“Anticipation” would be a good word to describe the “energy” in the Holiday Inn Ballroom as Club 25 members arrived and filled the room. Why? Most of us have heard a Fred Friedman presentation before and we were NOT going to miss this one. And as this reporter finished his invocation, we were advised that we were in for a great treat. A smiling President Michelle Buria looked very much at ease, in this her second meeting, as she cautioned those coming to the podium to use their time expeditiously to allow Fred Friedman as much time as possible. And they all did.
Tom Wheeler’s Fellowship Report included Tom McCabe’s challenge to the Club in honor of his 65 years of married bliss. In addition to Tom’s $65 contribution to the Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation (formerly the Wes Westmoreland Foundation), Tom also declared he would match additional contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $650. Past President Dave McLean was the first to respond with a significant gift to the Golden Can. Jenny Peterson donated in celebration of the Duluth Rowing Club’s recent regatta. Rob Hofmann came forth with a gift in recognition of his meeting with RYLA students as they gathered in Duluth from whence they traveled to Crookston for their annual week of leadership training. President Michelle told of her promoting the Duck Pluck campaign at the Superior Rotary Club and she noted how Club 25 representatives will be at the Duluth Air Show this weekend for Adopt-a-Duck chances. President Michelle noted so far over 1,000 ducks have been adopted with the goal of 5,000. We have a month to go. Members and friends were urged to use Club 25’s Facebook page or Website as convenient ways to promote Adopt-a-Duck. Jerry Thoreson, Club 25’s social media guru, pointed to Ryan Johnson as he advised members that Rotarians and others in Ryan’s age group use social media as their main way to get the news and keep in touch. Jerry asked members to take out their cell phones, and right there in the meeting instructed us on how to use Facebook to spread the word about Adopt-a-Duck among our friends. Instructions will be sent electronically and will also be available from the Rotary Office.
Mike Orman, Chairperson of the Day introduced Fred Friedman and his topic: The History of the United States Supreme Court. Originally from Chicago, Fred came to Duluth where he graduated from Denfeld High School and from UMD (Magna Cum Laude) and from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Fred was for many years the Chief Public Defender here in Duluth.
Within moments of accepting the microphone, Fred had Club 25 members fully attuned to his unfolding story. Fred took us through a short history of how the Supreme Court came into existence. He said that while the President’s most significant authority may be the decision to use lethal nuclear power in an emergency, Fred’s view is that the President’s next most significant power is the responsibility to nominate judges for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fred wove his knowledge of the Founding Fathers – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, John Jay and Benjamin Franklin – into his story in a way that made listeners want to know more about each of these monumental individuals. He talked about the relationship between the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the First Ten Amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights) and how the Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, were instrumental in persuading the thirteen colonies to ratify the proposed Constitution: Thus, an exceptional nation was born.
After he had provided more stories of the adventures that accompanied the formation of the United States, Fred began to zero in on the formation of the federal and state court system. Some high points: Having an independent Supreme Court with the power to determine the constitutionality of a law was (and is) unique among nations. John Marshall, the second Chief Justice, for his work in establishing the concept of judicial review, may be the third most important of our country’s early leaders – just behind George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Fred talked about how the Supreme Court’s later decision in Brown v. Board of Education negated the arrangement of “separate-but-equal” because it was unconstitutional.
Following an exciting but all too short question and answer period, time ran out, and to marvelous applause, Fred agreed he would return to us next week and finish his story!
Ryan Johnson with President Michelle Buria and Speaker Fred Friedman
Gary Bubalo adopting ducks from Stacy Oltmanns and Barb Perrella