Our weekly meeting featured Past Presidents of our Club. President Tricia Bunten welcomed members and guests and then began calling on Past President John Baumgarten to accompany the group in America the Beautiful. Past Prez and Invocator Dan Bergeland told a moving story of a trip to Germany. While dining at a small hotel, he and his wife met a German man who came to say “Thank you” for the kindness and good care given by Americans when he was a WWII prisoner of war at Oskhosh, WI. Dan lived nearby as a boy and told the man he could remember the prisoners going to work on a vegetable farm and waving to them as they passed. Again, the former POW thanked him for the care received from the Americans. Dan asked that we remember to continue to care well for those who are in our prisons.

Next up was Past Prez and Fellowship Reporter Bob Bennett introducing guests, all welcomed warmly. Then he began the task of filling the Golden Can. Beth Storaasli is celebrating practicing law for 40 years in the same law firm and in the same building. Beth left $40 for the Golden Can, that’s one dollar for each year. She was with her 98 year- old Mother celebrating Mom's birthday in the Twin Cities.

The DNT reported that St Luke's Hospital received the 2017 Lifeline STEMI Quality Achievement Award for implementing quality improvement measures for patients who suffer severe heart attacks. A proud Catherine Carter Huber stepped forward to add her work zone fine.

Ecumen Lakeshore in Duluth was named one of Minnesota's best work places by the Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal. Smiling employee Jena Evans paid a work zone fine. Joining those paying work zone fines were Chana Stocke and Karol Sowers, as Age Well Arrowhead announced North Shore Bank of Commerce had completed Dementia Friendly Workplace training for some of their employees.

A special DNT section honored the annual “20 under 40” awards. Bob Bennett paid for his niece Laura Bennett, and fined previous awardees Traci Marciniak, David Nolle, Branden Robinson, Bill Gronseth and Matt Rosendahl. Those absent should pay-up next week.

The Young Leaders Fund of the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation (Past Prez Holly Sampson) was also in the “20 under 40” DNT section. The American Society of Civil Engineers honored former Club 25 member, Bob Rhode, now 103 years old. He was presented with a plaque as the Society's oldest member. Members from as far away as Alaska, Europe and China were at the meeting.

On September 6^th the Duluth Bethel quietly turned 144 years old. Dennis Cummings came forward to pay his fine and then asked that all who have been involved in the work of the Bethel to contribute to the Golden Can.

Skeeter Moore was fined in honor of the In-Line Marathon’s 22nd year. He thanked Dick Pelinka for making the awards and asked for help on Saturday – it is not too late to step up.

Past Prezb recognized the leading sales team, none other than Team Allen Anway. Another way to participate in the Rose Sale is to make a tax-deductible gift to the Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation. Dean Casperson, President of the Foundation, says write the check to the “Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation”. It will then be added to the Rose Sale funds. Each $10 donation counts as the sale of one dozen roses.

We welcomed Woodland Hills students Megan, Amber, Ben and Martez. Megan shared how at the age of 10, she was placed into foster care and unable to continue her love of dancing. Now after being at The Hills (new corporate name) she will be hosted by her aunt who lives in Duluth, able to continue with her dancing and attending college to prepare for a career as a therapist. Amber grew up near St Paul and loves fishing, hunting, camping – outdoor activities as she grew up on a farm. At The Hills she has learned how to be a better sister, daughter and friend. Both girls thanked Woodland Hills for making a huge impact on their lives as they move forward.

Coming to us from Youth Employment Service (YES) were Nelle Rhicard and Karissa Kucera. The program is designed for youth 18-24 years old who have had barriers to finding their first employment. They work with youth to train them in the skills needed to be employable. They are seeking employers who will help the youth gain that needed work experience. One of the employers who has stepped forward is Super One in West Duluth. Assistant store manager Mike Johnson shared his experience of hiring youth from the YES program. It involves interviewing the candidate, offering an internship if accepted, and then mentoring the youth in the inter-personal soft skills involved in the workplace. It is a commitment of time and taking a risk, but he has found it to be the right thing to do.

Past Prez Dick Carlson, Chair of the Day, introduced today's speaker, Melissa Rios who in 1990 joined the Department of Criminal Justice after serving in the US Army as a medic. She moved “up the ranks” at various prisons throughout the US. In 2016 she came to Duluth as Warden of the Duluth Prison Camp.

Warden Rios was born in San Antonio and began her career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Three Rivers, Texas where she was trained in hostage negotiation. She found that as a female, it was easier for her to obtain information. Later, she assisted the FBI and the entire federal prison system with her expertise. During her career she assisted with crisis support, hurricane response in prisons, staff suicides and polygraph testing for Spanish speakers.

At “The Big House” in Lewisburg, PA she developed a special housing unit for violent prisoners and led internal investigations of gang member activities “inside the walls”. After promotions to Louisiana, New York City and Colorado's “Supermax Prison”, she arrived in Duluth’s “frozen tundra” as warden of the Federal Prison Camp. Formerly the USAF Base in Duluth, the camp houses 610 minimum security  prisoners. To prepare prisoners for “life outside,” they offer college courses paid by the inmates, GED preparation classes and CDL training so they can become semi-truck drivers. The prisoners are also involved in community service projects such as repair and painting the Hermantown Hockey Arena. Warden Rios has worked with infamous “clients” such as the Boston Bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev, Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, Mob Bosses John Gotti and Whitey Bulger, and Drug Lord “El Chapo”.

Dick Pelinka and Tom McCabe

Deb Medlin and Bill Zimbinski

 

Geiger Yount, Bob Reichert, MacKenzie MacFarlane and Mikki Mesedahl