President Ed James’ quote of the day: “One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” ― Shannon L. Alder
See your email for important dates for this week or, if you prefer, you can download them here.
President Ed urged us to think about friends and business associates that would be good Rotarians. Contact Membership Director Cindy Carlson with your suggestions and she will do the rest.
The Board is working on ideas for a fundraiser for this year. Your suggestions are welcome as we consider options.
Ed asked all of us to consider Past District Governor Kyle Haugen’s invitation (below) to the Rotary Foundation Virtual Happy Hour. Our club will receive several awards and we would like to be well represented at the virtual event
Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
"You may have seen in the TRF Update email that was sent earlier this week, we're going to be having a "Rotary Foundation Virtual Happy Hour" on Monday, February 1 from 4:30-5:30. During this happy hour, we're going to do three things:
1. Recognize clubs for the 2019-20 TRF giving.
2. Have short interviews with some of the best 2019-20 clubs to get tips they've used
3. Kick off our "Share The Love" campaign for February.
Your club will be recognized several times, so I would encourage you to let your members know about this fun event! Additionally, since your club was one of the clubs that achieved 100% Giving/EREY status, I would like one of you or someone in your club (a Champion or coordinator?) to take part in a brief Q&A segment about how your club was able to engage members to participate? This will be brief, and you'll get the question(s) ahead of time, so it shouldn't be too difficult!
Let me know if either of you, or someone else, can attend and we can work more on content early in the week.
To register, click HERE
I hope you can join us...and please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Kyle Haugen
Rotary Club of Prior Lake, MN
District Governor 2017-18, Rotary District 5960
612-382-3168
Geoff Hollimon noted that the Coalition will continue its Covid-19 pandemic relief effort into 2021 and beyond, if necessary. They enter 2021 with $55,395 in available grant money and will need to raise another $100,000 this year to continue to help our neighbors most affected by the pandemic. The Coalition is currently working on partnering with local faith communities to expand its impact. A virtual Walk/Run Event will also be held this spring. President Ed urged us to consider a donation to the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition. He asked that we forward our individual contributions to John Ordway, who will bundle them for presentation to the Coalition. Make your checks payable to Suburban Ramsey COVID-19 Response Fund and mail to:
NBMV Rotary
c/o John Ordway
3555 Willow Lake Blvd. Suite 200
Vadnais Hgts, MN 55110
If you prefer to send your contribution separately, mail it to:
Shoreview Community Foundation
c/o Carol Mills
5845 St. Albans Court
Shoreview, MN 55126
c/o Carol Mills
5845 St. Albans Court
Shoreview, MN 55126
Jed Hamoud reported that he and Nils Friberg recently met with New Brighton Public Safety Director Tony Paetznick to see how we might partner with the city to fight human trafficking. Jed and Nils will keep us updated. Jed also noted that Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary will hold a Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar on April 15th. They are looking for help with webinar management and funding.
Jed also called our attention to an article in the current (February) issue of Rotary magazine about Lebanese Rotary clubs response to the August 4th explosion in Beirut.
Nyle Zikmund introduced our speaker, CPY’s Executive Director, Mary Stewart. Mary began by telling how CPY’s students were adversely affected by the Covid-19 shutdown in March of 2020. Until the pandemic hit, CPY had provided meals, educational support and a safe place for kids while not at school. With the balance of CPY’s school year program cancelled and the all-important summer program in jeopardy, they began to plan an alternative to the in-person summer program. Many families depend on CPY’s summer enrichment activities and meal program, so the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition provided a grant so that Mary and her staff could develop activity packets which could be delivered, along with food provided by Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, to needy CPY families. The “CPY at Home” summer program served 350 families and delivered over 4,000 meals!
In the fall, distance learning presented new challenges for CPY. Mary and her staff knew that, without academic and nutritional support, many CPY students would be unable to manage distance learning. With grant support, CPY was able to provide internet access, meals, academic support, mentorship and stability for 105 youth, all of whom are on free and reduced lunch. This program decreased missing assignments by 80%, provided daily teacher engagement, one-on-one tutoring, meals and snacks, transportation, ELL support and allowed parents to return to work.
All these accomplishments would not have been possible without the continuing support of District 621 teachers, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition, New Brighton Mounds View Rotary, New Brighton Lions, Kiwanis Club, and Bell Lumber and Pole Co.
For more info on CPY, click here.