Thursday, September 18, 2025

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

 Justice for All:  The Role of Legal Aid in our Community

Dori Rapaport is the Executive Director of Justice North (formerly Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota).  Since 2017, Dori has led Justice North through continuous transformation to effectively serve its 27,000 square mile region of Minnesota through the use of technology, process improvement, and coordination with statewide justice partners.  Justice North keeps families housed, domestic violence victims protected, vulnerable seniors safe and more.

 

Service Above Self at work in our community. Rotarians doing good work at Second Harvest Northland, thank you!

 

By Renee Burns

 

The September 11 meeting was called to order by President Zach Walters on a solemn day of remembrance of the tragedy of 24 years ago and appropriately recognized by the President, the giver of Reflections and our Speaker.  President Zach also noted he loves a foggy day, and Duluth has certainly been providing a lot of that!  After fits and starts, the meeting got underway with Past President Al Makynen offering the Reflection. 

 

Past President Al Makynen began by noting that the date, September 11, is burned into our collective memory as an attempt to destroy our form of government.  Beginning in 1776, with our country announcing we have the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the 1781 Articles of Confederation, we bound ourselves to the concept of perpetual union.  Then, in 1783, with the Treaty of Paris, our boundaries were set, and they included what is now Duluth, Minnesota, followed by 1789, when we established a form of government based on a novel concept of power being derived from WE THE PEOPLE.  Lincoln summed it up, “and that government OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people, shall NOT perish from the earth.

 

Past President Gary Melander was called to the podium to inform the membership that the 40^th annual Rotary Rose Sale will commence today!  Get your rose sale tickets before you leave today and sell, sell, sell.  Over the past 40 years, the rose sale has contributed an impressive $1.35 million to the grant committee, which is then distributed back to the community in various ways, both large and small.  The rose distribution will happen on October 17-18.  It has been a great 40 years and now let’s finish strong and go SELL roses!

 

Renee Burns was called upon to introduce our newest club member, Natalie Junk.  Natalie is a recent transplant from Omaha, Nebraska, where she enjoyed being a Rotary member and has chosen Club #25 as her new Rotary home.  Please take time to introduce yourself to Natalie and provide her with a warm welcome to the club.

 

The newest member of Rotary Club #25, Natalie Junk!

 

Renee also announced that if you have been on the fence about ordering a District 5580 logo vest, now is the time to do it!  Orders must be in soon, so let her know.  With Duluth hosting the District Conference October 24-25, and our club the home base of District Governor and Past President Elaine Hansen, we need to make a good showing of attending the conference and volunteering to help make it a success.  There are sign-up forms on the tables with a variety of volunteer opportunities. 

 

Finally, Renee kicked the Golden Can with a $15 contribution for the daily miles walked by Past President Dean Casperson and Patra Sevastiades on their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage through Spain.  They report they’re falling into a rhythm and thus far have not developed blisters!

 

Jeff Fifield followed with a report on our exchange student in Brazil; she has arrived safely after a delay and is settling into school and activities.  She will live with three families during the course of her year in Brazil.  Jeff also contributed to the Golden Can $10 on behalf of Dean and Patra.

 

Jeff Fifield Kicking the Golden Can for Past President Dean Casperson and Patra Sevastiades

 

President Zach invited Chair of the Day Matt Baumgartner to the podium to introduce the Speaker, Mayor Roger Reinert.  Matt began by asking for a moment of silence in honor of the victims and families of September 11.  Matt then noted the Mayor had a much anticipated presentation and was certainly well known to the membership so without further delay, he invited the 40^th Mayor of Duluth, Roger Reinert to speak.

 

Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert at the podium

 

Mayor Reinert introduced the four big topics he planned to touch on: Housing, Tax Base, Streets and Utilities, and Downtown.

