Well, we are almost to the end of the 2020-21 Rotary year. As your president, I must admit that this year did not exactly turn out how I expected my year to unfold. To state the painfully obvious, the pandemic happened. In spite of having weekly (with the exception of a few attempts at the hybrid model in September) and team meetings via Zoom, I think the club had a fairly successful year. Sure, fundraising was down significantly. Youth projects we normally would participate in, such as Camp RYLA, Camp Enterprise, and the summer short-term Youth Exchange, did not happen. Our dream of starting a Rotaract Club was put on hold.
However, we are on track to being number two in the District for per capita contributions to The Rotary Foundation, following up on last year’s similar accomplishment. We exceeded our $1,500 commitment to PolioPlus. We are a generous club. We have completed 13 hands-on projects with 2 others in progress and another planned for June.
I almost hate to start singling out members for contributions in fear of missing someone. Let me apologize ahead of time for any unintended slights. A big thankyou to Kent Peterson for conceiving the idea of and then leading the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition. This coalition brought together 15 organizations in a united effort to assist those in our communities financially impacted by the pandemic. Thanks also to Ken Hola for representing us on the Coalition board. I have great appreciation for Stephanie Cosgrove and her gang of 8 for their efforts in the development and execution of the Human Trafficking Virtual Forum. This forum was viewed by many and will have a great impact in raising people’s awareness of the human trafficking tragedy in Minnesota and the world.
The entire membership deserves my thanks for their support and contributions over the past year. Our club is in great shape as the role of president passes to Mike Spellman. I have complete faith that we will grow and prosper under his leadership.
The rotary magazine just did an article on the many programs that were initiated by Rotarians and you might not be aware of their origin yet they continue to this day
A teenager named Herman Allen was critically injured in a streetcar accident in Elyria, Ohio many years ago. Since there was no hospital in this small town, Homer died. A Rotary member of the town said he would have lived if there would have been a hospital or some type of community health. Homer's father joined the local Rotary club and dedicated his life to create such a program for children who were disabled. He founded what was then called International Society for Crippled Children. Paul Harris was the organization's first chair. That organization is now called Easter Seals.
So many ideas from Rotarians helped humanity in a variety of ways. A few come to mind-Little Free Library, water projects worldwide and the Citizen's Climate Lobby. Other ideas enhance the community. i was recently at a Rotary meeting in Duluth, home of the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge. Years ago the city provided very little lighting for the lift bridge but the Duluth Rotary chose to make it one of their projects to really light up the bridge in a more dramatic way so shipping vessels could see the bridge from a long distance. They also were behind lighting the bridge in red, white and blue lights on July Fourth. It's things like this that can draw new members to our club. The panel on Human trafficking that we did is such a program and our Rotary received many compliments for that timely program. Perhaps you know of a project we could get behind that enhances our piece of the world.
As winter and the effects of the COVID pandemic continue, so many in our community are suffering from hunger. In the spirit of giving, let us come together for them.
The Rotarians of Arden Hills and Shoreview sprang into action to work side-by-side with the RU Hungry volunteers, in collecting, packing, and distributing well over 500 bags of snack food (5 items per bag).
Almost all our club members participated in this noble cause by donating items, donating cash. On Saturday April 24, 2021 at Anoop & Preeti house (outdoors in the garage), eleven Rotarians helped pack food for distribution to various locations in the Twin Cities where they are most needed. We also had assistance from friends and family members of a few Rotarians.
Few members from the Rotary club of Roseville and Rotary New Brighton also dropped off some items.
Items included: Ready to eat, nonperishable food such as: Granola or snack bars, trail mixes, fruit leather, Snacks such as muffins, cookies, donuts, chips, Juice packets, Water bottles, and fresh fruit.
Here is a note from Vignesh of RU Hungry organization:
Thank you Preeti, Anoop, friends and Rotary for overwhelming (literally) amount of food donations and help with bagging today. We made 481 bags, some distributed on the same day and other bags will be distributed to needy people tomorrow through catholic charities (thanks Jayesh). Each bag had a granola bar, snack (nuts, pastries, crackers or like), drink, a piece of fruit or fruit cup and a bag of chips. Preeti & Anoop, please pass our thanks to your friends and special thanks to Dennis and Kathy for help with handing out.
Our special thank you to our Rotarian spouses – Preeti Mathur for initiating and organizing this project, Kathy Erno and Francesca Newman for helping with packing, distributing and making it a fun event.
Update on Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition – April 30, 2021
One year ago, all thirteen affiliates of major international service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Optimists) in the Mounds View and Roseville Area school districts plus the Roseville Area and Shoreview Community Foundations came together to form the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition. The Coalition has been successful in providing grants and volunteer activities for food, housing and mental health/well-being needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition Steering Committee, representing all 15 organizations, decided to continue the Coalition as long as our neighbors have needs related to the pandemic.
