The Great Lakes Ballroom of the Holiday Inn was filled on Thursday with Rotarians and guests visiting with each other as they lunched together. President Elaine Hansen rang the bell signaling time for the meeting to begin, extended a warm welcome and asked all to join in singing “America, the Beautiful”. In light of the program to follow, Melanie Goldish shared a Ute prayer reflecting on the many aspects of earth/nature that can teach us how to better live each day.
Visiting Rotarians and guests were introduced by Fellowship Reporter Mark Eckman and then he called on members to fill the Golden Can. The Birkebeiner was shortened this year due to lack of snow, but that did not stop Allen Anway as he completed his 40th Birkie. Way to go, Allen! This evening's big event in Duluth will be the Duluth East hockey game at the DECC with Prez-Elect Tricia Bunten's son Ben playing for the Greyhounds. All graduates of East High School were asked to show their team support by placing $2 on the table. Also, the Hermantown Hawks boy's hockey team won their 8th straight section 7A title this week so all proud graduates of that school were also asked to do the same: $2 on the table. Then in an effort to find more contributions to the Golden Can on a slow news week, Mark asked any of those still donning their longjohns, even in such nice weather, to fess up and kick the Golden Can. Rob Hofmann acknowledged his winter attire and laughingly dropped in his $2.
The past weeks our club office has been moving from the Radisson to the new location at the Holiday Inn. Hidden “gems” have been discovered in the storage area by Bri Braaten such as a beautiful wooden Rotary wheel. Dick Pelinka carefully refinished each piece and then assembled it so we could all appreciate it. Earl Rogers told a little of the history of “The Wheel”. It was designed and built by the engineers from Clyde Iron Works in 1926 and presented to Rotary International at the Annual Conference held in Atlanta that same year. The club was then asked by RI to maintain it and so it has been stored all these years. If anyone knows more of the story of “The Wheel”, please share it with Bri so it can be recorded. The “new” Wheel will have a place in our new office rather than returning to the storage area.
Thank you notes to the Club were read by Secretary Edie Michalski from Rotarian Cliff Grindy were all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers from club members during his illness. Michelle Buria thanked all for their expressions of sympathy and concern during this difficult time of her father's sudden passing.
The last group of Junior Rotarians for this school year were introduced: Quinn Reamer (Denfeld), Andrea Brown (East), Autumn Villegas (Harbor City), Natalia Benson (Hermantown), Lydia Swanson (Lakeview Christian Academy), Lauren Kreager (Marshall) and Abigail Rohweder (Proctor). Welcome to Rotary Club #25.
Introducing the Speaker of the Day, Mike Orman highlighted the background, education and experience of our presenter Kevin Wilson. Kevin received his MS Earth Sciences (Oceanography/Geochemistry) from the University of New Hampshire, followed by his PhD Geology (Plate Tectonics/Earth
ystem Sciences) from the University of Colorado. He has conducted research studies and published articles related to his field of study. He has also taught at several institutions of higher learning and worked in the oil industry. It was while visiting his wife's parents on the Iron Range that they became acquainted with Duluth. During a downturn in the oil business Kevin decided to make a career change, become a financial advisor settling in Duluth. He still maintains an interest in his former area of study and research and has continued to research and study “The Science and Economics of Global Warming”. His presentation covered “some of the basics of climate change modeling, the scientific limits to what we know, and the economic limits to warming mitigation.” He concluded global warming is happening but there are many questions about rates, factors and timing. There is much more scientific uncertainty in this area than many are willing to admit. The mitigation efforts to date such as Kyoto have ignored cost/benefit ratios and have failed miserably. The long-term answers will probably be controlled by economics such as improved energy efficiency, new mitigation technology and adaptive engineering such as sea walls. The long term answers will most likely also include global population control. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing a well presented, factual look at our changing world.
Speaker Kevin Wilson with Chairperson of the Day Mike Orman.
