Past President Mike Orman with his Fellowship Report raised an amazing amount of cash for the Golden Can. Mike knew how to prime the pump by first giving a few examples of Rotarians being recognized in the media. Then he went after the large prizes often contained in the self-reporting section.  There was a special, no mention fine, for our own McKenzie MacFarlane who was part of the Dragon Boat Rotaract Rowers named as the Best Youth Group, and as the Most Energetic Group.

Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom contributed in honor of the upcoming marriage of granddaughter Michaela.  Dave Fulda, for Johnson Carpet One, and Natalie Zeleznikar, for Keystone Bluffs, each paid $20 for receiving Best of the Best Awards as reported in the Duluth News Tribune.  Chana Stocke contributed for the recent quality work done at her home by Johnson Carpet.  This could have led to a mass fine for all those present who have worked with Dave Fulda!   Steve Burgess was very proud to announce that his maple syrup operation will be showcased in the International Maple Syrup Producers Convention to be held here in Duluth in late October.  Skeeter Moore contributed $24 for the 24^th annual Northshore Inline Skating Marathon, the largest marathon of its type in the United States with over 2,000 participants.  The Duluth Rotary Club has been a partner with the Marathon since the beginning, assisting in recent years with volunteers at the Friday night Packet Pickup.  Jon Helstrom paid to announce the Cameroon Water Filtration project being organized by his son Paul Helstrom in November.  More information soon.  Past Assistant Governor Al Makynen contributed $30 for 30 years of marriage.  And Mike Orman celebrated a milestone birthday, reaching the three quarters of a century mark, by depositing $75.

Eric Dott, Chair of the Day made a quick introduction of our speaker Jay Hietpas, PE who is with the Minnesota Department of Transportation in St. Paul, as the Director Traffic, Safety, and Technology.  His presentation focused on the efforts in Minnesota to advance policy development associated with autonomous vehicles. Also present was Duane Hill, PE, District Engineer for the Duluth Office of MNDoT.

 

AAA recently issued the results of a survey which revealed that three quarters of the American population are apprehensive about fully self-driving vehicles.  In urban settings, UBER and LYFT are leading the effort to create, test and implement the technology to make driverless cars a reality.  The trucking industry, facing both a labor shortage and increased fuel costs, is working to implement the concept of “truck platooning” where rather than the current required 500 feet between rigs, there would be just 40 feet, with potentially no driver in the second truck.  Highway safety is front and center in all of the discussions.  Last year in Minnesota there were 381 fatal crashes.  Of those crashes, 94% were directly attributed to human error.  Improved roadways, and laws with education to change human behavior, can only take us so far.  The application of technology within the vehicle to make it connected, autonomous, and interactive is the future.

There is a lot of development and testing to be completed.  There are reasons why current development and testing occurs in Arizona and California.  A light rain, not to mention a blizzard, interferes with the on-board system’s ability to interpret road markings and surroundings.  Also state law, infrastructure, and public policy all have to be examined and modified to prepare for the new technology.  Testing in Minnesota continues.  A corridor along Highway 55 in Golden Valley has been constructed to test snow plow priority and traffic signals.  The interactive technology is available and being installed.  It may be awhile before fully automated driverless vehicles are on our roads, but work continues to make this future a reality.