Our meetings are on Wednesdays morning from 7-830am at American Legion in Apple Valley. History of Rotary Club of Apple Valley
A Rocky Start
Prior to being chartered the Apple Valley Club experienced a challenging organizational period due to the untimely passing of its first president, Roger Franzmeier. Roger Franzmeier passed away only weeks before the charter night celebration. Roger
and Joe Nordland actually flipped a coin early in the club organizational process to determine who would be the first president. However, Joe said it was only appropriate that Roger be the first president because of his knowledge, enthusiasm and experience with the Rotary Club of West St Paul. With the help of the Rotary Club of Burnsville and special efforts by Burnsville members Jack Kuehn and Ron Abicht, the Rotary Club of Apple Valley was chartered on March 27, 1985. The Burnsville Club donated and inscribed the Club's Rotary bell that remains in use today. Charter Night was held April 1985 at Brackett's Crossing Country Club. There were 29 charter members at the formal, tux-clad. There are currently 7 charter members that remain actively serving in the Club. Meeting Places
During its 20 years, the Club has met at 5 different locations and has consumed over 40,000 breakfasts! The Club originally met at Jimmy's Lemon Tree restaurant, which was located on the northeast quadrant of Cedar Avenue and County Road 42. This site is currently the home of the Huntington Learning Center which is next to MidCountry Bank. The second meeting spot was Green Streets restaurant which was located west of Cedar Avenue on the north side of 147th street at the site of the present Famous Dave's restaurant. The American Legion was a great host from June 1992 to June 1998. During that time Vern and Bea Spindler were the kitchen manager / cooks for the Legion. Vern always had a joke or a story to share with the Club (politically incorrect as they may have been!)
In June 1998 the Club moved to the then newly established banquet hall of Old Chicago restaurant. The plan was to offer an easier to find meeting place at the corner of Cedar Avenue and County Road 42 for those looking for our morning meetings! Since July 2004 the Club has been meeting at Enjoy! restaurant, a fine dining establishment with great food and wonderful atmosphere. Fundraising Activities
The Club's first organized fundraiser was a formal Silent Auction and Dinner at the Holiday Inn of Burnsville in November 1985. Since then the Club has had a variety of fundraising efforts including:
Rose sales
Poinsettia sales
Christmas basket sales
Placemat advertising sales
Pulltab sales
Champagne omelette breakfasts
Root Beer Float Sales
Garage sale
Golf tournament
Cash prize raffles / dinners
Live & silent auctions / dinners
Car raffles and dinner
Go-Kart races
100% of all fundraising proceeds support the Apple Valley Rotary Scholarship Foundation, and are used to provide scholarships to local youth, support community organizations, and provide international relief in areas such as polio eradication and safe water.
