On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, and after 2 and a half years, the Rotary Club of Prior Lake hosted the annual Rotary Foundation banquet at the Mystic Lake Center. About 125 Rotarians and guests enjoyed an evening that started with a social, followed by dinner, and then a program that included awareness on The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International, and a recap on all the good Prior Lake Rotary has done through the Foundation. Individual Rotarians were also recognized and thanked for their individual giving.
Rotarians were not the only individuals recognized. For the past twelve years, our Foundation Committee has recognized community members or local organizations for their outstanding volunteer efforts that embody the spirit of Rotary and “Service Above Self” through their ongoing and special activities in our community, region, nation, or world.
Four members of the Prior Lake community were bestowed Honorary Paul Harris Fellow awards. The individuals were nominated by Rotarians through a set of criteria and then nominations were reviewed and selected by a subcommittee of the Foundation Committee. Those honorees were Maia Caldwell, Dave Chromy, Rosemary Frank, and Ed Speiker.
PHOTO DETAILS:
Honorees with the Rotarians that nominated them (L to R): Harry Algyer (nominated Dave Chromy; not pictured), Rosemary Frank, Mary Haugen (nominated Frank), Ed Speiker, Dan Stanley (nominated Speiker), Maia Cladwell, and Vic Noer (nominated Caldwell)
Maia Caldwell
A teacher by trade for the past 28 years, Maia has also taken on a number of volunteer roles including Passageways board member (2017-present), Strong Missions board member (2022-present), various roles as a Lakefront Music Fest volunteer (2017-present), active church member, and other providing support for a couple families.
Dave Chromy
Dave Chromy has been a friend of Rotary as well as a community benefactor. Dave served on the Prior Lake Fire Department for 15 years, including 4 years as fire chief, served for 13 years on the Economic Development Authority, and a Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce member and leader since the 1980s. Through his current role as manager of Lunds Byerlys, and previous role as a grocery manager, Dave has actively supported 10s if not 100s of organizations over the decades, including Prior Lake Rotary, supporting programs that have provided food for the needy.
Rosemary Frank
Rosemary Frank is a person who believes that we all have the capabilities to better the life of someone else. Rosemary is a co-founder of Smoke Signals, organizer of The Little Market That Could, held Thursdays throughout the summer and early fall, an active member of the Prior Lake Lions Club, and she has become an integral member and rather legendary volunteer for the Lakefront Music Festival.
Ed Speiker
Ed exemplifies service above self and has been the Quarter Master/CFO, Manager, and Commander of the Prior Lake VFW. Other volunteer efforts include member of the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce Board (2011-2020), longtime volunteer of the Lakefront Music Fest, and member of the Scott County Advisory Board (2011-2020). In that last role, he initiated the Read Mobile, and helped extend library hours.