Category: BGS in the Community
BGS Attorney David Schaps Receives North Suburban Gavel Association 'Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award
May 28, 2019 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Local Government and Employment Attorney David Schaps was recently awarded a North Suburban Gavel Association “Volunteer of the Year” recognition at an event on May 15th at the Roseville OVAL. Dave was among ten award winners from various volunteer and non-profit groups that operate in and around the Roseville Area. Dave was specifically chosen for his significant volunteer and pro bono work with the Roseville Area Optimist Club. The purpose of the North Suburban Gavel Association, founded in 1964, is to facilitate the communication and cooperation of community organization leaders in the north suburban Ramsey County area, to keep leaders informed about community activities, and to recognize outstanding volunteers. There are currently over 20 community organizations that participate in the Association including groups such as the League of Women Voters, Friends of Roseville Parks, and local chapters of the Rotary, Lions and Optimist Clubs. The North Suburban Gavel Association has given out Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Awards to between 5-10 people in the Roseville community for the past 40 years. Dave was nominated for the award by fellow Optimist Board member and colleague Craig Waldron. Dave’s volunteer work included establishing the Club both legally with the State of Minnesota and growing and serving the Club’s membership, which started with twenty nine founding…
Read MoreBGS Lawyers Brave a Cold Rainy Day for the Women Run the Cities Races
May 20, 2019 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.On Sunday, May 19, despite constant rain and a hypothermia warning, several female lawyers from BGS ran or volunteered at the Twin Cities Orthopedics’ Women Run the Cities races, which start and end at Minnehaha Falls. BGS’s participation in this event is spearheaded by Attorney Tammy Schemmel, a member of MNCREW (Minnesota Commercial Real Estate Women), who serves as a Head Course Marshal for the races. MNCREW established Women Run the Cities in 2007. Women Run the Cities has been voted one of the top races for women in the country, and it is the premier women’s race in all of Minnesota. The race features a 5K, 10K and 10 mile distances. Attorneys Nicole Wiebold and Jennifer Moreau led the BGS four person 5K running team, which also included Jennifer’s daughter and the teenage daughter of another BGS lawyer. Attorneys Karen Kurth and Carole Isakson volunteered as course marshals. Despite the weather it was a great morning! Many race sponsors provided rain ponchos, which were popular and offered needed protection from the soaking rain. Despite the rain and the cold, runners were in good spirits, and the hot coffee and outdoor brunch were in great demand as the runners crossed the finish line. Hats off to all the participants for showing up and…
Read MoreWhen the Government Goes Out of Business
April 11, 2019 | Scott M. LepakThe North Suburban Hospital District, a political subdivision representing the citizens of Blaine, Fridley, Hilltop, Mounds View and Spring Lake Park, quietly and gracefully ended its long existence on April 10, 2019. The Hospital District was formed in 1960 for the primary purpose of building and initially operating Unity Hospital in Fridley. At the time it was formed and for the next 50 plus years, the Hospital District provided its citizens with a locally focused and stand-alone hospital providing a broad range of services. In meeting its obligation to the citizens of the five cities, the Hospital District contracted with service providers who operated the hospital. In recent years, the Hospital District weaned Unity from relying on tax dollars and did not levy taxes on its citizens. With the advancement and consolidation of health care in the metro area, the Hospital District board determined that it accomplished its mission. Unity is a facility that has been significantly updated. The area is now served by two hospitals as well as multiple clinics providing a broad array of services. Health care is a regional rather than local issue and is less centralized. An individual can now go into their local clinic and receive care that was only provided in hospitals as recently as a decade…
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