PROGRAM

 

13 members, visiting Rotarian Sandy Campbell of Anoka Rotary, and prospective member Sonja Ketchum of Fridley heard member Norma Jean Falink lead a discussion of the operations and benefits of the Rotary Foundation, to which a number of members and Campbell contributed. TRF provided $8,680.00 in matching funds for the club’s successful 2024-25 District Grant project.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Bellringing! Thanks to member Gordon Backlund for organizing the club’s traditional bellringing for the Salvation Army at Sam’s Club 8150 University Ave, Fridley, which concludes today. Kudos to Backlund, Josh Callahan, Amáda Márquez Simula, Paul Nealy, Mike Neeley, Mike Oakley,Will Rottler, and Kristen Stuenkel for participating.

 

The club board met on December 11. The meeting minutes were emailed to members yesterday for their information and/or to allow comments and suggestions.

 

Thank you to all our ‘fine’ members…fine-box funds for July-December totaling $306.25 will be forwarded to the Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus campaign. Being December, the box funds were used to give a holiday tip to the Shortstop breakfast staff.

 

Campbell received the club’s donation of $750.00 to Anoka Rotary’s Rotary district grant project in aid of the Anoka-area food shelf, which topped off their fundraising goal.

After this morning’s breakfast members Stephen Keeler, Mike Oakley, and Kristen Stuenkel traveled to the Columbia Heights and Fridley Adult Basic Education Center to present the final check for the District Grant English as a Second Language project. A total of $28,500 was raised to fund an additional ESL class.

 

REMINDERS

 

The club’s new VENMO account is now in service. To use it for payments to the club, download the VENMO ap and type in Fridley-Columbia HeightsRotaryClub. The next quarterly invoice is expected in mid-December.

 

STRIVE mentoring sessions and visits to area colleges will resume on Monday, January 6, with a visit to Minneapolis College. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103 about attending. 

 

The next Operation Pollination virtual meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jabuary 8. Use Zoom reference https://colheights-k12-mn-us.zoom.us/j/89549675071.

 

The District 5960 Midterm event will take place on Saturday morning, January 18, at Hamline University in St. Paul. Register free at https://www.rotary5960.org/events/

 

The club is purchasing a table for 8 at the Fridley School Foundation’s annual fundraiser on January 30 at Jax Café. To request a complimentary seat, contact Secretary Bob Tholkes at fridleychrotary@gmail.com.

 

With the club board approving an expenditure in 2025-26 for a Rotary grant proposal, members are encouraged to suggest possible projects for either a district or international grant. Contact Secretary Bob Tholkes at fridleychrotary@gmail.com.

 

Rotary International announced that the May 27-28, 2028 (changed from 2029) RI convention will be held in Minneapolis. It will be organized cooperatively by Districts 5580, 5950, 5960, and 6250.