Recognition

Brent Yauchler was presented with his fifth Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of his continued commitment to Rotary. In addition, the club recognized Brent with a special "Paul Harris Fellow" in appreciation of his exceptional leadership and contributions to the Mount Horeb Summer Frolic. Steve Salerno and Dave Reed were also recognized as the "MVPs" of this year's Frolic for their outstanding efforts in supporting the event.

Guest Introductions

Patrick Maguire introduced himself as a financial advisor with Edward Jones. A Mount Horeb resident since 2005, Patrick shared that his wife serves as a paraprofessional at the high school and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to attend the meeting.

Dr. Steve Salerno introduced Becca Johnson, the Mount Horeb Area School District's new Director of Student Services. Steve praised Becca's experience, compassion, and dedication to supporting students with disabilities, and members warmly welcomed her to the community.

10K Raffle Update

This is your reminder to please help sell tickets per information from this flier this week; we've sold 80 out of 250, and we only have one month to go! Paul Christiansen reported that preparations for the 10K Raffle are progressing well, with food, prizes, and event logistics in good shape. The primary focus is now ticket sales, as approximately 250 tickets must be sold by July 30 to ensure the event's success. Members were encouraged to make phone calls and send emails to past participants, noting that personal outreach is often more effective than email alone. A Google Sheet is available to help coordinate outreach efforts, and members with questions were encouraged to contact Paul. Shawn Bollig was thanked for proofreading and coordinating the printing of the raffle tickets. The club also confirmed that informational forms and physical ticket request cards are no longer being used.

Happy Bucks

Members shared several personal updates during Happy Bucks. Melissa invited members to attend the Sip & Savor event at Harris Park in Dodgeville on July 11, featuring food, beverages from Grumpy Troll, wine, live music, and fireworks. Susan happily shared that her daughter recently completed her final cancer treatment and is regaining both her health and personality. Bill celebrated Canada Day, thanked Brent for his leadership, congratulated Liz, and noted that the corn has reached hip-high by the first of July. Russ shared that his family enjoyed a cabin trip where Django discovered a love of fishing. Mark reflected on finding his mother's diary from September 1, 1939, describing daily farm life before documenting the announcement of Germany's invasion of Poland. Brent spoke about a recent trip to Sitka, Alaska, encouraging others to experience its natural beauty. Keith shared that although illness kept him in bed over Father's Day weekend, he has recovered and is looking forward to an annual Door County trip with his family.

Want Your Apparel Embroidered?

Gary provided an update on the club's embroidery project. Members who would like apparel embroidered are encouraged to leave items with Gary after meetings over the next few weeks as the club continues to test embroidery on various items, including hats. Appreciation was expressed to Gary for coordinating the project.

Treasurer's Report

Keith White reported that the club's financial accounts remain in good standing. Scholarship and grant payments have reduced some balances as expected, while fundraising revenue continues to come in from both the brunch and 10K Raffle. The club recently awarded funding toward a project providing solar-powered water wells. Keith also confirmed that the Foundation's tax filings and required nonprofit reporting are current. Once June financial statements are finalized, year-end reconciliation will allow committees to review available balances and determine future use of discretionary funds.

Keith noted that while the club traditionally receives a distribution from Summer Frolic, it is difficult to evaluate year-to-year performance because only the final payment is received. Additional financial information will be requested from Dave Reed.

Grants Committee Report

Gary Tree shared updates on several grant initiatives. The international grant supporting a trash compaction project in Chile has received feedback from Rotary International after several months of review. The remaining questions focus primarily on outcome measurements and project metrics. Once those responses are submitted, the grant is expected to move forward.

The committee also discussed several potential community capital projects supported through local Rotary funding. Current concepts include installing a Rotary clock in downtown Mount Horeb, constructing a shelter near the Garfield Street soccer practice fields in partnership with the school district, and exploring the development of a permanent bandshell in Grundahl Park. Members emphasized that these ideas are not mutually exclusive, but rather represent a long-term vision for Rotary's continued investment in the community. As Gary noted, the goal is to identify the right project first, with fundraising efforts following to support that vision.

The committee also provided an update on upcoming district grant opportunities, including continued planning for a potential project at the Marc Center.

Outreach Report

The Green Team, a Rotary Community Corps group, will celebrate its first anniversary during its July meeting at Brix beginning at 7:00 p.m. Members were encouraged to attend the celebration.

Sarah Straka shared an update on the club's youth exchange program, noting that outbound student Zandra is returning to the Midwest after completing her exchange experience on the West Coast. Sarah also reminded members that host families are needed for future exchange students and encouraged anyone interested to contact her.

Service Projects

Gary reported that the library fence project has been completed, with Dave Reed finishing the necessary repairs. The club plans to purchase additional supplies for the fence and organize a workday later in July to stain the completed sections. Thank you to Gary, Peggy, and Dave for all of their work thus far; be sure to look out for an invite to help stain the fence soon! 

*Please note that the President assignment in the right column is glitching, as today marks Liz's first day as President for 2026, and Aubree is working to fix this glitch for the next edition.