Thursday, October 16, 2025

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

 

Join us as we host David Schuer, board chair of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association (LSMMA) as he shares news about the South Pier Light House and the November conference Gales of November This year's program observes the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking.

 

Chair of the Day: Rob Hofmann

 

 

 

By Al Makynen

 

It was a great meeting of a great club in the Great Hall.  Gathering in an historic room with views of Lake Superior on a bright fall day lifted our spirits.  The Kitchi Gammi Club location is a major improvement over windowless conference room.  The Rotary Reflection by Rob Hofmann compared the work of the American Red Cross and Rotary.  Both provide compassion and action with a view to restoring hope and human dignity.  Both emphasize the future through current investments and programs.  Both groups are driven by volunteers.

 

The dark wood of the Great Hall brightened by the fall sunshine and the reflection off Lake Superior

 

The Golden Can is your chance to support the work of the Club and make a splash among friends.  Tammy Sundbom was the first up to inform us that her two oldest children each announced their engagement.  And if that were not enough, she has enrolled in an MBA program.  It is going to be a busy time.  Jim Schwartz marched up to the front of the room to tell us about his recent work as a line leader during a Kindergarten fire drill.  He whipped those youngsters into shape and took first place in evacuation time.  During his remarks the image of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie “Kindergarten Cop” came to by mind!

 

The Rotary Rose Sale is going strong with piles of envelopes with tickets and money coming into the Treasurer, Jennifer Smith.  Past Assistant Governor, Phil Strom, turned in 161 dozen.  Dale Johnson turned in 60.  Everyone is to continue to sell right up to and including the day of distribution on Friday October 17.  Sufficient roses have been ordered.  Do not stop now.  Sell. Sell. Sell. Right up to the end!  And you do not have to have tickets.  Direct your customers to the RotaryRose.com website to purchase.  Remind them to answer the question about who sent them to the website.  Past President Gary Melander also has slots for a few more Rotarians to participate in fellowship during Rotary Rose distribution.  If you have not yet signed up on the master distribution board, do not worry, it is not too late.  You will have the opportunity to respond to an email and or a phone call next week.  Everyone will get a chance.  If you are one of the usual suspects that have worked this sale in the past, get your name into Gary Melander.  Call him at 218-390-5252 day or night.  He is taking calls 24/7.  So, call him sooner than later.

 

Rose Sale Chair, Gary Melander, will make sure every member gets a chance to distribute roses

 

The Rotary Club of Duluth is hosting the District Conference for our very own District Governor, Elaine Hansen.  If you are in town the days of October 24 and 25 you need to register, attend, and if able volunteer for the big event.  And this is a BIG EVENT.  Contact either Renee Burns or Elaine Hansen for details.  The BEST WAY to register is on the RotaryDistrict5580 website.  You will be entertained, learn things about Rotary near and far, and come away impressed.  Register soon.

 

District Governor Elaine Hansen, one of our own, reminding us of the upcoming District Conference

 

Chair of the Day, Tammy Sundbom introduced Dan Williams Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northern and Central Minnesota.  The district is large, with service provided to 37 Minnesota Counties and 7 Sovereign Tribal Nations from the Lake of the Woods to Wilmar.  And all of this is done with just seven paid staff (including Owen Fifield, Disaster Program Manager, the son of Jeff Fifield), who with others, coordinate 450 volunteers!  The American Red Cross is known for its response to emergencies including home fires (254 with 704 people affected) and coordination of blood drives (1,456 collecting 47,000 units) in the past year within the local area served.  The local initiative being highlighted for us was “Holidays for Heroes”.  This is a program where individuals are enlisted to prepare hand written cards of thanks to military personnel who have or are serving our country. Each service member whether on active duty overseas, serving locally in the National Guard, or residing in a Veterans Home receive a packet of cards (three) expressing gratitude for their service.  This is a huge undertaking with schools, civic groups, companies, and non-profit organizations rallying to prepare the cards.  The American Red Cross role is to finance and coordinate the operation, read and proof every single message, select and bundle, and distribute the cards.  In addition to being of service to active military and veterans, the Holidays for Heroes program gives young people and volunteers the opportunity to stop and reflect on the service of others.

 

Chair of the Day, Tammy Sundbom

 

Speaker Dan Williams, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northern and Central Minnesota

 

 

Rotary- Life House Thanksgiving Dinner

November 25, 2025, TUESDAY

MEAL PREP (For Life House)

Monday 9 a.m. to 12 noon Nov 24, 2025 (Need 1 total) (FULL)

Jim Schwartz

Tuesday 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tuesday Nov 25, 2025 (Need 1 total) (FULL)

Jim Schwartz

DELIVERY-FOOD TRANSPORTATION (To Gary Schnieder—First Lutheran

Church) (To Life House and back to Gary-First Lutheran Church)

Friday Nov 21, 2025

Jerry Pelofske

Tuesday 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov 25, 2025 Pick up and return to First Lutheran

Church after.

Jerry Pelofske

Taking care of the turkeys during church on Sunday November 23, 2025 (FULL)

Christa Scheider

Fob for Doors at church-Friday?, Monday?, Tuesday especially 5:30 PM

Christa Scheider

SET-UP and DECORATION

Tuesday Nov 25, 2025 12:00 to 2:30 pm

Jenna (Interior Designer)/ Karen Dock

Photos

MEAT BALLS NEED 2

2 large crock pots

SERVERS Tuesday Nov 25, 2025 2:45 to 5:30 pm (Need 8 Total) (FULL)

Jim Schwartz

Mark Leutgeb- Skyline Rotary

Karen Dock

Michelle Buria

Dave Lambert

Patra Sevastiades

Jim Curtis-Skyline Rotary

Elizabeth Simonson

 

PIES and WHIPPING CREAM (Cans) NEED 16 PIES from SUPER 1

Pumkin or Apple are popular. NO NUTS PLEASE

–Please drop off at LIFE HOUSE 1-2 PM on Tuesday November 25

 

CLEAN-UP and Take Down (NEED 5 TOTAL)

Tuesday Nov 25, 2025 4:45 to 5:30

Mark Leutgeb- Skyline Rotary

Karen Dock

Jim Curtis-Skyline Rotary