“No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts off from its youth severs its lifeline.” former U.N. Secretary General from Ghana Kofi Annan

 

We know that Rotary is a global humanitarian organization of 1.2 million community leaders worldwide committed to making the world a better place.  Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. What is Global Citizenship? A global citizen is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it. They take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more equal, fair, and sustainable. Today’s program explored one family’s life-changing experiences while participating in this Rotary program.

 

President Michelle Buria called us to order and we began with Rotary’s Four-Way Test followed by Jeff Iisakka and the Rotary Reflection. He asked all in attendance to reflect on how people of the world are both different and the same. At a population of 7.8 billion and spread throughout the globe, we share 99.9% of our DNA! And according to author Eric Torrence, there are five ways we are all alike: We all have a story; we all are afraid; we all are stuck in our own skin; we all are valuable, we all are imperfect.  The sooner we recognize and appreciate these similarities, the better off we are!  Past President Bob Bennett offered up the Rotary Fellowship Report beginning with introducing our visiting Rotarian, Assistant District Governor Kay Biga of Eco Rotary. Our own Holly Sampson is stepping down as President of Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation after 30 years of growing the foundation’s endowment from $6M to more than $79M.  Jay Ott, team leader of the 2019 Rotary Bowling Champions “Team Ott” is seeking a replacement for his talented teammate and son who is moving away.  Dick Swenson kicked the Golden Can to celebrate his 88^th birthday. Suzanne Anderson contributed to honor her husband Mark’s promotion as Chief Administration Officer at LHB.  Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom celebrated 53 years of marriage to Babs (who is doing well enough to drive once again!). Skeeter Moore was called out due to a recent Duluth News Tribune story about his “antics” in the eighties as a UMD Bulldog hockey player in the old Soviet Union trading Levi blue jeans for a bearskin hat.

President Michelle Buria announced our 50–50 drawing has been suspended while the Club Board reviews our procedures to make sure our weekly game aligns with Minnesota State regulations.  We were reminded that the One Rotary Summit is in Duluth on February 1^st. Ashland Rotary Centennial is set for February 29^th at Northland College and the Rotary Club of Superior is organizing transportation.  April 23 through 25^th the District 5580 District Conference will be in Brainerd at Madden’s Resort – go online to reserve your spot now!  Rob Hofmann called up our January Junior Rotarians who were introduced by the outgoing November Junior Rotarians. He reminded all Rotarians to get to know these young people and to freely share our own personal and professional stories as no two journeys are the same.

 

Our January Junior Rotarians

Front left to right: Amber – Ahn – Roshan

Back left to right: Kately - Emma

 

Chair of the Day Jerry Pelofske introduced our program speaker, Ged Frank who shared a story of his and his family’s profound experiences as a host family for Rotary Youth Exchange. To hear Ged, speak from the heart, one can only envy the depth of feeling he experienced with many international youths whom he hosted over many decades! Beginning in 1976 with a student from Belgium, his journey evolved into a true global exchange of goodwill and better friendships. Ged’s own son was able to spend a year in Izmir, Turkey sponsored by the Club while Ged and family hosted two internationals. Ged praised Marshall School for providing full scholarships for a number of international exchange students. Students from Denmark, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey and Germany received life-changing experiences that were not available to them in their homelands – such as a week camping near Ely, MN where the weather was wet, and the temps were chilly. Ged mentioned a number of times when he and his wife traveled overseas to visit the families of their former guests – becoming guests themselves as “second-parents” at one former student’s wedding in Germany!  It may be said that all lives are touched by Rotary Youth Exchange - and the world is a little better for it.

                             

         

 

      

Jerry Pelofske, Ged Frank, President Michelle Buria