As of the end of April, 2021, we have awarded $150,170 to 21 different nonprofit service providers in our area, coordinated sewing of 200 isolation gowns for Ramsey County Care Center and arranged for volunteers for food distribution.
In a recent grant, the Coalition awarded a $10,000 grant for Roseville Family Table operating through Second Harvest Heartland to pay laid-off restaurant workers and prepare meals at underutilized commercial kitchens. Prepared meals are given at “Roseville Family Table” to needy families identified by staff at Roseville Area school district. Volunteer opportunities are available through June 9 at Roseville Area Middle School and High School. You may volunteer by going to the link on our SignUp Genius at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c49afad2da4f4c43-meals
Other recent 2021 grants have been additional grants of $5,000 to Aeon for rental relief for residents of affordable homes in Roseville and Little Canada; $5,000 to Every Meal for food for children and families; $5,000 to Quincy House for supplemental groceries, meals and assistance for housing/utilities; $5,000 to Keystone Community Services for emergency food distribution in our area and $10,000 to Northeast Youth and Family Services to cover increased COVID-related costs for the NETS day treatment program for youth needing intensive mental health services. Ralph Reeder Food Shelf, Solid Ground and YMCA received previous grant awards.
The Coalition’s current fundraiser is the “Keep Moving” Virtual Walk/Run. Here’s how it works:
Get out and walk or run 3 miles in your community between May 9-16, 2021.
Record your time on your registration. Fastest times in each category receive prizes.
EVERYONE receives link to discounts and specials at local area restaurants and shops.
INDIVIDUALS over 21 will be entered into a drawing for ONE of FOUR $50 Taste of Rosefest tickets! Taste of Rosefest (the major fundraiser of Roseville Rotary) will be in-person in September this year.
Thank you for sponsors of “Keep Moving” who have donated over $8,000 so far. The sponsors are: Valtinson Bruner Financial Planning; Frana Companies General Contractor; Old National Bank; New Brighton Mounds View Rotary; New Brighton Lions; Falcon Heights/Lauderdale Lions; Kathy and Paul Ciernia; Sandra and Duane Cady; and F&M Bank.
After contributions of $163,035 in 2020 from organizations, individuals, grants and public fundraising, we have raised $13,014 so far in 2021. Our balance is only $26,287 and we have more proposals coming in. The COVID-19 related basic needs have not stopped. We need everyone’s help to step it up!
Thank you to the many members of Arden Hills/Shoreview Rotary who have donated to the Coalition and volunteered in many different ways. To donate or find more details about grants, events and volunteering, go to: www.suburbanramseycoalition.org/donate
Helen Keller’s quote continues to be true: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
June 2021 Update on the Amaravati Sewing School Project
As previously reported, the Pandemic recently grew worse in India and it has disrupted everything except for the deeply rooted poverty that is so pervasive in the ghettos in the cities and in much of the rural areas. Amaravati has not been spared from the turmoil associated with either.
In a recent conversations with Gummadi Franklin, Pushpa’s founder and chair, and his wife, Shirley, who live in Arden Hills, they have been very positive about the school and the role they hope it will continue to have in Amaravati. The school has been in existence now for almost three years and only about one-third of the funds from the District Grant set aside to support the school have been expended.
The school was recently permitted to reopen, but only partially and only for five students. The number was subsequently increased to ten and the school was moved to a new facility in Amaravati. After the move was completed, however, the Pandemic worsen and the school was closed once again.
The school came together very well prior to the onset of the Pandemic, but the Pandemic has affected everything. The elders in the community want the school to remain and Pushpa has been very frugal with the funds our District 5960 grant has provided, so there will be sufficient funds to reestablish the school as further steps in the reopening of the school can be taken.
As previously reported, a first graduating class received their certificates of completion prior to the Pandemic. A picture of the graduating class seated with their arms raised as they wait for their certificates is shown below.
Two of the graduating students are picture in another picture below, one, who was chosen to speak to the gathering at the graduation ceremony and another who is receiving her certificate from Chairman Franklin. Also with the students and Chairman Franklin is the Teacher (Suzanne) and a teaching assistant.
Pushpa's mission is to help marginalized community members of rural Guntur District villages transition from migrant, subsistent lifestyles, dependent on seasonal labor and temporary shelter, to sustainable livelihoods in healthy communities. Its mission has not changed. The organization’s main goal is to work together with underprivileged (tribal) members of rural Guntur District villages to find ways to enable socio-economic change in small ways, one person, one family, one student, at a time, through projects in which the recipients themselves participate. (See http://pushpaproject.org/vision_mission.htm )
One of the elders in Amaravati is pictured below after he was given the honor of cutting the green ribbon in a ceremony for the opening of the school in May of 2019.
