Category: Community Service

Our efforts to serve the community around us.

Something new….

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OK...now that I am the chief cook, chauffeur, maid, and bottle washer I find that I have been getting a little bored doing the 'same ole, same old' for making meals. Most days I prefer simple easy meals without extra/exotic ingredients. Plus, let's be honest, I need to be able to adjust recipes because of likes/dislikes, lactose intolerance and allergies...no one in this house likes the same thing--so it seems.

I receive daily emails with recipe suggestions from Recipe of the Day from Taste of Home and Betty Crocker websites. Both have a daily suggestion or two from their free subscription services, can be easily signed up for and cancelled, and have a huge back log of choices. These have been helpful! Hope it makes your menu planning a little more interesting!

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair Recap

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The 2020 Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs were fun, educational, and a great way to give back to the kids in the Cities. Five Nokomisites braved the arena at the Fairgrounds on February 28th and 29th and met some amazingly talented young people who made us encouraged for the future.

How many of these projects could you do?

  • "The Physics of Flipping Cats"
  • "How doe the type of flour affect the size of a cookie?"
  • "Mycoremediation of Organic Environmental Contaminants"
  • "Expressing the sMMO genes from Methylosinus trichosporium in Escherichia coli for the biocatalysis of methanol production using methane".

This was our 27th year at the Fair, we've helped out every year since 1994. Let's spend our Bonus Leap Day helping the kids!

In 2021, the event happens on February 26th.  Mark your calendars!  If you've got a science background and know about scientific method, please volunteer to judge projects.

Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs 2020

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Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs

 will be held at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds, on

February 28-29, 2020

We've helped out every year since 1994, please help us help the Kids Create the Future.  Let's spend our Bonus Leap Day helping the kids!

Setup starts at 9AM on the 28th. We don't need to haul all the heavy tables and chairs, our particular set of skills is the detailed work with signs, power, and logistics.  Lunch is provided.

If you've got a science background and know about scientific method, please volunteer to judge projects.  Each student is judged at least 3 times, so you can imagine the number of judges we need.  You don't need to be an expert in the areas you're judging, just need to judge the quality and completeness of their work.  The kids start checking in at about 1PM, with judging starting at about 3:00pm.  With luck and work we'll be done by 10:00PM.

On Saturday the award ceremony starts at 10:00AM and goes until about noon, followed by takedown and a little lunch at Khan's.

Please join us, and come to the February Meeting to find out more!

Feed My Starving Children Packing Event in January

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We will be packing food for those in need on January 23rd from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The location is the Coon Rapids facility at 401 93rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433. We currently have 7 open spots in our reservation. Please go to www.fmsc.org to join our USS Nokomis group or click here to go directly to the signups. After we do good for others, we'll do good for us by going to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

ZooBoo’s Finale Time is Here!

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Celebrate Halloween without the Fright

All proceeds support the plants and animals of the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  The Nokomis has been helping out with this event since 1994 (this is our 23rd year).  We really want to help keep one of America's last free-admission zoos free.

Como Zoo will be transformed for Zoo Boo October 21st, 22nd and October 28th, 29th. Gates Open: 4:30-7:30 p.m. We're just four nights this year, so let's make them count.

Volunteering

Como Friends are starting to gear up for our annual Como Friends ZooBoo at Como Zoo event and hope that you can join us again!  Even returning volunteers need to fill out the Zoo's signup online - it just takes a minute.  You can find it here. Sign up to let the Nokomis know you're coming - all of the dates are on one online signup sheet.

Prep

The week before the event we have a workday set to break down product and kick off the event.  Consider taking on a station leader's role and join us October 14th.

On the morning of the first event night, Saturday October 21st, we'll be in full-on work to complete setups before the event.  We start at 9AM and hopefully we'll be done before the gates open.

Event

Our folks will be heading up the new Halloween station, just inside the front gate.  We need to get there early (3PM), but we get done first.    Be sure to sign in up on the second floor of the Big Zoo Building - there are goodies for you there, and perhaps a surprise coupon.

Dinner

Be sure to check with our folks at the first station, we'll get details there about the night's repast!  Hope to see you all there, all the time!

ZooBoo’s Finale is Coming Soon!

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Celebrate Halloween without the Fright for the 30th and Final Time

All proceeds support the plants and animals of the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  The Nokomis has been helping out with this event since 1994 (this is our 24th time).  We really want to help keep one of America's last free-admission zoos free.

Como Zoo will be transformed for ZooBoo October 21st – 22nd; and October 28th – 29th. Gates Open: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

This is the 30th and final time ZooBoo happens in its current form.  After this year the midsection of Como will be under construction for the new Piniped Plaza, home of Sparky and his cousins (piniped is fancy for seals and sea lions).  The construction extends from the edge of Gorilla Forest and the hoof stock yard all the way through Seal Island to the Aquatics building. That makes a safe path in 2018 much harder to do.  The team will take 2018 off to plan for a new and different event starting in 2019.

Want to know more about the event, click here.

More inside...

Chuckwagon Dinner and Fundraiser 2017

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Chuck Wagon Dinner
and
Auction
Sponsored by
USS NOKOMIS STAR TREK CLUB

SATURDAY
APRIL 22nd, 2017
at the
Dan Patch American Legion – Savage
12375 Princeton Ave
Savage, MN 55378
(Note the new location)

Cost is $12.00 per person

Social Time and Auction Viewing 5:00PM to 6:00PM
Chuck Wagon Chili Dinner Served, plus Fun and Games 6:00PM to 6:45 PM
Silent Auction Closes 7:15 PM
Door Prizes 6:00PM to 7:00PM

We are keeping our Chili menu this year as it was such a success last year!!  Come try mild to spicy and white Chili’s certain one will be your “hearts” desire!!  Along with our auction items the “claw” machine will be back filled with toys and gift cards to some of our favorite restaurants and stores.  Grab your cowboy hats, boots, and your horse (if you have one), spouse, family, friends, quarters for the claw machine and come enjoy lots of fun with us!

Please reserve your spots by APRIL 10th so we can make sure there is plenty of Chili and fixings for everyone!

** Our 2017 benefit will be for the  Hospice and Palliative Care at the MN VA Hospital in honor of one of our member’s losing her battle to cancer.

Feed My Starving Children is only weeks away…Sign Up Now!

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Our next packing event is on January 24, a Tuesday, at the Coon Rapids location at 401 93rd Ave NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433. It starts at 6 pm and goes until 7:30 pm, and then we'll find a nice place for dinner. Join us - it's fun! Sign up online at www.fmsc.org under our group: USS Nokomis. As of this writing there are only 6 people signed up, so please join the list now!

Mary

ZooBoo 2016 Is In the History Books

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The 29th Edition of Como Friends' ZooBoo is in the history books, and it was a good one.  Over four nights just over 16,000 guests passed through the gates to help Como Zoo grow while helping themselves to some goodies.

Thiszooboo-path was the Nokomis' 23rd year helping out. The first station, Halloween, is our first stop each year and a great way to spend an evening with a few thousand new, close personal friends.  Thanks to everyone who could make it.  Special thanks to Art Johnson, our one and only perfect four-night volunteer character.

Next  year will be the 30th ZooBoo and if all goes as expected, will be a big party to celebrate.  Funds from that event will help to kick off work on the new Pinniped Plaza, replacing the Seal Island and Sparky Stage area with new performance and year-round display spaces.pinniped-plaza

Come join us next October for ZooBoo 30, and thanks again for all you did to help out in 2016.