Friday, April 17

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

AI For the Busy Rotarian

Bio
Pete Bosch
After serving 6 years as a Navy Propulsion Engineer, Pete earned his Electrical Engineering degree at SUNY Buffalo. He then worked 10 years at GE before opening a Modeling and Simulation consultancy he ran for nearly 20 years. An active Rotarian for 12 years, Pete has held various leadership roles in his club and district, including, in 2024-25, District Governor. Pete enjoys travel, photography, politics, computers, and hunting, and barely tolerates golf.

Pete Bosch

Pete will provide an overview of AI from the basic to the upper-level intermediate, including its capabilities, some caveats, and several use cases applicable to club presidents, club officers, and rank-and-file Rotarians. Attendees should come away with at least one or two ideas of places and ways that they want to use AI, plus a working understanding of the risks.

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Housing First: Stability for Thriving Futures

Bio
Tianna Odeen
Housing and Homeless Services Division Director, Tianna Odeen, joined The Link in 2024 and has worked in the housing and homeless services field for almost 8 years in various roles. She has a genuine passion for advocating and supporting those who have and are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. She's worked as a Family Advocate and Services Coordinator where she supported adults and families with lease education, personal goals, employment and housing stability, as well as a Services Regional Manager where she assisted in opening new affordable housing projects. Tianna also possesses experience working in Rapid Rehousing Programs, Housing Support, PWD Programs, as well as overseeing and providing services to those in Section 8 or Section 42 housing. Tianna earned her Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Tianna Odeen

Bio
Lorrhonda Byrd
Housing and Homeless Services Division Director, Lorrhonda Byrd, brings over 25 years of experience in social services. A dedicated advocate and change agent, Lorrhonda is committed to creating equitable systems and uplifting youth through impactful programming and policy change. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Metropolitan State University and a Master’s in Health and Human Service Administration from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Additionally, Lorrhonda has completed two prestigious fellowship programs: the Hubert H. Humphrey Policy Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota and the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow Leadership Development Program.

Lorrhonda Byrd

The Link: Housing First – Stability for Thriving Futures
Stable housing isn’t just a roof—it’s the foundation for health, safety, and success. Learn how the Housing First approach provides homes without preconditions, supports long-term stability with wraparound services, and strengthens communities while reducing public system strain. Break myths about homelessness and see why supportive housing is both life-changing and cost-effective.

What You’ll Take Away:

  • Housing = well-being

  • Homes first, rules later

  • Supportive services boost success

  • Communities thrive when people do

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11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Rotary’s Call to Action: Living Our Ideals in Challenging Times

Bio
Ed Marek
Ed Marek is a long-time Rotarian and passionate advocate for civil discourse whose leadership spans Rotary service and statewide community engagement. A member of four Rotary clubs throughout his Rotary journey—Shakopee, Eden Prairie, St. Paul Sunrise, and currently Northfield—Ed brings decades of service and leadership to everything he does. Ed served as Governor of Rotary District 5960 (2020–2021), guiding clubs through a year marked by challenge, innovation, and connection. He continues to serve the district in leadership and service roles, including as the District 5960 Braver Angels Network Liaison. Since 2019, Ed has been an Ambassador with Braver Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing political polarization and strengthening democratic engagement. He also serves as a Minnesota State Partner Representative and has delivered Braver Angels workshops and presentations to more than 50 Rotary clubs across seven districts and four states. Working alongside fellow ambassador Bruce Morlan, Ed facilitates both in-person and virtual trainings that equip participants with practical skills to engage in respectful, productive conversations across political divides. A Chicago native, Ed earned his MBA from the University of Minnesota and built a distinguished career in nonprofit fundraising and management. He served with the American Red Cross from 1990 to 2015, including national disaster assignments in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Missouri. He also served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Environmental Fund, overseeing workplace giving campaigns supporting 23 environmental organizations. His professional experience additionally includes roles in insurance, elder services, and planned giving. Ed believes that polarization is weakening communities and that restoring civil dialogue requires widespread, skill-based engagement. Through Rotary and Braver Angels, he works to foster unity, strengthen trust, and live out Rotary’s enduring commitment to Service Above Self. For more information or to schedule a Braver Angels presentation, Ed and Bruce Morlan can be contacted through Rotary District 5960 or Minnesota Braver Angels.

Ed Marek

Braver Angels, Past Rotary District 5960 Governor, Northfield Rotarian

We find ourselves navigating a period of profound challenge. Deep divisions and contrasting visions for our nation’s future have brought us to a crossroads, marked by uncertainty and complexity. Yet, Rotary and its members have weathered such storms before. This presentation invites us to look back on those moments of resilience, to learn from Rotary’s enduring strength, and to chart a thoughtful course forward—together.

