Tonka Talk Community and Connection

The Power of Community Involvement: Josh Radziej's Journey Through Volunteering

• Natalie Webster • Season 1 • Episode 8

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Ever wondered how you can make a real, tangible impact in your local community? Tune in to this enriching episode to discover how our guest, Josh Radziej, found his place in the heart of Excelsior's community. 

Josh's journey is all about personal growth, community betterment, and the incredible power of involvement in local organizations like the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber, the Rotary, and the Lions Club. 

He shares his experiences with the Lions Club's charitable initiatives, such as fundraising for children's cancer and promoting eye health, and how these collective efforts help cultivate a thriving community.

Moving on to the second half of the episode, we explore the role local events play in fostering community spirit. From the Fourth of July celebration to the Klondike Derby race, there are myriad ways to volunteer and contribute to the community's vibrancy.

We encourage you to lend a helping hand and make a difference.  Embrace this opportunity to learn how you can become an integral part of your local community and experience the rewarding joy of giving back.

Learn more at https://www.tonkatalk.com where we share more about our Lake Minnetonka community, including upcoming events and our take on local experiences.

Connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TonkaTalk/
If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions of a future guests creating community and connection, email natalie@tonkatalk.com

We appreciate your support in sharing Tonka Talk Community and Connection with someone you think could benefit from our content.

Natalie:

Whether you are new to a community or you've always been around in one area for a while and you're wondering how do I get out and get involved in my community? How can I meet more people, how can I become more involved with what's happening? There are many things that you can do, from joining local chambers to even Lions clubs and rotaries, and today I'm talking to Josh Radsey, who's going to share how he's found and helped create a community through these different organizations. I'm Natalie Webster and this is Tonka Talk, where we share all things community and connection. So, josh, tell me about. You grew up in the area. You grew up in the Lake Minnetonka area.

Josh:

I did, yeah, yeah, right down the road. So I grew up on, you know, right off of Highway 7M44, a little little lake community over there. It was fun, great place to grow up, that's for sure.

Natalie:

So you grew up around the Lake Minnetonka area you went to was it Mount High School.

Josh:

Yep, I graduated from Mount, went to Minnetonka for a little bit. My dad coached football there for 30 years, so we had a business in Minnetonka, so yeah what kind of business? A little bit of family dry cleaner. I would have been a third generation dry cleaner.

Natalie:

What happened that derailed that?

Josh:

You know, it just wasn't for me. I just decided it wasn't for me. I had a friend working at an insurance company in Excelsior, a job at a state farm, and he was like you should come try this out. And yeah, I ended up. That's kind of where I found my niche in Excelsior too. I'm just really learning to love that specific community as well, as you know, growing up in the area.

Natalie:

So now you work in insurance.

Josh:

Yep, yep.

Natalie:

And part of why we're chatting today is because you're really dialed in and involved with a lot of local organizations, from the Excelsior like Minnetonka Chamber to Rotary and Lions Club, and I was curious as to how does that work? Because sometimes when you meet people they're like oh, I go to Rotary, oh, I belong to the Chamber. It's not too often where you meet someone that kind of is out there trying it all out.

Josh:

Does it all exactly and I can't say I wish I could get more to each individual one, but I kind of yeah, I want to be a part of you know all of it. And I became friends with a lot of store owners in town and Excelsior and other business owners and things like that, and I just kept hearing all this feedback from business owners and store owners and employees at places going gosh, I wish they would do this instead of that or this instead of that. So I've definitely joined them all to try and, you know, have a voice for people that aren't, you know, voicing themselves.

Natalie:

So exactly A lot of times and I think this is the same in multiple communities, not just ours here, where there's, especially with social media, there's a lot of hubbub about something or people upset about this change or that change, and you often make a good point because you encourage people to hey, take that passion and if you want to create that change, come join the Chamber where we talk about this and can create something different.

Josh:

Exactly. I mean, that's totally it. At events in town they're like well, we should add more food or more of this, and people are not understanding how much time these organizations Really put into it. And people are volunteering their time. This isn't in most cases. They're volunteering their time. So you have to remember that people spend a lot of time doing this and they care about it. So they're not trying to take away or do things. It's they've tried things and and, and those things cost money too, and where are?

