In attendance: Dave Reed, Keith White, Laura Armstrong, Aubree Hanks, Peggy Zalucha, Mark Rooney, Frankie Wallitsch, Dana Fager, Tracy Deihm, Steve Salerno, Sarah Straka, Bob Johnson, Judy Steinhauer, Paul Christiansen, Susan Smith, and Russ Christiansen. Guests in attendance were Tim Kruse, Molly McCue, and Zandra Heilmann.

Happy Bucks

Brent expressed his gratitude to everyone for their help during his presidency. Sarah shared that she recently sent one daughter off to UW and welcomed Zandra from Greenland into her family. Zandra said she is excited about the school year and the upcoming football game. Paul thanked everyone for their support during the 10K and reflected on the lessons learned for future improvements. Keith shared that his son’s drop-in night went well and that another flag football game is now in the books. Dave returned from a trip to Iceland with his daughter’s family. Laura announced that she has officially started her new position. Judy spent the past week in Door County with her family and is preparing for a visit from her Brazilian daughter. Russ expressed excitement about his sophomore son kicking as part of the football team. Molly said she was thankful to be at the meeting and is looking forward to the start of the cross-country season. Mark relayed that a former Mount Horeb Rotary exchange student said Rotary changed their life, and that experience inspired them to donate a Hawaiian item. Zandra shared how thrilled she is to be in Mount Horeb all the way from Greenland.

Notes

Susan Wallitsch noted that the remaining flowers (they were gorgeous) had recently been delivered to the school, library, Marc’s Center, and Ingleside, and shared that the director at Ingleside is interested in speaking at an upcoming Rotary meeting.

Reminders and Upcoming Events

The next business meeting will be held on September 1. On September 10, the Green Team will give a presentation titled “A Yard in Every Yard.” Board meetings will continue to take place at Sjolinds' with a virtual option available on Wednesday mornings.

Presentation Highlights

Tim Kruse shared his experience at the World Affairs Seminar, a ten-day event attended by 200 delegates. Throughout the seminar, he spent time in small group discussions and built meaningful connections with peers and counselors. One of the most impactful moments for him was a panel featuring a woman who escaped Afghanistan and has since made significant contributions on a global scale. Tim also participated in a diplomacy simulation, where he drafted contracts as a Model UN delegate in response to conflict in Sudan. He worked on a peace project and said the experience helped him better understand his long-term goal of becoming a U.S. ambassador. Prior to the seminar, Tim attended Badger Boys State, which gave him the confidence to ask thoughtful questions and listen openly to different perspectives.

Molly McCue, a rising high school senior, spoke about her goals going into the same seminar. Her first goal was to meet new people and truly listen to their stories, emphasizing the importance of understanding others’ needs before proposing solutions. She shared that being a good leader starts with being a good listener, and that meaningful engagement is built on that foundation. Her second goal was to engage with purpose, knowing the “why” behind every action. Molly emphasized that peacebuilding begins with education and access to it. She shared a video by Simon Sinek that illustrated how high-performing teams are often grounded in service to others, particularly during difficult times. She also told the sand dollar story as a reminder that every small action matters. While she acknowledged we may not yet know how to create lasting peace, she believes we can move closer by approaching life with both compassion and passion.