Kathy O’Connor told us that Linda had a connection with the namesake for the Rhino’s Foundation.  Mike Prine, whose nickname was Rhino, died at 22 from cancer.  The Rhino’s Foundation began as a grassroots organization to honor Mike.  Over time, their main fundraiser went from a softball to a golf tournament. Kathy said that a visit from the foundation, which included a cash donation and other support, motivated her to give back and ultimately led to her joining the Rhino's board.

 

Ken Coenen’s story is that one of his best friends had cancer; that friend got a visit from Rhino’s at a time when it was really needed.   Ken joined the board after time volunteering for the organization.  Ken pointed out that all funds go back to the community.  In addition to cash, receipients get gifts such as gas and food cards. 

 

Rhino’s has made other contributions to the fight against cancer.  Rhino’s has replaced infusion chairs at Hudson and River Falls hospitals.  Last year 72 families received donations totaling more than $100,000.  The foundation has had donations from many sources from Hudson, River Falls, New Richmond, and other St Croix and Pierce County communities.  The Foundation, which is a 501c3, has also received grants from a cancer charity. 

 

Rhino’s holds three main events:  Rockin’ for Rhino’s – an evening with music, a silent auction, etc.  Two is Strike Out Cancer, bowling themed event.  The biggest one is the golf tournament – this year it will be on 7/28 at Pleasant Hills.   This is the 28^th year for the tournament. 

 

Word of mouth is the main way that Rhino’s finds out about people who are fighting cancer.  Sometimes the referrals come from Facebook or other social media sources.  For example, fundraisers that individuals or families have posted on social media can result in Rhino’s contacts.

About the Presentation:    Jim DiPeso spoke to us about how energy, which impacts our lives in countless ways, is generated and delivered to us and how its impacts on us, our economy, and our environment are shifting significantly as structural change sweeps through the world of energy. Rather than summarize Jim's talk in a few paragraphs, I'm suggesting that the slides in Download Files at the bottom of the Tidings are the best way to learn from what Jim has learned and told us.

 

About the Speaker:  Jim has been writing about energy for over 30 years as a journalist and in the nonprofit world. He and his wife have lived in River Falls since 2022 and he is the secretary of our club.

Tim Reardon described the regional Rotary Literacy Team's BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for 2025: they seek to transform communities to have the highest reading proficiency with the fewest inequities and achieve it with "a fierce urgency of now." The benchmarks of success: every child is "wired" to read by age 3 and reads proficiently at grade level. Rotarians are championing this effort in communities across Minnesota and the Distric Team aspires to spread this movement to Wisconsin as well.  Tim opened his talk by asking us to put our minds in the place of 3rd graders who know that they are behind their peers when it's time to read in class.  He also presented statistics about the price that both individuals and society pays for our collective failure to make sure that all children are able to read.  To be further inspired/challenged, click Download Files below to see Tim's slides.