PROGRAM

21 members, including 2 on Zoom, and visiting Rotarian Mike Neeley heard Tony Chiappetta, president of CHIPS Computer Services, discuss cybersecurity. CHIPS promotes AppGuard, which adds a secure layer of protection to business computer systems, and has been used successfully to ward off ransomware and malware in both the private and public sectors for several years.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The club board announces the following actions at its meeting of June 1: Donation of $600.00 to the Rotary Club of Puerto Vallarta for two scholarships for children of poverty; donation of $250 to the Citizens League of Minnesota for its Capitol Pathways program for internships at the state capitol for students of color; approval of the membership application of Amy Paez of Coon Rapids; increase of the invoiced quarterly amounts of dues from $34.00 to $36.00, due to increase in Rotary International and Rotary District 5960 dues. In addition, the meeting today voted at the suggestion of the Operation Pollination Committee to donate $500.00 to the Columbia Heights Monarch Festival on August 17. The club will have an informational table and will receive sponsor recognition.

Welcome to newest member Amy Paez of Coon Rapids! Gordon Backlund conducted her initiation at today's meeting.

The Operation Pollination Committee met on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 a.m. on zoom. Members Kristen Stuenkel, Bob Tholkes, and Amada Simula and Columbia Heights High School Blooming Heights instructor Wes Nugteren discussed the upcoming Columbia Heights Monarch Festival on August 17, the results of Columbia Heights’ No Mow May program, and the Blooming Heights summer program. Complete meeting notes are available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/10nnQOBMzv2i4JJ32wOk1YxizWl539l0RtMhVW9789Bs/edit.

Stuenkel also circulated several thank-you notes received from Columbia Heights High School recipients of STRIVE awards.

Fridley 49er Days Rotary Fun Run and Rotary Wine Tent organizer Bob Olsen circulated a volunteer signup sheet for the events, and 49er Days organizer Gordon Backlund distributed 49er Days Volunteer badges.

Golf Classic coordinator Greg Schraufnagel provided an update on the July 18 event’s progress, in particular the new online auction.

“Jazzin’ with Dayle”: District Governor-elect Dayle Quigley of St. Paul 10 Rotary offers an innovative installation ceremony/Roaring ‘20s jazz party on June 25. Read all about it at https://rotary5960.org/Stories/2022-23-dg-installation.

REMINDERS

There is no breakfast meeting at Shortstop Bar & Grill on June 29. The second lunch meeting at the Refuge Golf Club, 21250 Yellow Pine St NW, Oak Grove, MN, the site of the July Golf Classic fundraiser, will take place instead. Complementary lunches and golf will be provided for invited prospective members. Members are requested to help identify prospective members to invite, particularly owners of local businesses. President Don Archibeque circulated an email list on May 6. Members who choose to golf after the meeting can do so at a discounted rate of $45.00. The meeting will begin at 11:30. The meeting will be hybrid. Lunch meetings at The Refuge are also scheduled for July 27 and August 24.

The Operation Pollination Committee meets next on Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 a.m. on zoom. Contact organizer Kristen Stuenkel with any questions at stuenkek@colheights.k12.mn.us. The link to join the meeting is https://colheights-k12-mn-us.zoom.us/j/86961226644.

Speaker on June 15: Aaron Chirpich, City of Columbia Heights Community Development Director, will provide an update.