Youth Literacy: A Call to Action

Bio
David Waldschmidt
Stillwater Sunrise Rotary, "VESL, Volunteers for Elementary Literacy"

David Waldschmidt,

Stillwater Sunrise Rotary, "VESL, Volunteers for Elementary Literacy"

A panel discussion featuring four district-sponsored club programs that aim to address literacy and reading issues in our communities. Each program explores ways to support young students learning to read and how we can influence overall achievement scores in our school districts.

Act Today for Water Tomorrow

Bio
Patricia McCleese
Unite for Water Lead, District Governor 2023-24, Greater Rochester Rotary Club President,

Patricia McCleese

Unite for Water Team Member, 2023-24 District Governor, Greater Rochester Rotary Club

Protecting the quality of our water is everyone’s responsibility—and Rotary clubs can play a powerful role. This breakout session introduces the Unite for Water Initiative, a collaborative effort across five Rotary districts focused on protecting and improving our shared water resources.

This session will answer key questions: What is the Unite for Water Initiative? Why should my club be involved? What could my club do that would make a difference? Participants will learn how even small, local actions can contribute to meaningful regional impact and will hear practical ideas for projects and partnerships that clubs can implement right away.

A panel discussion featuring Chris Stein and other initiative leaders will share insights, examples, and opportunities for clubs to participate. Individually our actions may seem small, but collectively they can make a significant difference. The five-district initiative also provides clubs with a compelling way to tell their Rotary story, engage community partners, and attract and retain members through visible, purpose-driven service.

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Public Image is Everything

Bio
Linda Marrin
Linda Marrin, Regional Public Image team As a Rotarian since 2014, she served as club president, membership chair and developed member mentoring process. At the district level, served on the District Youth Protection and Strategic Planning committees and 3 years as District Trainer. At the zone level served as an Assistant Rotary Coordinator, member of the OneRotarySummit development team, and is currently an Assistant Regional Rotary Coordinator. Served 4 years as volunteer assistant to 2020-2022 RI Director Suzi Howe, continuing to assist her in her role aide to RI President. She is currently the District 5580 Public Image team leader, and a member of the Regional Public Image team, working with districts throughout zone 29.

Linda Marrin

Regional Public Image team

This session offers a critical look at the complex challenges faced by youth and families experiencing housing instability. Participants will explore the profound impact of homelessness on mental health, examining it as a major factor in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We will detail the high rates of mental health disorders (such as PTSD and chronic anxiety) among this population and identify the systemic and logistical barriers that prevent access to care. The presentation will highlight the vital role that school systems—and professionals like school counselors—play in providing stability, acting as critical mental health hubs, and implementing trauma-informed practices to ensure housing instability never determines a student’s educational future.

Alex Kraftt, Narrative 4

Bio
Alex Kraftt
Alex Krafft is the Midwest Regional Manager for Narrative 4, where she leads trainings, supports school partnerships, and advances the organization’s mission of building empathy through storytelling. She previously spent nine years with the Pitch In mentoring program in Chicago, specializing in SEL-based curriculum and student support. Alex holds a BA from DePaul University and lives in Michigan.

Alex Kraftt

Advising Associate, Partnerships Associate, Lead Trainer with Narrative 4

This session offers a critical look at the complex challenges faced by youth and families experiencing housing instability. Participants will explore the profound impact of homelessness on mental health, examining it as a major factor in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We will detail the high rates of mental health disorders (such as PTSD and chronic anxiety) among this population and identify the systemic and logistical barriers that prevent access to care. The presentation will highlight the vital role that school systems—and professionals like school counselors—play in providing stability, acting as critical mental health hubs, and implementing trauma-informed practices to ensure housing instability never determines a student’s educational future.

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM

How the Rotary Foundation led to a National Parks World Record

Bio
Mikah Meyer
Mikah Meyer is a National Parks expert, speaker, and filmmaker known for making the outdoors more welcoming and accessible to everyone. Often described by REI as a “professional road tripper,” Mikah gained national recognition after completing a three-year, world-record journey to visit all 400+ sites of the U.S. National Park Service. A classically trained singer and engaging storyteller, he shares inspiring stories from his adventures through films, runs across multiple states, and presentations across the country. Mikah is also the creator of the Outside Safe Space symbol, a widely recognized sign of LGBTQ+ allyship in outdoor spaces, now worn by over 100,000 people nationwide.

Mikah Meyer

Advising Associate, Partnerships Associate, Lead Trainer with Narrative 4

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and world-record-setting adventurer Mikah Meyer shares the remarkable story of how a 2009–2010 Rotary Foundation grant helped launch the journey that ultimately led him to visit all 400+ sites of the U.S. National Park Service. In this engaging and inspiring presentation, Mikah connects his Rotary experience with his path to becoming what some have called “the Rick Steves of National Parks.”

