Kick off to the Rotary Foundation Month

Nov 04, 2016

Tom Thorfinnson, Rotary Foundation Board Member

Tom is a dynamic speaker and has been at the forefront of strategies for Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation as a Rotary Senior Leader.

On October 17, 2016 Tom became part of the Executive Management Team for Rotary International after accepting the full time position of Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to that he was in the midst of serving a four-year term as a Trustee of the Rotary Foundation (2015-19). He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Programs Committee and Chairman of the Water and Sanitation Major Gifts Initiative.

Tom was Vice President of Rotary International in 2010-2011, and served on the Board of Directors for Rotary International from 2009 to 2011. In 2013 Tom completed a four-year term on the Strategic Planning Committee for Rotary International, and in addition served for two years as a liaison to that committee.

Tom is currently Chairman of the Steering Committee of the RI/USAID International H2O Collaboration to jointly fund US $12 million in water, sanitation and hygiene projects for three countries in Africa, and has served on that committee for 7 years. He has made 21 volunteer trips to developing countries including numerous trips to Haiti; almost all of those trips centered on the development of and funding for water and sanitation projects.

Tom is a Level II Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation and a Level 4 Charter Member of the Bequest Society of The Rotary Foundation. He is a recipient of the Service Above Self Award from Rotary International; the Distinguished Service Award and the Citation for Meritorious Service Award from The Rotary Foundation.

For 35 years Tom was engaged in the private practice of corporate law in the greater Minneapolis area, serving on over 25 for profit and non-profit boards and for 16 years was a lecturer at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Tom served for 17 years as a member of the Board of Directors of First Minnetonka City Bank.

Join us at our regular Rotary meeting in Sebastopol at the Community Church Memorial Hall, November 4, at 12:15 to hear the most current message of the status of Rotary and its Foundation as well as see a glimpse of where we are directed.