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Morning Meeting:
John Magas
Superintendent of Duluth Public Schools
 
Join us Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the Great Hall - Kitchi Gammi Club (831 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802) as we hear from John Magas, Superintendent of Duluth Public Schools. 
 
John Magas is the superintendent of Duluth Public Schools in Duluth, Minnesota, assuming the role in July 2020. In his five years as superintendent he has navigated a strategic planning process and improved student outcomes. He is actively involved in the community, serving as a member of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD), the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce board, and the Duluth Library Foundation. He is also the past Chair for the Minnesota School Administrators Association Legislative Committee. Through his leadership and dedication, Mr. Magas strives to enhance the educational experience for all students in Duluth.

Magas will speak to Harbortown about his work in the school district and the challenges it currently faces. While public education at Duluth Public Schools is strongly forging ahead, finances are challenging. In fact, we are quickly approaching a financial crisis. Duluth is not alone. Many other schools across the state are similarly impacted by challenges we've been facing for quite a few years. $12 million in budget reductions have been made over the last three years, but without new revenue, cuts will need to double in the next two years. Cuts alone cannot solve the larger structural problem. The Operating Levey Referendum on the November 3rd General Election ballot is to "Lift Up Learning."  

LEARN MORE TODAY: 2026 Operating Levy ReferendumA stylized bridge with the words

 
Stories
Hands-On Upcoming Opportunities
SAVE THE DATE
Harbortown's Upcoming Hands-On Opportunities!

Community Service Committee Meeting  |  Tuesday, November 3rd 7:30am - 8:00am

  • Kitchi Gammi Club
  • Will review a received requests and bring volunteer ideas to the table to fill out the rest of the Rotary year

Bentleyville - Various Opportunities!  |  Wednesday, December 16th 4:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Keep an eye out for signup at the end of November / early December
  • Contact: Jinell Abernethy (jinellabernethy@gmail.com)

 
Polio Walk Day
 
Not pictured: Kevin Anderson and Nathan Sager 
Thank you to everyone who came out last Saturday, October 24th for the World's Largest Polio Walk! 
 
A day of free family fun at Wade Stadium was had by all while we raised awareness and donations to end help end Polio.

 
 
 
Save the Date! Rotary Foundation Celebration

 
Rotarian Birthdays

Happy Birthday to our Harbortown Rotarians celebrating this September!

Chloe Strand - November 2
Charity Johnson - November 7
Christian Koelling - November 26
If we've missed you, please reach out and let us know!

 
Happy Rotary Anniversary!
 
Happy Rotary September Anniversaries to our following members!
We so greatly appreciate your commitment to service.
 
Nathan Sager (27 Years!)
Christopher Dahlberg (21 Years!)
Karl Everett (19 Years)
Tony Hansen (10 Years)

 
Upcoming Program Duties
November 4th            
  • Greeter: Nathan Sager & Rick Oase
  • Invocation: Kevin Anderson
  • Fellowship: Scott Fisher
  • Member Spotlight: Rick Cleath
November 11th                      
  • Greeter: Jim Boileau & Michelle Schubitske
  • Invocation: Max Holm
  • Fellowship: Mark Fredrickson                       
November 18th                      
  • Greeter: Karl Everett & Scott Neustel
  • Invocation: Greg Wegler
  • Fellowship: Pat Hahn
November 25th                      
  • Greeter: Amber Sadowski & Lauren Farden
  • Invocation: Jim Wheeler
  • Fellowship: Christian Koelling
  • Committee Spotlight: International Service
December 2nd            
  • Greeter: Juhl Halvorson & Dan Meierhoff
  • Invocation: Craig Carlson
  • Fellowship: Bob Hansen
  • Member Spotlight: Mark Erickson
December 9th            
  • Greeter: Shawn Clairmont & Duane Holm
  • Invocation: Chloe Strand
  • Fellowship: Kerry Leider                       
December 16th                       
  • Greeter: Brad Jenson & Jeannette Hollinsworth
  • Invocation: Mike Cochran
  • Fellowship: Drew Stroberg                       
December 23rd                      
  • Greeter: Steph Jago & Adam Hughley
  • Invocation: Fred Rouse
  • Fellowship: Charity Johnson                       
December 30th                       
  • Greeter: Scott Soderberg & Jinell Abernethy
  • Invocation: Pat Hahn
  • Fellowship: Max Holm
  • Committee Spotlight: New Generations                       
January 6th                 
  • Greeter: Kevin Anderson & Scott Fisher
  • Invocation: Kerry Leider
  • Fellowship: Adam Hughley
  • Member Spotlight: TBD

 
Upcoming Program Speakers
If you have the upcoming program duty (check the duty roster here), please be sure to secure a speaker and provide notice to Chloe Strand (chloestrand90@gmail.com) as soon as your speaker is confirmed. If you are unable to confirm a speaker, please contact Lauren Farden (lauren.farden@edwardjones.com) for help. If you have a different assigned program duty and cannot make it to the meeting, please find a replacement. 
 
Harbortown Rotary has a Windows 11 laptop. Presenters may bring a USB drive with the PowerPoint presentation (or whatever is wanted to be shown on the projector while speaking). Please share this information with your program's presenter. 
 
Upcoming Program Speakers:
  • Nov. 11 - Kerry Leider
  • Nov. 18 - Joe Meierhoff
  • Nov. 25 - Rick Cleath
  • Dec. 2 - Chip Jacobs
  • Dec. 9 - Jeremy Jeannette
  • Dec. 16 - Nathan Sager
  • Dec. 23 - Dan Meierhoff
  • Dec. 30 - Michelle Schubitske
  • Jan. 6 - Pat Finney

 
Harbortown News
There will be some changes to the Club Service role starting 7/1/26.  There will now be a Club Service Committee: Chloe Strand, Brad Jenson, & Steph Jago.
 
JULY 1 - NOV. 4 , 2026 - Scuttlebutt
For news, announcements, event promotion, social media, media releases, please contact Chloe Strand | chloestrand90@gmail.com | 218.340.2541
 
NOV. 4 - JUNE 30, 2027 - Scuttlebutt
For news, announcements, event promotion, social media, media releases, please contact Stephanie Jago | sjago@charter.net | 218.343.1833
 
HARBORTOWN HEALTHY & OTHER SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
Please contact Brad Jenson | bradleyjenson1956@gmail.com | 218.349.7566
 
For Scuttlebutt: If you are hosting the program speaker, please copy Chloe on the speaker's name, organization, and email.  If you are the chair of a Harbortown Committee, please update Chloe on relevant information regarding grants and awards, meetings or news.  Your information will be used to create more dynamic and engaging content to share with potential club members and on social media! 
 
Do you have Harbortown Rotary pictures to share!? Share your photos HERE with Google Photos so we can spread the word about how awesome our members are and the impact we're making on our community!

 
Harbortown Rotary 2026-2027