Steve Madsen, vice-president at Lake Elmo Bank, succeeded Paula Williams, senior vice-president at Associated Bank, as Sunrise president for the 2014-2015 Rotary year.  His first order of business -- increase membership and awareness of Rotary’s many projects.  “You don’t realize how global Rotary is until you travel,” said Madsen, who just returned from a Rotary International meeting in Australia.

Williams, who attended the RI convention in Lisbon, Portugal, a year ago, reviewed Sunrise activities during her presidency.  Sunrise supported Rotary projects in the Philippines, Ghana, South Africa and Nicaragua, and gave $6,032 in Rotary District 5960 grants last year.  It and its members gave $2,863 to Fast for Hope, $15,142 to the RI Foundation and $2,833 to Polio Plus.  “India was declared polio free last year,” she told the members.

Locally, Sunrise donated seven Kindles to seniors for help in reading.  Its members did road clean-up, raked leaves and supported community projects like Shelter Box, United Way and Lakeview Foundation.  It gave SAHS seniors $4,750 in STRIVE scholarships and $1,000 to the Mary Jo Weingarten Foundation.  All monies given were from members and from the Brewers Bazaar, Sunrise Rotary’s annual fundraiser.

In other Sunrise officer changes Janis Donnelly replaced Brent Voight as secretary and Jack Gibbons replaced Donnelly as membership committee chair.