We Meet at Noon on Thursday

December 15, 2022

For Those Attending in Person

BUFFET LUNCH

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

At

 

President & CEO

Northspan Group, Inc.

Chair of the Day: Tom Young

In early 2020, Northspan Group, Inc. undertook considerable groundwork to determine the feasibility of “welcoming community” work: It conducted a survey of potential partners to determine interest and buy-in to the concept, conducted research on the potential benefits and pitfalls of such work, and worked with other regions in Minnesota. These background investigations revealed both a strong desire to address these topics and a clear empirical case that a more welcoming community is a source of growth for regional populations and economies. This presentation will inform you of the Welcoming Community activities now in action in northeast Minnesota.

 

By Patra Sevastiades

 

“Myths which are believed in tend to become true,” George Orwell once observed, and that is true in spades when it comes to myths about our dear city, Duluth. Today, Rotarians had the pleasure of hearing three of the classic Duluth myths related—and ably disproven!—by a knowledgeable and entertaining speaker.

 

President Barb Perrella welcomed all. With John Baumgarten at the keyboard, we sang “America the Beautiful.”  President Barb Perrella led us in reciting the Rotary 4-Way Test.

 

Past Assistant District Governor Phil Strom sadly announced that Past District Governor Earl Rogers passed away this very morning. He was an honorary member of Club 25 and all the other Rotary clubs in the Twin Ports, and he was the founder of Skyline Rotary. Judy Rogers asked Past Assistant District Governor Phil Strom to let everyone know that we are invited to his visitation, on Friday, December 16, at Dougherty Funeral Home, and to his funeral on Saturday, December 17.

 

Past Assistant District Governor Phil Strom 

 

Rob Hofmann gave the Reflection. He related some colorful local myths (including my personal favorite: that it is illegal to cross into Minnesota with a duck on one’s head) and said that today’s speaker will dispel equally longstanding myths about Duluth!

 

President Barb Perrella introduced our guests: Lisa Fifield Snodley, retired RN and sister of Jeff Fifield, and two people who recently applied for membership in Club 25: Nancy Erickson —wife of Doug Erickson—and Reid Sheldahl. She also thanked Past President Sandy Hoff for having hosted the splendid Rotary Holiday Party the night before at Pier B. No self-reporting today.

 

President Barb Perrella reminded all that the next Rotary breakfast will be held at the Kitchi Gammi Club on Friday, December 16, at 8 am. A delicious, delightful gathering.

 

Jerry Pelofske put out a call for extra volunteers to help with bell ringing for the Salvation Army on December 9 and 16 at several locations.

 

Jerry Pelofske looking for backup bell ringers

 

He added that Dan Dock is seeking donations for the December 20 Life House Holiday Dinner. Note: As of 12/10, the only items still needed are 38 dozen more cookies (no nuts/peanut butter) and a large crock of meatballs. Please help if you can!

 

Jerry Pelofske also announced that the Club 25 Foundation just awarded a $1,250 academic scholarship to Van Pao Thao, a student at Lake Superior College studying to be an RN.

 

President Barb Perrella read a thank you card from the staff and youth of Life House for the scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner provided and served last month by Rotary volunteers.

 

Chair of the Day Holly Mirau

   

Chair of the Day Holly Mirau took to the podium to introduce speaker Tony Dierckins, the publisher of Zenith City Press and award-winning author of more than 20 books. His regional history books include Crossing the Canal and Lost Duluth (both finalists for the Minnesota Book Award); Glensheen and Duluth’s Historic Parks (both winners of the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award); and Duluth: An Urban Biography. Dierckins is the 2012 recipient of the Duluth Depot Foundation’s Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award. His most recent book is Duluth’s Grand Old Architecture.

 

Tony Dierckins

 

Tony presented and then disproved the three top Duluth myths to the laughter of an appreciative crowd. What are they?

 

Myth 1. Duluth had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States. Nope—and since we didn’t have tax returns back then, there would have been no way to prove it even if it had been true.

 

Myth 2. When Duluthians learned that the people of Superior had requested an injunction to prevent Duluth from creating a ship canal, determined Duluthians dug the Duluth ship canal—by hand, over a frenzied weekend, with shovels and grit—thus completing the canal before the injunction arrived the following Monday. Not true, although Roger Munger spread this lie, and it just kept being repeated!

 

Myth 3. Mark Twain said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was the summer I spent in Duluth.” No. In fact, though, Mark Twain, who visited Duluth, later gave it a tribute! He was far from home, in Fiji, and saw a vessel flying the American flag. He asked where it was from and learned it was from Duluth. It inspired Twain to write, “Health and prosperity to thee, O Duluth, American Queen of the Alien Seas!”

 

 

Thus informed, and inspired by Tony, we all raised our glasses and repeated Twain’s magical words, toasting our fair city. Then, it was time for Q & A.

 

Past president John Baumgarten asked: Is it true that one of Duluth’s favorite sons flew an airplane through the aerial lift bridge? If so, was it Dick Bong? Tony answered, “Several people flew a plane through the aerial lift bridge! In 1943 or 1944, Jack D. Brown famously did it.”

 

Geiger Yount asked: Is the story about a billboard that reads “Last one to leave Duluth, please turn out the lights” true? Yes, Tony said, there was such a billboard. It was in the 1980s when Duluth was in decline. The billboard company put up the sign. A day-and-a-half later, they were pressured to take it down!

 

Tony added a bonus point of trivia: “By the way, there was never a madam in Duluth named Grandma Rosa Brochi. That was just marketing by Jeno Paulucci.” (Or was it???)

 

Mark Twain waiting for his date with Grandma Rosa Brochi??

 

 

President Barb Perrella thanked Tony and reminded everyone that next week’s speaker is Elissa Hansen of Northspan Group, Inc.

 

The 50/50 drawing was won by Daria, the Jr. Rotarian from Marshall School.

 

President Barb Perrella adjourned the meeting. 

 

Noted at the Rotary Holiday Party: The two future members of the Club, Nancy Erickson and Reid Sheldahl, both joined the Rotary Holiday Singers in singing Christmas carols! Their voices were appreciated!

 

A Rotarian’s view of Bentleyville from Pier B

Future District Governor Elaine Hansen’s dilemma

 

Rotarian Jeff Fifield – explains his hat

 

Festive Rotarians at the Annual Club #25 Holiday Party