Through stories from the road and reflections on his Rotary scholarship, Mikah highlights the real impact of Rotary Foundation giving—how it shapes individual lives, opens unexpected opportunities, and creates ripple effects that reach communities around the world. Attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for how their support of the Rotary Foundation fuels meaningful change, both locally and globally.

Your Club Can Help End Human Trafficking

With special guest speaker WCCO TV’s Jennifer Mayerle

Bio
Jennifer Mayerle
Jennifer Mayerle returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award winner joined the WCCO team as a reporter in May 2014 and is now a senior investigative reporter. Jennifer, an Edina, Minn., native, graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Mass Media from the University of San Diego. Prior to her return to WCCO, Jennifer was an award winning special projects reporter at CBS46 in Atlanta. While in Atlanta, she also reported for CNN. Before that she was an anchor and reporter at KWES in Midland, Texas as well as at WKRG in Mobile, Ala.

Jennifer Mayerle, WCCO

Bio
Al Zdrazil

Al Zdrazil

Rotary District 5960 EHT Team

Join us for a powerful and informative presentation with Jennifer Mayerle, an investigative reporter for WCCO, as she shares her work uncovering human trafficking in the Upper Midwest, with special attention to how victims are groomed. The End Human Trafficking Team will also offer a PowerPoint presentation that a team member can bring to your club to help raise awareness and spark meaningful conversation.

Brain Fitness: Stay Sharp as You Age

Bio
Richard Frieder
Rich Frieder is the owner of LearningRx which focuses on improving an individual’s ability to learn and process information. Rich has worked with professionals wanting to gain a mental edge, as well as individuals struggling with age-related cognitive decline, ADHD, dyslexia, and traumatic brain injuries Rich has spoken to numerous groups and has also appeared on the Fox Morning News, Twin Cities Live and the Kare-11 Today Show. Rich has been married for 38 years and is the father of three daughters ranging from 24 to 34 years old and has 3 grandchildren.

Richard Frieder

Join Richard Frieder of LearningRx for an engaging and interactive session that challenges the myth that cognitive decline is inevitable with age. Discover how key mental skills—such as memory, processing speed, and focus—affect everyday tasks and overall quality of life. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore the latest thinking about brain health and aging, learn practical strategies to strengthen your cognitive abilities, and participate in fun brain-training exercises you can use long after the session ends. Walk away with simple, effective tools to help keep your mind sharp and support a vibrant, active life at any age.

Saturday, April 18

10:15 AM - 11:05 AM

From Service to Significance:

Partnering with Youth to Power the Next Generation of Environmental Leadership

Bio
Joseph Barisonzi
Joseph Barisonzi serves as Co-Chair of Minnesota’s Year of Water (2026–27), a statewide campaign designed to unite communities, organizations, and leaders in celebrating, valuing, and protecting Minnesota’s waters. The initiative calls Minnesotans to take part in a year of events and collective actions that strengthen our relationship with water and spark lasting stewardship far beyond 2027. A champion of service-centred leadership, Joseph is also the President of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, where he leads efforts to improve water quality, reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, and strengthen the governance systems that protect our waters. He additionally serves as Vice President of the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, one of the nation’s oldest organizations devoted to conservation and civic engagement. Joseph’s work aligns closely with Rotary’s mission: bringing people together to take on meaningful challenges and build stronger communities. Through his long involvement in the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA, he has supported initiatives such as the award-winning Green Crew youth conservation leadership program and the Kouba Gallery, a space that blends creativity, community, and stewardship. As an educator and conservation leader, Joseph teaches creative entrepreneurship and finance at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he inspires emerging leaders to combine innovation and service for the common good. He is especially proud that his daughter, **Hannah—an Eagle Scout and youth conservation leader—**continues the family tradition of service, leadership, and care for the natural world.

Joseph Barisonzi

Across our communities, young leaders are already organizing, restoring habitat, educating peers, and tackling environmental challenges with seriousness and skill. Green Crew is a proven youth-led environmental service and leadership development model designed to channel that energy into real, measurable community impact. This workshop invites Rotary leaders to explore how their clubs can move beyond supporting youth to partnering with youth. Participants will learn how Green Crew operates as a scalable environmental service club model, how it aligns with Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self, and how Rotary Clubs can engage through sponsorship, mentorship, co-hosted projects, or structural partnership. Led by Ted Suss, President of the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and Kiora Matthews, Director of Green Crew Sprouting, this session will present practical partnership pilots and multiple entry points for clubs ready to empower the next generation of environmental leadership.

