The Great Hall at the Kitchi Gammi Club was packed with Rotarians as we convened our regular Thursday lunch meeting in this stand-in, but historically relevant venue.  We meet here from time to time as the Holiday Inn requires our usual room for other purposes.  President Tricia Bunten opened the meeting with Past President John Baumgarten accompanying a rousing National Anthem, followed by Invocator Sheryl Homan channeling a Robert Frost poem of friendship.  Next at the mic was one of our true “Rising Stars,” Ryan Johnson, who has provided enthusiastic leadership this year for our annual Rotary 25 Dinner & Auction.  In addition to the description of a very promising event, Ryan gave a very appropriate nod to Natalie Zeleznikar, who will have two tables of her own guests at the event, and who also has once again almost single-handedly solicited most of the prizes and auction items that will make this again an exciting and rewarding evening of fundraising and fellowship on Thursday, April 19th, at the Marshall School. 

Gary Bubalo, always brings good game to the Fellowship Report, and he did not disappoint.  Any member remotely associated with Duluth hockey was invited to show their Bulldog pride at the Golden Can, in honor of the NCAA Division I championship.  Past President Sandy Hoff, very frequent contributor to the Golden Can, proudly contributed in honor of his amazing daughter, former Jr. Rotarian, Callie.  As a freshman at the University of Wisconsin– River Falls. Callie lead the nation as USCHO DIII women’s “Rookie of The Year.”  She lead all freshman in goals scored (20) and in total points (37). 

President– Elect Nominee Michelle Buria introduced, what was to be the substitute program for today, a Fellowship primer.  Each table was given a packet of discussion evoking questions to be distributed to the members at that table.  As your turn came around, you were asked to respond to the specific question you were holding, and then each table mate in turn responded in his/her own personal way to that question.  The packet of questions were:

· What is a fact someone may not know about you?

· Who is the most famous or interesting person you’ve met?

· Where is the best location or place you’ve visited?

· Who, aside from parents, influenced you the most by what they said or did?

· Share a treasured moment from your childhood.

· Providing there are no barriers, what’s something new you’d like to learn?

· How did you arrive at your profession or career?

· What do you like to do with your free time?

By the most enthusiastic response to the experience, enjoyed by this intimate fellowship experiment, it seems quite certain that a similar program will become a part of our regular annual program cycle.  We all learned a lot once again, of what makes Club 25 and its members something unique and special.