Hello, Rotarians. Wherever we are, we are all about communities...the community of Rotary, the communities in which we reside, and the community of humanity, from Arden Hills to Zimbabwe. We’re everywhere, and wherever we are, we matter. Sometimes we matter in big ways, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in Nicaragua and Nigeria. Sometimes we matter in small ways, affecting just a few people. But the fact remains, we, and the things we do, always matter to someone.
Just this past week, our club mattered in two notable ways. On Wednesday, a small group of us arrived at 6:00 AM to help set up tables and registration materials for Solid Ground’s fundraising breakfast at Jimmy’s in Vadnais Heights. It wasn’t work that required a lot of muscle or brain power. But we showed up and represented our Club while helping an important partner in the north suburban community. And if you were there and heard the keynote speaker... a single mom, a victim of unspeakable violence, a survivor... who had risen from being a resident at Solid Ground to a key management position in the organization, you knew that your humble contributions as a Rotary volunteer mattered to someone. And that is why Rotary and Solid Ground understand and appreciate each other and continue to grow as partners serving this area.
Another valued partner, and one with whom we are anxious to grow our relationship, is Northeast Youth and Family Services. NYFS is an important community asset, and one that is experiencing major leadership change right now. We want to nurture our NYFS relationship in ways large and small. So, on Saturday morning, another small group of Rotarians participated in the NYFS Senior Chore program, visiting the home of an elderly woman suffering from apparent health issues and unable to engage in strenuous physical activity. Our group performed yard and deck cleanup chores, without which, portions of her home might have deteriorated to dangerous levels. This wasn’t rocket science, either... but it mattered to her, and probably to her neighbors.
We will soon be engaged in other activities that matter to us and to others. This will be our second year helping to keep Shoreview’s largest public park, McCullough Park, free of unsightly (and sometimes hazardous) trash. Again, it’s a simple job, but everyone who visits that park appreciates that it is kept clean and safe. And don’t forget the side benefit of gathering socially after finishing in the park. That’s just as important as the work we did. Next month, work will actually begin in that same park on the pollinator garden, a joint project of Rotary, the City of Shoreview, and the Shoreview Community Foundation.
Let’s not forget the activities that will directly benefit our own club. After giving generously to Kentucky tornado relief and Afghan refugee resettlement this year (both of which mattered materially to the recipients of our gifts), we need to refill our own club’s coffers. That means participating in person in the Slice of Shoreview Rotary Bingo, the food booth we’ll be staffing at the 3M Open Golf Championship, our Taste of the Hops and Vines fundraiser (bigger and better than the last one in 2019), and the new and improved Shoreview Live! Variety Show with Lakeshore Players in October.
We aren’t just members of Rotary, we ARE Rotary. And what we as individuals do to support our own programs and those of others who depend on us, matters. Thanks to all who have and will contribute to our efforts to make a difference. Did I mention, ”It matters?”
Hello, friends, and welcome to the merry month of May. We have a new service opportunity that we have not had since the beginning of the pandemic.
Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) organizes "Spring Cleanup" crews to help seniors get their yards in order for the growing season. Charlie applied for a slot, and we have been asked to participate with a crew this coming Saturday, May 7, from 8:00 AM to noon.
We may be assigned as many as two yards to rake or otherwise clean up, and we need a crew of at least ten to get it done. Anoop has kindly provided the following link through which you can sign up to participate. So, let's get outside and get our hands dirty for some grateful seniors.
NYFS is a crucial partner in our ongoing effort to be a great contributor to community life. So, "Thank you," and please help our club shine by joining in this brief project.
May 2022 Update on the Amaravati Sewing School Project
With all of the difficulties that we have faced organizing the Rotary Grant for this project, we are now facing a further difficulty that threatens the further operation of the Sewing School, just as the school has re-opened again.
As some of you are aware, sending funds to charitable organizations in India is not a simple matter. The Government has created rules for receiving such funds that essentially require the receiving organization to have a government registered permit to receive and/or distribute charitable funds. The government may also selectively audit these transactions. The expense for seeking such a permit is fairly significant and Pushpa does not have such a permit. As such, we need an intermediary to receive and distribute charitable funds to Pushpa in India.
