10 members, prospective member Anna Bottila of Fridley, Columbia Heights High School STRIVE Coordinator Scott Roehm, and Columbia Heights STRIVE students Naati Ahmed, Nadifa Hussein, and Hussein Gorecki heard Adam and Kristi Betker of the Fridley-based grassroots ministry Project 6:8 describe their mission of providing weekly food and distributing supplies to the unhoused.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS Feb. 26- Rick Heidick of Stillwater Sunrise Rotary provides an update of District 5960’s LIFT program. Mar. 5- First meeting at Central Mix, 4030 Central Avenue, Columbia Heights; Ron Steiner leads a presentation of Magnifi Credit Union’s “3 Essentials”. Mar. 12- Liam Genter, Columbia Heights Fitness Court Project
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bob Tholkes announced that at the final meeting next week at Shortstop Bar & Grill the club will present Shortstop with a plaque commemorating its 7 ½ years of service as our meeting site.
Central Mix Coffee Shop and community space, 4030 Central Avenue, Columbia Heights, will be tried first as our new meeting site, beginning Wednesday March 5. For a minimum guarantee of $100 per meeting, Central Mix will provide the meeting space, basic coffee service, a pastry tray, and will accept individual food and beverage orders.
Tholkes also announced that members are invited to see Central Mix and attend a meeting setup ‘dry run’ on Wednesday, February 26 at 9 a.m.
Parking at Central Mix: street parking on southbound Central Avenue between 41st Avenue and 40th Avenue; surface lot across Central Avenue; disused restricted surface parking and free parking ramp behind Central Mix, entered from 40th Avenue, with alley and walkway access to Central Mix.
REMINDERS
The due date for your current Rotary account invoice was Friday, January 31. Pay by check at a meeting, mail a check to FCH Rotary at 3966 Reservoir Blvd., Columbia Heights 55421, or use the club’s VENMO account. To use it for payments to the club, download the VENMO ap and type in Fridley-Columbia HeightsRotaryClub.
The next STRIVE program visit will take place on Thursday, March 20, to Hennepin Tech and the adjacent law enforcement academy. Contact Steve Klaers at 612-599-8103 about attending.
The club board meets next on Wednesday, April 2 at 9 a.m.
The Rotary District ‘Make Peace Visible’ Annual Conference is scheduled for
Thursday-Saturday May 1-3 at Mystic Lake Event Center
, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd, Prior Lake. Register at
https://makepeacevisible.org/.
The 2025 Golf Classic fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, July 28, at The Refuge Golf Course in Columbus Township, Anoka County.
The Columbia Heights Mayor’s Monarch Festival is scheduled for Thursday, August 14. The club usually staffs an informational table.
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.
