May in Rotary is Youth Service Month, and it gives us a moment to pause and recognize something that is already woven into the fabric of our Club: our deep and lasting commitment to the young people of our community.

This month, we celebrate one of our own, our RYLA camper, Ty Krautkremer. Camp RYLA is one of the most transformative experiences we offer, equipping students with leadership skills, confidence, and lifelong connections. It is always inspiring to see students return from camp with a renewed sense of purpose and belief in themselves. Ty represents exactly why we continue to invest in this program year after year.

We also recently selected the recipient of the Stoltenberg Scholarship, one of the most meaningful ways we support students as they take their next steps. This process is thoughtful, thorough, and never easy. I want to extend a sincere thank you to our scholarship committee: Ann Staloch, Molly Hendrickson, Jason Stenzel, Matthew Hughes of the Owatonna Rotary Club, and Ashley Walker. This group carefully evaluates each applicant through a scoring matrix and then conducts interviews with the top six candidates. The decision is never simple, but without fail, a deserving recipient rises to the top.

What makes me most proud is that these efforts are not isolated, they are part of a much larger story. From scholarships and RYLA to our Kindness Booth book giveaway, we are consistently showing up for the youth in our community. This Friday’s book drop-off is another example of how we turn small acts into meaningful impact, putting books directly into the hands of kids and encouraging a love of reading that can last a lifetime.

Whether we are supporting education, building confidence, or simply creating moments of joy, we are living out Rotary’s commitment to youth service in very real ways. These are not just programs, they are investments in the future of Waseca.

Thank you to each of you who continues to give your time, your energy, and your heart to this work. It matters more than we often realize.

Let’s keep showing up for our kids.

Cassie