Aileen Geving, the Second in the USA Women’s Olympic Curling team and member of the Duluth Curling Club, will share her experience as an athlete in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
With the piano having been rolled out of the room for another event, President Tricia Bunten led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test. The group did well with the Four Way Test even though there was no banner in the room! Past President Dan Bergeland provided reflections on how we each can address those who are challenged with mental health issues by being ever mindful of the needs of others.
A short but profitable Fellowship Report was delivered by Darlene Anderson. Past President Elaine Hansen was tagged for an article in the paper describing the changing face of downtown Duluth. Tricia Bunten was given a work zone fine for the ongoing fundraising for the new building on the UMD Campus. Since there was such an emphasis on UMD all of the alumni were invited to contribute to the Golden Can. Suffice it to say that this reporter was unable to keep up and record all the names of the proud graduates. The count was well over two dozen.
The impact of the Club’s fundraisers was on grand display as Catherine Carter Huber, Chair of the Grants Committee, called up Jodi Broadwell of the Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaboration for a presentation. The $3,000 will be used to support a community event in July and further develop the Medicine and Pollinator Gardens which our Club funded last year. There was also a reminder to sell your two tickets for the Duluth Rotary Club Community Service Raffle. It is always an option to just buy both tickets! However, spread the fun around, especially to the other Rotary Clubs. Earl Rogers makes a point of selling tickets for every known Rotary fundraiser in the Greater Duluth Area. Jon Ohman can attest to that as being one of the winners in the Superior Rotary Club Raffle.
Bri Braaten and President Tricia Bunten
Today represented Bri Bratten’s last meeting with our Club. She has accepted a new position and will be moving on with her career. As Bri was given a bouquet of flowers the crowd gave her a standing ovation. Tricia Bunten assured Bri she was welcome to come back anytime, especially as a member!
Chair of the day, Jenny Peterson introduced our speaker and her topic with some gentle words of advice about mental health. As a society we shy away from the discussion of this illness while revealing all sorts of information about other physical ailments. It is time to have the conversation. And for that conversation to start she introduced Shannon Sweeny Jorgenson of the Northland Healthy Minds organization. Shannon was previously the Employee Benefits Administrator for the City of Duluth where she initiated the “Make it OK Campaign” to talk about mental health issues. To get us started she asked us to each privately answer the following questions: (1) Would you be reluctant to discuss your mental health? (2) Would you think yourself weak if you had a mental health issue? (3) Would you rather discuss physical not mental ailments? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, that is stigma. The Northland Healthy Minds organization is a joint venture of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (which started in Minnesota) and Health Partners. Northland Healthy Minds along with its 50 affiliated members work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health so that we as a society can have a meaningful discussion about potential solutions. Ms. Jorgenson went on to explain why it is important to care about this topic and to work to do something about it. The leading cause of disability is depression. Worse, people with depression on average wait ten years before seeking treatment. The loss of productivity and the damage done to relationships is tremendous. One in five suffer from some type of mental illness. Mental illness is more common than being left handed. And it is estimated that everyone is affected by mental illness either directly, or through friends or family who suffer. The challenge is to know what to do, or what to say. Treating those with mental health issues with dignity and kindness is a first step. Where evident, show compassion and interest. Make the connection to create a level of trust for those who are unable to reach out for help. Make it OK
President Tricia Bunten, Speaker Shannon Sweeney Jorgenson and Jenny Peterson
Chair of the Grants Committee Catherine Carter Huber and Executive Director of the Lincoln Park Children Family Collaborative Jodi Brodwell
The Fellowship Breakfast will be on Friday, May 25th at Valentini’s starting at 7:30 a.m. This is a great time to meet other Rotarians and catch up with those you already know. This is also is a fantastic way to introduce guests or prospective new members to Rotary. Encourage other Rotarians to join you for an informal breakfast and think about bringing a guest. We hope to see you there!
The Club 25 Community Project Raffle kicked off on Thursday, May 3rd. The drawing will take place on June 14th but you do not have to present to win. The committee kept the prizes the same as last year, with the cash prizes based on the number of tickets sold. The prizes will be as follows:
One Platinum Level: 20% of purse (up to $7,500)
One Gold Level: 10% of purse (up to $3,750)
Three Silver Level: 5% of purse (up to $1,875)
Five Bronze Level: 1% of purse (up to $375)
This is the last fundraiser for the 2018-2019 year and it will determine the amount of funds we can use to make a difference in our community. Club 25 has a number of exciting projects planned for the 2018-2019, such as a Habitat for Humanity build in Duluth as well as providing coats and bikes for children who would not have one without community funding.
Each Club 25er will be given two $100 tickets to buy or sell. You can pick up your tickets at a Thursday meeting or in the Rotary office. This important fundraiser gives everyone a chance to win these amazing prizes. Contact the Rotary Office at 218-722-0451 or club25@duluthrotary.org with questions. Club 25ers can charge their ticket purchases to their accounts.
What: You can help by bringing boats and fishing equipment. Please reach out to friends, neighbors and family to help with this event. Several people with boats and equipment are needed. There should be around 40 youth and staff that will be fishing.
Grew up in Moose Lake, went to Bemidji State University for college. Lived in the Twin Cities for 6 years prior to moving back to the Northland.
My favorite activity is fishing - on Lake Superior and inland lakes. I am also learning to enjoy traveling.
My wife Becky works with me each tax season. Outside of tax season, she likes to play with her horses and travels throughout MN and WI to about 5 horse shows each year. In May, we traveled to Sweden with our friends and visited extended family and good friends we met through the Swedish soccer exchange.
We have two daughters, Ashley and Megan. Ashley graduated from St. Scholastica with a biology degree and works in Duluth. Megan graduated from Bethel University with an athletic training degree and is living at home as she explores her options.
Ashley celebrated her first anniversary in July. Her wedding was Friday, July 22, which was the day after "the storm". For all the destruction and lack of power throughout Duluth, the wedding essentially went off without a hitch. It was amazing to see people come together in times of need!
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