Robert McLean
Governor
Rotary District 5580
Being a Rotarian during COVID-19
Our District Governor Robert McLean will describe how we can be active and engaged Rotarians during this time of COVID-19. In its 115 year history, Rotary International has been challenged before (1918 -19) by a world pandemic. The Governor brings a message of optimism.
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Rob Hofmann
Once again, Rotarians gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Holiday Inn and Suites Downtown for another hybrid LIVE and LIVE STREAM meeting. President
Dean Casperson opened the meeting with a ring of the Rotary Bell and led us in reciting the
Pledge of Allegiance and the
Rotary Four-Way Test. President
Dean Casperson welcomed a prospective new member - Brian Fulda, son of
Dave Fulda. Brian, we look forward to welcoming you very soon!
Corey Collier hosted daughter Rachel Collier. Lucas Giese joined us from
Ecolibrium3.
The Fellowship Report included live and remote self-reports: Past President Tricia Bunten, vacationing in the Brainerd Lakes area, sent in $50.00 to commemorate her 50th birthday – AND that fact that she achieved her 50th birthday goal of weighing the same as she did on her 30th birthday. Happy Birthday Tricia! Jeff Fifield dropped $45.00 to commemorate his retirement from Fifield Portrait Design after 45 years in the portraiture business. Congratulations Jeff!
President
Dean then invited Rose Committee Chair
Barb Perrella to the podium to announce that we will once again raise community funds through our
35th Annual Duluth Rotary Rose Sale! We can plan for and expect “business as usual” as Rotarians will be the prime drivers of Rose Ticket Sales. The launch date is set for Thursday, September 3
rd, 2020. Once again the very valuable and much coveted Duluth Rotary Rose Coupon Book will be distributed with every dozen roses. Save the dates of Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17
th to volunteer at rose distribution sites. Rotarians were reminded that the next deadline for nonprofits to submit a grant request is soon – August 15
th – where we have $40,000 to award. Stating that we were to witness a check presentation unlike any our Club has experienced before, President
Dean Casperson called upon our Foundation President
Al Makynen to escort our guest Lucas Giese who on behalf of
Ecolibrium3 (Eco3) presented the Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation a check for $1,000. This donation was given in appreciation of Rotarians who volunteered for Eco3’s initiative
Pay It Forward PPE to assist in building PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for use by healthcare professionals.
Lucas Giese, Foundation President Al Makynen, President Dean Casperson
Chair of the Day President Dean Casperson introduced one of Club #25’s favorite speakers Fred Friedman.
Before Mr. Friedman began his program: A Baseball Season Like No Other, he took the opportunity to reflect on the life of the late Congressman John Lewis. Mr. Friedman shared that the term “icon” is thrown about a bit too casually these days – BUT – Congressman John Lewis was truly an American Icon who stood for Democracy, Civility, Justice, Civil, and Voters’ rights.
As we all know too well, COVID-19 remains all around us, yet as long as baseball remains – we have eternal hope. With a bit of historical perspective throughout his “fast-pitch” presentation, Mr. Fred Friedman related how this country looks to baseball for hope in times of crisis. Many examples are found throughout the last 100 years; to maintain the American spirit, both President Wilson and President Roosevelt insisted that baseball be played during a World War – and baseball answered its country’s call! Like the “sacrifice fly”, a number of baseball’s greats gave up their youthful prime playing years to serve their country. A few examples - Ted Williams served as a pilot in both WWII and in Korea while Willie Mays served two years during the Korean War. Even so, they became baseball legends by “hitting it out of the park”. Mr. Friedman then tossed a “change-up” – sharing his experience with baseball and polio in the 1950s. It was a time when polio was rampant, and, like a runner attempting to steal a base, a trip to the ballpark in summer was a risky affair. Mr. Friedman and his brother had very “low and inside” close calls with polio yet participated in vaccine trials that later led to the vaccine of Dr. Jonas Salk. For his “closing pitch”, Mr. Friedman recalled that there are great baseball heroes like Minnesota Twin great Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat. However, the greatest laurels belong to heroes like Dr. Jonas Salk – who never registered a patent for his polio vaccine, thus “bunting” any profits from his discovery.
Twins great, Harmon Killebrew
Creator of the Polio Virus vaccine, Dr. Jonas Salk
President Dean Casperson and speaker Fred Friedman
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