Pres. Steve Yorde welcomed Club 25 members and guests as he invited members to join in the singing of “America the Beautiful” with Past President John Baumgarten at the piano.  He also invited Dick Pelinka to give the invocation and Past President Bob Bennett to provide the fellowship report.  Rotarians sang lustily.  Dick’s invocation featured an Ojibway prayer which was appropriate for today’s meeting. Bob Bennett’s fellowship report included the introduction of Ben Brekken from Apple Valley (Ben is a former Club 25 member), Tom Pollock, another former Duluth Rotarian who now lives in Sarasota, Fla., Chris Casperson, a guest of Dean Casperson and Patty Mester, General Manager of WDSE guest of Past President Elaine Hansen.  Bob then called on Past President Phil Strom to introduce Gary Nolte, Past Governor of Rotary District 5580 and his wife Cindy.  Gary and Cindy are Rotarians from Moorhead, MN.  They were celebrating their 49^th wedding anniversary in Duluth.  Bob’s report next included the mention of an article in a recent Wall Street Journal piece that commended Duluth for a program sponsored by the Duluth-Superior Community Foundation. The program was (is) entitled “Speak Your Peace”, a program that features an effort to learn lessons on “how to calm the waters of civil disobedience.” Past President Holly Sampson’s name was associated with the commendation.  While she was not in attendance, DSCF Board member Past President Brandon Robinson came forth to kick the golden can. This being the first meeting in August, members who have birthdays in August were feted as Rotarians sang the happy birthday song.  Among these Rotarians were Tricia Bunten, Edie Michalski, Jeff Fifield, Chuck Chairs, Bob Bennett, John Lawien, Darlene Anderson, Jeff Bradt, Jack Soetebier, Bob Torgrimson, Mike Orman and Brian Liberty. Special mention was accorded to Jack Soetebier who has 56 years of perfect Club 25 attendance. 

 

Podium announcements included a reminder from Earl Rogers that he has coupons for Skyline Rotary’s annual peach sale.  This program now has at least 25 years of history and counting and is a major fund-raiser for Skyline Rotary. President Steve announced that Club 25’s Personnel Committee has received some 27 applications for the part-time administrative assistant position.  These applications have been narrowed down to three candidates and interviews will be held in the near future.  President Steve also mentioned the corporate membership idea is beginning to take shape.    The originators of this idea (last year’s strategic planning committee) will be seeking input from interested Club 25 members. A meeting will be scheduled soon. Watch the Gimlet for future details. Jenny Peterson informed Club 25 members that she is recruiting people to row Club 25’s Dragon Boat when the race takes place on August 25.  Two practices will be held in advance of this event.  At least ten club members will be needed to fill the boat with paddlers. President Steve smiled (again) as he told Duluth Rotarians that McKenzie MacFarlane’s car (which was parked in front of the Holiday Inn) has been “wrapped” to advertise the upcoming Rotary Rose Sale.  Rotarian Jim Olson and Stewart-Taylor Printing has made this happen.  Other Rotarians may volunteer to have their cars wrapped to promote Club 25’s major fund raiser that will be coming up shortly.

 

Sheryl Homan was then introduced as the Chair Person of the Day.  Sheryl was the Rotarian who arranged to have Michael LeGarde as today’s program.  Michael is the producer of WDSE’s program, “Native Report”, a weekly feature on Duluth’s public television station.  Before Michael came to the podium, however, Sheryl took a moment to teach the audience how to speak Ojibway – or at least one word of it.  That word was “megwich” which means “thank you”.  While we can’t all be called native speakers, at least we have a start. Michael Lagarde began by reporting how much he loves his job.  His presentation provided the audience with abundant information about the native world in America.  Here are the highlights: WDSE’s Native Report is seen in twenty-seven states at the present time.  Its purpose is to de-mystify the general populations about Native Americans. The Chippewa tribe is located primarily in Northern Minnesota, but it does extend to other areas in the country, as well. Historically, the Chippewa tribe was located farther to the east, but moved westward as ‘other populations’ displaced them. Using the power-point screen, Michael was able to show where in the United States various tribes are located. As they moved into the upper regions of what is now Minnesota, the Chippewas caused the Dakota tribes to move farther west into what is now the two Dakota states.  There are currently seven Chippewa tribal nations in Minnesota and there are four Dakota tribal nations to the west and south. Information about the various tribes that now occupy this general area has been handed down in oral history. Michael LeGarde included a summary of the number of treaties that were signed from 1825 to 1854.  Many of these treaties are still in effect today.  These treaties were (and are) important as they were signed by the two governments involved – the USA and the Tribal nations.  These treaties preserved the right of the Indian nations to keep their cultures active on their lands. “We still have our language and our culture is very much alive”. There are at the present time about 43,000 Chippewa people in various nations.  Tribal governments include councils and advisors to the governing bodies.  These might be likened to state legislatures. Natives received American citizenship in 1924.  Each native has an identification card that includes the “degree of blood” they each have.  Because of intermarriages, Michael LeGarde said eventually there will be no natives with blood lines that are 100 percent native.  He stated that his “blood line” is about 25%. The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has a strong relationship with many (but not all) tribes.  One should not paint all native tribes with one brush – there are many differences. Native people have been involved in every war the United States has fought. The American Indian Records Repository in Lenexa, KS is the place where family history is preserved.  Every native person’s name is included in this repository. The native language is used in the American culture in ways that many do not even think of.  Michael mentioned a few we know; Mesaba, Kitchi Gammi, toboggan, Chicago. The meeting concluded with President Steve thanking Michael LeGarde for a most informative speech.  Following the 50-50 drawing, the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

 

 

 

There is a Habitat ground breaking on August 16 at 9:30 am at 2412 West First Street in Duluth for the house project supported by our Club, our Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation, Harbortown and Skyline.  This support generated a $15,000 dollar for dollar district matching grant. In addition to Rotary, Wells Fargo, Lake Superior College and Thrivent Financial are major partners in this effort.

Later in the day, everyone is invited to an event at Bent Paddle where a dollar a pint will be donated to Habitat. Club 25’s volunteer day will be announced in September and will also include Rotarians from Skyline and Harbortown.  Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the groundbreaking event and/or the social event. hosted by Bent Paddle, both on August 16.