Sharon Erickson Ropes – a personal
history of service to her country, state,
community, and family.


Left to right, top to bottom:  Sharon's husband Milt, daughter Lauren, Sharon,
daughter Erin, son Nathaniel, and Swiss AFS exchange student Simon Blaser.
Sharon served in Louisiana with the
Red Cross, providing emergency
medical care after the Katrina/Rita
hurricanes.
This website paid for by "Ropes for Senate" Committee, Joliene Olson, Treasurer  416 W. Howard St., Winona, MN  55987

Nursing credentials, experience and
additional training:
Minnesota Attorney General's Task Force
    on Health Care and Consumer
    Rights
Winona Area Public Schools School Nurse
Winona Area Public Schools Health
    Secretary
Minnesota Nurses Association
Minnesota Board of Nursing, current
    licensure
Red Cross Disaster Relief Nurse
Deployment to Louisiana for Hurricane
    Katrina/Rita as volunteer nurse
Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition
Bioterrorism: Today's Fear, Tomorrow's    
    Reality, 5 hour course
Tuberculosis: The Return of a Killer, 5
    hour course
AIDS/HIV, 4 hour course
Pediatric Trauma Care, 15 hour course
Allergies: Clearing the Air with Education,
    8 hour course
Child Abuse and Neglect, 4 hour course
Caring for the Pediatric Trauma Patient,  
    4 hour course
Caring for the Adolescent Female,
    10 hour course
Otitis Media in Children, 4 hour course
Breast Cancer Care, 10 hour course
Alheimer's Disease, 10 hour course
Influenza, 15 hour course
Breast Cancer in the 21st Century,
    10 hour course
Handling Criticism, 8 hour course
Caring for a Patient with Lung Cancer,
    4 hour course
Alcohol and Alcoholism, 12 hour course

Prior to Winona:
US Navy Nurse Corps
US Navy Nurse Corps' Top 1% Rating
Two Harbors' Board and Care Home
Lakeshore Nursing Home
Family History:
Sharon was born and raised in  Two Harbors, Minnesota.  Her parents are Paul Erickson (retired from the
Lake County Highway Dept. and Air National Guard), and Irene Erickson, (a retired elementary school
teacher).  Sharon has been married for 25 years to Dr. Milton Ropes, M.D., Urology.  Their children are Erin,
Lauren, and Nathaniel, all either in college, or recently graduated.  Sharon has been a lifelong Lutheran, is an
active member of Central Lutheran Church, and a Winona resident for 20 years.

Education:  
Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of St. Teresa,
    Winona, 1976
Bachelor of Arts in French from College of St. Teresa, Winona, 1976

Military:  
Commissioned officer in 1977.  
Served in United States Navy Nurse Corps for 5 years.  Stationed at
Camp LeJeune, North Carolina and Portsmouth, Virginia.  
Honorably discharged in 1982.  Stationed at Agana, Guam as dependent
with active duty spouse, Commander Milton Ropes

Occupation/Avocation:  Registered Nurse, small business owner,
Master Gardener, author, community service, syndicated newspaper
columnist

Leadership Training:  
National PTA Leadership Training
Multiple leadership seminars and programs

Elected Office:  
Winona Area Public School Board of Directors, served four years.  
Winona Area Public School Board Chair, elected in both 2000 and 2001.

State Positions:  
State of Minnesota Attorney General's Task Force on
    Consumer Rights and Health Care
 Minnesota State PTA, current President!
Minnesota State PTA Board of Directors – Sharon managed a
    statewide arts program for 4 years for over
    12,000 Minnesota students, past "Reflections" program
    Chair          
 Minnesota Master Gardeners State Advisory Board, past member
Minnesota State Horticultural Society Board of Directors, past member
American Host Family:  Hosted 7 foreign students - from Japan,
    Costa Rica, and Switzerland.

Winona Leadership and Involvement
Community:
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
Winona Women in Business
American Association of University Women
Great River Shakespeare Festival Board of Directors, Secretary
League of Women Voters
Winona community Foundation
Covey-Blandin Principle-Centered Leadership Training
Blandin Community Leadership Program
CSTeahouse Board of Directors, Secretary
Syndicated newspaper columnist
Author of local art and history book
Winona Online Democracy, Co-Manager
American Red Cross - Winona Chapter
Meals On Wheels
Women of Purpose Calendar - Cancer and MS fundraiser
Girl Scout Troop Leader
Brownie Scout Troop Leader
Her Book Club
Veterans:
AMVETS
Veterans For Peace
Veterans' Day Watch
Education:
Winona Area Public School (WAPS) Board of Directors
Winona Middle School Referendum Committee
2001 Levy Referendum Committee
WAPS Curriculum Committee
WAPS Legislative Team
Winona Senior High School Site Team
WAPS Community Education instructor
Countless WAPS and PTA committees and ad hoc task forces
Jefferson Elementary PTA, Vice President and President
Winona Middle School PTA
Winona Senior High School PTA
Minnesota PTA State Arts Chair
Minnesota PTA State Board of Directors
Minnesota PTA State Board of Directors, President-Elect and
    President
 Horticulture:
University of Minnesota Winona County Master Gardeners
Winona County 4H Judge
Minnesota State Horticultural Society State Board of Directors
Minnesota State Horticultural Society, First District President
Tri-State Master Gardener Conference, Co- Chair
Winona Flower and Garden Club
Faith:
Central Lutheran Church
Central Lutheran Church (CLC) Adult Forum
CLC Vacation Bible School
CLC Discussion Facilitator
ELCA Women's Circle
Pleasant Valley Evangelical Free Church
PVEFC Sunday School teacher
Political:
Winona County DFL
Minnesota DFL Veterans Caucus
Minnesota Civil Liberties Union
Sharon Erickson Ropes, President of the
Minnesota State PTA, at the MN PTA offices.