This week at Rotary
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Lunch Buffet
Doors Open 11:30 AM
12:00 PM START
At
Kitchi Gammi Club
Doug Jensen
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Planner
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Doug is the Outreach Committee Chair for the Great Lakes Panel on ANS and contributes leadership as a member of the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Committee and co-facilitates the DNR’s Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee.
Upcoming Club #25 Events:
Rotary Gala and Auction
Kitchi Gammi Club • May 8 • 5:00 p.m.
Questions?
Looking for Gala Auction Items!
Highlights from Last Week’s Meeting
By Renee Burns
A lively gathering of Rotarians and guests enjoyed meeting on an almost Spring day and were welcomed by President Elizabeth Simonson to the meeting with her usual upbeat attitude and welcomed our guest Judy Sage, wife of Allen Anway, speaker Elizabeth Minor and our newest Rotarian, John Jenkins. Elizabeth Simonson noted that we will give John a warm introduction in a week or two when we have his official Rotary badge.
Jerry Thoreson offered a fitting reflection that noted water is one of our most basic human needs, yet more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. By contrast, in Minnesota we have access to a vast supply of fresh water, starting with the greatest of the Great Lakes, Superior, which holds 10% of the planet’s fresh surface water. It holds enough to supply every person on earth with 50,000 gallons! (at least according to Google). We are fortunate that Rotary International funds water and sanitation projects globally. As Rotarians we hold the view that access to safe drinking water should not be a privilege, it should be a basic human right.
Did you get your invoice??
Past President and District President Elect Elaine Hansen asked if we received our new Club 25 invoice? If you did not, please contact her. They were sent out on Sunday, March 23 and are in a new, easy-to-read format.
The Rotary Auction and Gala is May 8
Past President Chana Stocke strolled to the podium to remind us that the Rotary Gala and Auction is fast approaching on May 8. There are forms on the tables that provide helpful suggestions for raffle baskets (that do not need to be in an actual basket). Sign up for one of the idea baskets or be super creative and do something unusual.
Jay Ott
Jay Ott highly recommends sedation dentistry after the removal of a molar for the first time in
45-years. Good suggestion Jay!
Jim Landwehr
Jim Landwehr had a happy health update for the club. For the first time since his surgery, he was able to walk a full 56 steps, without being short of breath, during a trip to Florida with his brother Bob when they took in a theatre show. Wonderful update!
Allison Hanig-Landrus enthusiastically introduced the speaker, and her good running friend, Dr. Elizabeth Minor.
Dr. Minor is Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the Large Lakes Observatory. We learned about the prevalence of plastics and micro plastics in Lake Superior and the research Dr. Minor conducts to learn more about the volume of plastics at different depths in the lake. We can’t escape plastic; it’s throughout our world and invades the environment. Plastics can act as sponges and grab chemicals, which animals and humans can absorb. In Lake Superior we find mostly plastic fibers, a result of the plastic source being buffeted by the wind and waves, rolling from the surface to depths in continuous motion.
There are various methods to collect samples from the water to determine the prevalence of the plastics in the water, an in-situ pump that is left at depth for four hours, after which the contents are examined and a larger bucket system that is left in place for six months and propels the samples to the surface at regular intervals for testing. On a positive note, our drinking water is clean and safe as it comes from deep in the lake. Dr. Minor recommends drinking our Duluth tap water over bottled water, which comes from – a plastic bottle! Every time you open or close the cap you drop bits of plastic in the water. Reach for a drinking glass and fill it from the tap when you’re thirsty, it’s much healthier for you and the environment.
Speaker Dr. Elizabeth Minor
Dr. Minor drew the 50/50 ticket, which was won by Judy Rogers!
Patra Sevastiades and our soon to be “officially” introduced newest Rotarian John Jenkins.
President Elizabeth Simonson, Speaker Dr. Minor and Allison Hanig-Landrus
Golden Nuggets of Club 25 History
Rotary Club of Duluth – Chartered July 17, 1911
By Jerry Thoreson
From “A Brief History of Rotary Club of Duluth”
First War Administration
June 1917 to June 1918
President Harry W Zinsmaster
Shortly before this Administration took office, the U. S. recognized the existence of a State of war with Germany; and so the activities of the year were very largely of a patriotic nature.
An auto trip to Grand Marais to signalize the completion of the highway between Duluth and Port Arthur, was held late in August 1917, a very large attendance from Duluth meeting an equally good representation from Port Arthur and Fort William Rotary Club which Duluth helped establish in 1916.
The Club was very active in all campaigns for the sale of Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps; and early in 1918 took over the local sale of Smileage Books and far exceeded the quota assigned to the city.
Thirteen members of the club joined various branches of the Government service during the year.
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