Next week remember that there is no regular Friday noon meeting. We will have a Sweetheart Dinner at the Hammond that Friday evening instead. Bring your sweethearts. 

 

Guests at last week's meeting were Proctor Student Rotarians

Gavin Tabbert, and Thomas Barnstorf, Dan Dock from Downtown, a guest of James Lewis, and our speaker Dr. Danny Frank. 

 

We learned that John Meyer (Tom and Susan's son) has been in the service for 20 years and will be deployed soon for his third tour of duty. 

Tim introduced Dr. Danny Frank the Communications Committee Chairperson for the Duluth Chapter of the NAACP. Their annual fundraising dinner, The Freedom Fund Dinner is coming up at the DECC Harborside Ballroom on February 10th. Skyline is one of the sponsors. A couple of tickets are available if members wish to attend. 

Danny told us that his career has always been inspired by giving back to the greater good. He told us that the Duluth Chapter of the NAACP is one of the oldest in the country having started in 1920. He noted that racial justice work is everybody's work. The Duluth Chapter's mission is in Health and Equity, Education, Young Members, and economics through their Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund's major project is to develop a small business incubator to help BIPOC businesses get started. Danny told us that we can help by becoming a member, donating, showing up to events, supporting BIPOC owned businesses, voting for candidates who actively support racial justice efforts, and educating ourselves and others about racial justice issues in our community. 

You can also see and hear the other side of Danny's work by hearing his band Danny Frank and the Smokey Gold who play locally.   

 

Russ told us that The Winter Out West Festival will be held February 9, 10, and 11 and that our Skyline Biker Group will be assisting with the fat tire bike riding event. Another project towards the 50. Russ is also pursuing ushering at the Playhouse as another project. Kevin is organizing Polar Plunge volunteering and Alex really wants to put a plunging team together. The festivities take place on Friday and Saturday February 16 and 17. Kevin has a sign up sheet.  

 

January is Rotary Vocational Service Month. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the second object of Rotary which calls for Rotarians to encourage and foster: High ethical standards in business and professions, The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and The dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society.