12 members and two guests, one nonambulatory, heard Fridley City Council member Ryan Evanson describe the city’s ongoing projects in parks and transit and review its current financial situation, which he described as strong.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: July 15- Fridley Public Schools presentation, topic(s) and presenter TBA. July 22- Welcome/farewell picnic breakfast at Kordiak Park, 1845 49th Ave NE, Columbia Heights with Short-Term Exchange student Maya Villari of Padova, Italy, and host family. Program: Patty Hall of White Bear Lake Rotary, about RI’s WASH-RAG program.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Paul Nealy re-emphasized the need for volunteers to run the golf fundraiser on the 30th.
The Operation Pollination group met virtually on Tuesday, with members Kristen Stuenkel and Bob Tholkes joined by former Rotarian Amáda Márquez Simula of Heights Next, Michelle Spangler of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, and Melissa Trent of Columbia Heights High School’s Blooming Heights program. Spangler updated on MWMO summer events. Blooming Heights is beginning crop sales, on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:15 in the Family Center through early August.
CLUB OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
Help staff an informational table or assist at club functions:
Thursday, July 16 – Fridley 49er Days. Fun Run, St. Philip’s Church, 6180 Hwy 65,
Fridley, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 23 - The Columbia Heights Monarch Festival, Kordiak Park, 1845 49th
Ave NE, Columbia Heights, 5-8 pm.
Thursday, July 30- Golf or take a swing at non-golf functions at the annual Golf Classic fundraiser at The Refuge Golf Course, 21250 Yellow Pine St NW, Oak Grove, MN, an all day event. Our only fundraiser! All hands on deck!
Wednesday, Aug. 19- Columbia Heights Arts and Info Fair, 4-7 pm, Huset Park West,
520 Mill St.
CLUB REMINDERS
Treasurer Will Rottler issued invoices on June 22 for the current billing quarter, which ends June 30. Check your email! Treasurer Rottler is available by phone for online dues payments on Square. Contact him at 763-670-4259. Payments can also be turned in at meetings or mailed to FCH Rotary, 3966 Reservoir Blvd., Columbia Heights 55421.
The club board meets next via Google Meet at noon on Tuesday, August 11. More info TBA.
Rotary International announced that the
May 27-28, 2028 RI convention will be held in Minneapolis. It will be organized cooperatively by Districts 5580, 5950, 5960, and 6250. If you already know that you will want to volunteer at the Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis in 2028, send your name, email and club name to
ri2028volunteer@gmail.com. At a minimum, the people-watching should be amazing! Convention registration not required. The convention has an immediate goal of 1000 Rotarians registered as interested in volunteering.
MEMBER VOLUNTEER SPECIALS
Rich Coleman reminds that Grace Evangelical Free Church, 755 73rd Ave NE, Fridley, welcomes volunteers on the second Friday of each month to help sort food and fill grocery carts for distribution at its food shelf.
Scott Lund, founder of the Fridley Arts Foundation, seeks volunteers to walk the 49er Days parade route on Thursday, July 16, and hand out flyers for its upcoming arts dedication ceremony. Contact Scott at 612-860-3235.
