Thursday, January 22, 2026

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

 

 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland has a rich history of being at the forefront of youth development. Staffed by more than 40 youth development professional staff, supplemented by part-time volunteers, and a driven board of directors, our five Club branches provide supportive services to youth ages 6 to 18 throughout northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

 

 

2302 Commonwealth Avenue

Duluth, MN 55808

 February 11, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

We have an opportunity to help fight hunger in our area! Our Rotary Club has partnered with Second Harvest Northland to assist them in their mission to create a hunger-free Northland at their new facility in West Duluth.  

For more information about Second Harvest Northland visit: https://secondharvestnorthland.org/

Or Contact :Daniel Maki

 

 

 

By Al Makynen

 

President Zach Walters rang the bell a little later than usual.  Some say he lost track of time while conversing with the program speaker.  Others assigned the delay to making sure any late arriving high rollers were able to get their 50/50 tickets.

 

A room full of attentive Club 25 Rotarians

 

An impromptu Rotary Reflection set the tone as Greg Hansen commented on the power of fellowship, both in working on and participating in events that provide the energy and financial means to do good work in the community and the world.

 

President Zach Walters shows Greg Hansen the email reminder to do the Rotary Reflection

 

The Golden Can provided the opportunity for members to share milestones in either (or both) their personal life or professional endeavors.  Rob Hofmann paid a sizable fine in honor of his workshop for a new musical, “The Willing”.  It was so successful in workshop the next phase will be a production in either a local or regional venue.  Greg Hansen fessed up that he got behind reading email reminders, which resulted in today’s impromptu reflection.

 

Continuing the theme of financial support for both local and international projects, Tom Young was recognized with a Paul Harris Fellowship pin with three sapphires recognizing a significant and growing commitment to the Rotary International Foundation, whose signature project is the eradication of polio from the face of the earth.

 

President Zach Walters with Tom Young and his Paul Harris Fellowship pin with three sapphires

 

Rob Hofmann, as Chair of the Day, introduced Michelle Miller, the Interim Executive Director of the Armory Arts and Music Center.  Michelle Miller has been with the Armory Arts Center for three plus years, serving in various capacities, with a 35-year career in non-profit leadership. She began her remarks by telling us that her last appearance at Rotary was as a guest.  Now as the Program Speaker.  Next should be as a member.  An interesting pattern by the Program Committee in support of membership.

 

Speaker Michelle Miller from the Armory Arts and Music Center

 

Michelle Miller’s remarks were about all things Armory, past, present, and future.  The building has been standing vacant for decades resulting in many not knowing all that is going on inside.  For those of us who took the Rotary tour two years ago we had some inkling.  And then there were members present who remember when the Armory was an active performance center 60 years ago.  The Armory was built in 1915 for use by both the National Guard and the Naval Militia.  It has served our community is various capacities from a Relief Center for the Cloquet and Moose Lake fires of 1918 (including being an on the spot adoption center for children orphaned in the fires) to the venue for 411 different performers including Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” for the 1959 Winter Dance Party.

 

To date over $12 million has been invested to maintain the structural integrity of the building.  The current phase of work is a $52 million dollar project (with $4.5 million from the State of Minnesota and $5 million from an anonymous private donor) to make it a new and exciting center for artists and the performing arts.  George Sherman of Sherman and Associates has made this a passion project.  Krause Anderson is the General Contractor.  The renovated building will include arts and education studio spaces, a performance stage in what was once the drill hall, and a fourth floor banquet ballroom with extraordinary views of Lake Superior. The target date for reopening is fall 2027.  A dream come true would be to have Bob Dylan, who was present at the 1959 performance, be the main attraction of the official reopening.

 

President Zach Walters demonstrating to Micelle Miller what his Boxing Gym in the Armory will look like

 

House Salad

Dinner Rolls

Pasta Bar – Marinara, Alfredo, Penne Noodles, Chicken, and Meatballs