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Scott Lund thanks Julie Jepson of SteppingStone Emergency Housing (Blaine) and Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary for speaking on October 24.
October 24, 2018
 
20 members and former member Dick Harris heard Julie Jepson of SteppingStone Emergency Housing in Blaine describe SteppingStone's facilities and services for the homeless in Anoka (and other) counties) and the causes of homelessness. Serving single adults, SteppingStone presently has a long waiting list for homeless adults seeking space.
 
Julie also spoke of her Rotary club's pending district grant for funding, and requested the club's assistance. The club board will take up her proposal at its next meeting on December 3.
 
Announcements (Scott Lund filled in for absent President Josh Lund):
 
More attendees are needed for the Rotary Foundation Celebration on Saturday evening, Nov. 10, in Oakdale. The club will fund a table of 8 if there is sufficient interest.
 
The table of 10 funded by the club at the Columbia Heights Public Schools Alumni Foundation is filled.
 
The new Rotary Human Trafficking Initiative is offering free training for club champions on Nov. 3 at Southdale Library.
 
Thanks to member Jerry Mrosla for preparing and filing the club’s 2017 tax return.
 
Kristen Stuenkel announced that 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. Kristen will collect any donations brought to a club meeting.
 
Brian Weierke announced that 18 bikes for kids will be donated today, and that Fridley Police is collecting winter clothing for kids until early December.
 
Amada Simula announced that the HeightsNEXT Community Foundation will participate this Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Heights Fire Dept's "truck & treat" open house.
 
Wally Wysopal noted that a student each from Totino-Grace and Fridley High Schools will participate next weekend in Rotary Camp Enterprise, with club sponsorship.
 
The Lee Carlson Center Lantern Gala will be held on Nov. 8 at Bunker Hills Golf Club. See Scott Lund about attending with a group.
 
Scott Lund noted that the new Fridley municipal complex will open on  Nov. 13, with an open house scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17.
 
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 holiday gathering will follow at Sarna's Grill, nearby.
 
Wysopal also announced that the club will provide bellringing services for the Salvation Army on Dec. 5, 12, and 19 at Sam's Club in Fridley.
 
More thank-yous from the 3rd-graders who received dictionaries from the club have been received and were viewed. 
 
Meeting responsibilities for Oct. 31: The scary (but BOO-tiful) duo of Mark Grotewold (Sergeant At Arms) and Craig Malm (Invocation).