Rosemount Rotary will hold a St. Patrick’s Day soiree

Talk about it

Considering the emphasis Rosemount puts on its Irish heritage, it seems a little odd that the town is relatively quiet on St. Patrick’s Day.

That’s about to change though, because the Rosemount Rotary Club has planned a big party to celebrate.

On St. Patrick’s Day the Rosemount Rotary Club will host the Irish for a Day Soiree.

Club president Denise Kniefel said the club wanted to tap into Rosemount’s pride in its Irish heritage while hosting a fundraiser. With no other large events in town on St. Patrick’s Day, the event made sense.

The Irish for a Day Soiree will start at 6:30 p.m. March 17 at the Rosemount Community Center. The event will start with music, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction and cash bar. At 7 p.m. there will be a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, soda bread and salad. Following dinner there will be a short program and dancing.

“We want this to be our big signature event,” said Kniefel.

Planning committee member Lisa Lusk said the event has been fun to put together and that club members hope to make it into an annual tradition. Lusk said the community has been supportive of the club.

“We appreciate everything people have been willing to do for us. I think it will be a lot of fun,” Lusk said.

Since being chartered in 2009, the Rosemount Rotary Club has hit the road running. The club has quickly made a name for itself by contributing to the community.

“We’ve established some great programs that are already benefitting families in the Rosemount community,” said Kniefel.

Good deeds

Last year the club started the STRIVE program, which pairs Rosemount High School students with mentors from the club. This year nine students are participating. Students who complete the program receive a scholarship. The past few years SKB Environmental has provided the funds for the scholarships. Lusk said proceeds from the Irish for a Day Soiree will go to the scholarship fund.

The club has also worked with the Rosemount Family Resource Center. The club partnered with the Glendalough neighborhood to paint the inside of the center earlier this year, and club members put on a Valentine’s Day party last week for kids at the center.

Lusk said the club hopes to provide more for the resource center over time.

Also, the club has adopted Central Park. Last summer members painted the picnic tables and cleaned up the park.

“Despite being a club that is new and relatively small, we have ambitious members who aren’t afraid to serve in any way they can,” said Kniefel. “Our members really believe in Rotary’s motto of ‘service above self,’ and we are hopeful this fundraiser will help support the work we want to do for children and families in this community.”

The club currently has 16 members. Kniefel said they are always looking for new members. The club meets at noon on Fridays at Fireside Restaurant.

Tickets

Tickets for the Irish for a Day Soiree are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Corporate or large groups can purchase a table of eight for $350. Tickets are available from any Rotary Club of Rosemount member or the event organizer, Erin Edlund, at rosemountrotary@gmail.com or 952-261-6133. The club is also accepting donations for its silent auction.

For more information visit rosemountrotary.org.

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