Submitted by: Tom Dinndorf and Ann Ellis
Tom Dinndorf has been a member of the Baudette Rotary Club for nearly 50 years and is a Paul Harris fellow. For years his daughter, Ann Ellis, resisted invitations from her dad to join. As far as she knew, it was a bunch of older businessman that got together for lunch, and she was busy. Then six years ago she was invited, along with other community members, to attend a Rotary meeting where Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar would be listening to local concerns. Her perceptions of Rotary were replaced with a genuine desire to join. Rotary provides opportunities to learn, to network, and most importantly, to make our world a better place.
Tom's favorite moments from his Rotary years include a wide variety of projects. Ann's include the local Rotary 'Project Curb Appeal' challenge where the club 'adopted' a house belonging to someone who needed help and the club spruced it up as an example of what others in town could do to clean up the town and win prizes sponsored by the Baudette club.
Tom is proud and always striving to keep Rotary strong. Ann is grateful she took off her blinders.
Tom is proud and always striving to keep Rotary strong. Ann is grateful she took off her blinders.