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Brenda Lewis (far right) and Fridley Public Schools Staff
 
Find us online at:https://www.fridleychrotary.org/
 
Joining the FCH Rotary breakfast meetings on Zoom (request by the previous Monday at stephen.keeler@fridley.k12.mn.us.):  open the link below, click on Open Zoom Meetings, and follow the prompts.
 
 
 
April 24, 2024
Stephen Keeler and Fred Rau
 
 
PROGRAM:
 
18 members, visiting Rotarian Fred Rau of Forest Lake Rotary, seven guests connected with the H1-B Visa Sponsorship Program at Fridley Public Schools, and guest/former member Patty Hand of the Minnesota Dept. of Education saw Rau briefly describe Forest Lake Rotary’s district grant project, a water access project in Uganda, and collect the club’s $1000.00 donation.  Member Brenda Lewis, Fridley Public Schools Superintendent, described the H1-B program, which has alleviated staffing issues with licensed teachers and paraprofessionals at the schools by allowing recruitment of trained, experienced professionals, particularly from the Republic of the Philippines. Hand described the state grant program which assists in the H1-B effort, and program coordinators and two new Filipina teachers described the benefits of the program.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Stephen Keeler reported on the progress of the club’s 2024-25 district grant proposal, now titled English Instruction for New Immigrants, which intends to fund an additional beginning English class at the Adult Learning Center of Columbia Heights and Fridley for new arrivals.
 
Steve Klaers reminded of the STRIVE mentor meeting tomorrow morning at Fridley High School, and described the success in golf classic fundraising he and Mike Oakley experienced last week.
 
Member Richard Harris lost his spouse of 62 years, Laurel, last week after a brief hospitalization. Visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. this Friday, April 26, at Phillip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley, followed by a service at 11 a.m.
 
REMINDERS
 
The next Operation Pollination virtual meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1. Use Zoom reference https://colheights-k12-mn-us.zoom.us/j/86557933324.
 
The District 5960 2023-24 Celebration of Clubs gathering is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, in Hudson, WI. Register at https://www.rotary5960.org/celebration-of-clubs-2024/.
 
STRIVE students will visit Hennepin Tech on Tuesday, May 7 @ 10 am, followed by lunch and a 1 hr visit to the adjacent Law Enforcement Academy.  Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103 about accompanying the students.
 
The club is offered a chance for a service activity to let us literally get our hands dirty: garden prep at the Columbia Heights High School Pollinator Garden, accompanying students in raking mulch out of the beds and adding fresh compost, on Monday, May 13, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. The school is located at 1400 49 Ave NE.
 
The next club board meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, at Fridley Community Center. All members are welcome.
 
Installation of the 2024-25 District Governor, Ed Boeve of Stillwater Sunrise Rotary, will take place on Saturday, June 29, at 5:00 p.m. at Rustic Roots Winery in Scandia. Register at https://www.rotary5960.org/events/.
 
The 11th annual Golf Classic, the primary club fundraiser, is set for Monday, July 15, at the Refuge Golf Course in Oak Grove.
 
Rotary International announced that the 2029 RI convention will be held in Minneapolis. It will be organized cooperatively by Districts 5580/5950,5960, and 6250.
 
Additional mentors for Fridley STRIVE students are sought. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103. Rotary International produces podcasts on various subjects, available at https://on.rotary.org/3VnjizH. 
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: May 1- President Stephen Keeler will lead a club business session. May 8- The Operation Pollination Committee will present information and an update on its 2024 activities. May 15- new member Kevin Kalihers will present his classification talk.