Events

Words from Jamie..

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)!!

The Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County is honored for the invitation to join the Ely Rotary Club on April 16th to help raise Awareness for Community Members and for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Violence!

Jamie Koppes will be speaking about the agency and the services they provide! Jamie started working as an advocate in 2019, and has since then been committed to providing ongoing direct services and advocacy with victims of Sexual Violence throughout their healing journey! Jamie, has recently taken over the role as Director of the Program and is excited to get more involved in community outreach! After all, we are in this together! 

Lots of amazing work has been done since the start of the non-profit in 1984! We do not forget those before us who have really been the foundation and strength of this work and were brave enough to use their voices! Our job is to make sure we do NOT lose our voices and that we continue to strengthen awareness of advocacy services. It is absolutely vital for bringing awareness to our program for the members of our community! Thank you for having us and being part of the tough conversations! 😊

Jules is the Education Specialist for the International Wolf Center. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation. Jules enjoys teaching about wolves and working with the Center's ambassadors.

Description of her presentation below. 

Wolves and humans have a complicated relationship, and where they live together conflict often follows. This program addresses the nature of these conflicts and the role wildlands play in this relationship. By discussing the myths and misinformation that have contributed to fear and misunderstanding of wolves, we will explore ways we can work toward a goal of co-existence.

We will be reading two of the books from the Literacy Program to 3rd grade students, one on Service Above Self and the other on the Four Way Test. If you would like to volunteer to do this please contact Lindsay at Darlingfaye@hotmail.com or by texting/calling at 763-360-9771. 

We will also do a service project with them later in May, more details to come. 

Let's get ready for spring!! 

Florencia is the owner of Zone 3 Gardens, she will be talking about native species, good pollinators for our area and other helpful hints in the garden. 

Hello! My name is Jill Nocera Swanson and I have lived in Ely since 2009. Originally from Bristol, Connecticut, I began working at Ely Community Resource in the Spring of 2011 as a Youth Program Coordinator. In November of 2024, Julie Hignell retired from her position as the Executive Director of ECR and I took on that new role. Before moving to Ely, I was a teacher in both formal and non formal settings and received a masters of Education in Environmental Education Degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth in the Spring of 2009. I absolutely love working at ECR and I love our community here in Ely. My husband Scott is a Forest Technician for the Forest Service here at the Kawishiwi Station and we have two strong-willed "not so little anymore" girls named Kaija (11) and Mila (9).  

I would like to talk more about our programs at Ely Community Resource, what we have to offer, how many students and families we serve, volunteer opportunities and the new initiative we are now a part of in North St. Louis County as a Community and Family Resource Center. 

We will meet at the North American Bear Center, then carpool. Afterwards we will meet at the Boathouse for a Social about 5:30pm. Partners Welcome. 

Wear comfortable hiking shoes and dress for the weather.

Annual Rose Sale Starts Wednesday, May 21st 2025. A Information presentation and booklet distribution will take place at the Rotary Lunch meeting that day. Booth sales will be available in the Ely Zups Grocery Entrance Fridays, Saurdays and Sundays (except Father Day) 10;00am - 2:00pm starting May 23rd thru June 22nd. Volunteer Sign up is available. 

Rose Distribution and Pick Up is July 11, 12th and 13th.

Rose Sale Chair is Angela Campbell and Co-Chair is Tara Forsman

We will enjoy some lunch at the Grand Ely Lodge then head over to the HUB to check out their water display which will also be where we hold the 2nd anual Casino Night this year! 

Come check it out! 

We will be doing the burger and brat sale again this year at Zup's on Friday June 13th from about 10:30-2:30pm. 

We will need to fill 8 spots. Two shifts of four people, two to cook on the grill, and two to take money. 

First shift 10:30am-12:30 Second shift 12:30-2:30pm

Please contact Lindsay if you are intersted. 

Email- Darlingfaye@hotmail.com

Phone call/text- 763-360-9771

Lea Zmurko, Meteorologist from WDIO will be speaking to us via Zoom. 

Tom and Cathy will be talking about our 2nd annual Casino Night and distributing tickets

Curt will explain some of the services his company offers and go into detail about land development and wetland permitting process

The Rotary Tent location is at space 96 at the corner of Harvey Street and 7th Ave.

Rotary members will be selling Tickets to the upcoming Casino Night as well as pre-sale for some big ticket raffle items.

Kelsey Cooke serves as the Executive Director of the Ely-Winton Historical Society, where she leads efforts to preserve and share the unique history of the region. With a passion for storytelling and local heritage, she also works as a tour guide at the historic Soudan Underground Mine.

Gregory Ash is a passionate Aurora photographer and artist from Duluth Minnesota (with a cabin on Eagles Nest Lake #3 for the last 30 years). 

With 10 separate chases above the Arctic circle, from Alaska, Iceland and Norway, he has extensive knowledge and experience teaching at both the  Duluth and Ely folk school, and was the Boot Camp instructor at last years Aurora Summit. His Aurora images have been featured numerous times on Spaceweather, and also the Washington Post and Fairbanks, Alaska visitors guide. 

Gregg will tell us about his time as a Rotarian. 

Gregg has have been a Rotary member in 7 clubs on three continents.  Each club had a special area of assistance ranging from rural water systems, post-war rehabilitation or improving health services.

Ian will be updating us on NLAA. He also said he will have a sneak peek into next years season! 

Marker 22 is located on Pioneer Rd at Miners Entrane to Miners Dry Hosue and Lake Landing. It is the Way Station for the Marathon and Half Marathon.

Need a list of volunteers and T-Shirt sizes by September 12th. 

Breille Loe is the Lead at the Way Station, Tom has forwarded volunteer information to her she will contact volunteers directly. Volunteers should be at the Station by 8:00 am, Pioneer Rd will be closed to non-local traffic from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

We will hear updates about Twin Metals and possibly do a walking tour of their facility with lunchh provided.