Norsk News 6/10/26
Attendance
The meeting was attended by Rotarians Aubree Hanks, Bill Dunnington, Dave Reed, Steven Salinger, Steve Salerno, Elizabeth Grabe, Gary Tree, Heidi Kopras, Jon LaVenture, Judy Steinhower, Keith White, Mark Rooney, Peggy Zalucha, Russ Christian, Susan Smith, and Tammy Wedig. Guests in attendance included exchange student Zandra Heilmann, along with Melissa, Jim Hannah, and Jada Hooks. The club was pleased to welcome its guests and appreciated their participation in the meeting.
AnnouncementsThere was discussion about preparing for the Frolic, including bringing the grills back from the bus garage around 3:00 PM. The grills are currently stored on a skid and will need to be hooked up before use. Most other equipment is already in place, including gas connections, large red tables inside, and white tables stored indoors. The remaining tasks include putting up signage and retrieving coolers for drinks. With many volunteers scheduled, it was emphasized that setup should go quickly and that no one person needs to handle everything alone. If you haven't already, please sign up for Mount Horeb Summer Frolic volunteer shifts!
Reminder to submit any Frolic raffle tickets and cash/checks to Dave Reed as soon as possible. The drawing is scheduled for Sunday. Contact information is required on all ticket stubs.
The 10K will take place on Thursday, July 30, from 5:30 - 9 p.m. Buy your tickets today! Gary gave an update on the Library fence repair project! Phase one of the repair is complete, including power washing. Remaining work includes minor hinge repairs and replacing the top plate around the fence. After that, staining will be completed, requiring sprayers and coordination of equipment. Volunteers are being organized to assist with this next phase of work.
The Green Team announced they will have a table at the local farmers' market and participate in upcoming community events, including the Frolic parade. Members are invited to join and support their efforts.
Happy Bucks
Keith shared appreciation that a contractor recently knocked down three silos along County Road E, noting that the project was completed safely and the site now looks clean and improved. Mark offered a reflection on AI, mentioning its usefulness in processing and interpreting historical family documents, including letters dating back to the 1800s, and even generating voice-style readings from written material. Russ celebrated a personal milestone, sharing joy about Clementine’s graduation. Bill shared that he attended his granddaughter’s kindergarten graduation, describing it as a meaningful family moment. Dave expressed pride and joy after his daughter’s choir performed at the state capitol rotunda, calling it an inspiring and memorable experience. Judy shared exciting personal news that Cibil, remembered as the Club’s first exchange student, is expecting a baby, which brought joy and reflection to the group. Gary reported progress on the Library fence repair project, noting that the first phase has been completed, including power washing, with additional repairs and staining still to come.
Presentation – Zandra Heilmann (Exchange Student Reflection)
Zandra shared reflections on her exchange year in the United States, describing it as a transformative experience. She highlighted several cultural differences, including the size of grocery stores such as Costco and Target, the reliance on cars for transportation, and the strong sports culture in the U.S. She noted appreciation for the many opportunities available and the welcoming nature of people in the Midwest.
She described participation in multiple district exchange weekends with students from around the world, including trips to Devil’s Lake, bowling outings, and time spent with host families and other exchange students from countries such as Thailand, Italy, Argentina, Japan, Brazil, Germany, and Switzerland.
Additional highlights included travel experiences in Florida and Madison, attending concerts, sporting events, and her first experiences at football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games. She also shared personal growth through learning to talk to strangers, becoming more confident, and saying yes to new experiences.
Zandra reflected on how Rotary and her host families significantly impacted her life, helping her feel supported and giving her a sense of family while abroad. She also discussed enjoying school experiences, particularly fun classes, supportive teachers, and time with friends. Looking ahead, she shared plans to travel to the U.S. West Coast, including visits to Universal Studios, Alcatraz, Hollywood, and several museums.
She discussed her future plans to attend school, travel during breaks, and remain connected with Rotary through a local Rotaract club. Zandra also answered questions about cultural differences, including education systems in Denmark and Greenland, graduation traditions involving colored hats, and long-term classroom group structures in Greenland.
Also, if you can make it, please attend Zandra's Goodbye Party on Sunday, June 14th, from 1-4 p.m. at 319 Academy St.
