Last week’s annual Junior Rotarian meeting was one of the more memorable meetings of the year. Our club’s Junior Rotarians, representing their seven area high schools, were with their high school counselors and school advisors. The impact these young people made at the meeting was truly memorable. Hermantown’s Parth Mishra moved the full agenda along nicely (as Chair) with Past President Dave McLean’s guiding hand. Frankly, Parth seemed as relaxed as a summer day at the beach; the ease at which he introduced his fellow Junior Rotarians was greatly admired by all. Parth led off by calling on Denfeld’s Emma Schiltz to lead us in our National Anthem, accompanied by Bob Kase on piano. The invocation was delivered by Marshall School’s Elizabeth Jarocki who expressed gratitude for our Rotary Club and its commitment to the 4-Way Test. She noted that not all in our community were as fortunate as today’s Junior Rotarians, given a recent suicide, the fire at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, not to mention those defending our freedoms and representing our country in foreign lands at war. So much pain and frustration, yet these Junior Rotarians expressed thanks for the privilege of serving their schools and Rotary at this time in their lives. East’s Eva Huber delivered a succinct Fellowship Report which fined Barb Perrella (Sammy’s Pizza’s 64th anniversary), Steve Yorde (Adele’s mention in the DNT on the Port’s new temporary office), Jena Evans (Ecumen’s recent plan to expand its campus), and Catherine Carter Huber (St. Luke’s new clinic in Ashland). Two bucks was levied on Natalie Zeleznikar’s cell phone for “accidently” going off during the meeting, and an extra two bucks levied when she reported it as a call from work. That’s a work zone fine! Dave McLean’s recent fishing excursion (on television) with Rainey River Superior was fairly noted as a work zone fine, as well.

Rob Hofmann then stepped up to introduce the following students as they described their school projects...as each school received a $1,000 honorarium from the club.

· Lily Schibitzke from Proctor described the “broadcast box” to enable Proctor Rails televising of its sporting and cultural events.

· Marshall’s Bailee Truan said that seat covers at school enabled more comfort for the students, not to mention enhanced socialization and creativity.

· Lakeview Christian Academy’s Ryan Johnson thanked the club for a portable sound system (new, speakers, mixers, etc.) to improve the basketball and volleyball teams’ game experience. LCA has no gymnasium so it uses the gym at Cotton for competition.

· Harbor City’s Victoria Tracy reported that their efforts to improve students’ understanding of the importance of recycling netted a new water fountain with permanent “water re-filler” attachment to encourage use of permanent/reusable bottles...not plastic.

· Katherine Skwira-Brown at Denfeld thanked the club for paint brushes and paint used by students in art classes. Often Denfeld teachers have used their own money to purchase brushes for art classes, the most popular elective in all of Denfeld High School.

· Hermantown’s Trent Madill noted that its honorarium will be used for construction materials to build trophy cases for the new Hermantown High School. Construction Technology students will build these cases at no charge. Current trophy cases will remain in the former high school building.

· Justin Bock and Cabrilla Francis of Duluth East described its “Circle of Friends” program which matches disabled students with others to reduce bullying, increase understanding and empathy among all.

Rob Hofmann then proceeded to acknowledge Bill Gronseth and other Rotarians for their leadership in evaluating student 4-Way Test Essays. For the first time in recent memory, one student, Elizabeth Jarocki from Marshall, was selected unanimously on the first ballot. She presented her amazing essay which will soon be posted on the club’s website.

This memorable program concluded with three presentations by the students:

· A troupe of singers and actors from Harbor City School performing a skit from “Peter and the Star Catcher.” This will be performed the weekends of April 26-28 and May 4-6.

· Former Junior Rotarian Andrew Jarocki, now at Notre Dame, anchored his presentation on the 4-Way Test and what our club’s Junior Rotarian program means in terms of life after high school.

· Denfeld’s Sydney Rabold presented a portion of her State Speech Contest entry, an excerpt from “The Pink Unicorn”.