December 9 - Our own Nancy Comello, DNP, CNM, RN, told us about Educating Indigenous Midwives and birth Attendants, a Rotary Global Grant partner ship between Madison West Towne Middleton Rotary Club and Rotary Club Las Américas Ciudad Guatemala. Why it took over 2 years to complete and how it is currently impacting the hands-on education of indigenous Guatemalan midwives by the Master Trainers funded and equipped through the Global Grant.
Program by Mary Cobb Dunn
THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM:
December 16 - “Healing the Community: A doctor’s foray into local politics“ After a career in medicine, Dr. David Lonsdorf decided to run for local office during the pandemic. He was elected to the Town Board of Verona and quickly found out that things weren't what he expected. We will find out what he didn't expect during his presentation. Program by Jack Ferreri
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
December 23 - No Meeting - Christmas Weekend
December 30 - No Meeting - New Years Eve Weekend
January 6 - Getting to Know You Program Continued. This time Rick Schaller, Mike Wenkman, and Greg Armstrong will discuss their employment, their hobbies, their likes, their dislikes, their best and worst vacations and whatever they want to talk about. All in 10 minutes. We encourage you to join this program so that we may get to know each other better. YOU MAY BE NEXT.
January 13 - Dean Ryerson has a refugee from Afghanistan staying with him. His name is Zabihullah Sahibzada. Zabi will tell us of his living experiences in Afghanistan and the odyssey of his exodus to America. He has been approved by the United States Government for asylum. His topic is titled 'REFLECTIONS ON AFGHANISTAN'. Don't miss this first hand live report on this very troubled country. BRING A GUEST.
January 20 - Dr. David Fields, Associate Director of the center for East Asian Studies at UW-Madison will talk of "Preventing another Pearl Harbor" An overview of the tensions between the US and Japan that led to WWII and comparing todays tensions between the US and China. Program by Ed Fink
January 27 - Kathy Roberg will help generate committees
February 3 - "GETTING TO KNOW YOU" program continued. This time it's Deb Dieter, Jeannine Desautels and Denny Zitnak who will share their lives with us for 10 minutes each.
February 10 - Kathy Roberg will have committee team leaders describe the implementation of the goals created in the January 27 meeting.
Sad to report receiving the news of fellow Rotarian Jerry Smith’s passing. Really nice guy! Jerry’s funeral is Friday at 11:00 AM - St. Bernard’s in Middleton (with visitation from 10:00 AM until time of Mass. ALSO: Visitation Thursday at Gunderson Funeral Home on University Avenue 3:00PM-5:00PM.
Hopefully, the club will be well-represented! Pass it on.
John Gerold Reported
Long-time Rotary Club Active Member and in the past years Honorary Member Gerald Matthew “Jerry” Smith passed away on December 8, 2022. His obituary and funeral details can be found in the Wednesday’s Wisconsin State Journal or at www.gundersonfh.com.
Posted by Mary Beth Growney Selene on Dec 14, 2022
At our weekly meeting on December 2, District Governor Ben Bauer (left) presented the Rotary Club of Madison West Middleton with two Rotary Foundation recognition banners to Mary Beth Growney Selene (right), representing the Madison West Middleton Rotary Club.
The first was for our past and ongoing support of PolioPlus. As our organization’s #1 priority, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have asked each Club to support the efforts to End Polio Now. With only two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) left on the global endemic list, we are truly “This Close” to eradicating this dreaded disease. Our Club’s Foundation supports PolioPlus with $1,500 annually, and many of our members make personal contributions to support the efforts. Every dollar we contribute is matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation. Thank you all for your continued contributions.
Secondly, we were recognized as the #1 Club in giving, in District 6250, to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund. Our per capita giving was $467.18 with personal contributions totaling $29,695.00 and 171% of our $15,000 goal. We should all be very proud of the good work that our contributions will do. When you participate in the Every Rotarian Every Year initiative, you are supporting District Grants and Global Grants, of which our Club has been the recipient. The most recent would be the Nancy Comello-led Global Grant on training Midwives in Guatemala – which we learned about at our meeting on December 9. Without the support of every member of our Club, this grant, and so many others, would not be possible. Thank you for your continued support.
Posted by John Gerold (with edits by Mary Cobb Dunn) on Dec 06, 2022
One of the major activities of the Lussier Community Education Center is the Food Pantry and we learned the Center lost one of their upright freezers recently and are in need of replacing it as-soon-as-possible. Since funding is always an issue, the Center would be happy to receive any funds people would like to send their way. Also, if any members reading this have any connections to getting a replacement freezer, please contact Shawn at (608) 833-4979. She would be glad to hear from you. Lussier’s mailing address is: 55 S. Gammon Rd., Madison, WI 53717.
At December 9 2022 snow-laden meeting, we launched the Club's GIVE program. We plan to make between $50-80,000 in grants from our Foundation by spring. The success of this first-ever program relies totally on YOU.
In coming weeks, please give some serious thought to causes you're familiar with that can benefit from a GIVE grant. And then submit an application. We are a service organization. This is your opportunity to have our Foundation benefit a cause that means something to you personally, that alleviates a problem in our community that troubles you. If you can't think of one, talk to other members for ideas. The GIVE Committee would like to receive scores of grant applications.
