Connor Rowen and Jesse Hieb, the Producer/Director of Gone Paddling
Most people don't know much about the Wisconsin River. Why should they? At only 430 miles long, it doesn’t stand out in most minds. However, it is the longest river in Wisconsin that stays completely in Wisconsin. With 26 dams, 14 paper mills, and 43 municipalities that dump into it, the Wisconsin River is known as the hardest working river in America. It also happens to have an inspiring history of revitalization.
As much as Wisconsin depends on its longest river, just 40 years ago you couldn't swim in the river without getting sick. Contamination of the river resulted in widespread deformities of fish and other aquatic life. Residents knew from experience that eating a fish from the river would most certainly make you sick. Pictures of the river from this time period show so much sludge on the surface that animals were able to walk across it. The Wisconsin River at one time rivaled the Cuyahoga River which infamously caught fire in 1969.
Then in the 1970s something amazing happened. People started to work together. It didn't happen overnight. It took a lot of time, money, and compromise. Paper mills, energy companies and municipalities invested hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize following new environmental regulations, and it hurt. It hurt a lot. But before long, the money and time spent in taking care of their river turned into a profitable investment. The mills began reporting that the environmental regulations which forced them to modernize their business practices and reduce pollution had an unanticipated positive impact on their businesses. The mills were now able to operate year-round, which led to increased profits. In addition, in an effort to identify uses for their byproducts, new industries sprung up, contributing to their bottom line and reducing their environmental footprint.
Although maintaining the water quality of the river remains a continual challenge, the river is winning. People care. Industry, government, and countless communities are working together because they recognize the value of a healthy source of freshwater. The Wisconsin River is now a cultural and economic treasure. The River provides more tourism dollars than ever before, and municipalities throughout the state are now investing millions into water-front development. We as a society focus on the immediate costs and struggle to consider the long-term impacts. But, in the case of the Wisconsin River, we overcame this challenge and can clearly see how the upfront costs have paid dividends.
As of August 14 we had a total of seven members signed up to volunteer for the Tri4Schools event this Saturday the 19th.
Tri 4 Schools is a 501c3 non-profit organization in Dane County that uses the sports of swimming, biking, and running as platforms to get kids active and fight childhood obesity. Their events and programs aim to teach children about setting and achieving goals, fitness, nutrition, sportsmanship and self-confidence. They aim to instill the basics of a healthy lifestyle in children ages 14 and under so they can make healthy choices that will benefit them throughout their lives.
What: The Middleton Kids Triathlon. You will be assisting with registration/packet pick-up, transition area helpers, swim course help, bike course pointers, run course help and finish line helpers. Proceeds provide support for health and wellness initiatives in the children’s schools.
Saturday August 19th at the Bauman Aquatic Center, 2400 Park Lawn Place, Middleton, WI 53562
For more detailed information on the event, including directions and parking please follow this link: Middleton Kids Triathlon.
We need many volunteers over the 9 days (Saturday, August 12, thru Sunday August 20) of Sunflower Days! There are over 100 shifts to fill during this 9-day event. Please, please, please, we need your help!! The shifts are usually two hours in duration, and we will train you. Snacks and water will be provided. What better way to spend your time than in front of thousands of sunflowers! Come enjoy all the smiles with us! Click here for more information & shift descriptions.
Posted by Dave Clemens, District Friendship Exchange Chair
We had a successful experience hosting 8 Rotarians in our district. We had traveled to Gujarat, India in January, and they came to visit us late in May. They enjoyed visiting Chicago, Dells, La Crosse area and Madison area. Many homes were opened in our district, while our Rotarians hosted and showed them around.
We are looking for persons interested in hosting a group of Rotarians from Peru. It may be a small group, from 4-10 persons, arriving on Tuesday, August 15 and leaving on Thursday, August 31. If you and your club would like to be a host for a day, a few days or more, let me know. Please send an email to Dave Clemens,drdave@dellsdental.net, and let him know of your commitment. You will be expected to pick them up from the previous club, provide a room, meals and entertainment, then make sure they make it to the next community on their itinerary. It is great fun, which we want many clubs to enjoy. Don't miss this chance to enjoy the fun of a Friendship Exchange.
