19 members, including 8 on Zoom, and guest David O’Donnell heard Southern Anoka Community Assistance co-director Dave Rudolph give an update on SACA’s challenges and opportunities as it launches fundraising both for its expanding operational needs (food distribution increased by 100,000 pounds in 202) and for its capital-fund drive to obtain a new, expanded facility in Columbia Heights. SACA hopes that at its new facility it can expand its services to include a computer lab and staff to help it explore and plug current gaps in the county’s service programs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary and New Brighton/Moundsview Rotary are hosting a Community Human Trafficking Forum webinar tomorrow, April 15, at 7 p.m. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZTuD32G7Q6eHYkEizffV6Q
Kristen Stuenkel provided an update on the Operation Pollination collaborative effort she launched this spring in the club’s service area, and announced a Zoom presentation about one aspect of the collaboration, the Blooming Heights program at Columbia Heights High School, to be held April 21 at 7:00 p.m. More info at https://www.columbiaheightsmn.gov/calendar_app/calendar_event_detail.html?eventId=1654&date=4/21/2021&show=no
As more Minnesotans are vaccinated yet practice pandemic safety, District 5960 is planning an OUTDOOR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY Conference of Clubs on
Saturday, June 5th, 10am - 2pm at the Rotary Pavilion in Levee Park in Hastings. Register at:
https://rotary5960.org/event/2021-conference-of-clubs/. President-Elect Don Archibeque announced that has been invited to collaborate on an environment-themed event for the conference with the neighboring Blaine-Ham Lake and Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary clubs.
BOARD REPORT
The club board met this morning immediately after the breakfast. Topics of discussion:
Possible Rotary Global Grant project: the board supports both for its value as a service project and as a focal point for engaging our members. We are awaiting confirmation of participation by the prospective host club in Ensenada, Mexico.
Transitions: Plans for updating the club’s methods of receiving payments from members and for streamlining the current setup for hybrid meetings.
Golf Classic: The current funds available for the STRIVE program being satisfactory for the foreseeable future, and on the heels to today’s presentation, the board intends to direct the proceeds from this year’s classic through the Healthy Youth Foundation to SACA.
GOLF! The board approved purchase of a foursome at SACA’s golf tournament fundraiser in June, the foursome to be recruited from club members, possibly through a drawing.
The board voted to participate in some form at Columbia Heights’s centennial celebration on July 17.
REMINDERS
Speaker on April 21: member Amada Simula will present on the topic “Drivers of Equity and Diversity”, the current focus of a District 5960 initiative.