One week following our Annual Rotary Kiwanis Joint Thanksgiving gathering, Rotarians once again gathered in fellowship and service for one last time this November. President Steve Yorde rang the Rotary Bell calling us to order followed by Rotarians singing America the Beautiful accompanied by Past President John Baumgarten. Past President Dan Bergeland led our Invocation by sharing the Prayer of Saint Francis, which is well suited for Rotarians, a call to Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace.

Past President Phil Strom provided today’s Fellowship Report. We had no visiting Rotarians, but a great number of guests many of whom are well-known community leaders and philanthropists. Club 25 played host to two organizations who later would receive grants; Donna Kirk, a Math Instructor from CSS and Brenda Vatthauer, Principal of Lincoln Park Middle School;  Bob Rogers of Bob’s Bikes and his brother Fred Rogers; Sandy Fossen, wife of Bob Rogers, was the guest of Deanna Benson. Past Club 25 member Frank Holappa was the guest of son Dave Holappa; Todd Fedora was joined by Matt Cochran from US Bank. Club 25 hosted Megan Walker who works at Essentia Duluth Heritage Sports Center in Community Relations and President Steve invited guests Pat Francisco and Dick Loraas who are among the leaders behind the success story we will hear later. In the category It’s a small Rotary world after all, Past President Tricia Bunten paid a fine for a happy coincidence … The Bunten family was awaiting their turn to view the Crown Jewels in London, England – a city of 8 million – when who should be standing just in front of her but fellow Rotarians Tom and Sheryl Homan! Later that week, The Bunten clan was able to spend Thanksgiving with former Club #25 Rotary exchange student Frederique “Fred” Dell and her Dad in Brussels, Belgium (no sprouts were harmed in this visit). Bob Kase kicked the golden can to honor the end of an era in Duluth’s Jazz scene – the last traditional jazz performances at the Saratoga Club. A few Rotarians had write-ups in the DNT: Tom Wheeler, a regular contributor, had a column asking for an end to “all the fiddling around” on immigration reform. Steve Burgess wrote on “How your bank works for the community.”

Beth Storaasli paid a work-zone fine with news that her law firm has merged and has a new name – Dryer and Overum. Even President Steve could not escape making a generous contribution to the Golden Can as he once again paid a fine – dutiful hubby that he is – all because Adele Yorde commented on the importance of the Army Corp of Engineers’ $32 million commitment toward constructing the new Poe Lock at the Soo. The absent (but never forgotten) Traci Marciniak was fined in absentia for the honor of passing her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) exam. Joining in the fine were fellow holders of the CFRE credential, Past President Tricia Bunten, Rob Hofmann and President Steve. It was shared that under Past President John Baumgarten’s leadership, Club 25 met its fundraising goal for the Thanksgiving Food Drive! Special recognition went to McKenzie MacFarlane as she was awarded Sam’s Club Associate of the Month for November – Congratulations MacKenzie! Closing out the report, Past President Phil Strom called upon the Rotary Singers to plan on arriving no later than 10:45 a.m. next Thursday for choral rehearsal before the Annual Christmas Program.

Past President Phil Strom welcomed guests Donna Kirk and Brenda Vatthauer who received a grant of $4,000 to support a weeklong summer STEM Camp (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) held each year at the College of St. Scholastica. The camp brings together middle school kids and their parents for an educational experience that mixes learning and fun. Bob Rogers of Bob’s Bikes and brother Fred Rogers received a big check for $5,757.10 to help purchase, assemble and distribute 400 bikes and bike helmets to kids throughout the Twin Ports area. A few announcements followed: Jerry Pelofske sought help for the annual Salvation Army bell ringing, donations of diapers were requested for Lutheran Social Service’s Annual Diaper Drive (which may be dropped at the Rotary Office); and President Steve stated that our host – Holiday Inn – is attempting to track incoming and outgoing vehicles, and reminded us to use the parking tickets located on the registration table.

Chair of the Day Skeeter Moore introduced Jerry DeMeo, President and CEO of the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center (EHDHSC). Jerry’s presentation, which included a beautiful video presentation, showed that a collection of shared values could become the cornerstone of a successful community enterprise. EHDHSC, located in Duluth’s renaissance Craft District, stands as a testament of what great things can happen when both private and public sectors of a community come together to work toward a common goal. More than 10 years ago, a phoenix of a vision arose from the fire that destroyed the Ray Peterson Ice Area. The loss of such a public asset could not be replaced with City of Duluth funds – remember the Great Recession? Though the obstacles seemed daunting, community leaders such as former Club 25 Rotarian Alessandro Giuliani, Pat Francisco, Dick Loraas and countless others worked to build what now stands as the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center in the Clyde Iron Works Complex. More than $20 million was raised through a collaboration of both public and private financing in the form of donations, pledges and bank financing. As of 2018 no debt remains. The EHDHSC is more than hockey, though finding “ice time” is near to impossible – the facility is also used for other recreational activities such as indoor soccer. And those shared values mentioned earlier? They are proudly displayed upon the outside walls of the Center :  COMMITMENT–
DEDICATION – COURAGE – HONOR –
HARD WORK – TEAMWORK – INTEGRITY – SPORTSMANSHIP ... values in abundant supply used to achieve what must have seemed at the time to have been an impossible goal.