Join us Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the Great Hall - Kitchi Gammi Club (831 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802) as we hear fromPeter Pfankuch, Boreal Waters Foundation and Breanne Tepler, Alworth Foundation as we welcome for the first time this year our Junior Rotarians!
Peter Pfankuch is the Regional Community Impact Specialist for Boreal Waters Community Foundation. At Boreal Waters, he stewards both the scholarship program and regional affiliate program and is passionate about investing in the places he calls home. Prior to working at the Community Foundation, Peter spent seven years working at a philanthropic software company that helps maximize the impact of the philanthropic sector. He’s worked directly with communities of all sizes to help solve the unique challenges they face and is grateful for the opportunity to now focus on helping steward the place he lives.
Breanne Tepler is the Executive Director of the Marshall H. And Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund. Previously serving as Employer Relations/Internship Coordinator at The College of St. Scholastica, she spent over a decade connecting students with meaningful career opportunities and experiential learning. Breanne has taught career exploration courses, conducted one-on-one career coaching sessions, and helped students develop essential professional skills including resume writing, interviewing, and networking. Her background spans nonprofit leadership, marketing, and business development, giving her real-world insight into what employers seek in new graduates. She holds a Master's in Management and is passionate about empowering students to discover and pursue their career aspirations.
Program: Learn about scholarship opportunities, college and career planning, and application tips, including information on the Alworth Scholarship and Boreal Waters Community Foundation scholarships.
Donald Ralph Holm passed away on October 23, 2026, at the age of 92. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Don built a life rooted in hard work, service, and love for his family. He took pride in doing things well, helping where he could, and building something that would last.
Don was born on February 26, 1934, to Ralph and Mildred Holm and was raised in Duluth’s Lester Park neighborhood alongside his younger sister, Barbara. His father taught him an early lesson that became a guiding principle throughout his life: “Work hard and do it right.” Don embraced that advice, finding both purpose and enjoyment in work.
After high school, Don worked for his grandfather and began his apprenticeship as a carpenter. Those years laid the foundation for a lifelong construction career. At a UMD dance, Don met Carol Briesemaster, whom he married in May 1958. Together, they raised three sons and two daughters and shared 68 years of marriage. Their growing family brought Don deep joy and pride. Summers at the family cabin on Lake Minnesuing became a cherished part of their life together, creating memories across generations.
In 1962, Don founded Donald Holm Construction Company, Inc. For Don, one of the most meaningful parts of [his] success was seeing his family carry it forward. His three sons joined the company and eventually assumed its leadership. Later, two grandsons began their own apprenticeships and ultimately took the helm, continuing the business into a third generation.
That same belief in working together shaped his community service, where Don became deeply involved with many local organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, the Duluth Elks Lodge #133, and youth hockey. Alongside other local business leaders, Don also founded the Harbortown Rotary Club and served as its president for the first two years. The club later honored him by establishing the Donald Holm Founders Fund. In retirement, Don and Carol enjoyed 30 wonderful years in Green Valley, Arizona, where Don served three years as president of the Minnesota Club and was an active member of the Desert Hills Lutheran Church.
Don showed his love through action: providing for his family, sharing his knowledge, lending his skills, and giving his time. He leaves a legacy in the company he founded, the community he served, and, especially, the family he loved and was so proud to watch grow.
Reflecting on a lifetime of work, family, and service, Don left these words: “The truth be known, the pleasure has always been mine.”
In lieu of flowers, Don asked that memorials please be sent to either the Boys & Girls Club or the Harbortown Rotary Donald Holm Founders Fund.
What would it take to row solo nonstop for 10,000 miles over eight months across the Pacific? It would take Katie Spotz. The Cleveland Rotarian and endurance athlete will set out near the end of December to break a record and raise $1 million to expand clean water access in Fiji.
Then, meet another group of Rotary members confronting the global water crisis with energy and fresh ideas: Rotaractors. The clean water and sanitation project they led in the Ashanti region of Ghana was the first to be completed since The Rotary Foundation opened global grants to Rotaract in 2022.
In our personal essay, Texas Rotarian Bill Martin writes movingly of the death of a friend, how the loss motivated him to become a regular blood donor, and why you should, too.
Finally, in this month's Our Clubs report, journey to the hills of Vermont to experience a garden of almost otherworldly beauty and learn about the unusual partnership that reopened the beloved destination to the public.
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.
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.
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 Photosso we can spread the word about how awesome our members are and the impact we're making on our community!
