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Volume 105 #39
This Week at Rotary
By Zach Walters
 
We Meet at Noon
Electronically using ZOOM
Thursday, April 16, 2020
 
Ken Buehler
Executive Director, Lake Superior Railroad Museum
 
Jay Cook:  He Believed in Duluth
Ken Buehler will describe for us the history and influence of Jay Cooke.  He also will share with us the mission and work of Lake Superior Railroad Museum.  Many of you may have seen the series of videos about the museum which brings the museum to us as we cannot go there during pandemic.  It is encouraging to see the thousands of views each day from across the United States, Canada, and Europe.  Come and enjoy the stories about Jay Cook, Duluth and a Gem Attraction.
This meeting is by Zoom.  Call Felicia at the Rotary Office (218-722-0451) if you have questions.
 
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Marc Seigar
 
On a day that started off with a winter white-out, Duluth Rotarians gathered remotely from the comfort of their homes for the first official Zoom meeting of Club #25.  President Michelle Buria called the meeting to order.  This was followed by Dave Nolle sharing house rules and directions to use Zoom.  The reflection was given by Paul Hesltrom, who focused on social media platforms to “continue to connect” in this time of social distancing.  With the use of Zoom, Rotarians are able to maintain their commitment to service above self and to continue their work on projects. 
President Michele Buria introduced visitors. Julie Johnson, Vice President of Convention Sales at Visit Duluth, who was a guest of Stacy Oltmanns, and Christina Woods from the Duluth Art Institute (and a prospective member) who was a guest of President-Elect Dean Casperson.  The Fellowship Report was by self-reporting.  Dave Nolle reported his daughter, Sophie, was the Bronze Award Winner in the Minnesota State Science Competition.  Elizabeth Simonson reported that she and her family welcomed a new grandson into the world last week.  Congratulations!  All will have to save up and stuff the golden can when we get back together.
Chair of the Day, Branden Robinson, introduced the speaker who was our very own Jerry Thoreson.  Jerry is the Social Media Manager for Destination Duluth and he also manages the social media for Club 25.  Destination Duluth was founded by Chris Swanson, Branden Robinson and Tom Livingston designed to promote Duluth and get people to move and live here – not just visit!  The focus is on quality of place.
Jerry joined the Club in February.  His presentation was entitled “Growing Duluth and Rotary through Social Media Marketing”.  Social media is marketing and it can be used for a group or an individual, no matter the platform.  Rotary is the original form of social marketing, with the message of service above self.
Destination Duluth is the #1 social media network in the Upper Midwest.  Beyond showcasing Duluth, they focus on misconceptions such as:  “Duluth is too cold for humans”, or “there are no jobs in Duluth”, or “Duluth is not a welcoming community”.  To offset and correct these misconceptions, they use positive photos, because “a picture is worth a 1,000 words”.  Jerry’s presentation included a wide variety of photos posted on social media by Destination Duluth.  One of their most successful posts was of Bentleyville which received more than one million views.
In 2014, Destination Duluth spearheaded a campaign to win the “Outside Magazine” competition. Over the next year, Duluth was featured in over 34 publications worldwide.  Social media also has had an incredible impact on tourism in Duluth.  In 2014, just as Destination Duluth was getting started, the tourism industry was worth $7.8 million in Duluth.  By 2019, it had grown to $12.4 million.
In a poll of 1,000 recipients, Destination Duluth found that 75% said that were thinking about visiting Duluth, 65% said they were planning a visit, and 50% said they had visited Duluth. In the same poll, 25% of respondents said that were considering a move to Duluth, 21% said they were in the process of moving, and 29% credited their move to Duluth to social media marketing. 
Jerry also works on Club 25’s social media, which uses Facebook as the primary platform.  Club 25 has reached 350,000 people through social media and our Duck Pluck had the highest hits of 2019.  Our Club uses “Meme Monday” with a post to Facebook to promote Rotary.  Check it out. Make sure to like it, comment on it, and Share it.  These are the three keys, like, comment, share to increase the profile of the Duluth Rotary Club on Facebook.  It makes a difference.  You can make a difference.
Jerry reflected on how social media keeps us together even in this time of social distancing.  Minnesotans can get through winter.  We can survive Covid-19.  And Jerry’s final word on the power of social media was that “a picture is worth 1,000 people coming to the Northland”.
 
Condolences
To Dean Casperson, on the death of his Father, Carl Casperson,on April 3.
To Past President Bonita Nelson on the death of her husband, Lucky Nelson, on April 10.
Nominations for 2021 Rotary Peace Fellowships
Nominations for 2021 Rotary Peace Fellowships
The 2021 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available for the next cohort of global peace and development leaders.

Members are encouraged to use their professional and social contacts to find potential candidates.   These resources are available to help you recruit candidates:
Candidates have until 31 May 2020 to submit applications to District 5580. The District has until 1 July to submit endorsed applications to The Rotary Foundation.

Send any questions to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org.
This Week's Meeting
We meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Held Electronically
207 W. Superior St
Suite 201
Duluth, MN 55802
United States of America
VenueMap Venue Map
Speakers
Apr 16, 2020 12:00 PM
150th Anniversary Northern Pacific Railroad
Apr 23, 2020 12:00 PM
Zoo School
Apr 30, 2020 12:00 PM
Generation Z
May 07, 2020 12:00 PM
Great Lakes Aquarium
May 14, 2020 12:00 PM
Stroke of Genius
May 21, 2020 12:00 PM
Fire Chief
May 28, 2020 12:00 PM
The adventures of the big duck
Jun 04, 2020 12:00 PM
President's night
Jun 11, 2020 12:00 PM
Every Child Reads
View entire list
Upcoming Events
April Board Meeting
Zoom
Apr 21, 2020
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
 
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
May 13, 2020
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
 
May Board Meeting
St Luke's Foundation Office
May 19, 2020
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
 
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Jun 10, 2020
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Kjell Knudsen
April 1
 
Ruth Ann Eaton
April 8
 
Michael Zlonis
April 16
 
Dick Fischer
April 20
 
Ken Schoen
April 21
 
Tom Wheeler
April 22
 
Sandy Hoff
April 27
 
Al Makynen
April 28
 
Join Date
Dave Nolle
April 1, 1999
21 years
 
Tom Young
April 1, 1995
25 years
 
Phil Strom
April 23, 1981
39 years
 
Grant Hauschild
April 25, 2019
1 year
 
Jim Grant
April 29, 1982
38 years
 
Official Publication of Rotary Club of Duluth 
207 W. Superior St.
Suite 201
Phone: 218-722-0451
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
 
Editor:  Al Makynen
218-343-2515
 
Rotary Office Hours
Monday 9 – 3
Wed. & Thur. 9 – 4
218-722-0451
Website: duluthrotary.org