The program as it now stands grew out of an idea first brought forward by Ed Fink in early spring. It's gone through considerable refinement. Some of the discussions focused on:
Does the recipient need to be a 501(c)3? We decided no
What geographical restrictions are there? We decided greater Dane County.
Are previous recipients of our Foundation funding eligible for this special program? We decided yes ... any good cause may receive a grant.
How does this program relate to our yearly Foundation giving and potential District/RI matching grants? We decided this is totally separate from our regular Foundation grant programs. Eligibility for District or RI matching grants are not strictly a part of THIS program. We encourage grant proposers to look into this possibility, and the Club can be a useful resource,
The GIVE Committee is made up of Jack Ferreri (Chair), Ed Fink, Kevin Hayden, Mary Feldt, John Gerold, and Peter Overton. Feel free to talk to any member of the Committee for further guidance. We want LOTS of applications.
RI's 2022-2023 theme is "Imagine Rotary." Imagine the impact you can have by championing a Foundation grant for a worthy cause.
Below is our "official" notice for the McAdow Miles fundraiser - let me tell you a little more.
First - it is just a fundraiser. And it is a key component of the money that we will have available to use to make a difference for our area students, our community and our international project.
This year we are giving away over $50,000!!! and we have requests to do even more than that.
My goal is that if we get a really large amount donated here - we will have a "reserve fund" available for projects that pop up during the year - so your gift will make our club RESPONSIVELY available to make a difference in our community.
That seems like the right kind of ACTION that biking thousands of miles would have us do.
Yes, we have raised as much for this project as we have in the past.
BUT -- is that good enough - I think we strive to be better .
For years, led on by the powerful calves of Jerry McAdow, several riders have been bicycling together on Saturday mornings for exercise, for companionship, and for the sense of adventure. We’ve asked Club members to support our efforts by pledging dollars to our Club’s Foundation. It’s an important Club fundraiser. We are asking for pledges in the amount of $50, $100, or $250. This is your chance to give a boost to the Foundation’s coffers. We’re gonna ride no matter what!
I started a group listed as: Madison West Middleton Rotary
Leo has already signed up (as an individual) for HI VEE on East Washington starting Sat. 11/19 and consecutive Sat. (5 in a row) ending 12/17, time 4-6 P.M. ...and he is looking for a "partner".
I signed up today under the club group name for 5 Fridays starting 11/18 ending 12/16... location for me is Metcalfe's Market at West Towne...time 2-4 P.M. I am also looking for a "partner in crime ".
Any members "willing and able" can call me at 608-212-7157 and I will add them to my shift (or sign them up for another day / time if they want)..
Both locations are inside... "Thank God".
This is a way to further support our fellow community members that are currently experiencing needed support.
The Beacon is a public-private shelter providing a safe place for people who are experiencing homelessness in the Madison area. They are open from 8am until 5pm every day providing some food options, showers & restrooms, laundry options and referrals for additional care. Over 100 people receive help from The Beacon each day. Let’s give these folks a little Rotary LOVE!!
Barry Pace and Mary Van Hout will be collecting items with anticipated delivery in mid-December. They can accept items or cash (we’ll do the shopping for you!) at Rotary Club meetings until December 16. Contact either of them with questions.
Items most needed focus on winter wear. Any outerwear items are needed. Also men’s new undergarments including briefs, boxers and t-shirts sized L – XXL. And sox and gloves.
Please consider sharing your good fortune with those who are in need. Spread Holiday Cheer and help our neighbors have a warm winter.
A generous new Rotary member has already contributed these items!!
The meeting place is Serendipity Labs, a co-working facility on the 6th floor of the Johnson Bank Building at 525 Junction Road Madison, WI 53717(right next to Panera Bread). We’re in the SOUTH TOWER. Parking is easy and undercover. We’re doing this on a month-to-month basis right now, but it may lead to a long-term arrangement.
For parking, follow the blue arrow on the map to underground parking. Go left once you enter the ramp. Parking is free; park in any unassigned spot. Go to the covered walkway to enter the building and grab the elevator to the sixth floor.
Rotary Club of Madison West Middleton, PO Box 620312, Middleton WI 53562
We’re currently holding Hybrid/Zoom meetings during this COVID time. The Zoom link is above in this Bulletin. The in-person meeting site is the Johnson Bank building at 525 Junction Road. Park in the ramp to the east of the building, then go to the 6th floor to Serendipity Labs.
You can’t miss us.
Fridays at 12:12 PM
The meetings combine a live, in-person element with the capability to join via Zoom.
We are the self-anointed ‘Coolest Rotary Club in the World.’
The first was for our past and ongoing support of PolioPlus. As our organization’s #1 priority, the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation have asked each Club to support the efforts to End Polio Now. With only two countries (Afghanistan and Pakistan) left on the global endemic list, we are truly “This Close” to eradicating this dreaded disease. Our Club’s Foundation supports PolioPlus with $1,500 annually, and many of our members make personal contributions to support the efforts. Every dollar we contribute is matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation. Thank you all for your continued contributions.