Rotary Members, There is an opportunity to serve on August 28 or 29. Jefferson Middle School is being remodeled and all teachers needed to move out over the summer. They will be moving back in on August 28and 29 and need our help. Please sign up for 10-noon or 1-3 pm shifts each day by clicking on Deb Dieters email address below:
The first meeting in September will be at beautiful Pope Farm Conservancy Park, 7440 Old Sauk Road, rain or shine! Pope Farm Conservancyis 105 acres that sits on top of three recessional moraines in the Town of Middleton, where three different watersheds come together. A 360 degree panoramic view of Lake Mendota, the Capitol and Madison’s west side can be seen to the east, the Black Earth Creek valley to the North, and the terminal moraine to the South and West.
Posted by Jolene R. Bortz, Past President, Rotary Club of Oakland-Uptown
Announcing an upcoming trip to Accra, Ghana, West Africa in October 2017 to participate in a polio immunization exercise, attend the 12th Annual West Africa Project Fair, and engage in a hands-on work project. Attached is detailed trip information. Please feel free to share this information with the Rotarians in your club as soon as possible as we have a limited amount of space and expect this trip to be filled in the next week or two.
Trip Dates: October 03 – 12, 2017 Travel to: Accra, Ghana, West Africa Per Person Price: $1,689, double occupancy
Program includes: Hotel accommodations, transfers, most meals, polio immunization exercise, hands-on community service field work, West Africa Project Fair registration, special Rotary and fellowship events, sightseeing, etc.
In October 2017, North American Rotarians will travel to Accra, Ghana for a life changing experience. Have you ever heard a Rotarian speak about their personal experience participating in a polio eradication exercise, a cleft lip/cleft palate mission, or work on a humanitarian grant? These trips have a profound effect upon the individual. For those of you who have gone on one of these trips you know, and for those of you who have yet to enjoy this experience, you should.
The experiences you have stay with you forever. You get up early in the morning, travel with local Rotarians to a village, health clinic or impoverished neighborhood, and for the next few hours, you change. Small children come up to you to say thank you. Mothers and fathers smile at you knowing that you are giving their child a chance for a better life. You meet with the leaders in the village to learn of their needs and their hopes. It is hot; it is dusty; it makes you uncomfortable; it is exquisite.
The West Africa Project Fair is endorsed by Rotary’s Reach Out to Africa Committee (ROTA), who is trying to generate greater connectivity between the African and North American Rotarians to generate greater support of the projects of Africa. This committee needs your help, leadership and motivational skills, as Governor, to generate awareness, interest and action to support these projects. Further, projects fairs are an expanding program, encourage by Rotary and The Rotary Foundation as an extraordinary opportunity for clubs to find viable, qualified humanitarian projects
The hope is that you, as a North American Governor, will inspire two or three Rotarians from your District to make this trip, attend the Fair, select one or two of the prequalified projects, and bring them back to your District. Not only will your representatives be offering significant project support, but they will enjoy a profound “Rotary Moment.” The Ghanaian Rotarians have prepared an extraordinary week of activities.
If possible, please announce this program in your District over the next month, post the attached on your website, include it in your newsletter, and ask your Rotarians to represent your District and take a trip of a lifetime. Ideally, you should make the trip and ask them to join you! Encourage your members to participate – help Rotary Make a Difference.
Let us know if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you soon.
A $1000 District 6250 Membership Grant is now Available!
District 6250 has an exciting new program that we heard about from a District in Australia. They have seen great success with membership growth with this grant program. Not only have they increased membership, but their new members have developed many new and innovative community programs. In their district, they had 17 clubs that recruited 4+ members in under 6 months. Each of these groups of new members have given their club a project that has engaged their community and given their club an opportunity to increase its public image. That is growth and publicity that D6250 needs to allow us to change even more lives in our own back yard and all over the world.
The District 6250 Board has agreed to allocate $5000 for these membership grants. This is a new endeavor that, if successful, will help grow our clubs and expand our reach.
The first 5 clubs to recruit four or more new members between July 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018 will be eligible for a $1000 grant for these new members to use for a project of their own. These members must remain for 4 months for the club to be eligible. Once you have met this criteria, please contact one of our membership co-chairs.
Please let me know of any events or special situations in our fellow Rotarians' lives where a card, flowers, or a plant would be appropriate for their situation.
If you are volunteering with youth (one-on-one)? Mentoring, Youth Exchange, RYLA, Academic Decathlon, High School Business Plans, Etc... You must have an annual background check completed. This only applies if you are working with youth one-on-one. If you are in a group more than 2 people, you don't need a background check.
