Jaci Christiansen, Community Engagement Coordinator and Carin Skoog, Director of Philanthropy
Safe Haven
Join us for a morning of fellowship and education this Wednesday, December 14th at 7:30am in the Great Hall - Kitchi Gammi Club, 2nd Floor, 831 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802. We will learn about Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center from Jaci Christiansen, Community Engagement Coordinator and Carin Skoog, Director of Philanthropy.
Safe Haven offers resources and support to victims of domestic abuse that lead to a life free from violence. Safe Haven serves a seven-county area in northern Minnesota, including St. Louis, Koochiching, Aitkin, Lake, Carlton, Itasca and Cook counties. We provide services and education for more than 1,500 adults and children annually. We also accept referrals from other regions.
Safe Haven's mission is to provide safety, space to heal, advocacy, and empowerment for women, children, and all survivors of domestic violence.
Jaci Christiansen is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Safe Haven. Jaci works with community members and volunteers to support survivors of domestic violence through advocacy, education and action. Her passion is increasing awareness and education that inspires real change for survivors of domestic violence and their families. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Women Studies from Winona State University.
Carin Skoog is the Director of Philanthropy for Safe Haven. Carin came to this work through a circuitous route of working for primarily environmental and clean energy-driven nonprofits but found her true home fundraising for Safe Haven. With a deep passion for people and justice, Carin is grateful for the opportunity to connect donors' generosity with the people who need it most. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College, and her proudest title is mom to two young boys.
On December 28th, Harbortown Rotary will pass the hat for Christmas baskets for families in need. We encourage our members to be extra generous in providing the support they can to those in need. If you would like to Venmo instead, please contact President Mary. Thank you!
Sadly, we share the news that Past District Governor Earl Rogers passed away on December 7th. Earl started and was the first President of Skyline Rotary in 1973 and was later a District 5580 Governor (1988-1989). He attended multiple Twin Ports Rotary Club meetings each week. Rotary was a special part of Earl's life, especially in his later years as his health declined. Many of us remember his assistance as MC for Harbortown's Foundation Day for many years. Earl always encouraged generosity and lead by example through his own.
Earl's funeral was held on Saturday, December 17th. Read Earl Roger's obituary here. Please keep Earl's wife, Judy, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.
If you would like to send a card, please send it to:
Judy Rogers
432 Rustwood Lane
Duluth, MN 55804
We will miss you, Earl. You were a good human and a dedicated Rotarian who exemplified Service Above Self. Rest in peace.
Thank you Harbortown for an incredible Rotary Foundation Day!
If you were not able to participate in Foundation Day, it's not too late to pledge! Please let Amber know your pledge amount, write your check to The Rotary Foundation, and give it to Amber. You may also contribute online! If you contribute online, make sure to list your Rotary ID number.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
I'd like to invite you on an adventure to Bolivia scheduled April 13th - 23rd, 2023 to visit the many Rotary projects you have helped support.
Enclosed is a Mano a Mano brochure describing the adventure. Please contact me if you have any questions, or need additional information.
Mano a Mano’s Center for Ecological Agriculture: Water, Food, Health and Education: A Journey to Learn
Mano a Mano and Harbortown Rotary invites you to join us on a ten-day trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia. Through this unique travel experience you will meet high Andean subsistence farm families and become immersed in their daily lives. The trip will provide an up-close view of how Mano a Mano teaches farming practices that protect the fragile natural environment and improve health. Travelers will take part in Mano a Mano’s distribution of the nearly 200,000 pounds of medical and school supplies that Minnesota volunteers collect, sort, pack and ship to our Bolivian sister organizations each year. Throughout this journey, you will see projects that accomplished our original vision and so much more.
What is Mano a Mano International? Mano a Mano is a grass-roots non-profit organization based in St. Paul, MN whose mission is to create partnerships with poor Bolivian communities that improve health and increase economic well-being.
Who can go on this trip? Adults and children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian are welcome. While Spanish speaking ability is highly valued, it is not essential. Interpreters will be available throughout all trip activities.
Where will we stay? Mano a Mano will reserve a block of rooms in a comfortable, clean hotel in Cochabamba. Private single or double rooms are available.
Where will we go? Our destination is Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third largest city, located in the Andes at about 8,000 feet above sea level. We will also travel to rural communities that tourists rarely visit.
For more information and any questions, please contact Karlos (Karl) Everett (karl_everett@q.com).
If you have an upcoming program duty (please check the upcoming duty roster), please be sure to secure a speaker and provide notice to Chloe Strand (Chloe.Strand@hdcmn.org) as soon as that speaker is confirmed. If you are unable to confirm a speaker, please contact Rick Oase (rickoase@yahoo.com) or Stephanie Judd (sljudd@gmail.com) for help, consider other program ideas like a Ted Talk, presenting yourself on a relevant topic or your business, or creating some excitement for a community organization you are passionate about. It is your program, so think about what is interesting and engaging to you and share it with others!
If for some reason you are unable to switch duties with another member or you have simply exhausted all efforts to find a speaker, please notify Rick or Stephanie no later than 3 business days before the meeting (the Friday before the meeting your program is scheduled).
President Mary Durward is bringing her laptop to the Kitchi Gammi Club for weekly Harbortown meetings. 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.
Thank you for your help and thank you to all who are working hard to find engaging content for our upcoming sessions!
Upcoming Program Duties:
01.04 - Evening Harbortown Happy Hour at Lake Superior Brewing (No morning meeting)
01.11 - Essentia Hermantown Service Project (4:00pm - 6:00pm)
For news, announcements, event promotion, social media, media releases, and more, please contact Charity Johnson (csjohnson@starbasemn.org / 218-788-7288) and Chloe Strand (chloe.strand@hdchrc.org / 218.340.2531).
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. Chloe and Charity will use this information to create more dynamic and engaging content to share with potential club members and on social media!
It is our goal to continue to share the good work that Harbortown Rotary is doing in our community, so your help and support is greatly appreciated! Thank you!