This week at Rotary
Club 25's Weekly Meeting
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Lunch Buffet
This week’s menu at Rotary
House Salad
Cottage Pie
Dinner Rolls
Doors Open 11:30AM
12:00 PM START
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
This week’s speaker
Sheriff Gordon Ramsay
Saint Louis County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Gordon Ramsay has been a law enforcement officer for over 31 years, including sixteen years as a Police Chief for the Duluth Police Department and Wichita Police Department in Kansas. Sheriff Ramsay was appointed as a Commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement in 2020, Chair of the Mid-Sized Agency Section of the IACP, President of the Minnesota Police Chiefs, Executive Board Member for the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Second Harvest Northland Food Packing
2302 Commonwealth Avenue
Duluth, MN 55808
May 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
We have an opportunity to help fight hunger in our area! Our Rotary Club has partnered with Second Harvest Northland to assist them in their mission to create a hunger-free Northland at their new facility in West Duluth.
For more information about Second Harvest Northland visit: https://secondharvestnorthland.org/
Or Contact :Daniel Maki
Upcoming Club 25 Events
2026 Rotary Gala and Auction
May 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM
Kitchi Gammi Club
831 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
831 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802
RSVP NOW at bit.ly/2026RotaryGalaAuction
Break out the bold hats, seersucker suits, and Southern charm--it's time for the most exciting night in philanthropy! Join Rotary Club 25 for an unforgettable evening inspired by the pageantry and thrill of the Kentucky Derby. Sip classic mint juleps, enjoy delicious fare, and place your winning bids in our live and silent auctions, all while cheering on great causes that make our community stronger.
It's high stakes, high style, and heartfelt giving--so pick your winner, dress to impress, and let the good times race!
At this week’s meeting you will have an opportunity to help decide what deserving organization will be the beneficiary of the “Cause” at the auction. Come prepared with your pick of a charity and the decision of what “Cause” to support this year will be democratically determined.
We Need Your Raffle Baskets!
Email Christa Scheider cscheider@northshore.bank with your offer to help, and Christa Scheider with guide you. So far, we have:
• Bentleyville Sweatshirts and VIP Santa passes • Day sail from Lake Superior Tall Ships • Chocolate Lovers basket • Gardening Basket • Coach Purse set
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Anthony Nordan
President Jungle Boy (Aka Zach Walters) rang in our meeting with the 4 Way Test and Pledge of Allegiance.
The reflection was brought to us by Past President Al Makynen. Do boxers and Rotarians share similar values? Each group seeks to help the community in their own way. We are both fighting the good fight either in the boxing ring or at a volunteer opportunity near you. Both groups have a focus on the long-term benefits for their members and the community they are serving. For our Club that has been funding youth mental health services since 2019 and working to eradicate polio since 1986.
Past President Al Makynen
We had several guests at our club this week:
—Mary Lou Murphy from Kid’s Closet
—Judy Sage, wife and partner of Allen Anway
—Caleb Traux “Golden”
—Andrew Griggs “Hot Sauce”
—Charlie Simonson
There were no Golden Can moments this week.
There was one grant presentation this week to Kids Closet. Mary Lou Murphy accepted the check on Kid’s Closets behalf for $3,000. Kid’s Closet is run by retired teachers and has served over 750 families this past year. They provide clothing through the school social workers. The money Club 25 gave to Kid’s Closet comes from our fundraising efforts.
Mary Lou Murphy with Past President Chana Stocke
Club 25 Youth Exchange Office Andy Thielen stood up to talk about this year’s youth exchange. We are still in need of host families. Being a host family is extremely rewarding. We currently have 2 host families.
Club 25 Youth Exchange Office Andy Thielen
Jack Seiler presented a flag from another Rotary club to President Zach Walters.
President Zach Walters presented our speaker, middleweight boxing champion Caleb “Golden” Traux, to us. Zach Walters’ introduction was like listening to a hype man speak of an upcoming boxer to the ring. Every positive attribute brought forward to get the crowd behind their hometown hero.
(L to R) Caleb Golden Traux faces off with President Zach Jungle Boy Walters
Caleb is a former International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Champion. He started late in his career by starting at the age of 20. He played football and baseball growing up. He only started boxing after an injury forced him away from the two sports he had played growing up. He started boxing to stay competitive. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Retired from boxing in 2024, but his last fight was in 2023. His record was 31-6-2-1. He had won 4 belts across his career including the IBF World Title. Now Caleb works with Chris Lindell as a real estate agent in the Twin Cities. He has 3 children. His children are the reason he no longer fights.
(L to R) Caleb Golden Traux, Zach Jungle Boy Walters and
Andrew Hot Sauce Griggs
Caleb moved into a question and answer session after introducing himself. The club members had a chance to ask many questions and get them answered. Below is a list of questions asked by the club and succinct answers given by Caleb:
- When was the first time that you fought for the World Championship Title?
- 2015. He won the middle weight and super middle weight titles.
- 1% of fighters win a world title.
- What weight category did you fight in?
- Middle and super middle weight
- Is the gold on the world championship belt real?
- It is gold plated
- How did he train before a fight?
- There is no off season in boxing. There was a training camp he did that was 6-8 weeks long. There were specific trainings done during that camp. 2-3 times a day during camp he would practice box. The trainings could vary from sparring, pads, body bags, or yoga.
- What type of diet did he have?
- They had a strict diet that as provided by a nutrition coach. He is no longer his boxing weight.
- Did he serve in the military?
- No. The military has their own boxing teams though.
- What is the story about the photo put up on the screen?
- The belt that was passed around was the middle picture on the screen. That was taken in 2017, London UK. It was labeled the upset of the year by ESPN and USA Today.
- Picture of his team was on screen
- A photo of him defeating Donavan George when he was an 8-1 underdog
- A photo of his 1st fight televised, losing that fight by decision
- How is boxing doing as a sport?
- It has diminished since the 1970s when there were household names in boxing. It is still primarily pay per view. He mentioned some of the recent high profile boxing matches.
- Are you still involved in boxing?
- He is still involved. He does teach for MMA fighters, kids, and local fight commentary.
- Is there any mental preparation?
- Boxing is 90% mental at the higher ends
- What are the nicknames of all the boxers present today?
- Caleb is known as Golden
- Zach Walters is known as Jungle Boy
- Andrew is known at Hot Sauce
- Each of these names were given for specific reasons. Next time you see a boxer ask how they got their nickname.
Jr. Jr. Jr. Rotarian Charlie Simonson with Past President Elizabeth (Grandmother) Simonson
A big turnout of Rotarians is ready to hear about Caleb Traux’s boxing career
