Thursday, April 23, 2026

Lunch Buffet

House Salad

Taco Bar – Beef and Chicken with all the fixings

Dinner Rolls

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, Minnesota

 

In 2020, the Duluth HRA launched a construction training program in partnership with Community Action

Duluth. This program was created due to staff shortages with local contractors who were unable to bid on

HRA re-habilitation jobs. What happened was a program that not only brought people with barriers to

employment into the construction trades, but also lifted people out of poverty, addressed blighted

housing, created affordable home ownership, AND brought skilled labor to local contractors.

 

A total of 271 pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, and homemade soap were donated to CHUM today!

 

2302 Commonwealth Avenue

Duluth, MN 55808

 May 13, 2026, 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.

For more information about Second Harvest Northland visit: https://secondharvestnorthland.org/

Or Contact: Daniel Maki

 

 

 

May 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM

Kitchi Gammi Club
831 East Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802

Break out the bold hats, seersucker suits, and Southern charm--it's time for the most exciting night in philanthropy! Join Rotary Club 25 for an unforgettable evening inspired by the pageantry and thrill of the Kentucky Derby. Sip classic mint juleps, enjoy delicious fare, and place your winning bids in our live and silent auctions, all while cheering on great causes that make our community stronger.

It's high stakes, high style, and heartfelt giving--so pick your winner, dress to impress, and let the good times race!

 

Email Christa Scheider cscheider@northshore.bank with your offer to help, and Christa Scheider with guide you.  So far, we have:

• Bentleyville Sweatshirts and VIP Santa passes

• Day sail from Lake Superior Tall Ships

• Chocolate Lovers basket

• Gardening Basket

• Coach Purse set

 

By Al Makynen

 

The West Lounge at the Kitchi Gammi Club was overflowing. Additional silverware was brought out as members gave up their table seating to relocate to chairs in the back of the room.  President Zach Walters was grateful for all those who chose Rotary over playing outside in the brilliant spring sunshine.  Greg Hansen too was grateful in his Rotary Reflection as life is better when approached with a sense of gratitude and service above self.  

 

Greg Hansen grateful for his Rotarian friends

 

The Rotary Gala and Auction is upon us Thursday May 7th.  Jon Ohman, in an outfit only he could wear, exhorted everyone to register early and often.  Donations to fund the cause or to enhance the items offered are gratefully accepted.  We were all grateful Past President Elizabeth Simonson supplemented a good portion of the announcement from the floor.

 

Jon Ohman modeling his racing attire for the Rotary Gala and Auction

 

Chana Stocke, Grants Committee Chair, presented two grants that by coincidence had something to do with the St. Louis River.  The first was $750 to Doug Jensen of St. Louis River Quest an organization committed to youth education about the river.    The second was $500 to Sue Halverson of St. Louis River Experience which takes seniors and veterans on pontoon boat rides out onto the harbor and river.  A number of club members serve as captains and mates.  There is an “All Hands-On Deck” volunteer orientation scheduled for April 28.

 

Doug Jensen describing how our grant will help fund the operations of St. Louis River Quest

 

Sue Halverson of St. Louis River Experience describing the impact of our grant on seniors

 

Bob Reichert graciously receiving the recognition of his 50th Anniversary of being a member of Club 25

 

Gary Melander zoomed up to the podium to declare how grateful he was for Bob Reichert being a member of the Rotary Club of Duluth for 50 years.   Best guess is that Bob Reichert being a reserved professional engineer would have let the milestone slide by.  Rob Hofmann was grateful for the talents and gifts of Judy Rogers who has graced every lunch with homemade cookies and for the commitment of Jeff Fifield, who arrives early for every meeting to set up the room, make sure registration is ready, and turn on the microphone.  Michelle Buria commented on her most recent career achievement and credited Past Assistant Governor, Phil Strom for his early guidance.

 

Michelle Buria grateful for Phil Strom providing support and encouragement early in her career

 

With April being Earth Month, and April 22 being the 56^th Annual Earth Day, an event is being organized between all five Twin Port Rotary Clubs to make a difference for the environment. Jill Baum of the Duluth Superior Eco Rotary Club announced that on April 25 from 10:00 to Noon there will be a Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup.  We are to meet at the parking lot behind the Park Point Beach House. Join your fellow Rotarians to help protect Lake Superior.

 

Jill Baum of ECO Rotary inviting us to the April 25 Beach Clean-Up with all Five Rotary Clubs

 

Chair of the Day, President Elect Dan Maki, introduced his neighbor and our speaker St. Louis County Sheriff, Gordon Ramsey.  The Sheriff has been in law enforcement for 33 years.  He is the product of UMD and St. Scholastica, graduating in 1993.  He was elected Sheriff in 2022 previously serving for ten years as the Duluth Police Chief and six years as the Wichita Police Chief.

 

The Sheriff’s Department provides a large array of services.  The sheer geographic size of the County, along with having three courthouses, in Duluth, Hibbing and Virgina adds to the complexity.  The department operates 36 water craft strategically located for emergency rescue.  The 911 service includes responding to calls that come into the 86 volunteer fire departments. The SWAT teams for the entire region are coordinated by the department.  All of this is provided by 120 sworn budgeted deputies.  And then there is the County Jail.  Although new to the Sheriff when built 31 years ago to house 200 inmates, the layout no longer meets the realities of the current inmate population.  There are just 8 private holding cells with the rest spending their time in open pods housing up to 60 prisoners.  With substance abuse and mental health, that many people cannot be held safely in close proximity.  With the closure of state facilities in favor of integration into the community, the St. Louis County Jail has become one of the largest providers of both medical and mental health services. We will soon see plans to replace the current county jail.  Traffic safety is a high-profile county activity. Until recent years the County, being so large and rural, had one of the highest traffic death counts in the nation.  With intervention we are no longer in the top ten.  The effect of chemical dependency continues to have a high impact on the quality of life in our County.  More than 30% of calls to the Police are drug and alcohol related.  A final appeal by the Sheriff was for us to remember that deputies are human.  Decisions are made in real time under extreme conditions.  Training can only prepare someone to a point when in a crisis and the safety of the individual, deputy, and others depend upon judgments made in the moment.

 

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsey describing the work of his department

 

President Elect Dan Maki introducing his neighbor and speaker Sheriff Gordon Ramsey