Iron Range Rotary Club

05/23/2026

04/27/2026

The Iron Range Rotary had a great day hosting the Rock Ridge High School Ethics Conference! 👏 Big thanks to the students, educators, and community leaders who joined Iron Range Rotary for a day of thoughtful discussion, leadership, and ethical decision‑making. The future is in great hands!

04/14/2026

The Iron Range Rotary has supported a project in Ghana to help to provide clean water and sanitation.

The first three wells were drilled in the first communities over the last two weeks! We have three contractors drilling the wells. The project has been supported by 32 Rotary Clubs in 16 Districts from Canada, Ghana and America.

04/03/2026

Serving more than dinner, serving hope.💛 Members of the Iron Range Rotary were honored to serve Easter dinner at the Salvation Army. Sharing food, fellowship and community this Easter. 🐣

12/05/2025

The Dictionary Project incorporated in 1992 as a global literacy 501-C3 non-profit, to collaborate with volunteer service organizations to deliver Dictionaries to Third Graders on their behalf. One of Rotary International‘s worldwide mission is education. This made the partnership a good fit for our club. The Iron Range Rotary Club has partnered with The Dictionary Project to deliver A Student’s Dictionary to area third graders for many years.

In 2025 we brought 288 dictionaries to schools in Virginia (Laurentian, North Star, and Marquette), Mt. Iron, Mesabi East and Tower. Along with our delivery, Rotarians provide a fun introduction to the books’ content. These books belong to the students. They may use them in school but then take them home to be used year after year.

Kids now have access to on-line learning, so why provide paperback dictionaries? These books require students to solve the problem of sounding out a word and finding it in the dictionary. This requires critical thinking.

Why third grade? This is the grade where students have learned to read and are now reading to learn.

These books are not just age appropriate dictionaries. They contain much additional content like weights and measures, the elements, roman numerals, information about the United States and foreign countries, the planets and even hand symbols for sign language. Kids find themselves enthralled with all of the facts available at their fingertips in A Student’s Dictionary.

Kids love books – actual books, not electronic screens. Reading develops focus and reduces stress. That’s why most of us read to our kids before bed. It relaxes our children for a good night’s sleep. The Iron Range Rotary Club wants to promote curiosity and positive learning through Dictionaries for Third Graders.

11/24/2025

🌍 Making a Difference in Ghana – Rotary WASH Projects Update

In October, I traveled across Ghana—four regions, five Rotary Clubs, and even our first Rotaract-led project—to see the incredible impact of Rotary Foundation initiatives.
✅ 5 projects completed or in progress
✅ 92,053 lives impacted
✅ $555,377 invested in clean water and sanitation

Highlights:
50 new wells & 385 toilets planned for 2026 (Grant 25-72618 – needs funding!)
Rotaractors leading change – 8 schools now have proper sanitation
Microcredit loans sustaining water projects for 8+ years
Next up: Global Grant 26-84539 – 72 wells & 105 toilets to impact 33,000+ lives in Ashanti Region. We’re taking pledges now!

💧 Clean water changes everything. Thank you for your support—together, we’re transforming communities. Want to join me in Ghana in October 2026?

Let’s talk!

Walter Hughes
Salem Rotary Club
Past Grants Chair D7570
White House Champion of Change
Rotary's Distinguished Service Award

11/03/2025

Earlier this year Iron Range Rotary made a donation to the Northern St. Louis County 4-H that supported three students to be able to attend the Youth Exploring Leadership and Opportunities Program (YELLO). YELLO is Minnesota's 4-H's premier statewide youth leadership conference. This conference is designed for youth in grades 7-13. YELLO is the perfect opportunity for young leaders to build their leadership skills, engage in hands-on learning, and connect with peers from across Minnesota.

Pictured is Nicole Kudrle, Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development-Northern St. Louis County, and two students,. Asher is on the left and Tyler on the right. Nicole provided us with an Event Summary and the students shared their personal experiences with our members. Iron Range Rotary is extremely thrilled to have sponsored this important leadership event.

09/19/2025

Joe presenting a donation to The Tower-Soudan Athletics Association for their Equipment Storage Shed project. Amy Banks and her daughter Harley.

09/18/2025

Joe Uhan, president of the Iron Range Rotary presented a donation check to Tyler Erickson, St. Louis County Extension Service Supervisor. The donation is to help support the Iron Range Youth In Action Program’s Learning Trip.