Josh:

the funds coming from, and and how are they getting Donated? And people need to, you know. Take that into consideration as well.

Natalie:

So so tell me a little bit about the Lions Club, for example. I've you know, I've heard about it. I see a lot of the good work that they're doing, but I really wouldn't know what to tell somebody if they asked me what is the Lions Club? You know, does it have anything to do with the lion?

Josh:

Okay, now you're part me on this one. No, you know, I felt the same way. I joined about maybe a year or two years ago under under Chad's you know business, and going in I had no idea. So I'm like, well, do we actually collect eyeglasses, or?

Natalie:

like you know, I remember a kid at the dry cleaners.

Josh:

We always have the you know, bins for eyeglasses and and it's evolved over the years. But it's a hundred percent volunteer charity group. It's like a hundred and twenty five dollars a year. We do one meeting a month and we have all sorts of fun things. So we do like a golf tournament, we do a bar crawl. That's for children's cancer. I believe you had a caffeine. Yeah, I'm tongue-in-tack for that, um, but we are gonna do a meet raffle this year, which we did last year. But we've kind of evolved it. We have more details coming out on that, but it's it's all for donations, all volunteering and it's all Lions and and others as well, but it's all the money we really try to focus. Our goal is 80% Goes right back into our community, right here, not outside, right here.

Natalie:

So and what type of things or projects or events does the Lions Club fund then?

Josh:

Yeah, so the one is children's cancer. That's what we picked up, this year.

Josh:

And eyesight is huge. It actually is, and not a lot of recognition towards that. But you know we're very lucky in the United States, but we still give a larger donation to the international Club. We just recently did a huge I can't take credit for it, but um Thing for Maui. They did at the brewery. Yeah, they partnered with the brewery on it. I believe they gave over $5,000 directly to our Lions group in Maui. So they're on the ground and they can give those funds however they can. So we're really. You know, if there's a need it. You know of something local that's important to our community. We like to know and that's where the money's going.

Natalie:

So that's fantastic. How does that different from, say, the rotary and? And these are things that are pretty much in almost every every community Going across the United States. Yep, yep, they're international, international clubs.

Josh:

Yeah, so you know I'm not. There really isn't a huge difference. It's just who is doing what and it's great to have all of it. So, uh, the rotary, one of their biggest Things would be concert in the commons, you know, and I hear complaints about that all the time too, and it's like you know, it's wonderful because we need volunteers, we need donors, we need stuff, because they donate so much money back to our community, um, and making it look beautiful and all these different things, and that's great. If you have an opinion, you should come and help and voice it and Really get back. But I wouldn't say there's a really big difference. I mean, it's all about volunteering and giving back and with with both of those. So sure, sure.

Natalie:

It's great that you're able to to do both of those and then be involved in things like the chamber. And again, there's chambers in communities all over the United States, and we're specifically talking about the Excelsior Lake Midotanka chamber, who does so many events in the area that have been going on for so long. What are some of your favorite things as as as a member of the chamber? What are some of your favorite things to do?

Josh:

It's awesome just to be involved and to hear about stuff that's going on in our community. The chamber is, uh, I think it's a 503C, so it's a little bit different than the rotary and the lions, but their main thing is to bring business and help private enterprise and help these small business owners. Really, you know, let people know they're there and what services they offer, and they really run a big part of our events, which you know. Rotary helps with lions, helps with all these other people as well, but, uh, they are in charge of the fireworks, you know they're. They do the firecracker run, they do the same patty stuff. They really are bringing people into our making Lake Midotanka a destination, you know, and bringing money into the small business owner. So, and people in our community.

Natalie:

So yeah, so would you? What would you recommend to somebody that was saying new to the area, or moving into even a different community, who wanted to get involved? What, which one of these types of organizations do you think that they should start with? Join them all. No, I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

Josh:

You know it's a really good question. I would go to all of them. You know they're all free. They love visitors. You can really. You know who do you jive with and what, what, what what's important to you and giving back to your community and being a part of it. I mean there's committees all over. You know, for every event, everything, and I think I'd encourage you to visit the rotary. You know it's. They have a free breakfast at Maynard. Who doesn't love free breakfast? Just go and visit. You know you don't have to say anything, they won't point you out.

