President's Report - Board Meeting Update

Tom Moore

• Craig reported on the Dominican Republic Clean Water project that we are involved in and is in process for funding. Our club has qualified for a matching grant from our district for $1,000. The project is on to Rotary International for review. The timeframe for the project is tentatively April 2025. 
• Susan provided an update on the Youth Exchange Student Program: Tracy Thibodeau, a sophomore at Ely High School has been approved by our committee and the district. She will travel school year 2025/2026 and will represent our community well. Thank you to Susan Polege who has championed the program.
• Reminder to contact Lisa Ledel to have your picture added to our directory. 
• The board further discussed the vision and next steps. 

• Rotary donated a reindeer and a snowman stand to the Festival of Trees event that Northwoods Partner's holds. See photo above. (They both sold at the event.)
• Susan Polege represented Ely Rotary at the Ely Leadership Training on 11/18/2024. 

Joe Weise - New Member

Joe is from a small town by Alexandria. He came to Ely with his wife and two sons through Camp Dunord. Joe and Emily went to the camp growing up, met as camp counselors, and got married.

 

Joe and Emily were married in 2004 and lived in Crested Butte, Colorado for 5 years. Joe was an electrician there. They decided to move to Ely to raise their family. Joe taught Environmental Ed to diverse groups of kids from all walks of life for 10 years at Camp Widjiwagon.  Joe was a firefighter for the Forest Service for a few years and has a strong interest and understanding of the forests here and why forest management is so important. His wife works as the Program Director at Camp Dunord where they live now.

 

Joe's life took another turn when he was encouraged to enter financial management. He used the knowledge to buy a laundromat business in town. He says it has been very rewarding from the service to customers, to good paying jobs for their employees and treating them well. He and a partner also recently closed on another business. He has interest in helping others identify and grow businesses in this area as he sees a need and people skilled to do the service. 

 

In his spare time Joe likes to ice fish for lake trout and read,  His wife, Emily is the founding member of the band Chickadee-dee-dee and enjoys involvement in the arts community. Their older son, 16, loves musicals and the arts. Their 11 year old son is a mini version of Joe, and likes theater.

 

Thank you for helping us to get to know you better Joe. You are a great addition to Rotary and to our community.  Welcome!