This Week at Rotary
Thursday, August 8, 2024
IN PERSON & ZOOM
For Those Attending in Person
Lunch Buffet
11:30AM START
(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)
(Link Sent Thursday Morning)
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
Tammi Johnson
High-Fidelity Wrap Around Facilitator/Coach
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
The program will share information and stories about how High-Fidelity Wrap Around aligns with community work Rotary Club of Duluth #25 is currently doing
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Renee Burns
Rotarians filled the West Dining Room at the Kitchi Gammi Club and were called to order by President Elect Zach Walters who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Four Way Test. Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom gave a meaningful reflection about the work our club has done to help ease food insecurity over the past many years. Recognizing Past President John Baumgarten for his work leading the joint effort with the Kiwanis Club the last 22 years to raise almost a quarter million dollars to stock the food shelf, noting Super One Foods, with their vendors, matched our contributions three to one! It’s hard to understand that in such a wealthy country we still have more than 44 million people who experience food insecurity on a regular basis. Through our efforts, those of our partners and certainly Second Harvest Northland, we do in fact make a difference in our community and the lives of those in need.
President Elect Zach Walters introduced our guests, Kate Dean and Trisha Zimmerman, guests of Tim Mowbray and affiliated with Second Harvest Northland and Catherine McSharry, guest of Patra Sevastiades, who all received a warm Rotary welcome.
Allen Anway was first up to kick the Golden Can with the wonderful announcement that he was recently married!! Congratulations!
Recently married Allen Anway
Past Assistant Governor Al Makynen let us know he was contributing to honor the birth of his sixth grandchild and Anthony Nordan informed us that St. Louis is a wonderful vacation spot.
Rob Hofmann made an announcement that he is looking for Gimlet writers and you have an option, you can volunteer now, or you may get a tap on the shoulder later! As this Gimlet reporter can attest, it’s a fun job and really makes you pay close attention at meetings. He is also seeking two School Liaisons to work with the Junior Rotarians from Proctor and Hermantown.
Tim Mowbray, Shaye Moris, Second Harvest Northland and President Elect Zach Walters
Chair of the Day
Renee Burns introduced our speaker, Shaye Moris, the President and CEO of Second Harvest Northland. Shaye joined Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank as Executive Director in 1998. In 2024 as part of a merger with Second Harvest North Central Food Bank she became President and CEO of Second Harvest Northland
https://secondharvestnorthland.org/.Shaye started the presentation asking who could describe the difference between a Food Shelf and a Food Bank, the first to respond getting a t-shirt for their knowledge. Tom Young accurately described the difference as wholesale vs. retail. A Food Bank accesses nationally and regionally donated and purchased product for distribution to other eligible non-profit agencies, think CHUM, Damiano Center, etc. A Food Shelf offers fresh and shelf-stable food directly to individuals.
Tom Young
Second Harvest has a number of direct service programs; the food shelf program, mobile food/pop up pantry programs, nutrition for seniors, school pantry programs and a backpack kids pantry program.
The organization was founded in 1984 as a response to the economic downturn with a vision of Hunger-Free Communities. Their mission is to “End Hunger Together in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin”.
The impact of Second Harvest Northland is amazing in our area, they provide 10.5 million nutritious meals annually throughout their 15-county service area, reaching more than 70,000 food insecure children, seniors and adults through their network of partners and their own service programs.
Shaye noted that Rotary Club of Duluth #25 has, through their work, ensured over 37,720 meals throughout the Northland thanks to our financial and volunteer contributions!
The need in our area is real. There are 18,390 children in our service area that are food-insecure. The current high inflation and the end of USDA pandemic benefits like E-SNAP have led to a 30-40% increase in demand at the Northland food shelves they support.
Their FY25 strategic priorities call for improved neighbor access and experience and to enhance impact through increased organizational capacity. To achieve these goals the organization has made a bold move, acquiring the former Ikonics building at 2302 Commonwealth Avenue. The building is currently being converted into a more useable space, which includes a significantly larger freezer and cooler space, a much larger distribution center, dedicated program space and a volunteer “clean room”. All these improvements will made a significantly positive impact on their ability to provide services and they are in the midst of a $16.5 million Phase I capital campaign to complete the facility.
Of note is the thoughtful additions to the way they provide food that will come with the new facility.
- A market environment for people to come shop for their needs in person
- A continuation of the drive through food receiving program currently in place
- A call ahead order that can be picked up on site, similar to what other retailers are doing to serve their customers
The new facility will also have space for other organizations with similar missions.
It is noted that there are ways Rotarians can continue our active involvement with Second Harvest Northland and we will follow up with more information to come.
Rotarians enjoying fellowship and a nice lunch!
Golden Nuggets of Club 25 History
Rotary Club of Duluth – Chartered July 17, 1911
By Rachel Martin and Jerry Thoreson
THIS WEEK in Club 25 History
First International Rotary Convention held in Duluth - August 6-9, 1912
Delegates of the 1912 Rotary Convention in Duluth - Photo presented by the Rotary Club of Winnipeg Canada on the occasion of Rotary Club of Duluth's 25th Anniversary in 1936.
A year after Club #25 was chartered, it hosted the third Rotary convention, which was the first international convention.
After Club 25 sent Ed Filiatrault to the 1911 Portland Convention and he landed the 1912 convention for Duluth, preparations began to host this big event. Club 25 hoped to surpass Portland's turnout of 19 clubs and 149 delegates attending.
The general arrangement committee, made up of E. J. Filiatrault, F. E. Randall, and A. A. Michaud, made these plans. The dates were set for Tuesday- Friday, August 6-9, 1912.
Far exceeding the Portland convention, 41 Clubs with 598 delegates gathered in Duluth in August of 1912.
The Holland Hotel was booked as the convention headquarters and committee rooms. Social functions were planned for the Commercial Club, the St. Louis Hotel, and the Spalding Hotel. 9,000 pennants and streamers that read "Welcome Rotarians," "The City Is Yours," and "Glad to See You" were made and distributed to local businesses to put up. Businesses were asked to use the Rotary colors of Royal Blue and Gold for exterior decoration.
Transportation was arranged for delegates to come to Duluth. Two special trains, A Soo Line and North Western, were reserved to bring Twin Cities Rotarians to the convention. A boat was reserved to bring Southern delegates up to Chicago. The Anchor Line was reserved for Eastern Delegates to travel by water.
At the convention Walter J. Clubb, President of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, proposed that the name of the organization, National Association of Rotary Clubs, be changed to International Association of Rotary Clubs. The motion was adopted.
The convention included “the largest auto parade ever held in the City of Duluth” on Skyline Boulevard (now Parkway) on August 7th, 1912. At the convention, the “National Association of Rotary Clubs” became the “International Association of Rotary Clubs.”
At the 1912 Rotary convention in Duluth, an auto parade travels Skyline Boulevard
.png)
