Rotary July 24
Attendance: Svetlana Neshlyaeva, Tracey Diehm, Bob & Faye Johnson, Gary Tree, Keith White, Peggy Zalucha, Heidi Kopras, Judy Steinhauer, Russ Christian, Paul Christiansen, Elizabeth Grabe, Susan Lampert Smith, Dana Fager, Shawn Bollig, Steve Helwig

 

Guests: Clementine Christian is a visitor, just back from World Affairs Seminar.

 

Happy Bucks: Paul is happy after returning from a Northwoods vacation. Family goes to the same place each year for fishing and water fun. It's a great chance to see how much the girls have grown from the week before.

 

Heidi had a great time taking Karla for sushi in Madison with her two daughters and their boyfriends.

 

Judy is happy about her upcoming trip to Door County with the family next week.

 

Russ is happy about a planned trip to North Carolina, where the family will vacation and Django will participate in a national track and field meet.

 

Shawn is happy that her daughter Jenna’s fiance in Columbia got his VISA approved, and may be coming to the USA by the end of the year.

 

Update: Tammy is able to do more things. She reports that her daughter’s wedding was beautiful.

 

Switcheroo: Suga is back as Steve Salerno is at a conference in Green Bay so Paul Christiansen led today’s meeting.

 

10K update: Ticket sales have stalled. If everyone sells tickets 2 this week, we’ll be in much better shape. We’re at 175, need to be at 250. Here’s the link for ticket sales:

 

Liz suggested a photo background or frame at this year’s event as a fun activity.

 

Judy finished her Rotary talk. She highly recommends attending the next TriCon, which brings together all three Wisconsin districts and is set for April 25, 2025 in Brookfield. Even going for a single day means a chance to hear fantastic speakers — she enjoyed learning about topics ranging from two guys who flew around the world in a small plane and raised millions for polio efforts and from a mother whose daughter was swept up in sex trafficking. Peggy attended a seminar on Rotary branding and image, learning that our planned troll pins likely violate Rotary branding standards.

 

Judy explained that Rotary Action Groups allow people to use professional skills to meet goals on topics like health and preventions, hygiene projects, global grants. She gave the example of Karen and Larry Hands, who live south of Mount Horeb and are members of Madison Rotary. They worked for eight years, forming an international action group (ESRAG), and laid the groundwork for Rotary International to declare protecting the environment as RI’s seventh focus area.

 

Big News: Judy Steinhauer is retiring as youth exchange officer when Karla leaves for home in Brazil. Paul Christiansen noted the profound impact Judy has had on so many young people, for so many years.

 

“I can’t even quantify how many people and parts of the earth have been touched by your kindness,” Christiansen said. “That is why we’re presenting the very first “Mount Horeb Service Above Self Award” to Judy Steinhauer.”

 

Peggy noted that many years ago, the club held a Vision Quest gathering, an effort to find out what is interesting to people.

 

“We found out our club was interested in youth, and we were all so enthusiastic to find out we all had the same goal of serving youth,” Peggy said. “Judy took the bull by the horns on that issue.”

 

Judy thanked the club for the award and the opportunity to get to know so many young people, both at home and around the world.

 

“If you have a passion, Rotary can give you a platform,” Judy said. “I made youth my passion. If you have a passion, the club will get behind you and you can accomplish your dreams. That’s the magic of Rotary.”