Josh:

It's a big, great group of people. I believe they have an afternoon one as well. I spoke about the Lions. It's once a month for lunch. We would love to have you there. You don't, again, you don't have to know anything about anything. You just go and enjoy and and be with your neighbors. You know, yeah, and and same with the chamber. The chamber, I would say a little bit more. If you're a business, you know what I mean. If you have a business, you want to represent your business, you want to get it out there. That would be for that. But also the volunteering. I mean they need so many volunteers of these events, just they're not going to be there and people don't realize how much work goes into that.

Josh:

You know, we take it for granted that we have a concert in the Commons and that we can complain about it.

Natalie:

You know what I mean and all these other events.

Josh:

That it's they. They make it happen. So you know, kudos to them.

Natalie:

There's no shortage, definitely, of volunteers for many of this and and you bring up a good point, because I don't think a lot of people realize how much work goes into it, how many volunteers it takes. And I like your point of view because I feel the same way. If if you have a complaint about it, that's fine, but then do something about it, put your shoulder to the wheel and create change from the inside.

Josh:

Yeah, seriously Say I'm going to join that committee. I want to make sure that you know I'm just picking out of a habit. Fourth of July is better. It comes from the Commons. It's a come, join, reach out to that organization and say how can we help you? I have some really good ideas. You know, me and my family want to donate our time to a couple of the events and whatever you know so what are some of your favorite events in the area?

Natalie:

Oh gosh.

Josh:

I mean, I really love any great event, but Fourth of July is just always a good one. The firecracker run is fun and setting up in the morning the St Paddy's Day of Race. It's always interesting to see what the weather is going to be like. Oh, exactly. Is it 60 degrees or 10 degrees? Me and Chad always tradition wake up at it is six o'clock in the morning.

Josh:

we go get the bananas the donuts and set it all up and it's just really just to be a part of it. But yeah, I would say those are my top two. The Klondike is a different, just fun event. In general. It's actually not specifically involved with any of those organizations, but Klondike has really become huge, Huge.

Natalie:

And if you're not familiar, can you tell people a little bit about it?

Josh:

Yeah, as much as. I know, but yeah, just from going the last few years they've done it. I think three years skipped one in between with COVID.

Natalie:

It's a dog race.

Josh:

Yeah, it's a slut dog race and they come from all over the world. I mean it's Alaska to. I think, even like maybe a team from Iceland or something Greenland. I mean it's really cool. If you've never done or come, it's free. They have food, they have hot drinks, the restaurants have promotions and it's really become a staple of our community. People talk about it all around.

Natalie:

When I travel, all year round, all year round too, because there's little fundraisers here and there to support the Klondike.

Josh:

Yeah, yeah. So it's not directing any of those, but I mean, that's another thing you know, if you want to be a part of it. I know Bill Danberg he owns Brightwater downtown has a big presence in that, and many other people as well.

Natalie:

So yeah, I would have to say I think I agree with you. Fourth of July is a ton of fun, and what I like is it because it kicks off with the run, which I skip. But then there's the parade.

Josh:

Oh, it's an all day thing.

Natalie:

The kids parade, the bike parade. So many people, especially if it's a great weather day, it is just absolutely packed with a sea of people.

Josh:

Yeah, it's awesome.

Natalie:

Just having a great time all marching heading down to the Excelsior Commons to kick off the festivities for Fourth of July Exactly, and it keeps getting better and better and better.

Josh:

I would say, people, you know, taking into consideration to what COVID really did to our community, I, you know, I don't when people are like, oh, the fireworks are so much better when I was a kid, it's like, okay, you guys. Well, you have to remember all the funding that was lost. You know, I mean the chamber, don't quote me please, but I mean they had like they were hanging on by their legs. I mean there was like two people that were there.