We previously reached agreement with the Rotary Community Service Trust (the Trust) in Vuyyuru to receive and distribute our project funds to our partner, Pushpa, to reimburse it for its expenses in establishing and operating the Sewing School. In view of the potential cost of such an audit, however, the Trust has reconsidered the prior agreement and informed us that it is no longer willing to receive and distribute funds from our grant to our partner, Pushpa. The Trust apparently fears that it will have to bear the cost of such an audit. As such, unless we can find another entity to receive and distribute such funds, it is possible that we may have to return the bulk of our grant to our main funding source, Rotary International (RI).
This leaves us without an appropriate means for transferring the remaining funds set aside for the Sewing School, and under the terms of our agreement with RI, we may have to return a sizeable amount of the remaining funds to RI if a new intermediary cannot be found. We have been working to find such a new intermediary or some other work around, but we have advised Pushpa that the remaining funding may have to be returned if we are unable to find such a work around. The picture of the new class of students shown above was taken shortly after the news of this development was released.We have been working with Rotarians in District 5960 and elsewhere here in the U.S. and in India to find a new means for transferring the funds that have been raised to support the Sewing School that follows government guidelines. Unfortunately, in spite of the hard work of Glenn Bowers and other District Rotarians, we have been unable to identify a new means for transferring such funds to India and it appears that the project may have to be unwound and that a good portion of the remaining grant funds received from Rotary International (RI) that have not been spent, will need to be returned to RI. This further difficulty comes at a time when, as previously reported, the Amaravati Sewing School has once again reopened to a new class of students. The new class has ten students and Dr. Franklin reports that, in consultation with community leaders and Pushpa, the Lead Teacher has directed that one of the six sewing machines in the school is to be designated for production of products to be sold by the school in an effort to introduce elements of entrepreneurialism into the curriculum and to develop a means for raising funds to keep the school open when the funds from the initial Rotary grant from Rotary District 5960 are depleted. We believe this is, at least in part, a response to encouragement that was provided when the grant was given.
The school has been in existence now for nearly three years and, although the school has been closed for two different periods of time during the Pandemic, the promise that the school brings to the community has been an encouragement to the community leaders and the community as a whole.As readers of our prior reports will recall, the school came together very well initially. With the onset of the Pandemic, however, everything was disrupted. The elders in the community had wanted the school to remain open as much as was practical, but the leaders at Pushpa and the teachers have taken a somewhat more conservative approach as has been needed.
As previously reported, the 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 above.
Two of the graduating students from the earlier graduation are pictured in the two pictures 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 Lead Teacher (Suzanne) and a teaching assistant.
Pushpa's mission has been 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 )
As shown in the picture below, a group of the local elders look on, as one of them cut a ribbon to the entrance of the school after he was given the honor of doing so in a ceremony for the opening of the school in May of 2019.
A lot of hard work has gone into establishing the school and there are many people to thank for their hard work and significant contributions. Pushpa is working hard to keep the Sewing School open out of respect for the hard work that went into opening the school and out of respect for the critical funds needed to do so that were received from Rotary District 5960.The leaders of PUSHPA, both here in Arden Hills and in Andhra Pradesh are especially grateful for the support for the new sewing school from the Arden Hills Shoreview Rotary Club and Rotary District 5960 and have continually expressed their gratitude for our assistance to the school.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.
Two Moundview students selected to receive STRIVE scholarship
“I think it gives you a chance to get a scholarship without something as ‘perfect grades’ which is required by most scholars”
“It's great for students who didn't try the first two years and have changed and decided they want to go to college”
“I like it! It gives students a chance who previously had bad years school wise”
This was the feedback Rotarian John Suzukida received from the Moundview students on our club’s STRIVE program.
Joel Brown the coordinator of the Stripes program in which these students are enrolled selected two students Joan Quevedo and Sandesh Jha to receive the scholarship. John Suzukida took the lead in preparing the scholarship details and working with Joel.
