Dr. Jose Velasquez,
Executive Director of Mano a Mano Bolivia
&
Karl Everett,
Harbortown Rotary International Projects Representative
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 Dr. Jose Velasquez, Executive Director, Mano a Mano Bolivia and Karl Everett, Harbortown Rotary's international projects & Mano a Mano representative.
After thirteen years of working on Bolivia projects, Karl Everett plans to retire from active participation. Everett will provide a summary of our great Harbortown achievements while working with Mano a Mano Bolivia during that period. Dr. Jose' Velasquez will join us and help seek a Harbortown Rotary member to replace Everett. Dr. Velasquez will also provide an update on Mano a Mano Bolivia projects and the Bolivia Dream Fund.
Dr. Jose Velasquez is a pediatrician based in Bolivia who played a crucial role in the founding of Mano a Mano International Partners, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that has shipped over 3.5 million pounds of medical supplies and built over 300 infrastructure projects. He is the brother of Mano a Mano co-founder, Segundo Velasquez.
Join Harbortown Rotary for its second Harbortown Rotary Senior Luncheon. For "seniors" (broadly defined - you can even be an honorary "senior for the day"!), this luncheon is meant simply for the fun of conversation with fellow Rotarians and their spouces/significant others.
12:00pm on Tuesday, September 22nd | Kitchi Gammi Club, McGiffert Room
To RSVP for the fun and fellowship, please respond to: Brad Jenson, Club Service (bradleyjenson1956@gmail.com)
The best way to get to know Barcelona? Start by getting lost, says local Rotarian Albert Torras. The journalist and tour guide leads magazine senior writer Diana Schoberg on a beguiling journey through the host city for the 2027 Rotary International Convention. Find out why this Spanish city — and Rotary's equally captivating global gathering — should top your bucket list.
In another of this month's feature stories, we explore the legacy of soul music legend Otis Redding. The late singer's family — including two Rotarians — is carrying on his work to lift up young musicians.
In the Our World section, learn about an invasive species that, besides guzzling scarce water resources and threatening native habitat, is elevating another risk in California: fire. Rotary members, Interactors, and other volunteers are rooting out the invader.
Finally, in this month’s Our Clubs report, get the reel story behind the Rotary Club of Titusville, Pennsylvania.
For four years, the District Public Image Committee has held a drawing each quarter for safety vests to encourage hands-on projects and to promote membership. After years of applying - Harbortown won the drawing! The safety vests will have the Harbortown logo and website on them.
Scott Soderberg rotaryscott5580@gmail.com is collecting current members' sizes and will gather some extras for new incoming members as well. While they are somewhat roomy, members are encouraged to consider the ability to wear them over heavier clothing so they can be worn year around!
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:
Sept. 23 - Rene Ann Goodrich, Red-Hand/Native Lives Matter Coalition
Sept. 30 - Guest of Chris Dahlberg
Oct. 7 - Drew Markey, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Miller
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 - SEPT. 30, 2026 - Scuttlebutt
For news, announcements, event promotion, social media, media releases, please contact Chloe Strand | cstrand@allete.com | 218.340.2541
OCT. 1 - JUNE 30, 2027 - Scuttlebutt
For news, announcements, event promotion, social media, media releases, please contact Stephanie Jago | sjago@charter.net | 218.343.1833
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!
