“Off we go into the wild blue yonder, Climbing high into the sky” was the theme for the weekly gathering of Duluth Club 25 Rotarians. And an appropriate theme it was as the dreary fall days had turned into a picture perfect sunny Duluth day. After ringing the Rotary bell, President Steve Yorde called the Rotary Singers to the front of the room to lead us in singing “America the Beautiful.” It was then that Jeff Iisakka turned our thoughts to the mission of the United States Air Force, reminding us that our mission as Rotarians is very similar: To advance world understanding, goodwill and peace until perhaps someday the need for such services will not be required.

After introducing our visiting Rotarians and guests, Past President Phil Strom went to work to fill the Golden Can. Our newest club member, Katherine LaFleur, was recognized and given her one-time pass to not contribute. She replied that she had brought money, but was told next time the Fellowship Reporter wouldn’t be so generous. Barb Perrella received recognition from Mayor Emily Larson, Downtown Council Director Kim Stokes and Town Square Media's Mary Niemeyer for all the activity at the Holiday Center as spaces are being filled with new businesses. Former Club 25 member Mark Boben received the newly minted “Generosity Award” at the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation's Touchstone event. This is a much deserved recognition for Mark's incredible work on the Gary-New Duluth Alliance. Past Presidents Holly Sampson and Branden Robinson as well as Gary Bubalo shared a part in the recognition.

Our thanks goes out to Allen Anway (no fine) for his visit to the Cloquet Rotary Club where he extended a warm invitation for them to attend the upcoming November 7 Paul Harris Dinner.

Past President Sandy Hoff has opened Pier B's slip canal to the Duluth Fire Department as a docking site for their new Assault Boat. There was no fine for this, but Sandy (Pier B) was asked to come forward to pay a work zone fine for the full-page ad in the Duluth News Tribune touting the benefits of “Happy Sleeper” mattresses. Also, featured in the ad was Branden Robinson from South Pier Inn, which brought Betty George Sola forward to join them in placing work zone fines in the Can. And once again, proud “Detroit Lakes-born Viking fan” Jon Ohman kicked the can. This week he donated six dollars to honor his hometown hero Adam Thielen's six consecutive one-hundred-plus yard games – a new Viking team record.  Jon, are you going to continue with the donations as Thielen racks up additional yards and records? Vikings fans certainly hope that you have many reasons to donate.

Past District Governor Deb Warner and Office Administrator McKenzie MacFarland invited us to attend the Twin Port's Rotaract Event for World Polio Day, Wednesday, October 24, at UMD. There will be a live stream report informing Rotarians and others about the progress toward eradicating polio. McKenzie assures us that there is plenty of room and snacks for everyone to join our college-aged colleagues.

Also coming November 7 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm is “Rotary Ethics Day” in the Great Hall of the Kitchi Gammi Club. Marc Seigar, representing the New Generations Committee, said they are looking for three to four additional Rotarians to assist. Please let him know if you can help. Join them if you can, and witness what happens as High School students participate in Rotary Ethics Day.

Introducing fellow Rotary Club 25 member and today’s speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Graddy, was Past President Dave Allison. Bryan is the Commander of Air Force ROTC at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is responsible for recruiting, educating, training and inspiring men and women to become high-quality leaders in the United States Air Force. He holds a degree from Indiana State University in Computer Science and joined the AFROTC while there. Bryan has served twenty-two years as a pilot and pilot training instructor. He has been deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and Uganda and has also been stationed in Germany and Turkey. He has received numerous awards and decorations including the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Bryan explained that the present mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. There have been many challenges since 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down. The Cold War as we knew it may have come to an end, but there remain numerous challenges to peace. Our adversaries have not gone away, as there are on-going conflicts in which the United States deals with world wide. The need for an effective strong Air Force remains, and today the Air Force faces several on-going challenges including an uncertain budget, a shortage of qualified pilots, and a shift in methods as we move from the “Industrial Age” to “21st Century Terrorism.” One big challenge is recruiting pilots, as seventy percent of today's high school graduates are ineligible owing to the fact they cannot meet basic standards for physical fitness. Other challenges include upgrading and modernizing planes and equipment. For instance, the B-52 is still in use today, sixty-plus years after its initial introduction in 1952.  There are also newer planes such as the F-35 Lightning II with advanced technological features. This changing world of technology highlights the need for qualified personnel who are schooled in computer science and math in order to work in the field of cyberspace and to develop these technologies including Hypersonics (Mach 5-Mach 15 vehicles) and Directed Energy (quiet, lethal, disruptive lasers).

Thank you so much, Bryan, for all you do each day to meet and succeed in the challenges of your mission.