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President Mike Oakley and President-Elect Paul Nealy confer during today's club business session
 
 
 
 
 
October 30, 2024
Fridley High School STRIVE coordinator Jim Cummings and STRIVE student Jamal Davies address today's meeting.
 
 
 
Breakfast meetings are on Wednesday mornings at 7:30-8:30 at Shortstop Bar & Grill, 1298 E Moore Lake Dr, Fridley. Drop in! Guests Welcome!
 
Find us online at:https://www.fridleychrotary.org/ AND fridleychrotary@gmail.com
 
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.
 
 
PROGRAM
 
15 members heard and participated in a club business session led by President Mike Oakley. See ANNOUNCEMENTS (below).
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: Nov. 6- NO MEETING- Charter Dinner (see below). Nov. 13- Patti Constant of Anoka County Opioid Solutions will provide an update. Nov. 20- member Norma Jean Falink leads an informational program on the Rotary Foundation.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Member Steve Klaers reported that the STRIVE programs at both Columbia Heights and Fridley High Schools have been launched. Purchase of tees, twice-monthly mentor/student meetings at Fridley, and 4-5 school tours are planned.
 
Treasurer Stephen Keeler reported 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.
                              
Social Committee Scott Lund reported that 25 members and guests have signed up to attend next week’s Charter Dinner.
                              
Operation Pollination group chair Kristen Stuenkel noted that the President Oakley will sign Rotary International’s Operation Pollination resolution on behalf of the club, and that she and members Amáda Márquez Simula have been asked to join RI’s Operation Pollination committee.
                              
Literacy Project planner Paul Nealy provided an update: he and President Oakley plan to consult the five Fridley and Columbia Heights elementary school principals about an appropriate project aimed at area 3rd-graders with a possible rollout during February, when a national reading-emphasis program is held. Expenditure of about $500 per school is anticipated, the cost of the former Dictionary Project program.
                              
Member Bob Tholkes of the 2024-25 District Grant Project team reported that partnership funds from area Rotary clubs have been received and the final grant application document submitted to the district. Approval confirmation and  disbursement of the district matching grant are anticipated. Plans are to announce the completion of the $28,500.00 project, undertaken to provide an additional ESL class at the Columbia Heights and Fridley Adult Education Center, to local media sources.
 
REMINDERS
 
The next Operation Pollination virtual meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 5. Use Zoom reference https://colheights-k12-mn-us.zoom.us/j/89549675071.
 
The annual Charter Dinner will take place on Wednesday evening, November 6, at Banquets of Minnesota, 6310 Hwy 65, Fridley. Doors open at 5:30. District 5960 District Governor Ed Boeve will be on hand. Sign up at a breakfast meeting or contact Scott Lund at 612-860-3235.
 
The next club board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4 at 9 a.m. at Fridley Community Center, 6058 7 St NE. All members are welcome.
 
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.
 
 Additional mentors for Fridley STRIVE students are sought. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103.