A lot of hard work went into establishing the school and there are many people to thank for their hard work and significant contributions. Pushpa is working hard to fully reopen the Sewing School out of respect for the hard work that went before and out of respect for the funds received from the District 5960 Grant. The Sewing School has graduated its first class and the Organization looks forward to fully reopening the school when it is possible. We are now awaiting further word as to further progress regarding the reopening and that of the current students.
The leaders of PUSHPA, both here in Arden Hills and in Andhra Pradesh, India are especially grateful for the support for the new sewing school from the Arden Hills Shoreview Rotary Club and Rotary District 5960 and have expressed their gratitude privately and acknowledged the Club’s sponsorship of the school by erecting the sign shown in the picture below.
We and Pushpa are thankful for the matching grant received from Rotary District 5960 and to the following Rotary Clubs for their generous support of our project: Belle Plain; Brooklyn Center; Forrest Lake; Fridley Columbia Heights; New Brighton Mounds View; Prior Lake; Roseville; St. Croix Falls; St. Paul No. 10; Siren Webster; West St. Paul Mendota Heights; and White Bear Lake.
The 2021 Arden Hills- Shoreview Rotary Club Vocational Service Award is awarded to Mr. Michael Campion.
Mr. Campion is from the law enforcement community, currently employed as the Assistant Director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment by the Archdiocese of St. Paul.
We ask of the nominees the following questions:
How has this person excelled at the profession?
Has this person won any recognition from peers, managers or organizations?
Would you hold this person up as one who exhibits “Service Above Self” as well as ethical standards in their daily life both professionally and socially?
Has this person demonstrated leadership skills and other laudable character traits?
Has this person interacted with, mentored and helped younger colleagues with their careers?
Mr. Campion’s nomination met all the criteria, as described by his following accomplishments (excerpts from the nomination):
Mike began his long law enforcement career in 1978 when he was hired as a Special Agent by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) after he graduated from St. Thomas College. He began working narcotics investigations, which is how I met Mike in the early 80’s. In 1989 he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of the BCA. In May, 2000 the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety appointed Mike as the Superintendent of the BCA. Mike served as Superintendent until April, 2004.
He was the first agent of the BCA to ever serve as its Superintendent. In April, 2004 Mike was nominated by the Governor to be Commissioner of the Department Public Safety (DPS) and was confirmed by the Minnesota Senate. Mike served as the DPS Commissioner through February, 2011. Mike’s rise through the ranks from agent to commissioner of the entire public safety department is clear recognition of his abilities from managers and organizations.
Mike exhibited “Service Above Self” in his profession and maintained high ethical standards throughout his career as exemplified by the following.
In 2005 the Minnesota Legislature established a state level Gang and Drug Oversight Council outside of and independent from the Department of Public Safety. The legislation mandated the creation of a Metro Gang Strike Force under the supervision of the Council. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office was the fiscal agent. State grants and forfeiture proceeds primarily funded the Strike Force. Complaints arose and there was an audit of the Metro Gang Strike Force by the Legislative Auditor. Mike as DPS Commissioner stopped state funding and suspended the Strike Force’s operations. Troubled by allegations calling into question the integrity of some of the Strike Force’s investigators, Mike asked the FBI to investigate and initiated a state probe. He hired former federal prosecutor Andrew Luger and retired FBI agent John Egelhof to review the unit’s operations. Mike’s actions were not universally popular within the law enforcement community. However, Mike has never been one to cover up law enforcement failings due to his high ethical standards.
Under Mike’s leadership the BCA and the DPS never engaged in the sort of criminal conduct recently exposed to obtain wiretaps or electronic surveillance warrants, targeted political opponents of the administration in power for criminal persecution or avoided prosecution of political allies of the administration in power. Mike was viewed by the law enforcement community as nonpartisan law enforcement professional. Nor has Mike ever run for office as a political partisan
Linda, Tim and Dave all benefited from Mike’s mentoring and interaction. Linda Finney began her career with the BCA and while Mike was Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent rose to supervisory positions. When Mike became the Commissioner of Public Safety, Linda became the Superintendent of the BCA in August, 2004. Linda was the first female and the first Black superintendent Tim O’Malley also rose through the ranks at the BCA along with Mike. Dave Bjerga is now a part-time investigator working with Tim and Mike after having retired from the BCA.
