This week at Rotary
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Lunch Buffet
Judy’s Delicious Cookies
Doors Open 11:30AM
12:00 PM START
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
This week’s speaker
Speaker: Jon Olson, MA, MPA, CDR, US Navy (Ret.)
The China Conundrum
Retired US Navy intelligence officer Jon Olson, who teaches national security elective courses at both Carleton College and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, will cover the security, economic, and diplomatic challenges the United States faces with the People’s Republic of China.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
August 12 from 1:00pm-3:00pm
Second Harvest Northland Food Packing
2302 Commonwealth Avenue
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Renee Burns
The May 28 meeting was called to order by President Dan Maki who opened with a most appropriate greeting “Holy Smokes!”.
Holy Smokes Indeed! Smokey outdoors but clear-headed Rotarians and guests inside.
The Reflection by Past President Al Makynen, was one of reflecting on the highlights in the text of the Four-Way Test, specifically on the key words in the test:
Truth
Fair
Goodwill
Beneficial
There are many ways in which one can apply those words to our everyday lives, with our neighbors, our significant other and our family. Applying the Four-Way test in all that we do is one way in which we can demonstrate character and promote peace.
Past President Al Makynen with a short, but insightful Reflection
President Dan Maki welcomed our guests and welcomed any self-reporting Rotarians to the podium. Allison Hanig-Landrus was first up with an announcement that she cheered on Grandma’s Marathon runners at Lemon Drop Hill, including President Dan Maki and the next weekend ran her own ultra marathon (26.3 miles), the Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon on the Minesota Voyageur Trail system, from the Duluth Zoo to Carlton. She didn’t let an injury stop her and completed the race. Yay Allison!
Smiling Allison Hanig-Landrus describing a big run!
Past President Zach Walters let us know he got lost on a run two weeks ago following an interesting trail he hadn’t seen before. The point of his journey to the podium though, was to announce that he is taking a team of boxers to Iceland to commemorate a trip 25 years ago when he was part of a team that worked to help legalize boxing in Iceland. Way to go!
John Magas was up next to announce the survey gathering feedback on a possible ballot referendum for Duluth schools closes soon (done by the time you read this Gimlet). A successful referendum would help with the ongoing budget shortfalls the district is experiencing and protect staffing and programming.
John Magas feeding the Golden Can with his announcement
Brad Jenson, Past President of the Harbortown Club was the final guest at the podium to talk about the Twin Port Interclub Council, the same group that brought together five Twin Ports Rotary Clubs for the Enger Park picnic on July 2. There are many opportunities for involvement in different activities and programs the Council is offering, from Book Club Discussions to Team Pickleball to a Health and Longevity Program. For more information contact Brad Jenson –
bradleyjenson1956@gmail.com.
Chair of the Day, Past President Zach Walters arrived back at the podium to introduce Andy Potter from Youth Frontiers. Andy was called with little notice to come to Duluth and give the program as the founder Joe Cavanaugh has asthma and this smoke isn’t inducive to travel.
Andy Potter with Youth Frontiers
Youth Frontiers has been in existence for 40-years and have a mission to inspire character, civility and community. They offer student retreats focused on kindness, courage and respect. They also have programming for educators, parents and community leaders to support the adults who turn today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders. Andy has the most experience with the Kindness Retreats, where 66,510 students and educators participated in 2025. Among all their programs since their founding, they have worked with 2.2 million students.
Among there programs they offer Kindness Retreats for fourth and fifth graders, Courage Retreats for seventh and eighth graders, Respect Retreats target ninth, tenth and eleventh graders and Wisdom Retreats for twelfth graders. These are just some of the many retreats Youth Frontiers has available to build community, leaders and respect.
The programs have a charge but typically schools pay only about half and there is outside funding available to help offset programming costs.
Andy did a great job stepping in at the last minute and the club showed their appreciation for his efforts with a hearty round of applause.
Rotarians doing good at our monthly Second Harvest volunteer opportunity.
The Three Amigos, AKA Past President Zach Walters, President Dan Maki and President Elect Jay Ott
Three more Amigos in the form of President Dan Maki, speaker Andy Potter and John Magas
Club 25 – 100 Years Ago This Week
Vol. 10, No. 38 • July 21, 1926
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Rotary Club of Duluth will be held at the Duluth Boat Club on Minnesota Point, Thursday noon, July 22nd, 1926, at 12:15. If you catch the 11:54 West Duluth Aerial Bridge Car at Third Avenue West on Thursday, you will just make connections with the 12:00 o'clock Bridge.
From Downtown
The easiest way to get there is to take Herb Warren's yellow cab that passes 3rd Ave. West at 11:52. This meets the 12:00 o'clock bridge and gives you a 5-minute walk to the Club.
If you MUST drive, you'll save time by parking on this side and taking said walk then there will be no delay on your getting the 1:40 bridge back.
The Natatorium will be open to all members. Come a little earlier if you want to swim.
About the Duluth Boat Club
Established in 1886, the Duluth Boat Club was originally located near 7th Avenue West, (now the site of the Great Lakes Aquarium). The club later built an impressive clubhouse on Park Point that became both an athletic center and one of Duluth's most popular social gathering places.
Between 1911 and 1923, the Duluth Boat Club was consistently featured in the national media. Duluth crews won 47 of 58 races – earned 20 national championships, took nine-second place medals and one third. In 1913, Duluth’s “Invincible Four” crew- Dave Horak, Doug and Phill Moore, and Max Rheinberger – earned a record of distinction: it never lost a race prior to WWI, compiling a perfect 22-0 record in national and international meets and retiring unbeaten. Source duluthrowing.org/about/history
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