Give Back. Take Action. Create Change.

COVID-19 Notice and Disclaimer to Guests

SMME continues to observe recommended operating protocols for our regular meetings and volunteering events. Our meeting space is designed to promote social distancing, and we will continue to offer virtual attendance options.

For any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to us via the Contact Us form at the bottom of the page.

We are a group of dynamic and energetic individuals who share one goal: to give back!

South Metro Minneapolis Evenings Rotary Club is a vibrant Rotary Club chartered in June 2010 in the Rotary District of 5950. Our club is focused on helping aspiring community leaders in the Twin Cities get involved in local communities, become engaged in global initiatives, and build relationships and life-long friendships!

We are just one of thousands of clubs world-wide. We belong to District 5950, which serves Minneapolis along with Central and Western Minnesota. Our District is one of the top Districts in giving to The Rotary Foundation, which funds all the grants provided to clubs to complete the work we do. District 5950 is also home to Minneapolis #9, which was the 9th club formed in Rotary International History.

“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”

Leadership Team

PRESIDENT

Angela Schwartz

I joined SMME Rotary as a way to create personal connections and to give back to the communities in which I live. I was a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Nagasaki, Japan from 20011-2012 and have been involved in the North Star Youth Exchange program ever since. I have a passion for traveling to new places and being artistic in as many mediums I can get my hands in.

President elect

Stefi Jessen

I have been involved with Rotary for a year and have truly enjoyed the friendship, service opportunities, and experiences since joining. I have a Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and work with pediatrics. I love going on adventures, spending time with family and friends, knocking things off my bucket list!

Treasurer

Robert Timmerman

Outside of Rotary, I am the Vice Chair of the City of Burnsville’s Planning Commission and also serves on the Dakota County Planning Commission. I’m passionate about public service and overall government responsibility.

Membership Chair

Kathleen Uygun

I have been involved with Rotary since 2012 through Interact Club, Roteract, and now SMME Rotary! Volunteering has always been a passion of mine, and I am so happy to have found a club where friends can get together and practice “service above self”. I have a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Global Studies, and I am currently studying herbalism. In my free time I like to paint and experiment in the kitchen!

Community Service Chair

Krysta Peterson

I joined Rotary in 2011 after moving to a new city. It was a great way to meet people and continue to give back to the community. Rotary has provided leadership opportunities and travel for global projects. I work at 3M and enjoy getting outside and exploring new foods/cultures!

grants & Foundation Chair

Kristen Schlough

I joined Rotary in 2005 as a way to connect with and give back to my community. When I moved to Minneapolis in 2017, I knew that my life would not be complete without joining another Rotary club. With a flexible schedule and focus on service, SMME was a natural fit! I work at Ecolab on our Enterprise Careers and Learning Team, creating and deploying development opportunities for leaders and associates. When I’m not at Rotary or at work, you can find me at a local bluegrass show or out to dinner with friends.

Contributions to the Cause

As a non-profit, SMME Rotary’s success has been defined by the generous contributions of time from its leadership and members, along with volunteers, grants, and donations.

Our Stories

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Pints for People 2022

Raise a Pint, Change a Life!

SMME partners with Edina Morningside Rotary Club to co-host our annual Pints for People Rotary Charity Beer Tasting. This Oktoberfest-themed event is our major fundraiser and all proceeds go towards our Foundation to fund the projects we sponsor throughout the year.

In addition to local beer and local craft beer tasting, there is also a silent auction, including items from local businesses.

Stay tuned for details for our 2022 event! (The flyer on left was for our 2021 event.)

Our Impact

What started as a three-year project with five other Rotary clubs became a new service called the Student Hunger Task Force. Since 2014, the program packs meals for children in the Twin Cities metro area who face food shortages and hunger over the weekends. Distributed confidentially, the meals ensure students, ranging from elementary school to high school, don’t have to worry about food at home.

> more on VEAP Student Hunger Task Force

One of SMME’s oldest partners, the ICA Food Shelf partnered with USPS’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to collect canned goods for the Greater Minneapolis area. SMME continues to support ICA through its annual event Gather For Good, ICA’s largest fundraising event.

> more on ICA Food Shelf

Friends of Ngong Road (FONR) empowers children living in poverty in Nairobi, Kenya, by providing education and access to technology. SMME sponsored a three-year, $55,000 global grant to create a laptop-loaning program and provide soft skills training for primary and secondary students.

In 2022, SMME will continue their support for FONR through a $16,000 grant to outfit a student resource center with reliable power and books and furniture for the library,

> more on Friends of Ngong Road

LEARN

Get to know us! Even if you’re interested in becoming a member right now, we encourage you to read more on our club and also District 5090 and Rotary International.

CONNECT

We meet bi-monthly, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Hilton Mall of America in Bloomington, MN, just south of the airport. Early attendees often partake in “happy half-hour” before the meeting to catch-up and meet new people. All guests are welcome!

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also offer a virtual attendance option. Please reach out to us via the Contact Form for web conferencing information.

Ideally, we encourage prospective members to attend several club meetings or social activities before submitting an application.

APPLY

After you’ve been fully and formally introduced and have a proper feel for our club, complete this application!

We’ll review your application and reach out to review whether we’re a match!

Contact Us

South Metro Minneapolis Evening Rotary meets bi-monthly on the second and fourth Tuesday from 6:30PM to 7:30PM at the Hilton Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport in Bloomington, Minnesota. We partake in a ‘Happy Half-Hour’ starting at 6:00PM – come see us!