This Week at Rotary
We Meet at Noon on Thursday
January 5, 2023
IN PERSON & ZOOM
For Those Attending in Person
BUFFET LUNCH
(Zoom Meeting Opens at 11:45)
(Link Sent Thursday Morning)
At
Holiday Inn Downtown
Junior Rotarian Daria Devko
Duluth international student raises awareness about war in her homeland Ukraine
Chair of the Day: Stacy Oltmanns
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Traci Marciniak
Rotary Club 25 members met at the Holiday Inn’s Great Lakes Ballroom on a mild day — a welcome relief from the recent blizzard conditions and below 0 temps. Club #25 President Barb Perrella rang the bell and called the meeting to order. Rotarians sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” accompanied by Past President John Baumgarten on the piano and recited the Rotary Four-Way Test.
Is it time to retire our old friend – or repair??
Past Assistant District Governor Phil Strom
Past Assistant District Governor
Phil Strom began the day’s reflection by mentioning he will be glad to have 2022 in his rearview mirror—which echoed the thoughts of many Rotarians present at the meeting. Since New Year’s is a time of reflection and resolutions,
Phil Strom shared
What Is Success, a favorite poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
President Barb Perrella Karen Dock, wife/partner and guest of Dan Dock. President Barb Perrella also thanked Dan Dock for his extraordinary efforts in coordinating Rotarians to volunteer at the holiday events for the kids served by Life House and the Boys and Girls Club.
Jay Ott
Jay Ott self-reported that he recently returned from his daughter’s destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico. He was quick to point out the 100-degree temperature difference between Cancun and Duluth!
Rob Hofmann introduced the program of the day—the showing of “Merry Kiss Cam” a movie filmed in Duluth this past year. He commented on how supportive the community was of the moving filming with many local businesses stepping up to provide space, products, and more at no charge. There were also a number of local students and residents who were cast in various roles, including Rotary Club #25’s own Rob Hofmann, who played a Maître d.
The filming of the production had an economic impact of between $600,000 - $1 million dollars to the community, which doesn’t include the salaries paid to local actors like Rob Hofmann. The filming experience in Duluth was very positive for producer Mandy June Turpin, resulting in her decision to film a new, and higher-budget movie, called “Body Language” in Duluth.
How many movies will need to be filmed in Duluth before we are able to call ourselves “Hollywood of the North?”
The 50/50 drawing was one by Jerry Pelofske.
Vinod Gupta shares a smile with President Barb Perrella
Marshall School Jr. Rotarian Daria Devko with Past Assistant Governor Phil Strom and Past President John Baumgarten
Jeff Fifield, Past President Bill Gravelle, Jim Schwartz and Past President Bonita Nelson