This Week at Rotary
Thursday, August 22, 2024
IN PERSON & ZOOM
For Those Attending in Person
Lunch Buffet
11:30AM START
(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)
(Link Sent Thursday Morning)
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
Nancy Cashman, Executive Director
Nancy's extensive experience of over three decades in service and operational leadership has been focused on housing, youth, and human-centered program development and implementation. As the Executive Director at CCHC, she leads the organization, coordinates strategy with the board, and ensures the delivery of essential services to the tenants of Center City.
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Al Makynen
It was a rainy windy day for hardy Rotarians to gather at the Kitchi Gammi Club. It may be that some did not make it for fear of melting. The wet weather must have had an effect on our bell as it was definitely out of tune. The microphone for a time did not like the wet either. President Elizabeth Simonson nevertheless kept the meeting on track by offering her own Rotary Reflection with a poem about the coming end of summer. Yikes. But then a recovery describing how nature in the fall rearranges the world with splendid color.
Rotarians who did not melt on a rainy day.
President Elizabeth Simonson selling the virtues of fall. Not many buyers.
Jeff Fifield, President Elizabeth Simonson, Dan Maki getting ready to toss out the microphone
Things moved very quickly as there were no guests to introduce, a change from the normal routine. Also folks were shy about any self-reports. There were several announcements about service opportunities.
Rob Hofmann is seeking a school liaison for the Junior Rotarian Program (to work with either Proctor, Hermantown, or Lakeview Christian Academy high schools – their choice). Also seeking another Gimlet Reporter to join the group where you would be called upon to write the “Highlights of the Meeting” perhaps once every six weeks. For those of you who like to tell stories – this is your chance!
Geiger Yount is seeking more volunteers to greet people at the Lake
Superior Harvest Festival in the afternoon of Saturday, September 7. A separate email will be coming out for you to respond.
Allison Hanig-Landrus introduced our speaker Lindsey Whitlinger (a fellow Rotarian from the Skyline Club) who is the Committee Chair and driving force behind the
Lester River Rendezvous. The Rendezvous was started in 1998 and is actually a three-day event. On Thursday and Friday it is designed to be a school program to provide a hands-on opportunity for hundreds of sixth graders (social studies class) to experience the life of fur traders in the 18
th century. Activities include canoe building, blacksmithing, and outdoor cooking. On Saturday September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the event is open to the general public to experience the life of the fur traders along with many food and other vendors and entertainment for the entire family. The event is run by a non-profit corporation with an annual budget of $25,000. There is a nominal fee per child for participating schools to send students. It is free to the public with a request for a freewill donation. A number of sponsors at various levels from $2,500 down to $100 finance the majority of the event.
We were all encouraged to take our family to the Lester River Rendezvous. You can also spread the word about this community event by placing a yard sign at your home or a poster in your business. (
Contact them via their website.) As our speaker stated, Rotary is a place where people who help, meet.
Chair of the Day, Allison Hanig-Landrus introducing the program on the Lester River Rendezvous
Our speaker, Lindsey Whitlinger of the Lester River Rendezvous
Golden Nuggets of Club 25 History
Rotary Club of Duluth – Chartered July 17, 1911
By Rachel Martin and Jerry Thoreson
August Fitger, Charter Member
August Fitger was a Charter Member of Duluth Rotary Club 25
One of Club 25's 1911 Charter members was August Fitger. Born in Bremen, Germany in 1854, Fitger came to Duluth in 1882 and was hired as a brewmaster for the Michael Fink Lake Superior Brewery. By 1883, Fitger purchased half interest in the brewery.
In 1885, Percy S. Anneke, auditor and salesman for Schlitz of Milwaukee, purchased Fink's interest and became Fitger's partner. Anneke and Fitger incorporated the brewery and changed the name to A. Fitger & Co. - Lake Superior Brewery.
From 1886 to 1911, 15 new buildings were built, expanding the original brewery. In 1904, the brewery was incorporated as the Fitger Brewing Company, with Fitger as President and Anneke as Secretary/Treasurer.
The letterhead of Fitger Brewing Company was an impressive display of the brewery and Duluth. Photo courtesy Zenith City Press.
By 1910, the Fitger Brewing Co. was the 4th largest and one of the most modern breweries in the State.
August Fitger, at age 57, took the classification "Brewing" when he became a Charter member of Rotary Club 25 in 1911.
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