President John Guthmann called the meeting to order at 12:15. Thanks to greeters Bill Kansas and Bob Cardinal.  Thanks to Bob Jones for the pre-meeting piano bar experience. All tips collected will go to the St. Paul Rotary Foundation.

 

Blake Davis delivered a reflection on his mother-in-law’s 100th birthday. She started out bubbly and energetic and her great-grandson (age two) was shy and retiring. Four hours later, the energy in the room had switched generations! It seems many club members have known a centenarian (although some shivered at the thought of putting up with an in-law for that long).

Bob Cardinal introduced visiting Rotarians and guests (Did you bring any potential members today? It’s not too late to invite them for next week’s special meeting for Values Day at CHS Stadium)

The spring membership drive is underway – bring in new members and they receive a credit toward their first event and you get 250 Paul Harris Fellowship points.

Fellowship Day is June 9. Lunch at the White Bear Yacht Club serves as our regular weekly meeting. Sign up separately for golf, tennis, cards or other activities.

The club sang Happy Birthday to the April and May Rotarians with birthdays. A few members even showed off by attempting parts. In some cases, the harmonies even blended. If it was your birthday and you weren’t at the meeting, rest assured that your slice of cake was eaten in your honor by a Rotarian practicing service, er sweets, above self.

2016 Club President Carla Hauge made an impassioned appeal for gifts to the Rotary Foundations (St. Paul and International). We are behind goal and if you don’t give, she may call you. She is a dentist and you will want to avoid the “drill.”

Values Day May is 19 at CHS Stadium.  Remember to sign up! We have as many nonmembers signed up as members. This would be outstanding if the whole club were signed up. Right now, it’s just embarrassing.  If you just think about it and write it in your calendar, your registration will not be captured in ClubRunner. You do actually have to go online or call the office.

Linda Mulhern asked for host families for Rotary exchange students making their end of year trip through the Midwest. She also introduced Isabeau Hill (freshman at Central High School), outbound youth ambassador headed to Australia. She is our first student headed to Australia in 20 years. Ms. Hill gave us a preview of her introduction to the Australia Rotary Club that will host her. She’s truly international, having lived or spent time in China and New Zealand.

Chad Roberts introduced our speaker, Dan Hartman, Director of Glensheen Mansion, Duluth.

Glensheen, designed by Clarence Johnston, is the #1 house museum in Minnesota for attendance. Nearly 1,000 people attend their lawn concerts.

Something in Minnesota helped make the richest man in the world, created the largest corporation in US History, helped built the Carnegie libaries and helped win the world wars. That something was the Mesabi Iron Range. You might not know that John D. Rockefeller became a majority shareholder of Merrit Mining as well as the shipping and railroad that served the mines. Rockefeller’s rivalry with Andrew Carnegie almost destroyed the iron industry in Minnesota. JP Morgan eventually bought out Rockefeller’s mining interests, as well as Oliver Mining (which was the source of Chester Congdon’s wealth, the owner of Glensheen).

Chester Congdon personally financed 1/3 of the North Shore Drive. A dynamic presentation on the legacy of the Congdons, the Mesabi Iron Range and the North Shore Drive that nevertheless had a few Rotarians drowsing in the remains of their heavy lunch. Perhaps the fondness for bringing back the bar service that Rotary meetings used to feature should be mitigated by the already soporific effects of the mid-day meal.

President John Guthmann adjourned the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test and a clear clang of the bell.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael-jon Pease