President Tricia Bunten welcomed all in attendance at the Kitchi Gammi Club’s Great Hall and invited everyone to stand and sing the “Star Spangled Banner,” accompanied by Past President John Baumgarten on the piano.  A “packed house” responded in full voice in advance of Past President Dan Bergeland’s thoughtful invocation on justice and the 4-Way Test. “Without justice, chaos reigns.” 

Fellowship Reporter Darlene Anderson introduced three guests and one visiting Rotarian, Brad Jensen of Harbortown, who later encouraged Club 25ers to consider attending the next book group meeting on February 27 beginning at the Kitchi Gammi Club at 5:15 pm with a social hour, dinner ($30), then discussion on Cokie Roberts’ Founding Mothers.   Darlene got down to business by filling the Golden Can to overflowing.  Div. I hockey player Trevor Olson (University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks) played his final game against the hometown Bulldogs last week at the DECC.  Proud papa Jim Olson stepped up and paid generously for himself and grandfather Dick Olson. Callie Hoff, daughter of Past President Sandy Hoff, is now the leading scorer in all of Div.III hockey.  She plays at UW-River Falls.  Darlene self-reported that her son-in-law, hockey coach Lee Costley, is now re-building the Moose Lake/Willow River Rebels hockey program. Darlene’s daughter, Jenny Costley, was recently named to the Hartley Nature Center’s board.  Associated with Hartley for many years, Rotarians Henry Roberts and Bill Gronseth also stepped up to pay their fines in light of the proposed building program soon to begin.  Steve Yorde was fined for Adele’s work with the Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s announcement of funding for an expanded Dock C-D.  North Shore Bank was also in the news recently for its new name, so Chana Stocke and Karol Sowers dug deep to pay their “work zone” fine.  We all know that the flu season is now at hand.  Jena Evans appeared in the news speaking on behalf of Ecumen Lakeshore on the devastating effects it can have on seniors.  Bob Reichert made his way up to the front in recognition of his being 80 Years Young…congrats to Bob.  The Greater Downtown Council’s annual meeting occurred at the DECC, so those in attendance were asked to place two bucks on the table.

President Tricia challenged us to “google” a factoid from “Today (January 25) in Duluth History.”  It was the imprisonment of the infamous Marjorie Congdon Caldwell.  Today is also the anniversary of the first Winter Olympics.  Rob Hofmann did a stellar job introducing Marshall School’s Jr. Rotarian Isabelle Stauber. Our newest member, native New Yorker Sara Cole, was introduced and spoke briefly on her warm welcome to Duluth as the Y’s new executive director.  She is the Duluth Y’s first woman executive since the Y was founded here in 1870, earning a well-earned round of warm applause.  Welcome, Sara.

A personable Justice David Lillehaug of the Minnesota Supreme Court was introduced by Chair of the Day, Steve Yorde, who noted that he and Justice Lillehaug and Past President Dan Bergeland had all attended the same college, Augustana in Sioux Falls, as had Dan’s parents “back in the day.” 

As a person of Norwegian heritage, Justice Lillehaug began with a little Norwegian humor which featured guest (and noted Croatian) St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin sitting in front with Judge John DeSanto.  You had to be there!  The Justice’s power point presentation covered a wide range of topics, including Minnesota’s judicial branch of government, the role of our Supreme Court and its justices, the Capitol’s recent remodeling which included its upgraded gold-leafed “Quadriga” sitting atop the front façade of the Capitol building,  and the Minnesota Judicial Center where the Supreme Court has its proceedings.  Justice Lillehaug’s presentation contained interesting tidbits and facts: 1.) The Justice Department has 3,300 employees and a $326 million budget.  2.)  The state’s District Court system has courthouses in every county and litigates 1.3 million cases per year.  “They do the heavy lifting,” said Justice Lillehaug.  3.) The Supreme Court considers 700 cases each year, but renders decisions in about 100.   4.) Justices are elected for six-year terms.  “Campaigns are very expensive, but I cannot ask anyone directly for money, and I am not allowed to know who contributed to my campaign.”  5.) The Supreme Court’s makeup is now 4 women, 3 men.  “We are led by a woman for the first time, Chief Justice Gildea, and Associate Justice Anne McKeig of the White Earth band is our first Native Justice and the only Native woman to serve on any state Supreme Court.”  6.) “We are a like-minded group, agreeing about 65-70% of the time on a decision. After a case is heard, the justices retreat to their chambers (without staff) to have a formal discussion, moderated by the Chief Justice, who then determines who will write the majority opinion and who will write the minority opinion.”  7.) Our most famous justice recently retired, the Honorable Alan Page of Minnesota Vikings fame.  And current Justice David Stras, former U of M law professor, will likely be appointed by President Trump to the US Court of Appeals for the 8^th Circuit, one step away from the US Supreme Court.  Justice  Lillehaug concluded his presentation by inviting questions and commenting on the Court’s new efforts toward transparency and the challenges of the technological age (drones, social media, Apple’s providing a “back door” into its devices in the case of determining guilt).

The Club 25 Grants Committee is accepting applications to provide funding to qualifying organizations in the Spring, 2017. For more information on the criteria for receiving funding from Club 25, review the Grant Guidelines. To apply for funding, the organization should complete the Grant Application Form. All applications are due to Bri, bri@duluthrotary.org, by February 15th. If the organization received a grant from Club 25 last year, a Final Report must be  completed prior to being considered for further  funding.