Thursday, July 16, 2026

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

Founder and CEO, Youth Frontiers

 

Youth Frontiers’ mission is to provide experiences that inspire character, civility and community. We offer student retreats focused on timeless values like kindness, courage and respect. Youth Frontiers also offers programming for educators, parents and community leaders to support the adults at the forefront of turning today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.

 

Second Harvest Northland Food Packing

2302 Commonwealth Avenue

Duluth, MN 55808

 August 12, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

We have an opportunity to help fight hunger in our area! Our Rotary Club has partnered with Second Harvest Northland to assist them in their mission to create a hunger-free Northland at their new facility in West Duluth.  

For more information about Second Harvest Northland visit: https://secondharvestnorthland.org/

Or Contact: Daniel Maki

 

 

 

By Al Makynen

 

Again, we have a new sheriff in town.  President Dan Maki with the lightest of touch to the bell brought the boisterous room to attention.  Past President Branden Robinson adjusted our attitude to one of service above self as an effective avenue to become stewards of the environment.  To recall that we are attached to nature and that we are to avoid being simply consumers of what nature has to offer.

 

A table full of Rotarians, with future member Matt Piede (L), paying attention

 

The Golden Can stood ready to receive funds in support of our community efforts.  Jerry Thoreson just returned from an eight-day Caribbean Cruise.  His one-word description of the experience was “opulence.”  I could not see the exact amount going into the can but am convinced it represented all of his remaining cash.  Superintendent of Schools, John Magas, asked us to respond to a postcard survey that will soon be in our mailboxes.  Past President Sandy Hoff made a confession that he ate a cookie from Carol Valentini while at Duluth Days on his way to this gathering.  His apologies to Judy Rogers for not waiting.  Jeff Fifield is half way through a six week visit by his grandchildren.  He and they are amazed at what our area has to offer for sightseeing and activities.

 

John Magas asking us to engage in the School District's future"

 

Sandy Hoff feeling guilty about eating cookies

 

Jeff Fifield enjoying a six week visit with grandchildren

 

Chair of the Day Jerry Pelofske introduced Mike Schrage, Wildlife Program Manager for the Fond du Lac Reservation.  In addition to his many degrees and qualifications he is also the husband of Jennifer Smith.  Wolf research was the major component of his presentation with comments about the potential reintroduction of elk subject to overcoming hurdles specific to moving animals across state lines in an era of chronic wasting disease.  

 

The Fond du Lac Reservation and the surrounding treaty rights area are home to several wolf packs.  Wolves are part of the creation story and the research to determine how and where the wolves reside is important to the Tribe.  The research is both cultural and biological.  Prior to 1800 wolves roamed over all of Minnesota.  By 1960 there were just a few hundred in the deep woods of Northeast Minnesota representing the only wolf population in the lower 48 states.  In 1970 with the discontinuation of wolf bounties and the passing of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 the population stabilized and their territory began to expand.  Wolves are social carnivores requiring large prey (moose, deer, elk).  They are highly territorial and adaptive with the ability to disperse over a wide range and have a birth rate of up to six pups per litter usually born in late March/early April.  The young male wolves seeking to establish a new territory are the classic lone wolf.  The Reservation is currently home to five wolf packs comprised on average of five wolves (a breeding alpha pair, juveniles, and pups).  A wolf pack territory is typically 50 square miles.  Although the same species, the wolves in Minnesota are smaller than those in Yellowstone National Park.  Although they can live longer, the vast majority of wolves are six years old and younger.  The research revealed the causes of mortality for the wolf population was:  illegal harvest (45%), destroyed after a livestock depredation (25%), car or train strike (15%), other wolves (15%), and disease (10%).

 

It is extremely rare for a wolf to attack a human.  They do not like being around humans. If you come upon a wolf while hiking the best advice is to stand your ground and make yourself look large and be loud.  Pets separated from their human owners are a different matter and may become prey. A demonstration of their adaptability was the recent construction of the Line #3 Pipeline (2020-2023) which traversed three wolf pack territories.  There was no measurable impact.  The wolves were able to crisscross the pipelines even while under construction.  There was no known mortality.  Just as the wolves have adjusted to our presence in nature, so too we must learn to adapt and embrace the expanding wolf population in all of Minnesota.

 

Wolf range recovering in Minnesota

 

President Dan Maki, Chair of the Day Jerry Pelofsky, Speaker Mike Schrage and Jennifer Smith