Rotary Gimlet for September 27, 2018 (Sep 25, 2018)

By: Darlene Anderson

The Great Hall of the Holiday Inn was abuzz with Rotarians and guests as they visited with one another until the Rotary Bell was rung and the weekly meeting was called to order by President Steve Yorde. After welcoming those gathered, all were asked to join Past President John Baumgarten in the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and Jeff Iisakka with the Invocation, as he drew our attention to the theme of today's meeting – Art, the gift and talent that some possess to create a work that others can view with wonder and amazement. Art is a “talent on loan from our Creator to the hand and to the heart.”

Stepping to the podium with the task of filling the Golden Can, Fellowship Reporter Darlene Anderson welcomed our visiting guests and Rotarians. The Duluth News Tribune reported that Kraus-Anderson named Bill Olson, brother of Jim Olson, as their new director of business development. Even though Jeff Iisakka no longer needs to pay a work zone fine for Kraus-Anderson being in the news, he still stepped forward with his wallet open (I think it was his way of celebrating retirement). Congratulations are in order to Chana Stocke (North Shore Mortgage) for receiving the Gold level award presented to Minnesota Housing Top Producing Loan Officers. Celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary were Ken and Past President Elaine Hansen. From pictures seen on Facebook, a surprise party was held to honor this wonderful couple. Pictured also in the Duluth News Tribune with a 30.5-inch walleye was Dave McLean's wife Jackie who once again proved her ability to out-fish her hubby.

Thanking those who volunteered for the North Shore Inline Marathon, Skeeter Moore stated that more than five hundred people helped make the largest inline marathon in North America a success. And he thanked Sandy Hoff for having the vision 23 years ago to introduce and promote an event that brings so many people to the Northland. Sheryl Homan stepped forward and paid for both her and husband Tom as she shared the riddle of the day. Their son Todd accepted a new 2-year assignment with the State Department. Todd and his family have moved to Tashkent. Where did they go? We may need Tom to tell us next week.

Showering rose petals and “Essence of Rose” was our own Rossa (aka Scott Frankovich) challenging us to sell more roses and announcing some of the 40-dozen plus sales by Rotarians. At this time Past President Phil Strom is in the lead with 140 dozen roses sold. Also, please check your calendars and the distribution sign-up sheet as there are several slots that need to be filled in key locations.

Congratulations are in order for Edie Michalski. She did a portrait of John Steffl who was an icon in Duluth's art community, an art instructor at UMD, Director of Duluth's Art Institute and affiliated with the Tweed Museum. The painting was juried into the Minnesota Watercolor Society's annual show and recently was a finalist in the Northstar Watermedia National Show.

September is the month we host youth from The Hills, and Jeff Bradt thanked us for welcoming them each week. Today he introduced Libby, who inspirationally told us that being at the Hills has helped her to set healthy boundaries for herself and is keeping her motivated to care about other people as well as about herself. Thank you to each host, hostess and Rotarian who welcomes and engages with the youth from The Hills at our meetings.

Marnie Christensen from the Superior Rotary Club invited us to join them for their Craft Beer and Wine Tasting event at the University of Wisconsin Superior on Thursday, October 11, from 5-8:30pm. There will be a silent and live auction. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank and WITC Dream Keepers – a program that assists students who face a financial emergency, such as paying a car repair bill, so they can stay in school.

Brad Jensen from Harbortown Rotary invited us to join him for the American Heritage Book Group at the Kitchi Gammi Club on November 13 from 5:15-7:30pm. The book they will be discussing is “The Last Founding Father” by Harlow Giles Unger.

Artist and Chair of the Day Edie Michalski introduced her fellow artist and friend Tim Cortes. As Tim spoke, his works of art were displayed on the screens behind him. He told us that as a little boy he always wanted to draw and to do whatever his older brother was doing in sports, which is why he became a goalie, first at Portman, then East High School and then U of M. In 1992, one of his first jobs was working for the Kelly Arts Studio in Minneapolis. That was the year the Stanley Cup finals and Super Bowl were both in Minneapolis. The studio was hired to do many commemorative pictures, and so Tim worked many long hours drawing. At that point, several of his hockey teammates from the University went on to the National Hockey League and he was asked to draw commemorative art work for them. Thus became a career that has become ninety-percent sports art work and now encompasses more than two thousand pictures. His work can be viewed at the US Hockey Hall of Fame, the Heritage Center, Target Field and the Smithsonian. When asked to name his favorite work, he said it was the picture of UMD's five Hobey Baker Award winners, because each of the five portrayed had to spend time with him as they signed the three hundred limited edition prints, making it a very special experience. Other highlights include meeting those he has drawn, such as Reggie White. Tim was asked to do two works featuring the Green Bay Packer player and was at the presentations of those works: one at Lambeau Field and the other at Reggie White's alma mater, the University of Tennessee. What does the future hold for Tim? He would like to work on portraying our local history, especially the shipping industry and then some of the Indian culture and their history – so, stay tuned for the next masterpiece coming from the pencils and mind of Tim.

Dave Holappa, Natalie Zeleznikar
and our speaker Tim Cortes