The Lyric Conference Center at the Holiday Inn was jammed with fans, Bulldogs, Rotarians and yes, future Rotarians as President Tricia Bunten called the meeting to order on a much-needed rainy day in Duluth. Thoughts of NCAA Division 1 hockey championships of the past and dreams of those in Duluth’s future were on everyone’s mind in recognition of today’s speaker. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-Way Test, invocator Past President Dick Carlson invited us to consider the Serenity Prayer, accepting the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can…and the wisdom to know the difference. UMD Athletic’s asst. development director Katy Morgan is pictured with greeters Gary Melander and Traci Marciniak Fellowship Reporter Jena Evans introduced two visiting Rotarians and nine future Rotarians, then began filling the Golden Can by citing moments of achievement deserving at least a $2 contribution. Bill Abalan’s son Mark was named head coach of the Chicago Steel of the USHL. Suzanne Anderson’s 16-year old son Tommy was invited to USA Football’s National Development Games in Dallas in July. He will find out this fall if he has been selected for this national team. Charley Korsch and Mary Ann are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary! Tom Young was pictured recently celebrating his firm’s recognition as “Agency of the Year.” Past President Mike Orman was seen on television attending the Maritime Museum’s exhibit on Lighthouses. Past President Sandy Hoff was also on television representing Pier B. Bill Gronseth’s son Dylan (a former Junior Rotarian of our club’s) was recently married. Dick Pelinka’s daughter Katie also tied the knot last week. And finally, Jena invited anyone who has ever attended a Bulldog hockey game to put a few dollars on the table. Thank you for your support of Rotary.  Charley Korsch celebrates 35 happy years of marriage to Past President Dick Carlson’s daughter, Mary Ann Tricia noted that since August is Rotary’s Membership month around the globe, she recognized our most recent new members (and their proposers). All were invited to stand and be recognized: Roger Hartley (Dick Fischer and Sandy Hoff), Michael Scharenbroich (Ryan Johnson and Barb Perrella) and Eric Dott (Steve Yorde and Jeff Iisakka). Thank you all for being part of our club. She also announced there are two spots available for a Rotary service trip to Guatemala (September 23-October 2); contact Superior Club 40’s Warren Bender for details. Our club participates financially with Club 40 in this project. Ideas for Second Quarter programs are now being sought; contact Traci Marciniak with your program ideas. Paddlers for our club’s dragon boat on August 26 are being sought; contact Suzanne Anderson to sign-up. Past President Phil Strom then honored Tom Wheeler for his RI contributions as a Paul Harris Fellow, along with Tricia Bunten who honored her own son Ben with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. She was also presented with her third sapphire pin. Thanks to all for your commitments to Rotary! Tim Mowbray congratulates Earl Rogers on his amazing recovery as chronicled on Facebook last week Top notch hockey stars Skeeter Moore (UMD forward) and Rob Anderson (UMD goalie) with Coach Sandelin (native of Hibbing, former assistant at North Dakota, UMD head coach for 17 years) Past President Phil Strom then introduced Coach Scott Sandelin of UMD’s men’s hockey team. Coach Sandelin has led the program for the past 17 years. He has a .750 winning percentage during that time, and last year’s 28-win season (28-7-7) was capped off by winning the regionals in Fargo and then finishing within one goal of the top spot in the Frozen Four in Chicago. He’s coached two of UMD’s five Hobey Baker Award winners. No college hockey program has as many Hobeys! Coach Sandelin’s opening video brought back memories of last year’s successful season. By his own admission, the Bulldogs play in the toughest conference in the US. It was a tight group of players who worked hard in practice, showed up to play every game with grit and determination and never panicked when they got behind. As a result of this “resiliency,” they won many one-goal games and they set a standard which is attracting ten new freshman players for the upcoming season to replace the ten who are graduated or are continuing their careers in the pros. While the season-ending loss to Denver was a disappointment, 9 of 10 players from last year signed pro contracts to play in Europe, the American Hockey League and in the NHL. For the coming year, look for Denver to be ranked #1. The Bulldogs play 12 non-conference games (not ten) this year, and their budgetary support is very good thanks to Athletic Director Josh Berlo and his administrative team. One of the biggest challenges? Recruiting. Coach Sandelin’s assistants Brett Larson and Jason Herter are continuously on the road to find players with the right fit for their program. On-campus visits are a key tool in attracting high school senior players, but younger recruits come to Duluth on their own to conduct their own “unofficial visits.” And while the Bulldogs lost ten players from last year’s team, they have ten new players, a new strength coach and academic advisor Kate Meisner who has been extremely valuable given the hours spent in practice and on the road. The expectation remains the same, winning the National Championship.  Coach Sandelin with Past President Phil Strom who attended all of last year’s tournament games in Fargo and Chicago, and President Tricia who watched the Final from a Caribbean beach Assistant District Governor Al Makynen visits with Tom Homan about his presentation at next week’s meeting |
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