Thursday, December 11, 2025

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

 

 

A familiar face in Duluth’s tourism and nonprofit community, Haley brings a proven track record of destination marketing, strategic leadership, and deep-rooted passion for this city. Most recently, the Executive Director at Lake Superior Zoo, she helped drive a 30% increase in visitation since 2020 and brought fresh energy to Duluth’s tourism landscape through marketing innovation and community partnerships. With her experience in destination management, her previous service on the Visit Duluth board, and her involvement with the city’s 2024 Tourism Marketing Working Group, Haley is uniquely equipped to lead Visit Duluth into its next chapter.

 

 

 Dec. 10, 2025, 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.

Questions: President-elect Dan Maki

Thank you for considering this opportunity!

Contact Dan Dock to volunteer – dandockdc@aol.com or 218-724-7801

 

By Anthony Nordan

 

We were rung in by President Zach Walters. It was wonderful to have everyone back after a long break due to Thanksgiving.

 

The reflection was delivered by Anthony Nordan. It was a reflection on how we are between the two most charitable times of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Matthew 7:12 tells us to do onto others as we would have them do onto us. During this time of year, we are to be exceptionally charitable and willing to be open to other's needs. As Rotarians, we are to show this throughout the year. The 4-way test is not something to be done only between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but year-round.

 

Our guests were Judy Sage, Denver Boser, Tanner Stokes (Speaker), Jake

 

Golden Can. We had no Golden Can moments. This is a reminder that the Golden Can goes to help the grants committee.

 

Past President and Foundation board member Dean Casperson

There were several announcements:

 

Past President Dean Casperson informed us that there is a Twin Ports Club Council being formed by all 5 Rotaries to promote interclub service, communication, ideas, public image, and Rotaract. This council will meet on the 1^st Monday of every month.

 

Jerry Pelofsky told us about a service opportunity Friday at Super One from 11am-1pm. Rotary has a chance to ring bells and meet with the community.

 

Andy Thielen spoke about Youth Exchange. During his 1^st go in Rotary, he was the Club’s Youth Exchange Officer. He brought up many of the youth exchange students who have gone on to stay involved Rotary either in their home countries or move to the United States afterwards. A major point that Andy wanted to bring up was that home families do not have to be Rotarians.

 

Club #25 Youth Exchange Officer Andy Thielen

 

Denver Boser, of Superior Rotary, announced that they are recruiting for a research project. This project is looking for primary caregivers for hospice recipients and/or dementia patients. Interviews conclude January 12^th.

 

Denver Boser shares research work opportunity

 

Jack Seiler spoke on behalf of Past President Chana Stocke. We were presented with a thank you note from the Outreach Coordinator at the Family Freedom Center. It was from the children that they work with, and it was to thank us for our assistance with one of their programs.

 

Tanner Stokes

 

Past President Sandy Hoff introduced Tanner Stokes to us. His introduction of Tanner, listing Tanner’s achievements by age 20, was nothing less than an understatement. Tanner was introduced as a motivated young man who had vision to see how things could be instead of how they are. He was also described as meticulous for details and the ability to look ahead.

 

From a young age, Tanner was an entrepreneur. He started his business career with a lemonade stand at the age of 8. He moved on from lemonade to a lawncare business with the money he made from the lemonade stand. During the winter when grass didn’t need to be cut, he started an apparel business. He has gone on to create Stoke Entertainment and started by doing weddings; he is up to 400 events so far. He is currently Valentini's manager full time and leading a 6 million construction project on the hill. A very busy 20-year-old.

 

Tanners' Express car wash is located on Haines Road next to the Bass Pro Shop. It will be able to accommodate a 50-car stack while his competitors can only have 15. This was all started at a Kwik Trip because of a truck he bought as a senior in High School. He wanted to take good care of it and make sure that it didn’t rust from the weather we have here in Duluth.

 

After meeting with some experts in the industry who challenged his assumptions, he had to completely change his plans around. They helped him find a better location and refine the designs for his facility. They found the old Elks Lodge property. He was excited to see his dream come true, and the logo drafting was the thing that made it feel real. The brand color is bright green. Their new location is leaning into car washing technologies to bring out efficiencies in this field of business.

 

Tanners' Express car wash will have both touch and touch free car washes. Unique car washing software will recognize license plates making it easier for people to drive up and get the same service time and again. They have a top-quality water system to help recapture water to reduce costs. They will be environmentally better only needing to have their water collection system pumped once a year even - removing all the sand and grit. All this thought was also put into the design of the building which will focus on having a lot of glass and ways to communicate.

 

Tanner shared more statistics of what it has taken to get Tanner Express Car Wash open. This will all come to fruition in January when the grand opening occurs. They broke ground back on June 17^th.

 

Questions

 

 

Rotarians at Boys and Girls Club