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Stories
Volume 106 #15
This Week at Rotary
 
We Meet at Noon
In Person – With Box Lunch - RSVP
(Three Persons per Table)
- OR -
By Zoom 
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Holiday Inn and Suites - Downtown Duluth
Ballroom
 
Sarah Adams
Founder of Espanolx
 
How a Plane Ticket to Mexico Shaped a Life
 
At fifteen I was selected to participate in the Rotary Foreign Exchange program.  When I arrived in Merída, México I knew three words in Spanish. My host family only spoke Spanish, so we communicated with pictures and gestures. By the end of the year, México was my home away from home. My love for México and the Spanish language impacts my every choice. Including the founding of Españolx.  Come and hear the rest of her story!
 
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Steve Yorde
 
The energy and anticipation at Rotary were at high levels given the presentation by one of our own, Dr. Bill Himango, speaking about his novel, Provenance. Our speaker did not disappoint. 
 
To begin the meeting, President Dean Casperson rang the bell and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.  In his reflection Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom recalled a group of Rotarians from three Duluth Clubs, plus Thunder Bay, who built a medical clinic in the Amazon jungle near Iquitos, Peru in 1990.  Led by Jon Helstrom, these committed humanitarians also responded in 2009 to clinic director Dr. Linnea Smith’s request to build a larger, updated clinic.  Phils’s reading of Dr. Himango’s novel and his own experiences in the Amazon harkened back his own “personal provenance of this uniquely awesome and beautiful part of God’s creation.”
 
President Dean Casperson introduced Bernard McCarthy, guest of Zach Walters; David Clark, guest of Barb Perrella, and John Musick, guest of Past President Dan Bergeland.  Zach also introduced our newest member, Noah Holland, who was a missionary pilot in Alaska for several years.  Today he serves as youth activities director at Eastridge Community Church.
 
Membership Chair Zack Walters and New Member Noah Holland
 
President Dean Casperson noted that if you have a prospective member in mind, please give the name to either Zack Walters, Membership Chair, or to President Dean Casperson who will assist in the membership process.  There was one item in the Fellowship Report: Bob Reichert emailed that his daughter was married recently, but instead of the traditional “walking her down the aisle”, the proud father paddled her down the Brule River for the ceremony.  Creativity in the face of COVID!
 
Rose Sale Chair Barb Perrella thanked Rotarians here and in Two Harbors, and acknowledged Jen Smith for her assistance in counting money and tickets and Gary Melander for placing the order and coordinating delivery.  For members who wish to donate in lieu of selling roses, the amount is $10 per dozen. Checks are best made payable to the Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation.
 
Rose Chair Barb Perrella in Action
 
Chair of the Day Jeff Bradt introduced fellow Rotarian, neurosurgeon and now author Dr. William Himango. Bill graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, earned a Mayo Clinic fellowship in neurosurgery, then practiced in Boston and Duluth.  Bill’s inspiration for the book was his wife Diane, son Shannon and daughter Stephanie, who spoke to our club several years ago. Provenance is defined as “the place of origin or the beginning of something’s existence.”  Bill’s fascination with origins and beginnings relates to the people, places and experiences which shaped his own life, including small-town racism, the music and story of Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s South Pacific and the Club’s construction of two medical clinics in the Amazon.  He profiled the lead characters in his novel, a story of intrigue, mystery, vengeance, manipulation and tragedy.  But writing a novel is part of a larger process.  Finding a publisher, working with an editor, marketing the novel and determining a publicist were also key elements to the successful publication of this book  The Amazon is the world’s longest river.  It begins near Iquitos, Peru and travels through Manaus, Brazil where two very different rivers, the Rio Negro and the Solimoes, meet before emptying into the Atlantic.  He referred us to two books, The River God Forgot by Richard Collier and Teddy Roosevelt’s River of Doubt.   And yes, he’s already started his second book.
 
President Dean Casperson informed us the novel is available on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, and at billhimango.com.
 
President Dean Casperson and Author Dr. William Himango
Office Preparedness Plan
 
This Week's Meeting
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Holiday Inn Ballroom
207 W. Superior St
Suite 201
Duluth, MN 55802
United States of America
VenueMap Venue Map
Speakers
Oct 15, 2020
How a Plane Ticket to Mexico Shaped a Life
Oct 22, 2020
Federal Prison Camp
Oct 29, 2020
NRRI Latest Projects
Nov 05, 2020
Sudan - Sustainable Agriculture
Nov 12, 2020
Cyber Threats - Protecting Your Data
Nov 19, 2020
150th Anniversary of Duluth
Nov 25, 2020
Dec 03, 2020
New Programs at Lake Superior College
Dec 10, 2020
The Life of an Explorer
View entire list
Upcoming Events
International Sevice
Oct 13, 2020
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Oct 14, 2020
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Nov 11, 2020
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Volunteer Opportunity: Community Food Distribution
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
Dec 09, 2020
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Daniel Bergeland
October 3
 
Jim Grant
October 3
 
Dan Dock
October 4
 
Ryan Johnson
October 7
 
Gary Melander
October 8
 
Dean Casperson
October 10
 
Mark Peterson
October 10
 
Kevin Jones
October 14
 
Branden Robinson
October 15
 
Jim Monge
October 15
 
Bonita Nelson
October 16
 
Jerry Pelofske
October 24
 
Jena Evans
October 27
 
Jon Ohman
October 30
 
Mary Niemeyer
October 31
 
Join Date
Jena Evans
October 4, 2012
8 years
 
Dick Carlson
October 5, 1972
48 years
 
Gerald Ostroski
October 6, 1983
37 years
 
Renee Mattson
October 6, 2005
15 years
 
Chas Bernick
October 12, 1989
31 years
 
Bob Bennett
October 13, 1977
43 years
 
Karol Sowers
October 18, 2012
8 years
 
Steve LaFlamme
October 20, 1983
37 years
 
Dick Fischer
October 22, 1982
38 years
 
Jeramy Mercil
October 24, 2019
1 year
 
Official Publication of Rotary Club of Duluth 
207 W. Superior St.
Suite 201
Phone: 218-722-0451
Duluth, Minnesota 55802
 
Editor:  Al Makynen
218-343-2515
 
Rotary Office Hours
Monday 9 – 3
Wed. & Thur. 9 – 4
218-722-0451
Website: duluthrotary.org
 
See Rotary's response to COVID-19
https://www.rotary.org/en