Members present included Elizabeth Grabe, Sarah Straka, Peggy Zalucha, Heidi Kopras, Tracy Deihm, Russ Christian, Franke Wallitsch, Judy Steinhauer, Keith White, Aubree Hanks, Steve Salerno, Gary Tree, Shawn Bollig, Tammy Wedig, Paul Christiansen, Susan Smith, and Bill Dunnington. Guests attending the meeting were Zandra Heilmann, Laurel Aquino, Khaya Kasubaski, Melissa Lease, and Jon LaVenture.

It's officially the third meeting for Melissa Lease, Director of Business Development at Upland Hills Health, and Jon LaVenture, Advisor at Farmer’s Savings Bank! Laurel Aquino and Khaya Kasubaski, members of the Interact Club, explained that their interest in Rotary stemmed from positive experiences shared by friends and family members. Zandra Heilmann provided an update on recent activities, including watching Avatar and Zootopia with friends, spending Christmas with both host families, participating in basketball, and traveling to Milwaukee. She also shared reflections on the differences between U.S. and Greenland holidays, noting the food and the increased number of games, and mentioned celebrating a great New Year’s with Heidi.

Several members shared moments of gratitude and celebration. Judy expressed her excitement about seeing music students perform in London and described spending a meaningful Christmas with her son. Tracy shared that her daughter successfully traveled to London and performed despite experiencing anxiety. Russ spoke about a boys’ trip with Django and Clementine, including a unique dining experience at a restaurant served entirely in the dark by blind staff, and praised Django for handling a tire blowout calmly on the drive home. Keith shared that his sons, Harrison and Theo are participating in wrestling and basketball, with Theo, age four, narrowly missing a division win. Gary shared that he enjoyed a warm-weather vacation with his wife.

A reminder was shared that the Optimist Club would be hosting trivia at Brix that evening at 6:00 p.m.; More info here. Members were reminded that the District Governor will visit on January 21, with board members meeting in advance of the noon meeting. The club will be assembling a welcome gift basket, and members are encouraged to contribute items or swag. Also on January 21 at 6:00 p.m., the Rotary Club will host Trivia Night at Brix, with the club receiving 10% of the evening’s profits. Eighty trivia questions have already been prepared, and additional questions may be emailed to Peggy. The Green Team will host trivia in February at 7:00 p.m. 

The Super Bowl Brunch is scheduled for February 8 at 9:00 a.m. 

Additional upcoming events include the Madison Rotary Ethics Symposium on February 27, the UW Health Science Academy visit on March 7, Feed My Starving Children on March 8, and the PETS Conference taking place March 6–8.

An update was provided on the Super Bowl Brunch fundraiser, which will be held at the high school prior to the Super Bowl and includes a silent auction in partnership with the Optimist Club. Ad sales are ongoing, with 122 of 198 squares sold to date. A total of 480 cinnamon rolls have been ordered. Ads will be promoted during the brunch and in the Mount Horeb Mail. Members were asked to notify Paul within the next week if they are unable to volunteer for the event.

Peggy reviewed details related to the District Governor’s upcoming visit and confirmed that board members will meet prior to the noon meeting with the District Governor and Assistant Governor. Work continues on reviewing and updating the Foundation Bylaws, led by Paul and Peggy. Peggy and Gary are also reviewing the Club Constitution and Bylaws, noting that these are separate documents, and Gary will present findings and recommendations on how to proceed. End-of-year membership counts and fees were also discussed.

Keith presented a consolidated financial update for the club. Overall, the club remains financially stable, with balances across operating, fundraising, service, capital, and grant accounts showing minor fluctuations from the previous month. Fundraising accounts increased, reflecting ongoing event revenue, while operating expenses were slightly higher due to regular club activity. A grant payment for Milwaukee was initially made from the operating account and will be transferred to the grants budget if needed. Additionally, $800 was paid to American Legion Post 113 for the Badger State program.

Gary shared updates on a proposed Global Grant to support the purchase of a trash compactor for a community in Chile, which would have a significant local impact. To date, $5,000 has been raised toward the $16,000 goal. Members were reminded that Rotary matching funds can significantly increase the impact of donations, with $1,000 turning into $4,800. Gary also encouraged participation in upcoming Global Grant Management Seminars, which are free, 90-minute Zoom sessions. At least one club member must attend to qualify the club as a grant sponsor or host.

Liz and Peggy provided an update on outreach efforts, including promotion of the Rotary Trivia Night at Brix on January 21. Members were encouraged to submit Rotary-related multiple-choice trivia questions, and prizes will include brunch tickets and lunch meeting vouchers. A consent agenda item covering December Green Team meeting notes was shared, with topics including Styrofoam recycling, the Yard in Every Yard campaign, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, home energy audits, village code updates, and sustainability initiatives. A social media drip campaign is also planned to highlight Rotary grants while promoting upcoming Pancake Breakfast advertising opportunities.

Shawn shared updates on membership efforts, including new leads, Melissa Lease from Upland Hills Health, and Jon LaVenture from Farmer’s Savings Bank. The committee discussed onboarding techniques, mentorship for new members, and ways to better align members with committees that fit their interests. Ideas for attracting and retaining younger members were also discussed, including the possibility of a satellite club or reduced dues. Shawn highlighted the importance of pairing new members with mentors, and the group discussed Tracy’s contributions and potential interest in helping lead the committee.

Paul and Keith provided an update on fundraising efforts, with continued emphasis on Super Bowl Brunch promotions and ad sales. Members were encouraged to assist with outreach and sales using the shared ad sales spreadsheet.

Election results were announced, confirming Peggy Zalucha as the club’s President-Elect Nominee. Discussion followed regarding a potential expansion of the Board of Directors to include up to 11 members with additional at-large positions. An update was also shared on “Operation Football,” encouraging members to utilize and contribute to the club’s organized Google Folder. Ongoing club organizational work on the Constitution, Bylaws, and Handbook was noted. Members were informed that ClubRunner now uses role-based multi-factor authentication. The upcoming PETS Conference was discussed, including registration deadlines and potential reimbursement considerations, as well as possible incentives for attending the District Conference or TriCon.

Members were reminded of opportunities related to RYLA and World Affairs programming. It was also announced that seven scholarships will be awarded during the current cycle.

Congratulations were extended to Judy Steinhauer, who will be receiving her third Paul Harris Award in recognition of her continued service and dedication to Rotary. Peggy Zalucha was also recognized as the next President-Elect Nominee, and it was announced that Peggy and Liz will attend PETS to prepare for their upcoming leadership roles within the club.