Attendance: 

Dave Reed, Keith White, Elizabeth Grabe (Liz), Heidi Kopras, Peggy Zalucha, Mark, Frankie Wallitsch, Dana Fager, Tracy Deihm, Steve Salerno, Bob Johnson, Julie Tallard Johnson, Russ Christiansen, and Susan present. We were also pleased to welcome Tristin Marklin as our guest.
 

Happy Bucks: 

Dana shared exciting news about the inbound exchange student from Greenland, who will be arriving on August 20. The student is particularly eager to visit Target and will begin her stay with the Hooks family. Dave expressed his joy at his sixth granddaughter. Keith announced that he will be coaching flag football this season. Julie recounted a biking trip with Liz and shared that she organized an ice cream party for children in her neighborhood. Tracy was enthusiastic about being back with the club, mentioned that her office has officially moved, and expressed how much she missed everyone. Mark spoke about being inspired by a recent Sustain Dane trip, which led him and his wife to purchase an electric vehicle. Liz discussed her efforts collecting prairie seeds for the Green Team, both from the area surrounding the Cave of the Mounds and from her own property. Heidi gave a positive update that her daughter is feeling much better after having her tonsils removed. Lastly, Russ shared a harrowing story about how his son found out he was allergic to bees.
 

In terms of club business, Keith provided a financial update, stating that each committee will be assigned a budget for September and October. He encouraged members to reach out with any financial questions and noted that after the upcoming fundraisers, the club would have a clearer picture of its finances. (Follow-up: Committees should prepare to receive budget allocations and direct any financial inquiries to Keith.)

Regarding the Foundation bylaws, Peggy confirmed that everyone had the opportunity to provide feedback, and Paul will now proceed with the next steps. (Follow-up: Await further updates from Paul.)

The club also heard from Tristin Marklin, an outbound exchange student preparing for a trip to Taiwan from August 22 to June 30. Tristin's journey has been marked by determination and excitement; his Spanish teacher initially recommended the program, and after receiving approval from his counselor and District 6250, he went through an interview process. Throughout this process, he encountered a retired professor who offered him free language tutoring and he made connections with Japanese students. His story is a testament to his persistence and cultural curiosity.

In membership updates, the committee will now include a mentoring component for new members, with Shawn taking the lead in organizing this effort. 

Planning for the 10K fundraiser is well underway. Several volunteer positions still need to be filled, and there is a need to confirm a point person for the 50/50 raffle. A key initiative is to find five businesses to sponsor the 10th ticket. These sponsors will receive multiple forms of recognition: their names will be announced during the drawing, displayed on a video screen, listed in the event program, and included in the Mount Horeb Mail.  Tracy generously purchased the $100 High Point, with all funds going directly to the Rotary Club. This year’s menu will include broccoli alfredo as the vegetarian option, along with coleslaw made with vinaigrette and a non-dairy, vegetarian three-bean salad. Members are asked to bring a vase or two filled with flowers from their gardens by noon on August 13; all vases will be returned after the event. 

The Grants Committee, is taking over responsibilities related to EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year), as individual contributions affect the club’s grant funding. 

Plans for the upcoming Teachers Luncheon on August 20 are also progressing. Approximately twelve new teachers will be welcomed, and gifts have already been ordered. The luncheon will be catered by Aztalan, with the club president leading the meeting and Keith giving a presentation. (Follow-up: clear your schedule for the afternoon of August 20.)

Lastly, the Green Team, led by Peggy and Liz, has been working to improve visibility by integrating navigation links into the club’s ClubRunner website. The Green Team represents the Rotary Club’s community outreach and aligns with Rotary International’s larger mission.