Vocational Service Committee: Elinor Jackson, Bill Klumpp, Anoop Mathur
Our 2020-2021 Literacy Project – Little Free Libraries in Our Neighborhood
Our District 5960, expects that every Rotary club should take up at least one Literacy project every year. This can be local or internationally by working individually or with other groups, and other clubs
In 2021, The Literacy subcommittee consisting of Rotarians: Bill Klumpp, Paul Bartyzal, Colleen Lavin, Joe Ziskovsky and Anoop Mathur in cooperation with Shoreview Librarian, Carol Jackson, have decided to engage all the Rotarians build, install and maintain at least five Little Free Library structures in various locations in our community. Carol Jackson will help select children’s books that are written by authors from around the world. We will purchase these as the initial contribution from the club.
* Little Free Library encourages you to “take a book, leave a book.’ It is an informal way to share books and promote reading by making them available in free-standing structures in various neighborhood locations.
Here is how it came about:
In 2009, Todd Bol (1956-2018) of Hudson, Wisconsin, built a model of a one room schoolhouse. It was a tribute to his mother, who was a teacher and loved to read. He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard. His neighbors and friends loved it, so he built several more and gave them away.
By 2010, the name Little Free Library was established and the purpose of these Little Free Library book exchanges became clear: to share good books and bring communities together. The idea has grown by leaps and bounds every year. In 2020 there were more than 100,000 registered Libraries in over 100 countries worldwide.
PLAN
Here is the tentative plan. More information will be sent out as we make progress.
We have selected a plan. Bill and Paul will build one little library with instructions. Joe will use the instructions to build the little library and suggest any modification or improvements.
Bill and Paul will update the plan as required and prepare Five easy-to-assemble kits. They will cut the wood, purchase all the hardware along with the instructions for assembly.
Colleen has been scouting for the Rotary Decals, signage and Rotary colors for painting the libraries.
We will have sign-up sheets for Rotarians to form at least five to six groups of three or four people (details being worked on). Each group will receive the kits to paint and after completing their painting will pass it to the next group.
We plan to assemble it all together at the Shoreview Library parking lot (TBD date and time)
This is what we have so far, more information will be shared on subsequent steps for installation and locations and maintenance.
Our tentative date for delivering the kits is in June with plan to assemble as a group in early July for installation in July. Look for emails from me for sign-up sheets, and details on dates and times.
Literacy Committee: Anoop Mathur (Chair), Bill Klumpp, Paul Bartyzal, Colleen Lavin, Joe Ziskovsky
Frank Mabley provided today's "Member Minute". Frank lived in Lynchville, VA for much of his childhood - the only non-Catholic attending the local Catholic schools. He went on to attend the University of MN, graduating in Physics, which led to a stint as a "rocket scientist" working for NASA. He returned to MN for law school and opened his own firm from which he just recently retired. Frank has the distinction of being the only remaining founding member of our Rotary Club - we thank him for getting this great organization off the ground and continuing his involvement for over 30 years!
With our scheduled speaker grounded by Covid, Mike Spellman called upon Ling Becker to step in. Mike worked with Ling during the time she served as Director of the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Council. She has moved on to a new position as the head of Ramsey County's Workforce Development. Unemployment in our county went from 3% pre-pandemic to a high of 10% in May of 2020. A year later unemployment has dropped significantly and there are 16,000 openings right now. Many businesses are struggling to find workers. There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, the economy has opened up thanks to progress against the Covid virus. But many women have dropped out of the workforce due to child care concerns and there is a mis-match between the skills required for current job openings and the current skills of available workers - especially the need for more technical skills.
Today's speaker was Jo Schmidt, a senior at Hamline University. Jo is currently working as an intern for the Borgen Project. This non-profit was started in 2003 with a mission to reduce global poverty through political advocacy. They have volunteers in over 1900 U.S. Cities who work to lobby congressional leaders to secure support for poverty-reducing policies and programs for those around the world living on less than $1/day. Jo has been speaking to a number of Rotary Clubs because the focus areas for the RI Foundation line up so closely with the policy focus areas of this group: Food insecurity, maternal and child health and welfare, and access to clean water and sanitation.
Our "member minute" came from Anoop Mathur. Anoop spent his first 22 years in India and the next 47 years in Minnesota. As a top student in his state, he was able to go on to obtain a degree in Engineering. After coming to the U.S., he was hired by Honeywell where he had a long and rewarding career. His last position there was as Director of Labs, which had him traveling the world overseeing lab operations in many locations. After Hoenywell was acquired in 2000 by Allied Chemical the corporate culture changed dramatically. The focus on R&D shifted to a focus on continually reducing expenses and trimming staff. After awhile, this made for too much personal unhappiness, and so, with wife Preeti's agreement, he left. He has gone on to build a start-up company as well as to volunteer his time with many non-profit organizations including Rotary, The Father Project and the local Twin Cities Indian American Group.
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