On Valentine's Day Rotarians, Junior Rotarians and guests gathered in the Lyric Conference Center of the Holiday Inn. President Steve Yorde welcomed all with a hearty greeting. Invocator Greg Hansen shared that one of his employees sent him a PSA reminding him that today was a special day – Valentine's Day. Today we celebrate love; love that is expressed through our gifts and works to others in Duluth and around the world. Love is shown in service projects like the one we will hear about in Bolivia.

 

Taking a familiar spot at the podium was Past-President Tricia Bunten donning the hat of Fellowship Reporter. After welcoming our guests individually, she then congratulated Tom Wheeler on the birth of his granddaughter Julia Mae Roth-Wheeler born to his son Nathan. Tom was in Madison meeting his new little one, but contributed $100 to Rotary Club #25 Foundation in thankfulness for the new Wheeler member. Although she has retired, Adele Yorde was the featured guest on the Duluth News Tribune podcast this week speaking about Falling in Love with the Port. Tricia warned President Steve to dig deep in his wallet as she also laughingly fined him and Jim Landwehr for their matching Valentine ties.

 

And apparently Pres Steve has a challenge in his sense of direction as he mistakenly went to the South Pier Inn instead of Pier B for a meeting this past week. That also brought fines to Branden Robinson, Betty George and Sandy Hoff. Tricia proudly kicked the Golden Can as she reported that son Brian was selected for the Club hockey all-star team and tournament in Philadelphia in April. This may be the last college hockey game they watch him play. Then, in keeping with the theme of Valentine's Day, we honored our Rotarian couple Sheryl and Tom Homan. Of course, honoring them also meant they were able to contribute to the Golden Can.

 

Valentine's Day was also an appropriate day to celebrate February birthdays. We sang Happy Birthday to fellow Rotarians Geiger Yount, Justin Terch, Sheryl Homan, Stephen Hadley, Deanna Benson, Mike Murray, Jack Schilling and Zach Walters.

 

Representing the International Service Committee, Paul Helstrom invited four of our guests to join him at the podium as he presented a $2,500 check to Spin Worldwide. Micheline Bayiha shared that the fund would be used by Spin Worldwide to provide, and teach the proper use of, small water filters (less than two pounds) to families in Cameroon. Each filter will enable the family to obtain clean water for up to 25 years. This year they plan to take at least 450 filters to Cameroon.

 

 

Rotary Clubs have a long-standing history of not only completing local service projects but also working together to complete international projects. Today Paul Helstom introduced fellow Rotarian Karl Everett who has been to Bolivia four times working on projects there. Karl told us that Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America as it is land-locked and also very mountainous. The remoteness of the communities creates many problems for those living in these hard-to-reach locations. The average family income is $200 to $300 annually, which is why Rotary has partnered with Mano-a-Mano to build clinics, schools and even a road (narrow winding mountain road) to serve the people in Bolivia. Slides were shown of the buildings and their uses, and to show how the dollars spent affect the lives of these people. The latest clinic project was completed in May 2018 and now provides improved facilities to the mountain community. Their next project is a clinic in the Bolivian Amazon at a cost of approximately $76,000 of which $64,00 has already been pledged, and our club is being asked if we can assist. Karl invited all to join him on his next trip to Bolivia and see for themselves how Rotary dollars make a difference in the lives of those living in these remote communities.