Events

                                  Bio for Gary and Cindy Nolte

Gary and Cindy are both members of Rotary International and Moorhead Rotary Club. Gary is a 1972 graduate of MSUM with a degree in Mass Communications. He was a member of the MSUM Alumni Foundation Board for 6 years, including 3 as Secretary and 6 years on the Finance Committee. He has served Rotary in many leadership positions including President of the Moorhead Rotary Club, District Governor of District 5580, and leadership positions in the International Rotary Zone. He served as End Polio Now Zone coordinator, Major Gifts Advisor, and Zone trainer.   He has served as crew leader for Habitat for Humanity and a founding board member for HERO.  Cindy is a graduate of MSUM with a degree in Nursing. She has served as Rotary club President, Church Council President, and currently End Polio Now District chairperson. Gary and Cindy have served on medical and construction missions in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti. They have been on polio eradication missions in Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and India. They have also served on hurricane relief missions in New Orleans, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. Gary received the award from Rotary for a Polio Free World in 2006 and his company’s Bobbie Piper Community Service Award. In 2008 Gary and Cindy were named Distinguished Dragons for MSUM for their service as ambassadors for International Service. Gary is a retired stock broker; Cindy, a retired public health nurse. Together they have 2 birth children and 5 Vietnamese foster children. Gary is a retired Chief Petty Officer with the Naval Reserves, having served 21 years including 2 tours of duty to Vietnam . 

The Ely Rotary Board In-Person and Zoom meeting is scheduled on Monday, November 7, 2022 beginning at 5 pm at the Grand Ely Lodge. All Rotary Club of Ely members are invited and welcome to attend. Kurt Soderberg will email meeting agendas and information packets along with Zoom details to Board members. Other members interested in participating can request information from Kurt.

Heidi Omerza is the second women in history to serve the community of Ely as Mayor! She has 15 years of experience as an Ely City Council member and is also a full time teacher. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in her role as Mayor, having served as President of both the League of MN Cities and the Coalition of Greater MN Cities. Plan now to join the Rotary Club of Ely on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 12 noon at The GEL to get a glimpse of the future of Ely!

Lynn Evenson is Board Chair of the 2023 Ely Winter Festival.  She and partner Erik moved to Ely in 2010 from Denver, CO. She has been involved in the Winter Fest for the past decade and she is a retired high school Choir, Band and Music Appreciation teacher, as well as a life long musician.

Lynn will review the history of Ely's Winter Festival, share a large number of special events that make up the Festival and encourage us to participate in enjoying winter, Ely style. From an Art Walk to Snow Sculpting to a Film Festival and including snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating and snow carving. Minnesotans will be watching while Ely is in the spotlight celebrating winter and all it offers. Have you seen the newly designed Winter Fest pin? Check it out and support Ely's premier winter event!

Todd Burlet is a Delegate for the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which has been the worlds leading authority on light pollution since 1988, the President of Starry Skies North, the Minnesota, and mid continent, chapter of the IDA, which covers six states, and two Canadian provinces, and a member of the American Astronomical Society. Todd is a retired Honeywell staff engineer. During his 37 year career at Honeywell, Todd developed flight control, navigation and radar systems for the commercial, military and space markets.
Recently, the BWCAW, and Voyageurs National Park were authorized with the dark sky designation
What is involved and what does that mean for the BWCAW?

What is astrotourism and what are the economic possibilities for Ely to be engaged in such an effort?

Laura grew up in Missoula, Montana, and obtained her bachelors degree in ecology from the University of Montana in 2012. She moved to Ely after securing an internship at the International Wolf Center and has lived here for nearly 10 years. Laura currently works as a Forester for the US Forest Service and will graduate from Colorado State University in May with her masters degree in Natural Resources Stewardship. She lives in Ely with her husband, Dalton, daughter, Rowan, and dog, Ruger.