President Tricia Bunten called the meeting to order on a cool summer day in Duluth. She introduced Past President John Baumgarten to accompany us in the singing of our National Anthem, then Past President Dick Carlson stepped forward to do the invocation. As Dick noted, one of the tragedies of life is the missed opportunity to say thank you, to send flowers as a surprise, to offer encouraging words, to tell someone how much we care about them. With Rotary Rose season nearly upon us, we give others an opportunity to do something wonderfully positive for another person. By selling roses, you make it possible for people to say thank you, offer roses as a gift, and through that transaction, we as Rotarians improve our community. Thank you for supporting the Rose Sale.
President Tricia then formally inducted Greg Hansen as our club’s treasurer for the coming two years. She also confessed to being a history buff, so on this day in 1832 (185 years ago), geologist/author Henry Schoolcraft discovered that the headwaters of the Mississippi River was Lake Itasca! She also acknowledged fellow Rotarians for their efforts in promoting membership at our Sidewalk Days booth. See story on page 2.
“Hello and Happy Thursday,” said Fellowship Reporter Jena Evans as she welcomed guests and one visiting Rotarian, Brad Jenson, who invited everyone to the American Heritage Book Group’s next meeting at the Kitchi Gammi Club on November 7. Come for “dinner and discussion” on Ron Chernow’s biography about George Washington. Jena then began filling the Golden Can by noting that several Rotarians made an appearance in the most recent Duluthian magazine. Chana Stocke was recognized as Minnesota Housing’s Top Producing Loan Officer for the second half of 2016. There were three check presentations to various Northland organizations, so Michelle Buria, Mark Eckman, Gary Bubalo and Mark Boben were invited to kick the can. Steve Burgess was fined for his National Bank of Commerce ad in the Duluthian magazine. Sandy Hoff’s familiar face was in the Happy Sleeper ad in the DSSO’s Northern Sounds magazine. Groundbreaking was held last week for UMD’s new Chemistry/Advanced Materials building, replacing the 1948 building which was initially designed to serve 300 students. Today, that same building is running out of room with over 5,500 students circulating through. Creative as she is, Jena “invited” everyone who had ever taken a science class at UMD to step forward to kick the can. Many, many alums stepped forward…thank you all! Jenny Peterson wrote a DNT editorial on Congress’ current health care debate. As if once wasn’t enough, Mark Boben again very generously stepped up to pay his fine for being seen on television promoting the Gary New Duluth concert series; he also gave a plug for its upcoming concert. Past President Dan Bergeland’s grandson James Dwyer had the honor of dinging yesterday’s closing bell on Wall Street as the firm he works for, Alteryx, went public. Ryan Johnson was named Fuse Duluth’s board chair, plus he and his wife are expecting their second child. And in the spirit of full disclosure, Jena fined herself as her little one celebrated her first birthday this week.
Speaker Tony Dierckins with Jim Schwartz
Dick Pelinka introduced today’s speaker, local historian and author Tony Dierckins, publisher of Zenith City Press. Tony has written two dozen books, and has been recognized twice as a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. He got right into the presentation on his newest book with co-author Nancy S. Nelson, “Duluth’s Historic Parks, Their First 160 Years.” This book was twelve years in the making primarily because it is a complex story with several “fits and starts” by those who envisioned, established and at times extended themselves and the City financially. The City’s park system today consists of about 170 properties and roadways encompassing 12,000 acres; that’s roughly 25% of the entire city dedicated to public spaces and parks. William K. Rogers, Duluth’s first president of the Parks board, conceived the idea of a system of stream-corridor parks connecting a scenic hillside parkway to a boulevard along our beloved Lake Superior shore. The City’s first parks were platted in 1856, and its newest park was established in 2016; that’s 160 years. Tony discussed the creation of parks with now familiar names of Lincoln, Congdon, Chester, Lester, Enger and Hartley among many others. He reminded us that support from Duluth’s citizens in the form of taxes paid and personal donations of land and cash to City coffers helped make the initial vision of its parks a reality. From the 1911 vision, “An essential factor of a modern city is to express the concept of the soul of the city. Parks reflect who we are and what we believe in.”
Rotarians Roger Hartley, Mike Orman and Michael Scharenbroich wait in line to purchase Speaker Tony Dierckins’ and Nancy S. Nelson’s book “Duluth’s Historic Parks: Their First 160 Years”.
