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President Tricia Bunten welcomed all to today’s meeting and invited everyone to stand and sing “America the Beautiful,” accompanied by Past President and pianist John Baumgarten. Stepping in for Elizabeth Storaasli, invocator Tom Wheeler summed up his thoughtful message in one sentence, “we humans are more alike than we are different.”  Given today’s two presentations, no truer words could have been invocated. 

Assistant District Governor Al Makynen delivered a crisp Fellowship Report highlighting Past President Sandy Hoff’s “Mattress Man” tee shirt and now famous TV ad.  Sandy remarked he was “putting it to bed once and for all” by paying one buck for every Rotarian in the room who had seen the ad.  Upon raising their honest hands, Al counted 50, so Sandy deposited $50 in the Golden Can. Thank you, Sandy.  Elizabeth Simonson was fined for the College of St. Scholastica’s generous donation to the Grand Avenue Nordic Center’s project to build new ski trails and provide snowmaking equipment.  And Barb Perrella’s son, Tony, a University of St. Thomas senior, sang the National Anthem at the recent Tommies v. Johnnies rivalry football game in front of a record 37,000 fans at Target Field.

President Tricia then recognized Dick Pelinka for his talented work in constructing the Rotary office sign outside our club’s Skyway location. Suzanne Anderson thanked everyone for their Rose Sale efforts this year.  She reminded us to turn in our money ASAP and she encouraged volunteering at our Rose Sale distribution centers Friday and Saturday.  She said that Alan Anway’s sales team was the winner of the Black Water Lounge certificate. 

Junior Rotarians representing area high schools were welcomed by New Generations committee chair Rob Hofmann, who asked each of the Rotarians serving as School Liaisons to introduce their students.  Rotarians stepping up included Rob himself as Marshall’s liaison, Eric Dott (Lakeview Christian Academy), Chana Stocke (Hermantown), Jena Evans (Duluth East), Edie Michalski (Harbor City International School), Marc Seigar (Duluth Denfeld) and Tom Young (Proctor).  Each student will be paired with a Rotarian who has a similar vocational interest.

President Tricia recognized the following Rotarians for attending the District’s Rotary One summit on public relations, membership and the Rotary Foundation.   Our club was represented by President Tricia, Al Makynen, Tim Mowbray, David Nolle, Past President Branden Robinson, Past District Governor Earl Rogers, Chana Stocke and President-Elect Steve Yorde.  Our own MacKenzie MacFarlane, District Chair of Rotaract, also attended along with 9 other Rotaractors.

Our club’s former Ambassadorial Scholarship winner Leah Rogotzke updated us on her amazing career.  She learned Arabic and studied human rights at the University of Jordan in 2012-13, eventually working with Syrian refugees to improve water conditions and build infrastructure.  Today, she is living in Washington, DC, but will soon move to Baghdad as a US government employee to help strengthen Iraqi government agencies’ performance in tax-collections and accountability.   She continues to visit local Rotary clubs, and even updates them on Club 25.  She says living in the Middle East is generally safe, and “a cool place to live.”

Before introducing our speakers, Chair of the Day Dick Pelinka surprised everyone by honoring Melanie Goldish with a Paul Harris Fellowship.  “Melanie epitomizes Service Above Self every day.  She walks the same walk that we all do on a daily basis.”  Congratulations, Melanie.

Today, Club 25 hosted its first “Google Hangout,” as Travis Yon spoke to us electronically from his Jerusalem home. His mother, Melanie Goldish, was present, asking questions of her son to help us better understand modern Israel, why he decided on “dual citizenship,” and why he joined the Israeli army.  Ten years ago, Travis visited Israel as a junior high student and was immediately struck by its heritage and the blending of cultures; he saw a place for himself there.  After high school in Chicago, he studied at Indiana University before moving to Jerusalem to study at Hebrew University. Established in 1948, Israel is the geographic size of New Jersey, so small that Travis and two buddies walked across the country in just three days.  The conservative Likud Party is in charge of the Knesset (parliament), with Benjamin “Bebe” Natanyahu as Israel’s prime minister. Melanie and Travis had a chance meeting with Bebe in March 2017.  In 1952, Israel established the “Law of Return” which permitted Jewish people to move to Israel and adopt dual citizenship.  Its Lone Soldier program permitted these individuals, Travis being one, to join the Israeli armed forces.  Because of his past medical history as a cancer survivor, he was assigned to a non-combat role in the Foreign Relations Unit.  He serves at the King Hussein Bridge between Israel and Jordan.  He noted that Israel has a shared culture and diversity among Jews, Muslims, Christians and nomadic tribes.  It is important to be able to converse in Arabic with Arabs and in Hebrew with Jews.  Already fluent in Hebrew, he is learning Arabic now.  Jerusalem is a modern city with skyscrapers, two new light-rail lines, giant malls and cinemas.  Even the traditional Middle Eastern Market turns into bars and restaurants at night.  Generally, Israel has a surplus of water while the rest of the Middle East does not.  This is due to conservation methods and the vast planting of trees, effectively halting the growth of the desert.  The US is Israel’s greatest ally in the world; in the Middle East, its greatest allies are Jordan and Egypt.  Travis believes the biggest threat to Israel is Iran because of its support of Hezbollah and other dangerous groups committed to Israel’s destruction.  He concluded by saying that every culture there has its own identity with full rights being granted, but Israel is also a “melting-pot” which has contributed to the country’s strength.

 

The annual Twin Ports Paul Harris Fellows Dinner will be on Wednesday, November 8th at Barkers Island Inn in Superior, WI. The social hour will begin at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 6:30 pm. The cost per person is $35. If you would like to attend, please contact Bri in our Rotary office.