Monday was Earth Day. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson is recognized as the founder of Earth Day in 1970 which is now celebrated worldwide on April 22nd. In 1990 Senator Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his role as Earth Day Founder. 

 

Guests last week were; Dan Dock, our speaker Ryan Ihrke, and Proctor High School Student Rotarians Zak McPhee, and Lucy Mistelsue.

 

Mark gave an overview of this year's District Conference. There were programs on mental health and the environment. The inbound students from this year and the outbound students for next year (including our Club's Gus Olson) provided an energetic program. Skyline's Spirits of Duluth cooler and drinks raised $260. The tradition of the funds raised at the Conference being dedicated to Polio Plus continued this year with the raising of an incredible $100,000. Be thinking about potential presenters and topics for the 2026 District Conference that will be held in Duluth hosted by all of the Twin Ports Clubs. 

Jason announced the Circle of Friends Arts and Culture Awards Celebration Program sponsored by the Depot Foundation to be held Tuesday, May 7th at 5:00 

PE Adam introduced Ryan Ihrke from the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, WLSSD. Ryan told us that the WLSSD watershed is 530 square miles. The Duluth treatment plant processes 35-40 million gallons of waste water per day with the largest contributor being the SAPPI Mill in Cloquet. The St. Louis River is the largest tributary into Lake Superior and is still being treated for legacy pollution from the years when industries dumped waste directly into the river. The original waste water treatment plant was built in the late 60s mostly with Federal funding. With the new recently built holding tanks and efforts to disconnect storm water very little untreated water is now sent into the Lake even during big rain events. WLSSD is doing a great job of treating our waste to keep our beautifiul big Lake clean. 

   

April is Rotary Environmental Month. Supporting the Environment is Rotary's Seventh and the newest Area of Focus. District 5580 now has an Environmental Committee. 

 

Thought for the Week