Speakers

Hear Toivo discuss his life in Finland and his experiences as an exchange student in the US.

Rotary Youth Exchange is a life changing experience for students ages 15-19. Toivo is involved in multiple school sports, the Climate Future project with Rotary, and is enjoying being part of the North Star district. 

Our club's Climate Future program is back and improved for the 2025-'26 school year! Hear about our exciting collaboration with Carleton College and The Climate Initiative. Learn how this year's program aims to build a model for other Rotary clubs!

If youth was David's first act and career his second, then he now is embarking on a third act: to draw on those foundational elements to find ways to give back and be an active Citizen. David will touch on his passion for genealogy as a way to understand his family's connection to history. And he will outline his vision for achieving a purpose-filled third act through volunteerism and travel. And about that "pulley" in the title? Well, you'll have to see his talk to get the meaning!

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.

How are federal funding cuts impacting Northfield's nonprofit sector?  How can we come together to support children, youth, families and the nonprofits who help our community thrive?  We'll take a look at the local impact and how HCI is adapting and positioning for growth.  

How my side hustles got me to the West Coast and into community service. 

Sarah Fortner will share lessons from the Juneau Icefield. She will reflect on the 80-year legacy of the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) and her own decades of expeditionary research experiences and living in rapidly changing landscapes fuels local climate action and sustainability efforts back at Carleton and within our community.