Those in attendance included Aubree Hanks, Dana Fager, Dave Reed, Elizabeth Grabe, Gary Tree, Jon LaVenture, Judy Steinhower, Russ Christian, Keith White, Paul Christiansen, Peggy Zalucha, Sarah Straka, Susan Smith, Patrick Maguire, Franke Wallitch, Zandra Heilmann, and Brent Yauchler. Guest: David Benjamin

$10K Urgent Fundraising Update

The club discussed the urgent need to sell approximately 120 remaining tickets for the upcoming $10K event, which is only three weeks away. Members are encouraged to each sell 5-10 tickets and to reach out beyond their usual contacts by making cold calls to potential attendees. Elizabeth Grabe offered to help members with cold calling efforts. A Google form was shared to support ticket sales and outreach.

Happy Bucks

Judy Steinhower shared that her granddaughter was selected as concertmaster during a recent UW Music Clinic performance. The group recognized this as a significant accomplishment, noting that the concertmaster serves as the lead violinist and plays an important leadership role within the orchestra.

Zandra's Update

Zandra Heilmann returned from a trip to the West Coast and shared that she had a wonderful experience. She especially enjoyed Las Vegas and said everything about the trip went perfectly. She plans to give a more detailed presentation about her travels at an upcoming Rotary meeting.

Featured Speaker: David Benjamin

The featured speaker was Wisconsin author David Benjamin, who spoke about his book An Apartment in Paris and his lifelong writing career. David grew up in Tomah before moving to Madison as a teenager and later lived in Boston, New York, California, and overseas. Although Madison remains his home base, he and his wife, Junko Yoshida, purchased an apartment in Paris in 1995 after years of vacationing there. Their decision was driven by a desire to own a home where they most wanted to be rather than where they had to work.

David described himself as a writer from an early age, beginning his first novel in third grade. After the death of his literary agent in 2012, he struggled to find new representation, contacting more than 300 literary agents without success. As a result, he created his own publishing imprint, Last Kid Books. Since then, he has published works in 22 different genres and earned dozens of literary awards.

Life in Paris

David explained that An Apartment in Paris is much more than a story about purchasing real estate. Instead, it chronicles the experience of learning to live in Paris and gradually becoming "almost Parisians." He emphasized that Paris rewards patience and observation, encouraging visitors to slow down instead of rushing from one tourist attraction to another.

He and his wife intentionally spend time wandering neighborhoods, sitting in cafés, observing architecture, and appreciating the city's countless small details. David keeps detailed travel diaries during every trip, and many passages from those journals became part of the book. His wife, Junko Yoshida, contributes watercolor paintings and line illustrations that capture the subtle architectural and artistic details of Paris. David noted that paying attention to these small details enriches not only travel experiences but everyday life.

What Makes Paris Unique

David described Paris as a relatively small, safe, and highly walkable city filled with history, art, literature, architecture, music, and preserved cultural landmarks. Unlike many European cities, Paris escaped widespread destruction during World War II, allowing much of its historic architecture to remain intact.

He encouraged visitors to explore beyond the famous landmarks by wandering neighborhoods, visiting local cafés, and stepping into churches. He explained that many churches contain artwork worthy of museums, magnificent stained glass, and peaceful spaces that provide relief from the busy streets. Although Paris has relatively few parks, the green spaces that do exist—such as the Luxembourg Gardens—are heavily used and beautifully maintained.

David also shared how becoming familiar with the city changes the way visitors experience it. He and his wife have watched the classic film Charade enough times to recognize filming inconsistencies because they know the city so well, illustrating how intimate familiarity allows people to notice details that casual visitors overlook.

Why Paris?

David reflected on the many times people have asked why he and his wife chose Paris. He explained that the city inspires them creatively in ways no other place does. His wife feels most like an artist while living there, while David feels most like a novelist. They wanted not simply to visit Paris occasionally, but to always have a place there where they could return for inspiration, beauty, and renewal.

He described Paris as a city that deepens emotions and memories, saying it transforms ordinary experiences into something richer through its atmosphere, history, and artistic heritage.

Audience Questions

During the question-and-answer session, Peggy Zalucha asked how David met his wife. He explained that he was ghostwriting a book about technological inventions while she worked in international public relations for JVC, serving as translator for interviews with the inventor of the VHS system. Their professional collaboration eventually led to their relationship.

Susan Smith asked why air conditioning is uncommon in Paris. David explained that historically the city's maritime climate rarely required it because temperatures typically remained moderate. Although heat waves have become more common in recent years, many buildings were never designed with air conditioning, making it a relatively new necessity.

Peggy also asked what attraction in Paris is the most overrated. David recommended visiting the Eiffel Tower but suggested skipping the lengthy wait to ride to the top. Instead, he recommended viewing the tower from the Place du Trocadéro, where visitors enjoy a panoramic view that includes the Eiffel Tower itself. He also encouraged people to see the tower after dark when its lights sparkle each hour.

Brent Yauchler shared his own positive experience staying in an Airbnb near the Money Museum and visiting Versailles and several castles. He asked what David would recommend for visitors spending one or two weeks in Paris. David suggested avoiding an overpacked sightseeing itinerary. Instead, he recommended choosing a neighborhood, walking its streets, discovering cafés, bakeries, churches, and local shops, and simply experiencing the city at a slower pace.

Toward the end of the presentation, David displayed several of his published books and discussed the variety of genres he has written. He credited his grandfather, Archie David, for fostering his love of storytelling and inspiring him to become a writer.

Closing Remarks

To conclude his presentation, David showcased a selection of his published books and reflected on his writing career. He shared that he has received 22 literary awards across a variety of genres, a testament to the breadth of his work. David also spoke fondly of his grandfather, Archie David, whose gift for storytelling inspired his own love of writing from an early age.

Rotary Announcements

Gary shared impressions from the recent Tri-Con conference, a joint meeting of three Rotary districts. He described the event as "drinking from a fire hose" because of the sheer amount of information, ideas, and inspiration presented. One of the highlights came from Lumus of the Oregon Rotary Club, who expressed a desire to create opportunities for members of smaller clubs to experience the same energy and inspiration that Tri-Con provides.

As part of that effort, Gary announced that Ed Futa, whom he described as one of the best speakers he has ever heard, will be speaking on August 20 at The Thirsty Goat. The event will include soft drinks and finger foods and is open to Rotary members and their guests. The presentation is intended to give attendees a taste of the Tri-Con experience and, it is hoped, renew enthusiasm and engagement in Rotary.