Turns out, Rotary travels well. When Minneapolis Uptown Rotary member Richard Haglund traveled to Milan, Italy as a guest conductor with the Orchestra Sinfonica Milano Classica, he did not just bring his baton. He brought Uptown Rotary with him.
During his visit, Richard joined members of the Rotary Club of Milan for an evening of conversation, connection, and international fellowship. The clubs exchanged flags and shared stories about service projects, local impact, and what Rotary looks like from opposite sides of the Atlantic.
With 36 members, the Milan club is similar in size to ours, which made the exchange of ideas and experiences immediately relatable. Richard shared highlights of our work in Uptown and our continued support of projects in Haiti, sparking thoughtful discussion and interest from the group.
“It was an interesting meeting to hear about their experiences with Rotary,” Richard said. “They would love to exchange ideas with us as they are a similar sized club.”
The visit was one part of an already memorable trip. Richard’s concert at Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate was a sold-out performance featuring works by Mozart and Beethoven and brought together music lovers from across the region.
Back home, Richard is also the owner of Pinnacle Renovations, a Minneapolis-area exterior remodeling company he has led for more than 35 years. His approach to craftsmanship began early, learning alongside his father, an architect and World War II veteran who believed there was only one right way to do things and to do them well.
Richard’s trip is a reminder that Rotary reaches far beyond weekly meetings. Whether through service, music, or simple conversation, connections formed locally can create friendships and opportunities around the world.
Thank you, Richard, for representing Uptown internationally and reminding us that a Rotary badge can open doors anywhere.