Grow, Engage, Sustain: A Practical Playbook for Membership Success

Bio
Lloyd Campbell
Lloyd grew up on a small farm in Edmondson, Arkansas. After graduating from high school and moving away, Lloyd received his BS from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from The University of Chicago in Marketing and Finance. Lloyd worked for Janssen Pharmaceutical, a Division of Johnson & Johnson, and later a small consultant firm. After joining Rotary in Glenwood, Minnesota, Lloyd took an active role in developing its website and bulletin, serving as international committee chair, and re-establishing the Youth Exchange Program in Glenwood. He eventually served as club president. Lloyd received Service Above Self Award two times, Rotarian of the Year award, and the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce. On the District level, Lloyd served as Member of the International Grant Committee, District Grants committee, a facilitator for PETS, and served two years as district membership chair. Lloyd is married to Dr. Rwanda Campbell. They have two sons. Dr. Campbell is a member of the Rotary Club of Minnesota Veterans.

Lloyd Campbell

The Participants leave with a practical, customizable framework for strengthening Rotary club membership through three interconnected pillars: growth, engagement, and sustainability. The session emphasizes real world application, peer learning, and simple tools leaders can take home and use immediately.

11:15 AM - 12:10 PM

Year of Water:

Deepening Rotary’s Impact on Water Quality and Habitat

Bio
Joseph Barisonzi
Joseph Barisonzi serves as Co-Chair of Minnesota’s Year of Water (2026–27), a statewide campaign designed to unite communities, organizations, and leaders in celebrating, valuing, and protecting Minnesota’s waters. The initiative calls Minnesotans to take part in a year of events and collective actions that strengthen our relationship with water and spark lasting stewardship far beyond 2027. A champion of service-centred leadership, Joseph is also the President of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, where he leads efforts to improve water quality, reduce sediment and nutrient pollution, and strengthen the governance systems that protect our waters. He additionally serves as Vice President of the Minnesota Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, one of the nation’s oldest organizations devoted to conservation and civic engagement. Joseph’s work aligns closely with Rotary’s mission: bringing people together to take on meaningful challenges and build stronger communities. Through his long involvement in the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the IWLA, he has supported initiatives such as the award-winning Green Crew youth conservation leadership program and the Kouba Gallery, a space that blends creativity, community, and stewardship. As an educator and conservation leader, Joseph teaches creative entrepreneurship and finance at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he inspires emerging leaders to combine innovation and service for the common good. He is especially proud that his daughter, **Hannah—an Eagle Scout and youth conservation leader—**continues the family tradition of service, leadership, and care for the natural world.

Joseph Barisonzi

Rotary clubs across our district are already making a difference through cleanups, education, fundraising, and local environmental projects. The Year of Water builds on that momentum by connecting individual efforts into a coordinated, Rotary-year initiative focused on measurable improvements in water quality and habitat restoration. This workshop introduces Year of Water as a unifying platform that empowers each club to design its own signature water project using a practical toolkit, partnership pathways (including collaborations with groups like IWLA or Green Crew), and simple shared metrics to help us tell one powerful collective story. Participants will leave with clarity about what Year of Water is — and is not — plus project models, partnership strategies, a reporting framework, and a 90-day activation plan to bring the initiative to life in their club.

Understanding the Intersections:

Homelessness, Mental Health, and Educational Equity

Bio
Melissa Winship
Melissa Winship, MA (she/her) is a licensed school counselor with over 15 years of dedicated experience advocating for historically underserved youth. Her work focuses on helping students navigate complex systems and actively creating new pathways where support is needed most. After a decade at Intermediate District 287, Melissa joined Minneapolis Public Schools in 2021, where she developed the district’s Homeless/Highly Mobile School Counselor role. Her central mission is clear: to ensure housing instability never determines a student's future. This year, she also joined the MPS We Want You Back team, specializing in re-engaging disconnected students and guiding them back to academic success. Melissa holds a B.S. in Human Development (SUNY Empire State College) and an M.A. in School Counseling (Adler Graduate School). She is also a Board Certified Life Coach, having completed her training through the Institute for Life Coach Training (ILCT).

Melissa Winship

This session offers a critical look at the complex challenges faced by youth and families experiencing housing instability. Participants will explore the profound impact of homelessness on mental health, examining it as a major factor in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We will detail the high rates of mental health disorders (such as PTSD and chronic anxiety) among this population and identify the systemic and logistical barriers that prevent access to care. The presentation will highlight the vital role that school systems—and professionals like school counselors—play in providing stability, acting as critical mental health hubs, and implementing trauma-informed practices to ensure housing instability never determines a student’s educational future.