The STRIVE Scholarship is sponsored every year by the Arden Hills | Shoreview Rotary Club. Its purpose is to provide incentives to students who have not previously excelled academically, and who are entering their junior and senior years, to dramatically improve their academic performance in high school, and thereafter, to pursue higher education. STRIVE Scholarship money is intended to reimburse its recipients for higher education expenses, including for trade school, two-year, and four-year colleges.
Mounds View High School students who are in the lower third of their class after the 5th semester, and who exhibit significantly improved academic performance, are eligible to be considered for the STRIVE Scholarship are eligible to apply.
There are two scholarships of $1,250 each awarded annually.
To be selected to receive the scholarship, academic performance during the spring semester of junior year and fall semester of senior year, are compared to the first five semesters (9th and 10th grades, plus fall semester of 11th) for overall improvement. Criteria for improvement will be weighted:
50% for grade point average improvement
25% for attendance
25% for subjective criteria such as attitude, overcoming difficulties and hardships, etc.
Joan Quevedo has been in the Stripes program for six years, plans to major in Business with a minor in French at Winona State and St Cloud University.
Sandesh Jha has been in the Stripes program for four years, plans to major in Automotive Engineering at Kettling University and Mankato State University.
The scholarship money will go to pay for tuition for these two students.
We will hear from Joan and Sandesh in our April 5, 2022 meeting.
Our speakers today were Mindy Handberg and Michael Werner, who serve as Community Involvement Coordinators for Mounds View High School and Irondale High School respectively. They spoke about the district's very successful "Career Pathways" program, which has created curriculum and other opportunities for students who are not interested in going on to pursue a 2 or 4 year college degree, but instead wish to aim toward specific work opportunities in industry or healthcare. The evolution of this program began with input from the community which spoke to the need for this alternative career path. The school district then had to update their career and technical courses and build partnerships with building trade groups, industry and post-secondary educational institutions. Some of the course work areas now offered are: Construction and Solar Energy, Digital Electronics, Automotive Technology, Introduction to Engineering Design and "How to Make Almost Anything". Also now through the U.S. Department of Labor, high school students are actually able to obtain paid internships "on the manufacturing floor", which gives them the ability to learn how to work with manufacturing machines, most of which are very high tech. Currently about 30% of our high school students in the district do not go on to 2 or 4 year degree programs, so there is a significant population of kids who can now benefit from this innovative program.
Our speaker today was City of Shoreview Councilwoman Sue Denkinger. The subject of her presentation was the City Planning Commission's goal of maintaining and growing the stock of affordable housing in Shoreview. A recent housing survey has showed that Shoreview has many existing households that are "housing cost burdened or extremely housing cost burdened". The definition of this term is owners who are spending more than 30% of their household income on housing. Shoreview’s legacy apartment buildings, mostly from the 1970s, are an important asset for lower and middle income households because their rent levels are relatively affordable. The City therefore has an objective to preserve the condition and affordability of these assets. Strategies to support this objective include providing access to home improvement loans and working with non-profit agencies to help with upkeep for some residents. Additionally the City is pursuing the following strategies to increase affordable housing stock: 1) Increase affordable units in market rate developments, 2) Pursue new affordable apartment development, and 3) Pursue zoning changes to diversify new housing.
Today's speaker was Rev. David Glasser who works with Good In The Hood. This Twin Cities organization is dedicated to changing lives with simple acts of kindness. They offer essential resources including groceries, hot meals, holiday support, medical foot care, footwear, wellness services, referrals, and more. Rev. Glasser supervises their "Shoe Away Hunger" program, wherein new or gently used shoes are obtained from individuals and businesses, sold to those in need for between $2 and $5 per pair, and then the proceeds from shoe sales are used to fund food programs. Since their inception in 2003, they have continued to expand their efforts to provide essential resources for economically disadvantaged communities and for all those who have been marginalized by difficult circumstances. This is even more critical now as individuals and families continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and recent riots in our local communities. Local schools have been active in supporting these efforts with very successful "shoe drives".
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