Thursday July 13, 2023

For Those Attending in Person

Buffet Lunch

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

(Link Sent Thursday Morning)

At

Executive Director, Duluth Playhouse 

Producing Artistic Director

 

  

Duluth Playhouse continues to bring the finest in entertainment, education and theatre arts opportunities to Minnesota’s Northeast Region. Featuring local and professional artists in the beautifully renovated, beautiful NorShor Theatre, the Main Stage offers a collection of uplifting stories about promising characters.  

 

Notes from the Picnic

By Tacitus

 

Enger Park was full of lively Rotarians and guests.  Over forty attended the 10^th Annual Picnic at the Rotary International Peace Plaza.  With only the slightest bit of grumbling, President Gary Melander began a short program.  There was a suggestion at my table that for even having a program, there should be a fine assessed equal to Mr. Lucky’s recent 50/50 winnings.  And Mr. Lucky was indeed lucky for arranging a day with sunlight and a temperature that required only light jackets!

 

The next order of business was to welcome visiting Rotarians John and Jennifer Cates from Raleigh, North Carolina, for a flag exchange.  This was their first visit to another Rotary Club.  They were inspired to work toward creating a Peace Garden in Raleigh.

 

President Gary Melander accepts a Rotary flag from visiting John Cates of Raleigh, NC

 

More fun events are on the horizon.  A block of tickets has been retained for Rotarians to attend the production of “Kinky Boots” at the Northshore Playhouse on Friday, July 14.  A few tickets remain.

Contact Rob Hofmann at 218-464-2895 to reserve your place.

 

Assistant Governor Dean Casperson, Patra Sevastiades, and President Gary Melander traveled to Grand Portage, Minnesota on July 1 as representatives of Duluth Rotary Club #25 to receive a glass plaque in recognition of our Club’s role in the building of the “Outlaw Bridge”.  On August 18, 1917, the Duluth Rotary Club and Port Arthur – Fort William Rotary Club built a bridge across the Pigeon River without authorization from either the State of Minnesota or the Province of Ontario or with the benefit of an international treaty between the United States and Canada.  The Ontario Minister of Mines and the Mayor of Duluth were present to declare the bridge open. There were no federal representatives invited.  (Although it took only a few days for each government to set up custom tents at each end of the bridge!)   

 

Duluth City Councilor Therese Tomanek, Assistant Governor Dean Casperson, President Gary Melander, with Past District Governor, Kay Biga  (Photo by Patra Sevastiades)

 

 

On September 20, 2013 area Rotary clubs held a ribbon-cutting with the City of Duluth to dedicate the Rotary International Peace Plaza at Enger Park.  Assistant District Governor, Phil Strom stated at the time:  "The Peace Plaza will recognize the international ties that Duluth has established and the effort by Rotary toward peace and conflict resolution. Area Rotary clubs are looking forward to sharing the message of peace and to encourage others to create “Peace through Service."

The Peace Plaza Project was a major project that required the commitment of discretionary funds from both the 2012-13 and 2023-14 Rotary years of President Al Makynen and Dave McLean plus financial contributions from Harbortown Rotary, Duluth/Superior Eco-Rotary, North Shore Rotary, and Skyline Rotary.  In addition there were grants from Rotary District 5580 and the Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation.  The City of Duluth was a major financial and planning partner. The total investment in the plaza was $156,000 for landscaping, frost free foundations, the Rotary mosaic, and peace plaques.  With the concurrent additional restoration of the adjacent stone building by the City of Duluth, Enger Park gained another element to a high profile, often visited, jewel! 

 

 

David Ross, Al Makynen, Karen Anderson (ECO Rotary). Phil Strom, Scott Soderberg (Harbortown Rotary), Matt Cartier (Skyline Rotary), and Mayor Don Ness at the 2013 dedication

     

A perfect day for a Rotary picnic!

 

The RYLA Report

By Rob Hofmann

 

At 5:30 AM on Sunday, July 9^th, nearly 30 young adults boarded an LCS Coach to begin their week-long adventure at Camp RYLA. Thanks to the fundraising efforts by Club #25 Rotarians, these young women and men will participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will remain with them their entire lives. RYLA campers from Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor and Thunder Bay, Canada, bid adieu to their sleep-deprived family members.  Club #25 RYLA Co-Chairs Tom Young and Rob Hofmann were in attendance to send these future Rotarians on their way.