 

Tax base development is always important for a city, as commercial taxes are generally double that of residential taxes.  Duluth is literally in a tight spot with regard to available land base, bordered by towns around us and a lake, there is limited land inventory, though there has been significant development of commercial buildings at Atlas Park with the construction of Amazon, Goodwill and Second Harvest Northland.  Sofidel, in West Duluth, is currently undergoing construction on a $200 million dollar expansion of the existing facility, which bodes well for their continued production in Duluth.  The conversation around the redevelopment of existing commercial buildings continues as this is another tool to spur commercial development.

 

Downtown development is plugging along, which contributes not only to the tax base but also helps the perception of a downtown that is gaining life again after the Superior Street construction and COVID derailed the vitality.  With the Ordean Building and Lakeview 333 looking to welcome housing tenants soon, the downtown will add 240 units of housing in a variety of price points.  Additionally, the Kozy building has finally been demolished after a multi-year effort to rid the downtown of the burned-out eyesore and another eyesore, the Shoppers Parking ramp is slowly but surely coming down.  A skywalk study that has been conducted over a number of months will be ready for reveal in the fall and should provide clarity about what to do with our three miles of enclosed skywalk in the downtown.

 

Streets and utilities are always a challenge in an older metropolitan area and Duluth has a very old system of utilities and more than 500 miles of city streets to maintain.  With the .05% street tax the rate of street reconstruction has risen from just a few miles each year to an average of around 18 miles, a significant increase.  Along with the reconstruction Duluth is replacing lead service lines to homes, of which there are several thousand.  A $60 million dollar grant from the state is helping this project move forward.  Also on the docket is a $40 million dollar overhaul of the Lakewood treatment plant, a plant that serves not only Duluth residents but surrounding towns as well.  Finally, work continues on the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge to ensure this historic structure continues operation and keeps the seven-mile sandbar neighborhood of Park Point connected to the city.

 

For housing, it is important to consider higher density for the same reasons as the issues surrounding the tax base development, limited land inventory.  Higher density development creates an impactful inventory.  With people transitioning out of single-family homes into other forms of housing, their homes are freed up for first time and moving up homebuyers. 

 

The proposed levy is 2.7% for 2026 and is in line with the cost of inflation.  The city will continue to see increased costs of employee contracts which makes a stronger commercial tax base all the more important.

 

Finally, the Mayor touched on the things that citizens, and specifically Rotary Club #25 can do to help.

 

President Zach returned to the podium with thanks to the Mayor for an informative program and turned next to the 50/50 drawing.  However, Jack Seiler noted that the Golden Can was shortchanged at the start of the meeting, and he had an announcement to make.  It’s his 74^th birthday on September 11!  In recognition of this special day, Jack made a $74 dollar donation to the Golden Can.  Jim Schwartz followed with a contribution in honor of his Central High School class of 1965 reunion. 

 

Dave Fulda was next with the announcement that this year is the 70^th anniversary of Johnson Carpet One, started by his father-in-law, Rotarian Dale Johnson, and he put his $70 in the can.  Geiger Yount was next up, with thanks to the Rotarians who came out to help with the Harvest Festival. 4,000 people attended and more than $4,000 in donations was collected, thanks everyone!  And last, but certainly not least, Dale Johnson arrived at the podium, noting that thanks to the Gimlet, he knew he had a birthday and put $91 in the can for his 91st trip around the sun.  Good thing the Golden Can was kicked!  Significant contributions were made today!

 

Lots of profitable contributions to the Golden Can!

 

Dale Johnson thanks everyone for celebrating his 91^st birthday with him!

 

Dave Fulda lets the club know that Johnson Carpet One is celebrating 70 years in business!!!  Started by his father-in-law, Dale Johnson.

 

Geiger Yount thanks the Rotary volunteers who helped make the Harvest Festival  a great success

 

Jim Schwartz contributed in recognition of his 60^th class reunion.

 

The winner of the 50/50 drawing was Past President Chana Stocke, and with that, the meeting adjourned.

 

Chair of the Day Matt Baumgartner, President Zach Walters and Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert.