Winona Rotary

Service Above Self

Entering into our third month of our year, I am excited about the “Service Above Self” attitude of our Winona Rotary Club. We have active committees working on our plans and I am humbled by the ambition and dedication of so many of our club members. The diversity and talent of our club makes us the envy of many civic groups and as I learn more about the ideals of Rotary, I for one am proud to be a Rotarian!

I would challenge us as members to remain dedicated to service above self in our actions. Our Rotary Board and Membership Committee have identified the need to improve our orientation and support to new members. We continually hear that new members do not understand all the policies and procedures of Rotary, nor do they understand the different avenues of service that can be a focal point for their direct engagement. New members first and foremost must feel welcomed at every meeting and it is the job of each and every one of us to reach out with that extra greeting, and other gestures of hospitality.

Another goal is for our club to mentor new members as to how they can be involved. This is best done by their sponsors, committee chairs and those of us who feel we have that ability to help someone new understand the Rotary programs and ideals. At every meeting, please consider helping out our new members in some kind way so they can grow confident in their decision to be a Winona Rotarian.

We have discussed another goal of the club of increasing our participation in meetings, committee work and activities of our club. All these engagements can be counted toward your activity within the club and will help us achieve the 66 % participation goal for attendance.

Thank you in advance for your dedication to Winona Rotary and practicing service above self!

Denny Theede

Club President

Newell Krogman, 2009-2010 Governor of Rotary District 5960, is Coming to Visit Winona on September 9th, 2009!  We look forward to having Gov. Krogman speak to our club about the vision of the District for the next year.

If you are unable to make this meeting, consider attending the Rochester Risers club at 7am on Sept 15th, as he will be visiting then.   It is truely an honor when the Governor comes to visit, don't miss the opportunity to meet him.

Newell is the Pastor of The Presbyterian Church of Le Sueur, Minnesota, and also is Contract Staff for Church Development for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas (currently inactive), and for almost twenty three years was in the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate, eight of those years serving as a Military Judge.

He received a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa and a Juris Doctor Degree from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.  He also holds a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, and a Master of Divinity Degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. During his Navy Career he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), the Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards).

In the Le Sueur community, Newell has been active for a number of years in the leadership of Youth Opportunities, an asset based youth development organization; he currently serves as President of the Board of Directors. He has also been the President of the Le Sueur Ministerial Association since 1996.  He has been involved with varied forms of service for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area and for the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, in the latter case, for example, serving as the Chair of the Council of Advisors as a Alumni Representative to the Board of Trustees.

Newell has been the President of the Rotary Club of Le Sueur, and served his club in other capacities, such as being the Rotary Foundation Officer. At the District level, he has served as an Assistant Governor and has been the Team Leader for a Group Study Exchange to Japan. He is currently the District Chair for Rotary Friendship Exchange. Newell is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, and a Foundation Benefactor.

Newell and his wife, Claudia, live in Le Sueur, Minnesota, and have four grown children, Jason, John, Mark, and Mary Ann.