Tom Yuzer
District 5960 Governor 1996 - 1997
Rotary Club of Roseville
t-yuze@umn.edu.

Tom Yuzer, District Governor 1996-97, has been a Rotarian since 1974, when he joined the Waseca Rotary Club. He joined the Roseville Rotary Club in 1992, after relocating to the Twin Cities. He was President of the Waseca club in 1983-84.

"Certainly having the opportunity to serve the Rotarians and District 5960 as District Governor (in 1996-97) has to be the highlight of my personal involvement as a District 5960 Rotarian," he says, "but a very close second was the opportunity to lead a Group Study Exchange team to India in 1976-77. But he goes on to point out that it has been the opportunity to provide service to both the Waseca and Roseville communities, as well as involvement through a host of international activities is the true joy of being a Rotarian.

After returning from the GSE experience, Tom immediately became active in district activities. Here he has served as Chair of GSE, Foundation Educational Awards, International Service, Public Relations, Foundation Annual Giving and Area Representative.

After earning the title of PDG - "Prestige Done Gone" - he remained active in a variety of roles in District 5960, including the Long Range Planning Committee, Newsletter Editor, Foundation Luncheon Chair, Area Liaison for the Permanent Fund and Communications/Technology Chair.

Upon relocation to southern California in the summer of 2001, he joined the Temecula Sunrise Rotary Club, where he has become active.

Tom is a Regional Development Director for the University of Minnesota Foundation, contacting alumni in San Diego, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, seeking financial support on behalf of the colleges of the University. His active partner in much of his Rotary involvement has been his wife, Liz. They have two daughters, who also live in California. Stephanie is working in the home mortgage in Del Mar, just north of San Diego, and Beth and her husband, Patrick, live in Monterey. Patrick is teaching at the Defense Language Institute and Beth is manager of an Eddie Bauer store in Monterey. You can reach Tom at
t-yuze@umn.edu.

Highlights from 1996-97 in District 5960:
> Membership growth of 5%, and Rochester Rotary Club becoming the largest club in the district.

> Continued growth in dollars contributed to the Unrestricted/Annual Programs Fund of The Rotary Foundation, reaching a district high of $211,544.

> Selection of Susan Nicolai as one of 50 special Paul Harris Scholars; she studied population issues in India.

> Flood relief effort to Breckenridge and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, which resulted in hands-on efforts, financial support and probably the most rewarding was the assembly and presentation of Christmas holiday decorations to families that had lost these items in the flood.

> Year two participation of Presidents-Elect Training Sessions (PETS) being held at RI headquarters in Evanston, IL. Very positive marks for two years in a row solidified this as an on-going direction for D5960.

> A final item, more of a personal nature, the recruitment of Steve Wilcox of Hudson Daybreak and Doug Johnson of Mankato as Governor's Representatives, and their subsequent ascent to District Governor.