This year the tradition will continue and we will again have a large team of our members and their SO's/spouses involved. As a volunteer you will enjoy the entertainment on Rock night, and you will also have entry to Country night (where you don't have to volunteer). The line ups are as follows:
Thank you to those who helped clean up our stretch of Highway 100, readying it for spring! Please share additional pictures if you have them. Thanks to Carolyn Jackson for finding a little humor during the cleanup process!
Tue, April 28th, A Time For Light Concert, Light In The Well, White Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, 5045 Division St., White Bear Lake. Details here. (Dr. Yue Wu who leads Light In The Well spoke to EMRC on Tuesday, April 21st)
Mon, May 4th, 5:30 p.m. Rotary Vocational Happy Hour with Kelly Kirk, the Mezz at Lunds/Byerly's on France Ave.
Tue, May 5th, 4:00 Plant Sale Pick Up, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 5421 France Ave, Edina
Wed, May 6th, 6:00 p.m. Alliance Francaise Masqurade Gala, Minikahda Country Club, 3205 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park, Non Profit Partner. Register here.
Fri, May 15th, 11:00 a.m., Youth Frontiers Leadership Luncheon at Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis. Non Profit Partner
Tue, June 2nd, 5:30 p.m., Grooves & Foods at Centennial Lakes Park - Spinning Wheel Trilogy
Tue, June 9th, 5:30 p.m., Grooves & Foods at Centennial Lakes Park - Classic American Rockers
Tue, June 16th, 5:30 p.m., Grooves & Foods at Centennial Lakes Park - The Good, The Bad and the The Funky
Mon, June 22nd, 2026 Edina Morningside Rotary/Kennedy Golf Classic, Braemar Golf Club. 6364 John Harris Dr, Edina.
Tue, June 23rd, 5:30 p.m., Grooves & Foods at Centennial Lakes Park - From Barry - A Tribute to the Bee Gees
Sat, July 4th, 9:00 a.m. Parade Line Up (parade starts at 10:00 a.m.)
Mon, July 6th, 5:30 p.m. Rotary Vocational Happy Hour with Nikko Aries, the Mezz at Lunds/Byerly's on France Ave.
Our community – students, staff, parents, alumni, friends and fans – will celebrate our collective pride in Edina Public Schools and raise funds to help ensure continued educational excellence.
Show Your Pride: On May 8, wear and share photos/videos in your Edina green or Hornet gear, throwback pics of your time at EPS, or messages of support. Tag @edinaedfund and @edinapublicschools on Facebook or Instagram and use the hashtag #BeAHornetDay in your caption.
Support the Hive: Consider supporting the area that means the most to you! Every gift to the Edina Education Fund helps Edina Public Schools.
Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Minneapolis
Rob Vischer, President of the University of St. Thomas, will lead a candid conversation on the intersection of character and influence and why integrity remains a leader's greatest asset.
Caitlin Ashton is going to Belgium! Following a family tradition (her mother is Rotary Youth Exchange Alum to Spain), Caitlin is excited to spend the next school year as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Belgium.
Help us get the word out about how fantastic Edina Morningside Rotary is!
Please follow us!! Click on the images to visit our sites. When things are posted, like them, share them, comment on them! Tag each other and the great organizations we hear from!
Jim Bizal is a builder by trade, forming his own residential building company, Bizal Built Inc., 20 years ago. But what he has built in his personal time is a testament to his dedication to others.
Rob Vischer, President of the University of St. Thomas, will lead a candid conversation on the intersection of character and influence and why integrity remains a leader's greatest asset.
