It was a great day in the neighborhood.  If you were not present as either a Member, Visiting Rotarian, or Guest, you missed out.  President-Elect Steve Yorde called upon Past President John Baumgarten to get us started by singing America the Beautiful.  Chuck House, just back from his extended stay in Palm Springs, transitioned us from the hectic work day to a reflection on what we sense God to be.  A tree – so we know what he looks like.  Music – so we know we he sounds like.  A puppy so we know what he feels like.  Learning from his great niece, a prayer is short, and so he ended as she does with “goodbye God”.

If you want to have fun at Rotary, call upon Dave Holappa to provide the Fellowship Report.  At the risk of costing everyone in the Club more money Dave requested we pay attention and send an email to the Fellowship Reporter of anything – and he means anything – which appears in any form of media which remotely touches a fellow member!  Bill Abalan was seen on television attending an event at the Greysolon Ballroom organized by his wife Barb.  Kraus Anderson Construction has so many projects, Jeff Iisakka will need a bigger wallet for his multiple work-zone fines.   An event need not be in Duluth.  Catherine Carter Huber was tagged for being pictured at the ribbon cutting for the St. Luke’s Clinic in Ashland, Wisconsin.  Catherine works for the St. Luke’s Foundation – close enough.  Dean Casperson had a huge photo and article in the paper about bidding $2,100 to be a named character in a new book.  The mere habits of a member can result in a fine.  A newspaper article, announcing the reopening of the Island Lake Inn, cost Dave Pollard because he was a regular diner and missed the place.  And for the hunters and gatherers present the retirement of Sam Cook resulted in fines for Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom, Bill Abalan, Jim Schwartz, and a former member and guest Del Case, all of whom went on trips with Sam Cook.  Ryan Johnson was pictured attending a Fuse Duluth birthday bash.  And Dave Holappa also paid for being President of the Chamber of Commerce when Fuse Duluth was organized.  With spring here, those present who had purchased new convertibles were called out.  Jim Landwehr and his new Corvette convertible were clearly the target. You get away with nothing when Dave is on the prowl.  All for a good cause.

Steve Yorde gave a glowing report on the four day Rotary District 5580 Conference held last weekend in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  Steve spoke highly of the conference organization, professional speakers, fellowship, and of the dignified memorial service held for those Rotarians lost since the last Conference. On the brighter side was the recognition given to our own MacKenzie MacFarlane for her work in the District for Rotaract. District Governor Debra Warner recognized MacKenzie with a Paul Harris Fellowship. 

 

And Earl Rogers received a very special award from Rotary International for his four decades of service to Rotary. Out of the 1.3 million Rotarians worldwide, the Rotary International Board selects 150 Rotarians annually to receive a “Service Above Self Award”.  Our District, the Duluth Area, and our Club were honored and proud to have a member receive such a recognition.  It was a surprise to Earl as the Rotary Presidential Representative started into the long list of accomplishments and his family were clandestinely brought into the banquet.  The crowd at the District went wild in their appreciation.

Being the first meeting of the month, all those having birthdays in May were called forward. Karol Sowers, Corey Collier, Jim Landwehr, Catherine Carter Huber, Doug Erickson and Henry Roberts made it up in time for the group photo.  John Baumgarten was delayed making change from the Golden Can.  If all fourteen in the Club celebrating their birthday had been present there would have been a total of 342 years of Rotary Service.  Imagine if their fines was equal to years of Service? 

As Chair of the Day, Sue Kerry introduced Dr. Tony Barrett, Professor Emeritus of the School of Business and Technology from the College of St. Scholastica.  Dr. Barrett is a sought after commentator appearing on Almanac North, BBC News, and Minnesota Public Radio Money Matters programs.  The title of his talk was “The Economy Today”.  To cover this complex topic he broke it down by the classes in economics that each of us would have to take for a complete picture.  He then state he would assign grades for each “class” for the past fifteen months of performance by the current administration.  With that the classes began!

Class on Corporate Tax Rates:  The rate cut from 35% to 21% was overdue.  The United States has been out of alignment with the other developed economies.  Grade for this class was an A.

Class on Budgets:  The $200 billion stimulus spending during a time of full employment (4.1% unemployment rate) when the economy is growing at a reasonable rate (2.7%) will increase demand at a time when the economy’s ability to expand supply is limited.  This is a recipe for inflation and increased deficits.  This was a tricky grading situation.  Short-Term Economy grade was a B+.  Inflation Risk grade was a C-.  Long Term Deficit grade was a D.   Final grade for this class was a C.

Class on Deregulation and the Judiciary:  All recent federal judicial appointments have been made with the goal of reversing the 1984 Chevron Rule – which states that judges must defer to the rules made by un-elected bureaucrats when interpreting the intent of legislation. Regulations have both an associated good for and a cost to society.  Society and its elected representatives, not government bureaucrats, should decide.  Grade for this class was a B. 

Class on Trade:  All economists will state that free trade is good.  What we actually have is negotiated trade such as NAFTA.    A free trade agreement would be one page.  NAFTA is 900 pages.  Globalization has been an unmitigated good, which the United States has championed.

We have taken a 180 degree turn in our rhetoric.  Tariffs are a tax that will reduce our standard of living.  A focus on bilateral trade deficits as motivation for action is obsolete thinking and dangerous.  The administration will have to take the trade class again next year.  Grade for this class was an F.

According to Professor Barrett, purely on economic factors, the administration gets an overall grade point (GPA) of 1.75 for its performance, a bit below average.  Class dismissed.

I have enjoyed working with the Rotary Club of Duluth immensely over the last few years as Executive Administrator. It has been a very difficult decision but I have taken a position with Lake Superior Consulting as a Project Scheduler. My last day will be Friday, May 18th.

I will miss everyone in Club 25 and supporting the wonderful work of the club. I wish Club 25 all the best. Thank you for the opportunity to get to know all of you and be a part of the amazing impact you make on the community!

 

I was born in Duluth, MN and have enjoyed living here throughout my youth and professional career.  I was educated at UMD and have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, cum laude.  After a 28 year career with Wells Fargo, where I held several positions in banking and wealth management, I have enjoyed my last 8 years with RBC Wealth Management advising individuals and their families. 

My favorite pastimes include spending time at our family cabin, travel, golf, and bowling.  My wonderful spouse Lizette enjoys her career as a charitable trustee where she is involved in several foundation and scholarship responsibilities.  Together, we enjoy just being together as we have been since I was 14.  I promised I would marry her in five years at that point and it did happen on June 4, 1983, when I was 19.  Lizette and I enjoy travel, our cabin, at our love of both cinema and art. 

Our two sons Christian and Corbin are both graduates of UMD.  Christian is a civil engineer and Corbin is a business major specializing in management information systems. 

A fun fact for me was last Winter in league bowling, I bowled my first 300 game after coming close many times.  

What I like best about Rotary is the feeling of joining other caring Rotarians to help others, improve our community and help make the world a better place.  Additionally, the Club of peers and friends is a welcoming place every time we meet.  Early in my career as I started volunteering, I will never forget my father in law telling me I needed to become a Rotarian.