EPLN has chronicled Eden Prairie’s news since 2020 and will celebrate its fifth anniversary at an annual meeting open to the public on Monday, Oct. 20.
Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Oct. 20 at its annual meeting, which is open to the public. Desserts, including birthday cake, will be available at the event, scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Preserve Barn, 11221 Anderson Lakes Parkway.
The public will also have the chance to meet and share ideas with EPLN’s journalism team, including editors Stuart Sudak and Joanna Werch Takes, and discuss ways to become involved with the hyperlocal news organization, including volunteer opportunities.
Publisher Mark H. Weber, general assignment reporter Rachel Hoppe and schools reporter Maddie Robinson – all of whom joined the EPLN team in recent months – will also be on hand.
“This year’s annual meeting is a chance for all of Eden Prairie to help celebrate our five-year anniversary,” Weber said. “‘People Powered News’ is our theme, and we’ll be recognizing the people who helped build Eden Prairie Local News as well as those who continue to tell the story of Eden Prairie.”
EPLN Publisher and CEO Mark H. Weber (right) stands next to former Publisher and CEO Steve Schewe (left) in the photo at left. Reporters Rachel Hoppe (center) and Maddie Robinson (right) joined EPLN’s staff July 1, while Weber came aboard in September.
In a short program beginning at 7 p.m., Weber will offer an overview of EPLN’s past fiscal year, which ended June 30, and discuss plans for the organization in the coming months. A free annual impact report outlining highlights and financial statements from the past year will be available to attendees.
Weber will be joined by Erik Hansen, CEO, and Erica Schulte King, chief operating officer, of SouthWest Transit, who will reflect on the organization’s long-term partnership with EPLN. SouthWest Transit has been a founding community partner since EPLN’s inception in 2020.
Three retiring members of EPLN’s board of directors – David Lindahl, Jeff Strate and Mark A. Weber – will be recognized at the annual meeting, along with their successors, Molly Lyons, Dan Ness and David Teigland.
EPLN, a nonprofit news organization, was founded in the summer of 2020 and published its first article on Sept. 16 of that year. Since then, EPLN has published more than 4,500 articles covering Eden Prairie and has gained recognition for its journalism at the statewide and national levels.
EPLN Publisher and CEO Mark H. Weber appears in the video clip above from “Democratic Visions,” discussing his new role at EPLN and the upcoming annual meeting.
Editor’s note: Retiring EPLN board member Jeff Strate is the producer of “Democratic Visions,” a community access series produced through Southwest Community Television.