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Tim Blank, Jeff Johnson, Alicia Blank, "Albert"
Joining the FCH Rotary breakfast meetings on Zoom: open the link below and click on Open Zoom Meetings and follow the prompts.
 
 
 
 
       
June 9, 2021
 
PROGRAM
 
22 members, including 8 on Zoom, and guests Captain Erik Johnston of the Columbia Heights Police Department and Alicia Blank, spouse of member Tim Blank, heard Jeff Johnson, new Executive Director of Can Do Canines, describe the organization’s mission to enhance the quality of life of the disabled through provision of assistance dogs. Assistance dogs are provided in five categories: hearing, diabetes, mobility, seizure, and autism, the latter to children under the age of 13. Mobility is the most frequent category provided, while autism has the longest waiting list (four years!). Thirty-three hundred donors and hundreds of volunteers enable Can Do Canines to provide its assistance free of charge despite the high cost (just under $50,000) of animal training. The Blanks described their experience with the three assistance dogs they have received from the organizations over the several years they have been served.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Golf Classic coordinator Greg Schraufnagel announced that all items (sponsors, golfers, diners, silent auction items) are still sought for the July 19 Golf Classic. The Refuge golf course in Oake Grove has been reserved. The event’s site is at Event home page - 2021 Fridley/Columbia Heights Rotary Golf Classic (fchgolfclassic.com). Classic info also now appears on the home page of the club website, fridleychrotary.org.
 
President Kelli Bourgeois noted that thank-yous have been received from the students completing the STRIVE scholarship program at Columbia Heights High School. She thanked member Steve Klaers for once again heading up the program.                                           
REMINDERS
 
Members may sign up to deliver groceries for SACA on any Saturday in June at https://sacafoodshelf.org/volunteer. If you will be driving, provide your insurance card and driver’s license for SACA to copy for its records.
 
Service project coordinator Mark Grotewold reminded that with the loosening of COVID restrictions other service projects can be planned. Please contact him with your ideas.
The club will provide an informational table at the Art and Info Fair at the Columbia Heights Jamboree on Thursday, June 24.
 
Installation of 2021-22 District Governor Kenny Klooster of Mankato is scheduled for Friday, June 25, at The Blue Boat in downtown Mankato from 6 to 9 p.m. Appetizers and live music provided.
 
In-person only weekly breakfasts resume as of July 7. President-Elect Don Archibeque has contacted members who have attended regularly via Zoom to personally explain the decision.
 
The club will provide an informational table at the Columbia Heights Centennial Celebration on July 17.
 
The annual charter dinner is planned for a Wednesday in the second half of August, at Banquets of Minnesota in Fridley.
 
Speaker on June 16: Ellen Kennedy, executive director of World Without Genocide and an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, will speak on the current social and political environment facing Jewish Americans.