OCTOBER 31, 2018
22 members, former member Dick Harris, and prospective member Steve Drost heard Columbia Heights Public Schools representatives John Larkin (School Board Chair), Bryan Hennekens (Director of Technology), and Jeff Cacek (Principal, North Park Elementary), describe the district's upcoming bond referendum, which divides into three questions the funding sought unsuccessfully by referendum last year: multiple improvements to the North Park facility; updates to the auditorium at the high school; and construction of a new band room at the high school.
More thank-yous from the 3rd-graders who received dictionaries from the club this year were circulated.
President Josh Lund described a very successful Halloween fundraiser at a club in Seattle, WA that takes in about $200,000 over a 10-day period.
Steve Klaers and Patty Hand requested club approval of a one-time donation of $1000 to Fridley High School to purchase supplies for a school-store initiative under its IBelong program. After some discussion (requests from individual schools have not been approved in previous years because of our recurring grants to the school districts) it was approved.
Announcements:
The club approved Blaine – Ham Lake Rotary’s request of last week for a donation of $500 toward their approved district grant for funding of Stepping Stone Emergency Housing of Anoka County.
(Brian Weierke) Fridley Police is collecting winter clothing for kids until early December.
(Wally Wysopal) a student each from Totino-Grace and Fridley High Schools will participate this weekend in Rotary Camp Enterprise, with club sponsorship. The students will present a description of their experience at a future breakfast.
The new Rotary Human Trafficking Initiative is offering free training for club champions on Nov. 3 at Southdale Library. Craig Malm indicated an interest in participating in the initiative.
The Lee Carlson Center Lantern Gala will be held on Nov. 8 at Bunker Hills Golf Club.
More attendees are needed for the Rotary Foundation Celebration on Saturday evening, Nov. 10, in Oakdale. The club has funded a table of 8.
(Kristen Stuenkel) Donations are sought for the Metro North Adult Basic Ed winter clothing distribution program in our service area. They will be accepted all through the winter.
(Scott Lund) the new Fridley municipal complex will open on Nov. 13, with an open house scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17. The club has arranged a tour to take the place of the breakfast on January 23.
(Mark Grotewold) The club's quarterly service project will be on Thursday, Dec. 4: food sorting at Southern Anoka Community Assistance in Columbia Heights from 3:30 to 5:30. A sign-up sheet will be circulated. A holiday gathering will follow at Sarna's Grill, nearby.
(Wysopal) the club will provide bellringing services for the Salvation Army on Dec. 5, 12, and 19 at Sam's Club in Fridley.
