This Week at Rotary
We meet at
Kitchi Gammi Club
831 E. Superior Street, Duluth, MN
Thursday, July 10, 2025
11:30 AM
Robert Dunbar Hofmann, Dunbar Hofmann Productions, LLC. & Chris Spencer, Walking Path Entertainment
Investing 101: Broadway and London Theater
Our own Rob Hofmann will be joined by fellow producer Chris Spencer. They will relate the remarkable months-long behind-the-scenes effort that is required to make it possible for the curtain to go up on a play, whether in New York or in London or in Duluth. What makes it possible for a Shakespeare play like “Macbeth” or a Broadway musical like “Hamilton” to become more than just a script in someone’s desk drawer? Take a peek behind the curtain to learn about the unsung heroes who shoulder the task of making live theater possible!
Volunteer Opportunity: Second Harvest Northland
Wednesday, July 9th
1:00pm-3:00pm
Rotary Club #25 has partnered with Second Harvest Northland to assist in their mission to create a hunger-free Northland at their new facility in West Duluth.
Our next volunteer day is Wednesday, July 9th, volunteers are requested from 1:00pm-3:00pm, to help pack food boxes. As well, Second Harvest is looking for help with food distribution, after our session, from 3:00pm-3:45pm. This is another option for anyone who cannot attend the Rotary volunteer session but still wants to help.
If you would like to sign up, please contact Dan Maki at dmaki@ascentialwealth.com or 218-590-3593.
Club # 25 Rotarian’s recent volunteer event for the United Way on June 11th. For this event, our club is helped sort food donations from the Stamp Out Hunger program, which collected over 27,000 pounds of food back in May.
Highlights from Last Week’s Picnic Meeting
By Patra Sevastiades
“The mountains are calling, and I must go,” John Muir wrote in a letter to his sister, Sarah Muir Galloway, on September 3, 1873. Rotary Club 25 followed his advice some 152 years later, leaving behind the elegance of the Kitchi Gammi Club for the day and heading to Enger Park, one of Duluth’s jewels, for the pleasure of being in nature with good companions, a box lunch, and picnic table fellowship. Dozens of Rotarians felt the warm sunlight from above and cool winds off the lake as they stepped out of their cars and headed up the trail toward the Rotary International Peace Plaza. Behind them, the vast lake sparkled blue. The sky was cloudless. Smiles were abundant as people exchanged greetings.
Past President Chana Stocke and Past President Al Makynen partake of the annual picnic box lunches.
The grassy gathering spot was animated by conversation and sometimes punctuated by laughter as people opened their box lunches—a sandwich, potato chips, and cookie. Four guests joined us: Annette Strom, daughter of Past President Phil Strom, recently returned to Duluth with her husband, Tim Everson, from years abroad teaching in Singapore. The son of Robin Pestalozzi, Lev, was the youngest member of our festive picnic. Judy Sage, wife of Allen Anway, sported a wonderful sun hat. The wife of Jerry Pelofske, Chris Pelofske, was full of good cheer.
Past President Phil Strom, daughter Annette Strom, President Elect Dan Maki, Judy Sage, Chris Pelofske, Allen Anway, Jerry Pelofske, Past President Dean Casperson, Patra Sevastiades.
Robin Pestalozzi and son, Lev, enjoy a perfect picnic day.
President Zach Walters stood and extended his arms to welcome everyone. He had two pithy messages for the cheerful attendees at the tables in front of him. First, he encouraged Rotarians to reach out to Rotarians in the club that we don’t yet know well. “Let’s get to know one another better and share our stories in one-to-one conversations,” he urged us with an enthusiastic smile. “Let this be our first change!” Next, he quoted a proverb from the African nation in which he spent his youth, Madagascar, “Many hands make light work.” He reminded us that when we are united in our efforts, it only takes a little work by each of us to jointly accomplish our goals in making the world better.
Our enthusiastic new President Zach Walters encourages club members to build unity by sharing our stories with one another.
With these inspiring words from our president, the 6th Annual Rotary Picnic at Enger Park, a beloved tradition started under the leadership of Past President Dean Casperson, began.
Jim Schwartz, Past President Bill Gravelle, President Zach Walters, Jeff Fifield, Steve Hadley, Past President Elizabeth Simonson, Renee Burns, Catherine Carter-Huber.
Past President Phil Strom then reminded all of Club 25’s significant role in improving the park in which we had gathered. Rotary Club 25 improved and illuminated Enger Tower and helped create the Rotary International Peace Plaza, among other contributions. “When the Peace Plaza mosaic was created,” he observed, “it was the largest permanent image of the Rotary logo in the world!”
Jerry Thoreson picked up the story. Perched high above Duluth, Enger Park and Tower have long symbolized generosity, peace, and community pride. In 1931, Norwegian immigrant and local businessman Bert Enger left a bequest of $100,000 to the city, funding both the purchase of the park and, later, construction of the iconic Enger Tower. The park had campfire sites, stone benches, picnic tables, a comfort station, water, sewer and electricity and Enger Tower itself added to it by 1939. Built from native bluestone, the tower was dedicated in 1939 by visiting Crown Prince Olaf of Norway. It quickly became one of Duluth's most beloved landmarks. Over the years, however, time and weather took their toll. It was neglected.
Jerry Thoreson expands on the history of Enger Park.
In 2011, the city approved more than $370,000 in restoration funding. That same year—Club 25’s centennial year—Club 25 stepped up in a big way, raising $100,000 for an LED lighting system that now illuminates the tower in colors marking community causes and celebrations.
Rotary also played a key role in helping develop the nearby Japanese Peace Garden, established in 2013 to honor Duluth's sister-city relationship with Ohara-Isumi, Japan. With stone lanterns, native plantings, quiet paths, and the Peace Bell, the garden offers a place for reflection and international friendship. In partnership with Skyline and Harbortown clubs, Club 25 created the International Rotary Peace Plaza nearby.
Past President Phil Strom and daughter Annette Strom at the 12-foot Rotary International Peace Plaza mosaic.
In 2014, Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja came to Duluth to rededicate Enger Tower on the tower’s 75th anniversary, a great honor for our city. More recently, a new gazebo was added overlooking the city-offering visitors a quiet perch to take in the same panoramic views Bert Enger once hoped to share with all of Duluth.
“Enger Park is not just a place to visit,” Jerry concluded, “It is a place to belong."
Jerry Thoreson highlights the importance of Enger Park to the city of Duluth.
Rob Hofmann, Past President Chana Stocke, and Andy Thielen.
When the luncheon concluded, people gathered their things and headed off, many people in twos and threes. It had been a delightful gathering.
Heard during the meeting: Guest Annette Strom told some Rotarians that in Singapore, it is legal to chew gum, but it is not legal to sell it. The logic? Singaporeans, like so many other people around the world, sometimes disposed of their chewing gum by affixing it to the underside of seats on the subway or to the bottom of tables. The government wanted to discourage that practice.