Thursday, August 1, 2024

For Those Attending in Person

Lunch

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

AT

President/CEO, Second Harvest Northland

 

Food Bank, Food Shelf, What's the Difference?  Join Second Harvest Northland to learn about the impact of this 40-year hunger-relief organization and its plan to end hunger in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin.

Chair of the Day - Renee Burns

 

By Tacitus

 

Rotary is the place to gather each Thursday.  This was our second meeting in our new accommodations at the Kitchi Gammi Club.  Whether in the WEST DINING ROOM (last week) or the GREAT HALL, the tables at Rotary is where it all comes together.

 

(L to R) Catherine Carter Huber, Judy Rogers (Skyline), Elaine Hansen, Phil Strom, and Chana Stocke

 

(L to R) Kevin Hagen, Darlene Anderson, Sandy Hoff, Mike Orman, Jack Seiler, John Baumgarten

 

Having a real piano rolled in just as the meeting was about to start was a great treat for Past President

John Baumgarten to play our National Anthem, accompanied by President Elizabeth Simonson

 

President Elizabeth Simonson clearly enjoyed being at the podium.  She guarded it and may never give it up.  But she did let it go to call up Past Assistant Governor Al Makynen to give the Rotary Reflection. There was a short quiz on the “Six Areas of Focus”, a guideline for projects local, national, and international.  The sixth area is that of Economic and Community Development, a clear passion of our speaker.  No one came close to passing the quiz.

 

President Elizabeth Simonson guarding the podium for dear life.

 

 

President Elizabeth Simonson announced that a former member Vernon Amundson D.D.S died peacefully at his home on Birch Point, Lake Vermilion on July 2, 2024.  Among the many accomplishments listed in his obituary was a reference to his participation with the Duluth Rotary Club.   Geiger Yount reminded us that we are participating again this year with the Lake Superior Harvest Festival to be held Saturday, September 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bayfront Festival Park.  Admission is free with donations accepted for the Sustainable Farmers Association.  Sign-up sheets were on the table.  Depending upon how many of us sign up will determine the number (and duration) of shifts.  I vote for more to sign up and have three (shorter) shifts!

 

Chair of the Day, Tammy Sundbom introduced our program Jodi Slick, Founder and CEO of Ecolibrium3. For the past 13 years Ecolibrium3 (sometimes referred to as ECO3) has been an economic development driver for the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  With a mission to lead and inspire change toward a sustainable future, ECO3 has worked to upgrade and fill the gaps of economic development and access to services for Lincoln Park (Census Tract 156).  Census Tract 156 is a low income area, with a reduced life expectancy, a high density rental area, with aging homes, and suffers from being a food desert.  The decade long highway construction projects impacting access has made economic activity a challenge.  The “Can of Worms” project in not yet complete.  There is a plan to reconstruct West Superior Street, and now the replacement of the High Bridge is in the planning stage.

Our speaker and former member Jodi Slick worked the room as she told the story of Ecolibrium3

 

However, many projects, some short-term, others long-term are in place or being developed to bring a renaissance to Lincoln Park and improve the quality of life.  Part of the overall plan is to underpin the regional economy, work with area partners, and become better connected.  By individuals and businesses being connected everyone is more resilient to major changes.

 

President Elizabeth Simonson, Speaker Jodi Slick of Equilibrium3, Chair of the Day Tammy Sundbom