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Speakers
Apr 12, 2018
Fellowship Day
Fellowship Day

Join us for a meeting of fellowship and fun as we get to know our fellow Rotarians.

 

Apr 26, 2018
May 03, 2018
The Economy Today
May 10, 2018
Rotary & Dale Carnegie® - Our relevance today
May 17, 2018
Make it Okay
May 24, 2018
Olympic Curling
View entire list
Stories
This Week's Meeting
We Meet at Noon on Thursday, April 12, 2018
in the Great Hall at the Kitchi Gammi Club.
 
 
Please send your good news to Gary Bubalo at gary.bubalo@rbc.com
 
 
 
 
 
Notes from the Meeting February 15, 2018
It was a full house at the Holiday Inn when President- Elect Steve Yorde called upon Past President John Baumgarten to lead us in the Star Spangled Banner.  For many of us who have little, or in my case no, musical ability it is great to have one or more Rotarians at your table who sing the National Anthem in full voice.  For the invocation, in honor of our speaker and program, Greg Hansen recited the West Point Cadet Prayer.  The Prayer included reference to both leadership and service with lines that read: “Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life.  Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service.”
With that, Dick Pelinka launched into the Fellowship Report to recognize and fine anyone who had been of service and had been caught on television, radio, or print!  Bob Kase will be the featured jazz artist at a local watering hole.  Dick does not wait for an event to happen.  He is ready at all times to collect for the Golden Can.  David Pollard and John Foucault participated in the 19th Annual Blizzard Snowmobile Tour which raised over one million dollars to fund research for ALS (Lou Gehrig ’s disease) and to provide durable medical equipment and other assistance for local families.  Henry Roberts had his photo of a sub-zero day published in the Duluth News Tribune.  Dean Casperson was fined for his wife Patra being pictured receiving a $38,000 gift to the Duluth Library Foundation.  This fine is an example of where family members, including children, grand-children, and spouses, are part of the Rotary family when it comes to recognition to raise funds for the Club’s community projects.   Gary Melander was tagged in recognition of his recent winning streak in the 50/50 drawing.   And in a special tribute, Jack Soetebier was recognized for his 56 years of Rotary service. 
On a sadder note, we lost a Rotarian with the death of Mark Eckman.  Past President Tom Bell was called upon to give Mark’s eulogy.  Mark attended Denfeld and after medical school became the first infectious disease specialist north of the Twin Cities.  He was an avid reader of both classical and modern literature and in conversation could quote from either.  He loved speed in any form of transportation or sport.  How else do you explain his getting a speeding ticket – on a ski slope!  Tom described how Mark always volunteered when asked and in retirement through Rotary was reborn in his service above self. 
There was a special guest at the meeting as District Governor, Debra Warner and her husband Ed Williams were in Duluth.  The Governor extended an invitation to join her at the District Conference in Thunder Bay April 26 – 28.  Particular mention was made of a bus being available.  The fellowship, some might say party, bus will start in Bismarck and make stops to pick up passengers along the route including Duluth on its way to Canada.
President– Elect Steve Yorde with District Governor Debra Warner and her husband Ed Williams
 
Calling all wannabe writers and reporters.  This year’s Gimlet Editor in Chief, Steve Yorde, made the call for those who may wish to use, or perhaps stretch, their talents to write the “Notes from the Meeting”.  This avenue of service is open to any member.  You would join a list of revolving reporters who work to produce this article.  These include, Darlene Anderson, Rob Hofmann, Al Makynen, Phil Strom, Steve Yorde and Bill Zimbinski.  You can jump right in and be part of the regular schedule or be on the injured reserve list to be called upon when someone is out of town.  Your article would have a Monday deadline so you have plenty of time to complete your mission.   You will enjoy the experience.
You could tell Chairperson of the Day Skeeter Moore enjoyed introducing his fellow Rotarian, Craig Fellman.   Craig was born and raised in Duluth, and since 2014 has been President and CEO of the Jamar Company.  However that is not Craig’s only claim to fame.  In 1995 Craig graduated from West Point Military Academy, later rising to the level of Captain as an army aviation officer flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.  Craig gave us a quick primer on the history of the army air corps, the aircraft used in the past and the basics behind the current rotary winged aircraft used.  The specifications for the UH-60, introduced to service in the mid 1970’s, included its speed of 220 mph, carrying capacity of 20,000 pounds, a typical range of 350 miles, and the price tag of $23 million.   In addition to its typical military use in support of troops on the ground, Craig described the various stateside duty station missions using the UH-60.  These missions included forest fire suppression, flood relief, humanitarian projects, and drug interdiction against foreign nationals.  He described how pilots are sent into dangerous environments, without benefit of a prepared landing site, perhaps at night and in some cases under enemy fire, with a machine that is tremendously powerful with great internal stress.  A number of conditions, including enemy fire, can create the circumstances leading to a crash.  After seeing the pictures of helicopters in various mission configurations and the terrain in which they operated, you had a greater respect for the level of danger in every mission.        
Chair of the Day Skeeter Moore and Speaker Craig Fellman
 
District 5580 Conference
The Rotary District 5580 Conference will be April 26th– 28th in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. With an inspiring theme of “Building Bridges, Goodwill, & Friendship” acknowledging Rotary International and the capacity of Rotary, Rotary Clubs and Rotarians around the world, this conference is sure to “make a difference” through goodwill and friendship.  You don't want to miss this!  
Register Today! Lodging must be booked by March 26th. Transportation is available from Duluth to Thunder Bay.
Please contact Phil Strom if you would like to carpool to the District Conference.
 
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Life House Spring Celebration
When: Tuesday, March 20th
Where: Life House & LSS Center for Changing Lives
What: Feeding homeless youth
How: You can help by volunteering to donate food , money or paper products, assist with food prep, help setup for meal, serve the meal or clean up after the meal.
Who: Contact Dan Dock at dandockdc@aol.com to sign up for this event.
 
Boys & Girls Club Spring Carnival
When: Tuesday, March 27th
Where: Boys & Girls Club– Lincoln Park
What: Carnival games, Prizes and Cookies
How: You can help by volunteering to donate cookies, candy or money, assist with setup and help with games and prizes.
Who: Contact Dan Dock at dandockdc@aol.com to sign up for this event.
 
Project Joy
When: Friday, April 6th
Where: Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
What: Feeding local children in need
How: You can help by volunteering to pack bags of food that will be placed in the backpacks of students around the Twin Ports to provide food on the weekend when they are out of school.
Who: Contact Jim Schwartz at 218-390-4644 to sign up for this event.
 
 
 
This Week's Meeting
We meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Holiday Inn
200 W. 1st Street
Duluth, MN  55802
United States
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Upcoming Events
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Apr 11, 2018
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Kjell Knudsen
April 1
 
Ruth Ann Eaton
April 8
 
Charley Korsch
April 10
 
Dick Fischer
April 20
 
Ken Schoen
April 21
 
Tom Wheeler
April 22
 
Mckenzie MacFarlane
April 24
 
Tim Mowbray
April 26
 
Sandy Hoff
April 27
 
Al Makynen
April 28
 
Brad Christiansen
April 28