NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond our control, this week's Gimlet was delayed.
This week at Rotary
Club 25's Weekly Meeting
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Lunch Buffet
This week’s menu at Rotary
House Salad
Baked Cheese Ravioli
Dinner Rolls
Doors Open 11:30AM
12:00 PM START
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
This week’s speaker
Greg Wegler
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Build Manager
Sleep In Heavenly Peace (SHP) Duluth Chapter
Learn about Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a nationwide non-profit organization (501c-3) with close to 500 chapters. The organization's sole purpose is to build beds for children who do not have a bed of their own. The organization's motto is "No Child Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town". The program will report on the SHP MN-Duluth Chapters progress, less than one year in existence. There are many opportunities for individuals and businesses to help get children off the floor and into beds. This problem unfortunately exists in Duluth and the surrounding communities.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Second Harvest Northland Food Packing
2302 Commonwealth Avenue
Duluth, MN 55808
April 8, 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.
Upcoming Club 25 Events
2026 Rotary Gala and Auction
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!
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Anthony Nordan
President Zach Walters opened the meeting with some jokes about the upcoming snowstorm. The Duluth Rotary 25 President made an official proclamation that there would be no snow... Then promptly said he was looking forward to some snowboarding. Afterwards we proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary 4-Way Test.
The reflection today was brought to us by Jeff Wencl. The reflection was a comedic take on the weather here in Minnesota. That when the weatherman says how many inches of snow, sky conditions, or temperature it is really like a guess than a prediction. That being in Minnesota, and Duluth in particular, can have wild swings in the weather.
Reflection from Jeff Wencl
We had several guests this week:
- Judy Sage
- Lucas Hendrickson- Harbor City International
- Mark Leutgeb- Skyline Rotary
- Linkyn Lyons- Proctor Public Schools
- Teressa Evans- Make a Wish
- Paul Kreuger- Make a Wish
- Deyona Kirk- Divine Konnections
- Tatianna Kirk- Divine Konnections
- Latsaija Garnor- Denfeld High School
- Nels Torgrimson- Associated Chiropractic Physicians
Some of your Club 25 guests
We proceeded to the Golden Can. As a reminder all donations to the golden can go towards the grants committee and the work we do in our community.
- Jay Ott paid a fine for Nels Torgrimson, and for his Dad. Fun fact that Nels Torgimson has a baby coming in 60 days.
Jay Ott
Skyline Rotarian Mark Leutgeb gave a short story about the wonderful work that Make-A-Wish does for families. One of his co-workers' sons had cancer and Make-A-Wish made a huge difference in the family’s life.
Skyline Rotarian Mark Leutgeb
Gala committee member
Christa Scheider announced the
2026 Rotary Gala and Auction on May 7th. It will be Kentucky Derby themed. On the tables, there were ideas for baskets. If you missed the meeting, please speak with someone about this list; a sample list will be provided below. All bets are off on how good this gala will be.
- Wine and Dine
- Teatime Basket
- Gardening Kit
- Pet Lover’s
- Writer’s Nook
- Golf Enthusiast
And many, many more ideas. If you like any of these or want the rest of the list, please speak with someone on the special events committee.
Gala committee member Christa Scheider
Chair of the Day: Darlene Anderson
Darlene Anderson introduced our speakers this week. Deyona Kirk has been through a lot in her lifetime. Through all of it, she has not let any of it stop her from helping others. Using that past, she is now helping families in our community. Deyona moved to Duluth when she was 14. Divine Konnections has 3 major components to its operations.
Speaker Deyona Kirk
Divine Konnections provides Supportive Housing Programs in 3 phases.
- Phase 1a- Shared Housing. This is known as Annie’s House.
- This is a Children’s Residential facility housing mothers ages 14-21.
- Phase 1b- Transitional Housing. This is known as Diver Morning Sky Hope & Healing Center, which houses mothers ages 18-24.
- Phase 2- General Housing Support.
- This is scattered site housing. It provides rent subsidies and wraparound services to BIPOC families throughout the community. BIPOC- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
- Phase 3- Permanent Supportive Housing and Home Ownership
- This emphasizes people having long-term stable housing.
- Stable housing is important to childhood development.
Divine Konnections has been developing an early childhood learning center. They have 5 points that guide their care of these children. It focuses on treating
the parents with dignity, respect, and a part of the process of learning.
Deyona also reviewed 2025 and looked forward to what 2026 has in store. In 2025 They opened the Hope and Healing Center, opened Heathers Happy Days Daycare, Annie’s House become a licensed residential facility for mothers ages 14-21, created 15 new jobs, and served 189 individuals primarily women and children. In 2026 they are looking to support 20 BIPOC parenting college students towards graduation, begin construction of Joy and Comport duplexes (June), complete exterior renovations at HHC, replaced lead windows at Annie’s House, continue advocating for families experience homelessness, and strengthening organizational capacity and leadership.
Questions and Answers
- How do you find resources for all your services?
- 1 Federal Grant- was cut recently
- State Grants
- Foundations- Ordean, Boreal, Lloyd K, Northland
- Community Donations
- How do you measure success?
- Stories, no open cases
- 1st family working at Divine Konnections. That family is paying it forward and using their experience to help new families in need.
- How families progress in the program.
- How many employees did you start with?
- 2. Deyona and her daughter.
- 26 currently. 3 locations.
- How can we help you?
- Donations of any kind
- Diapers, Dollars, Toothpaste
- It all makes a difference.
- Volunteer time
- Teaching Classes
(L-R) Tatianna Kirk- Divine Konnections, Deyona Kirk, Darlene Amderson and President Zach Walters
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