This Week at Rotary
We Meet at Noon on Thursday
March 10, 2022
IN PERSON & ZOOM
For Those Attending in Person
Plated Meal
(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)
(Link Sent Thursday Morning)
At
Holiday Inn Downtown
President Chana Stocke
Rotary of Duluth Club #25
Getting to Know You
How much do you know the person you break bread with each week at Rotary? How much do they know about YOU? This coming week, Rotarians of Club 25 will take one minute each to tell us something about themselves: their work, their family, a project, their passion. Tell us what you do: your work, your family, your talent, your hobby, a memorable story about you. It’s YOUR turn to shine: please email President Chana Stocke at
CStocke@northshore.bank to say you’d like to speak!
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Patra Sevastiades
What makes a good meeting? Wonderful people, solid leadership. A great gathering of Rotarians was called to order by President Chana Stocke. We sang “America the Beautiful” with Past President John Baumgarten at the piano, playing, as ever, by ear. We affirmed the 4-Way Test aloud.
Sheryl Homan offered a
Reflection. In Rotary founder Paul Harris’ book,
My Road to Rotary, he described his sometimes troubled youth, his professional success in Chicago, and his search for meaning. He longed for camaraderie and to be of service, so in 1905 he and three businessmen created Rotary.
Sheryl Homan challenged us, quoting Harris: “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.” Hear, hear!
Allen Anway self-reported. He said that, after competing in the Birkebeiner 41 times (!), he did not this year because he doesn’t “have the horsepower to finish it in time.” Before you mistake this as a confession, he glowed when he added that his granddaughter, Eleanor Weston, a Carl-on College student who studies physics, competed, finishing in an impressive 6 hours.
Sheryl Homan “making her point”
Allen Anway kicking the Golden Can
Past President John Baumgarten, a 50 year Rotarian!
Past President John Baumgarten donated $50 to the Rotary 25 Foundation to celebrate being introduced to Club 25 by his friend [name?] in 1972—50 years ago! He told two stories from the International Rotary meeting in Seoul that he and wife, Kathy, attended when he was club president in 1989;
They were invited to tag along with a large group from Indiana to go to a “home visit.” Some of the Rotarians from Indiana grumbled at the Minnesota interlopers.
After dinner, the Korean host said they had a special treat. A famous opera singer and accompanist performed. It was dazzling.
The host said, “Now, your turn!” and looked expectantly at the blank-faced American guests. All sat frozen until Kathy urged John, “You could play piano—?"
No one else moved, so John—who had been practicing “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin for weeks—stood up, without music or cheat sheet, stepped boldly onto the stage, and sat down at the 9’ concert grand piano. He played flawlessly. The delegates from Indiana were so glad they’d invited him.
When he finished his stories, John received a standing ovation for 50 years in Rotary.
Dan Maki donated in honor of Allen Anway having competed 41 times in the Birkebeiner. Past President
Dean Casperson reminded all to sign up to support the
Club #25 Cinco de Mayo dinner and auction event, using the sheets on the lunch tables.
Jim Schwartz introduced grant recipient Dave Schaffer, Chester Bowl director, who thanked Rotary for a $2,000 grant. Chester Bowl runs 4 programs: winter skiing/snowboarding, summer day camp, Chester Creek Concert Series, and Fall Fest. Their mission includes having kids and families participate regardless of income. This winter, they granted $31,431 in scholarships. Jim Schwartz added that the very busy Grants Committee has already awarded $10,000 in grants this year, and another $10,000 will be given out soon.
Dave Schaffer, Chester Bowl director – Thumbs Up!
Jenna Evans with March Junior Rotarians
Jena Evans welcomed the current Jr. Rotarians to introduce the new Jr. Rotarians, the final group for this academic year: Sam, Colin, and Gabe. Departing Jr. Rotarians were thanked.
President-Elect Barb Perrella shared that President Elect Training was enjoyable and reunited her with a past acquaintance who may have walked her down the aisle in a bridesmaid’s dress.
Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom introduced today’s speaker, Richard Wolleat, executive director of Northwood Children’s Services.
Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom with Richard Wolleat of Northwood Children’s Services.
Richard Wolleat, who as a teen was the voice of Paul Bunyan in the Paul Bunyan Center in Brainerd, MN, has for the last 14 years been the voice and executive director of
Northwood Children’s Services. He has worked in the field of children’s mental health for a total of 44 years.
A trained psychotherapist, social worker, and more, Richard oversees an organization with 2 campuses. It offers therapeutic mental health treatment to 1,000 youth each year, ages 2-21. The staff includes psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and teachers, among others.
Northwood Children’s Services was first established as an orphanage in 1883. Then it offered vocational training. Today, it offers a range of mental health services: outpatient services, individual and family therapy, day treatment programs, and residential programs. It offers more services in community settings than in their residential settings. The average stay in the residential program is 6 months. Each day, they treat 300 youth.
Children are referred by county social workers, schools, and others. Each child enters with a mental health diagnosis. Most are grappling with a combination of anxiety, attachment disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and/or depression.
All new clients are given a 35-day comprehensive assessment to determine the appropriate treatment. The average age of children in the program is 11. Of those, 67% are boys, 33% are girls. Most of the kids have been harmed by two things: 1. Attachment disorder (as babies, they did not receive enough care and love to create healthy attachment), and 2. Trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse.
On the Main Campus on College Street, Northwood Children’s Services has its own school for kindergarten through high school age students and a preschool for younger children. It also has a residential facility there, which currently has 40 youth. Both residential and day program students attend the school.
On their West Campus, they have a psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth, the first in the state. The campus features extensive property, beautiful views, a greenhouse and garden. They have 48 youth there.
In the summer, all residential children attend camp for one week at an Island Lake cabin that Northwood Children’s Services owns.
They also coordinate with Duluth schools, offering mental health treatment for students at their schools. They currently treat 16 youth in this way.
Finally, they recently welcomed 40 teens from the Hills when it closed, offering them continuity of care. Those students attend school at Rockridge School and at Denfeld High School.
At Northwood Children’s Services, children often find healing. Many have returned as adults to say, “You saved my life.”
His colleague, Morgana Kolenda, Director of Resource Development, invited all Rotarians to attend the upcoming fundraising gala and auction to be held on Saturday, March 19. Big Wave Dave and the Ripples will entertain. Contact Morgana at
mkolenda@northwoodchildren.org for tickets and details.
Fun fact: the last time Northwood Children’s Services held a children’s charity ball was in 1968. Come help them restart a fun and financially successful event that helps children thrive.
Overheard at the meeting when Brian Fulda fixed a digital snafu: “Where would we be without Brian?”
President Chana Stocke concluded the meeting with the 50-50 drawing. Dave Holappa was the lucky winner.
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