November 2, 2023

For Those Attending in Person

Salad Buffet with Soup

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

At

 

Duluth School District 709

 

 

Every new school year is a time of new beginnings, filled with a sense of hope, excitement, and wonderment about what the year will bring.  ISD 709 Superintendent, and Club #25’s newest member,  John Magas shares what the year holds and what the fuure looks like for Duluth Public Schools

 

By Al Makynen

 

The Holiday Center Ballroom was the place to be with Rotary fellowship spilling over into the hallway.

Ryan Redington, Speaker and 2023 winner of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race, at table with the usual suspects.

 

President Gary Melander knows how to run a tight ship.  Once we had completed the Pledge of Allegiance, it was directly onto a highlight of any meeting, the introduction of a new member.  John Magas became Superintendent of ISD 709 in July of 2020.  In his remarks he referred to the tradition of the Superintendent being a member of Rotary Club 25.

Membership Director Zach Walters welcoming our newest member John Magas

 

With our newest member installed, the next order of business was for Steve Hadley, Chair of the Day, to introduce Ryan Redington, the 2023 winner of the 1,000 mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race run in March of each year from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.  His winning after 16 previous attempts was special as his grandfather was one of the founders of the race in 1973. 

 

Each sled starts with 14 dogs.  As the speed of the team (average of 9mph) is set by the slowest dog, a dog can be taken out of the team, but cannot be replaced. You must have at least 5 dogs at the finish line. This is a long race lasting eight days or more.  There are mandatory rest breaks.  One break is for 24 hours.  There are two others at 8 hours each.  The exact time and location to take these breaks is one of the strategies of the race determined by weather (temperatures down to -63 degrees) and the condition of the musher and of the dogs.   The best temperature to run the race, where the most records are set, is between -5 and -10 degrees. There is very little sleep during the race.  Two naps a day on the trail of 15 minutes each is typical.  It has been known for racers to fall off their sleds.  The dogs love to run and will run without someone on board.  There is no rule that a following musher stop to pick you up and it could be 30 miles to the next check-point.  At each of the many check-points both the mushers and the dogs are examined by doctors and certified to proceed – or not.  The first place prize in 2023 was $51,000.  This amount coincidentally is equal to the annual dog food budget for Redington kennels!  Ryan Redington was able to complete the race in 8 days, 21 hours, crossing the finish line with 12 of 14 dogs.  He started with 8 male and 6 female dogs with ages from four to seven years old.  Younger dogs can run faster, but for a marathon you need experienced dogs.  It was clear to everyone present that our speaker had accomplished a multi-generational, multi-year dream.

 

Chair of the Day, Steve Hadley introducing our speaker.

 

Speaker Ryan Redington with President Gary Melander

 

One of the many Race Posters signed for Rotarians after the meeting by Ryan Redington