Thursday, November 20, 2025

Lunch Buffet

Doors Open 11:30AM

At

 

Help those in need celebrate birthdays with their children or loved ones by making kits to donate – complete with cake mix, candles, and other essentials. Each will go to a household to ensure no birthday passes without the means to celebrate.

We will be joined by Pez Davila and Savannah Brinson of Neighborhood Youth Services (NYS). Located in Duluth’s central hillside, NYS provides meals, mentorship, and a safe space for kids. They will help us with a hands-on project of making 100 birthday boxes! The boxes will be given to NYS and other organizations that work with children and youth.

Chair of the Day: President Zach Walters

 

, MN.

Contact Dan Dock to volunteer – dandockdc@aol.com or 218-724-7801

 

By Patra Sevastiades

President Zach Walters stood at the podium, the sunlight in the window behind him. He rang the bell and led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary 4-Way Test.

 

President Zach Walters welcomes everyone to Rotary.

 

Past President Sandy Hoff recites the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Club member Natalie Junk delivered the Reflection. She noted two beautiful examples of Rotary core values. First, every year Bentleyville brings joy to thousands, and behind the lights are volunteers, some of whom are Rotarians. That is service in action. Second, Veterans Day is a moment to pause and reflect on integrity and leadership, qualities our veterans exemplify and that we Rotarians strive to uphold ourselves.

 

Natalie Junk delivers the Reflection, honoring veterans and celebrating Bentleyville.

 

In recognition of Veterans Day (11/11), President Zach invited all service members to stand and be recognized. It was an impressive group.

 

Steve Hadley, Jack Seiler, Past President Phil Strom, Past President Bill Gravelle, Tim Mowbray, Bill Sozansky, Jon Oman, and Tom Homan, veterans of the US military and Rotary Club 25 members, are honored by the Club. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

 

President Zach then introduced several guests: our speaker, Nathan Bentley; Meirs Moore, Certified Water Specialist from Culligan Water and son of Club 25 Rotarian Skeeter Moore; Adalynn, Junior Rotarian from Proctor H.S.; Will, Junior Rotarian from Hermantown H.S.; Aedea, Junior Rotarian from Hermantown H.S.; and Jake, Junior Rotarian from Harbor City International School.

 

When it was time for self-reporting, Past President Dean Casperson was the first to reach the podium. He noted that on Monday, the FDA held a news conference about a major policy change: the “black box” warnings that have for decades scared women away from taking hormone replacement therapy were finally being removed. One of the people invited to speak at the press conference was Dean’s daughter, Kelly Casperson, M.D., who for years has lobbied the FDA to correct the labeling so that women experiencing symptoms of menopause can have improved quality of life. Dean was beaming.

 

 

Jim Schwartz was also beaming: his granddaughter, Anna Schiller, a member of the East H.S. girls’ swim team, came in first place in the 500-yard freestyle race and second place in three other events, qualifying for the state swimming tournament in all four events. She is competing at the state championship Thursday through Saturday (11/13-11/15).

 

Jim Schwartz celebrates his granddaughter, Anna Schiller, who qualified to compete in four swimming events at the girls’ state swimming tournament.

 

Jerry Pelofske made the first announcement. He has all but two spaces filled for volunteer Salvation Army red kettle bell ringing in December. Two people offered to fill those spaces before Jerry had even sat down. Service: that’s the Rotarian Way!

 

Jerry Pelofske’s wish for two more Rotary bell ringers was granted as soon as he asked.

Service: that’s the Rotarian Way!

 

Past President Michelle Buria reminded everyone that next week, the Club will have a hands-on project: making 100 birthday boxes for families in need. These will be distributed to organizations that work with youth so they can share them with families.

 

Past President Michelle Buria invites members to help make birthday boxes at our 11/20 meeting.

 

Geiger Yount announced that Dick Swenson, a long-time Rotarian of Club 25 and inventor of the best-selling Sven-Saw, will be laid to rest on Friday, November 14. At noon, his funeral will be held at First Lutheran Church. He will be missed!

 

Geiger Yount honors the memory of Rotarian Dick Swenson.

Chair of the day Sandy Hoff introduced Nathan Bentley, the founder of Bentleyville and a successful entrepreneur. Nathan shared with the Club some of the history of Bentleyville and some behind-the-scenes stories.

 

Past President Sandy Hoff introduces speaker of the day, Nathan Bentley.

 

Nathan started Bentleyville (bentleyvilleusa.org) as a Christmas light display at his home in 2003. A few years later, he created two parking areas near his home (with the help of gracious neighbors) and transported people to Bentleyville on rented school buses. By 2007, they were transporting 72,000 people on the busses! Meanwhile, some of his neighbors, who were unhappy having crowds near their homes, began to organize. They wanted Bentleyville to stop. In 2008, Nathan paused Bentleyville and took a year to think about what to do next.

 

Speaker Nathan Bentley has a heart for service.

 

That’s when he received a call from the office of Mayor Don Ness. They met, and the mayor suggested that Bayfront Park might be a fitting location for Bentleyville. Nathan had never seen it, but once he did, he embraced the idea.

 

In its new location, Bentleyville expanded and was even more successful. Today, 62% of Bentleyville’s visitors travel 125 miles or more to see it, and in 2024 it was voted the top Christmas lights attraction in the nation by the readers of US Today. Some visitors come from Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, even flying in from Pennsylvania.

 

Each child 12 and under who visits Santa receives a free knit cap and a bag of cookies. At a cost of $2/cap, giving away 30,000 caps adds up quickly. So does providing free cookies, cocoa, marshmallows, coffee, popcorn for all guests for four weeks. That’s where local sponsors come in, providing funds to support the effort and bring joy to kids and families in the Twin Ports and beyond.

 

White-collar crime inmates at the Federal prison are among the volunteer staff invited in by Nathan and his team to set up, chop the wood for the 30 fire pits, and help in various ways. Some of their stories will be featured THIS week on WDIO news.

 

Nathan added that some of his volunteers steal, including one high school student.

 

“What do they steal?” someone asked.

 

“What don’t they steal?” Nathan responded with a rueful laugh. But most Bentleyville volunteers are honest, helpful, and reliable.

 

Bentleyville is America’s largest free walk-through lighting display. This year, it opens on November 27 and closes on December 27.

 

Nathan invited Rotarians to help break down Bentleyville this year. Volunteers are needed beginning on Sunday, 12/28, at 8:30am. (Questions? Ask our volunteer coordinator, President Elect Dan Maki, dmaki@ascentialwealth.com).

 

Nathan also mentioned his work in Laos, where he donates materials to build schools and other facilities when he finds teams of local people who will do the construction. He visits 2-3 times each year, staying to help make projects happen. He has visited 71 countries and 500 cities, and his philanthropy extends beyond Laos.

 

President Zach thanked Nathan, then asked him to draw the 50/50 raffle ticket.

 

When President Zach called out the winning number, no one responded. Thinking quickly, our president reached into his own jacket pocket and retrieved his ribbon of tickets. “This is not supposed to happen,” he said, then looked at the numbers. “It’s me!” he said, winning $64.

 

He rang the bell, and the meeting adjourned.