Josh:

I know the Lions, I believe, were down to like the five members and now we're at like 40 strong rotary, I don't know, but I mean all these groups like there was nothing, there was no private funding. So these we're really building back all of our events in the Lake Minnetonka area, getting that funding back, doing the burgers, bingo you know all the stuff that creates these events and they're just getting bigger and better. They really are so there is.

Natalie:

There's a lot going on and I'm really excited about potential new events. There's always things happening around the lake. There are. If you're familiar with the Lake Minnetonka area, then you know there are multiple cities and villages, communities around the lake that have their own city hall but come together for many of these events. That's what I love most about it, and the biggest thing, too, is how many events there are in the wintertime. Things do not shut down around Lake Minnetonka just because it's really cold out there. Like you were saying, the Klondike Derby there's so many that happen where you just got a dress for it.

Josh:

Yep, yep, and I mean they're really building them up. I know the Chamber has big plans. They did Halloween this year. I don't know, were you a part of the witches?

Natalie:

Yes, I didn't do witches night out, but we handed out candy on Water Street in Excelsior it was huge and next year I think they might be planning some other really fun things.

Josh:

So it's like everything is just building and getting bigger and funner for our small community. Totally.

Natalie:

It's so much fun. I think that, given your because you have such passion for community and getting out there and connecting with people, I mean you really walk the walk, you really you go to these things, you're helping, you're putting your shoulder to the wheel I think maybe you should run for city council or something like that coming up, I'm just gonna. I'm sure this is not the first time you've heard this. I.

Josh:

Have heard it before. I don't know if I go that far, but I do like to be a part of our community and you know it's funny. People have laughed at that, and I've been to a lot of city council meetings. That is not a joke either. Those jobs are. Those. People work really hard, they're very intelligent and and I'd encourage it that there's another thing is you know people make all these judgments on All the council, or you know whoever did go to a city council meeting.

Natalie:

If you want to. You know, you know here, open to the public go there or go listen to what they have to say. I mean, and if you don't catch him live, you can watch him?

Josh:

on.

Natalie:

Online on demand through any city website.

Josh:

Yeah, you go to their website or go to the.

Natalie:

I Might get this wrong, but I think it's LMCCorg Yep. Yep, I believe you're right, so where you can watch these city council meetings from all over the lake and and they are sometimes they're outright hilarious.

Josh:

You don't, don't listen to your neighbor on you know. Oh, this is what they voted. It's go and watch it. Go to the meeting be a part of it If you hear one's coming up that you think affects you or people you know go. Yeah, voice your opinion, that's.

Natalie:

That's what they're there for, so yeah, use your you, you, you yeah.

Josh:

We're back with battery.

Natalie:

Yes, okay, yes, I think I'm still running, so I'll just cut that out. So, yes, getting involved in all of these things, I think, is a wonderful way to for people, even if they're new to the area. Any community anywhere to meet people is If you are a business owner, go ahead and join your local chamber If you if you're not, you can join the rotary, you can join the Lions Club, and it sounds like these aren't a ridiculous amount of fees and you get to do things directly in your community.

Josh:

Totally. I mean, yeah, it's, it's all very reasonable what it costs and what you can get a lot of it.

Natalie:

So well, and I'm gonna hold out for Josh Radsey City Council.

Josh:

Coming soon, not today, but not today, one day maybe coming soon.

Natalie:

You heard it here. Well, thank you so much for coming in and sharing about this and talking about the different ways that you find community through these different groups. It definitely makes me want to go and check out a rotary or Lions Club.

Josh:

My gosh, I should. I'll be your guest. There's food involved, right? Yes, tomorrow morning 7 am. Are you committing now?

Natalie:

Oh, that's a little early. But I will the dumb thing is I am up. I'm usually up ridiculously early, yeah, but I usually like to you know we myself into the day. I like my coffee in bed. I get it. I would leave the house early for that, because it does sound like a lot of fun.

Josh:

Cool. Well, get involved. Thank you for having me today. I see your show. It's awesome. I like what you're doing and helping the community as well.

Natalie:

So thank you, yes, everyone else. I will talk to you later I.

People on this episode

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Natalie Webster

Host
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Kelly Olsen

Co-host