We Meet at Noon on Thursday

October 21, 2021

Plated Meal Served

(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)

 

Frank Frederickson

Minnesota Power

Vice President – Customer Experience

 

Minnesota Power strives to provide reliable affordable and sustainable energy to our 145,000 customers.  Over the past 15 years, Minnesota Power has gone from 5% to 50% in renewable energy. Come and learn more about the plan to increase the sustainability of the power supply to 80% carbon-free by 2035 and the vision to be 100% carbon-free by 2050.

 

By Rob Hofmann

 

On this last week of our annual Rotary Rose Sale and the eve of Rotary Rose Day, Rotarians gathered together in fellowship to enjoy a plated meal of roast beef (sans salad), a cookie (by order of President Chana Stocke), and a wonderful presentation by our two guest speakers. With a remnant of cookie crumbs upon her person, President Chana Stocke rang the Rotary Bell to begin our meeting.  Following a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Four-Way Test, we listened to Assistant District Governor Tricia Bunten deliver the Reflection.  Tricia Buten mused upon her own efforts during this year’s and past years Rose Sale. She admitted that she may not be the best Rotarian at selling roses, but she makes it up in donations. Her larger message was that collectively, Rotarians working together accomplish great things in our community. All net proceeds of our rose sales go right back to our community as grants for causes that changes so many lives.

 

We had a few guests that included prospective Club #25 members! Past President Dean Casperson brought one such prospective member, Vinod Gupta of Ameriprise. Steve LaFlamme brought a guest whom we have met before - Patty McGaffey of Oneida. And Club #25 hosted Andrew Haukebo, Volunteer and Development Coordinator at Second Harvest.

 

Jessica Lind Peterson, Mary Tennis, President Chana Stocke, Chair of the Day Rob Hofmann

 

Fellowship saw a few self-reports beginning with Rob Hofmann inflicting a “Work Zone” fine for himself and his fellow Depot Foundation board members Renee Mattson, President-Elect Barb Perrella, Karol Sowers and Past President Bill Gravelle. Allen Anway made a contribution in recognition of his being a charter member of the Railroad Museum.

 

As this was our last meeting before Rotary Rose Day, President-Elect Barb Perrella, with help from President Chana Stocke, called for volunteers to help with the distribution of roses. Many Rotarians responded with a resounding YES!  Speaking of volunteers, another call went out for 10 hearty Rotarians to help set up Bentleyville this Wednesday from 5 PM to 8 PM. (Dress for the weather as it will be cooler by the lake!) Please meet at the skating shack and expect to have some fun!  Another outdoor volunteer opportunity is available on Friday, October 29^th from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM cleaning up a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail. If you are interested, please contact Dan Maki (dmaki@ascentialwealth.com) for more information and to secure your very own Rotary T-Shirt!

 

Andrew Haukebo

Second Harvest

Volunteer and Development Coordinator

 

We then were introduced to Andrew Haukebo from Second Harvest who thanked Club #25 Rotarians for past volunteer work helping with food distribution and their Backpack Program which provided weekend meals to kids who otherwise would not have enough food to eat. Second Harvest’s need now is for volunteer drivers to deliver backpacks to a number of Duluth Schools on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesdays of the month. Pickup times are from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Second Harvest with deliveries to designated schools whenever possible later that day. For more information reach out to Andrew at (218) 336-2303.

 

 

Our program for today came as a two-parter with guest speakers Jessica Lind Peterson from the Depot Foundation and Mary Tennis of the St Louis County Heritage and Arts Center.  Ms. Peterson, a native of Duluth and a former Club #25 Junior Rotarian from Denfeld, is the Development Director for the Depot Foundation. She shared the mission of the Depot Foundation and a few of its accomplishments since its creation in 1979. The Depot Foundation began with an endowment of $1 million which has since grown to $8.3 million.  The earned income from these permanently invested funds allows the foundation to annually grant hundreds of thousands of dollars to the arts and cultural nonprofit organizations that are the tenants of the Depot. Due to COVID shut-downs, performances, exhibitions and programs that create important revenue for these organizations had to be canceled. The Depot Foundation was able to award an additional $141,000 in operational grants in addition to $225,000 programmatic grants. Ms. Peterson informed us that the Depot Foundation is seeking a greater investment of donations so that it may transition from a private foundation to a public foundation. A visit to the Depot Foundations website (https://depotfoundation.org/) will answer most questions.

 

Jessica Lind Peterson

 

Mary Tennis is the Executive Director of the Depot, which is owned by Saint Louis County and oversees the facility’s operations, maintenance and some programming. Ms. Tennis works with each of the nonprofit tenants of the Depot to maximize public engagement. Ms. Tennis spoke about the large investment being made to preserve the Depot’s 130-year-old building, and her efforts to increase visitors through exciting programing.  Although Ms. Tennis's time with us was brief, she did encourage us to watch this video to get a better appreciation for our very own Depot!   Depot Video

 

Mary Tennis

 

By Jerry Ostroski

 

The Rotary Club of Duluth Foundation resources are held in three funds; The Westmoreland Community Fund, (fundraising projects including the Rose Sale and Food Drive). The Westmoreland Scholarship Fund, (RYLA) and the Westmoreland Endowment Fund.  Of these, the Westmoreland Endowment Fund is the “long term” vehicle whereby contributions are invested and the earnings made available for “impactful community projects”!  As of June 30, 2021 the total assets of the Foundation were just under $400,000.  Contributions came from Club Members who are Sustainers; along with contributions and memorials from Members and Friends of Rotary including corporate entities which have matching gifts to charities programs.

 

This past year, the Westmoreland Endowment Fund awarded a $15,000 grant to the Bethany Crisis Center’s Building Fund for the construction of a new facility for housing children.  This grant was funded by utilizing earnings from investments and a gift from a Friend of Rotary.

 

The stated goal of your Club’s Foundation, and its Board of Directors, is to grow the Westmoreland Endowment to $1 million to fund “Impactful Community Projects” into the foreseeable future.

 

If you have questions about your Foundation, or should you wish to make the Foundation part of your estate plan, or are interested in serving on the Board, contact any one of the members listed below!

 

Jerry Pelofske – President

Corey Collier – Vice President

Jerry Ostroski – Secretary

Jen Smith - Treasurer

Jim Schwartz– Director

Allen Anway – Director

Geiger Yount – Director

Jena Evans – Director

Phil Strom – Director

Barb Perrella – Director (Rotary Club Board Representative)

Jack Seiler – Director (Rotary Club Grants Committee Vice-Chair)

 

 

By Dan Dock

 

On Tuesday, October 12 Rotarians from Club #25 and Skyline enjoyed decorating the Boys and Girls Club Reception Room. The children have a fun time at Halloween, including having their pictures taken in their costumes.

 

Dan Dock and Friend at the Boys and Girls Club

 

Geiger Yount with some pretty scary decorations   

 

Thank you to Dan Dock, Jerry Pelofske, Jim Schwartz, Geiger Yount, and Bob Sherman from Skyline Rotary for making a difference for the children at the Boys and Girls Club.