The Holiday Inn’s Lyric Conference Center was filled with Rotarians and guests as President Elaine Hansen welcomed and invited everyone to stand and sing “America the Beautiful” accompanied by Past President John Baumgarten on the piano.  Today’s program was shortened briefly with no invocation or fellowship report, but Rotarians gladly stepped forward to kick the Golden Can in the spirit of today’s topic on volunteering and “serving humanity” in our community and around the world.  An in absentia Jim Landwehr contributed big bucks on the occasion of his birthday (years) and his    Rotary years of service (29).  Rob Hofmann attended the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ international conference where The Rotary Foundation was named “World’s Outstanding Foundation” for 2016 and 2017 for nearly wiping out polio and having one of the lowest “cost to raise a dollar” metrics of any organization in the world.  Rob reported that roughly half of the 3,000 participants were Rotarians.  Melanie Goldish paid two bucks in honor of her son Travis who recently completed two years in the Israeli army on the Jordanian border.  Elizabeth Simonson reported that the College of St. Scholastica’s Physician Assistant program was recently fully accredited.  Past District Governor Earl Rogers spotted a DNT story highlighting UMD’s Engineering Department winning an award from the US Air Force for a “load-hauling robotic pack mule.”  And Cory Collier fessed up to being 50 years young by contributing to the Golden Can. Later, Jim Schwartz honored the birth of his grandson Wilson John by kicking the Golden Can, then encouraged Rotarians with boats and an interest in fishing to help Woodland Hills kids go fishing on June 9th.  Meet under the High Bridge at 8:00 am.  Jim also made a pitch for Rotarians to stop by and meet with him and Jeff Fifield to sign up for filling backpacks for needy children through the Food Bank.  President Elaine reported that First Quarter programs will be discussed on May 23rd, so bring your ideas to the meeting where chairperson and Past President Dick Carlson will lead the discussion.  Remember, all Rotarians present at the meeting are allowed to vote on the presentations. President Elaine also noted that while all of the proceeds are not finalized, it is looking like the Prime Rib Dinner and Auction was a big financial success!  Despite having fewer members than last year, it is looking like results will closely match how we did last year! 

Dick Pelinka announced that Roberta Vose recently gave Club 25 one of Past President and Past District Governor Dave Vose’s jackets with the Rotary logo.  Dave died in 2016, so Dick auctioned off the jacket, which Dave had never worn.   It held special meaning for the eventual top bidder, President Elaine, who said later that she was asked by Dave years ago to become more involved at Rotary District 5580.  Today, she serves as District Treasurer AND our Club 25 President.  Thank you, Elaine! 

The Club 25 Trip Raffle kicks off on Thursday, May 11th. The drawing will take place on June 15th but you do not have to present to win. This year the committee has made an exciting update to the prizes to encourage ticket sales. The cash prizes are based on the number of tickets sold and will be as follows:

One Platinum Level:  20% of purse (up to $7,500)

One Gold Level: 10% of purse (up to $3,750)

Three Silver Level:  5% of purse (up to $1,875)

Five Bronze Level:  1% of purse (up to $375)

The drawing will also include a variety of complimentary hotel room stays. Each Club 25er will be given two $100 tickets to buy or sell. This important fundraiser gives everyone a chance to win these amazing prizes. Contact the Rotary Office at 218-722-0451 or bri@duluthrotary.org with questions. Club 25ers can charge their ticket purchases to their accounts.

 

Please join us and bring a guest to these exciting programs and events that are taking place in the fourth quarter:

Speaker: Lynn Kenney

Chairperson: Tricia Bunten

Location: Great Hall– Kitchi Gammi Club

Speakers: Jenny Peterson and Michael Cochran

Chairperson: John Baumgarten

Location: Great Hall Kitchi Gammi Club

Speakers: Philipp Adler, Louli Ponce and Picha Budda

Chairperson: Darlene Anderson

Location: Great Hall Kitchi Gammi Club

Location: Great Lakes Ballroom– Holiday Inn

Speaker: Jim Rock

Chairperson: Marc Seigar

Location: Lyric Conference Center– Holiday Inn

Speaker: Patty Mester

Chairperson: Mark Boben

Location: Great Lakes Ballroom– Holiday Inn

Friday, June 9th is the date to take a kid fishing from 8:00 am to Noon. We need volunteers to supply boats and fishing expertise. Thirty to forty kids are expected and this means all hands on deck. Friends and family with boats can be asked for help with the event.

Contact Jim Schwartz, call 218-384-3500 or email jimwschwartz@aol.com, if you can help. Announcements will begin May 4.

 

In the Fall 2016 Grants Session, Club 25 donated $5,000 to the Kid’s Café Program at the Damiano Center. The Kid’s Café Program is an after school and summer meal program, that provides children and low-income families a nutritious dinner and educational activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. This program is for children of low income families in the Duluth Central Hillside neighborhood. As part of this program a garden is being planted at the CHUM headquarters, 102 W. Second St. Eco Rotary is helping. A volunteer with a roto-tiller is needed to till between the fence and the parking lot to put in a raspberry patch and allow the kids to plant in more space. Please contact Laura Zahn at 728-1445 or laura.zahn@hotmail.com to coordinate.

 

On Saturday, June 24th the North Shore Rotary Club of Two Harbors will be hosting their ForeKids Couples Golf Tournament at Lakeview National. The tee time is 8:30 am and the money raised will be used for from Silver Bay and Two Harbors students to attend Camp RYLA. The cost is $65 per person, which includes the following:

· 18 holes of golf (6 holes best ball – 6 holes alternate golf – 6 holes scramble)

· Luncheon following play

· Registration gifts valued at over $30 per couple

· Flight awards

The tournament is limited to 20 couples.  Reserve a tee time by calling 218-834-2664.