All in-person attendees must be vaccinated and masked. We're not going to ask for proof of vaccination. We'll let the four-way test handle that.
Unvaccinated people attend via Zoom, & we genuinely wish they do so.
If you eat or drink at the meeting, you'll see two special tables set aside for you. Most of the room will be for people not eating or drinking, and they'll be wearing masks all the time. You'll have your mask off while eating/drinking, obviously, but put it back on when you're done. The meeting runner and Board members in attendance will lovingly poke members who've let their masks slip.
People may remove their mask at the microphone. No removal of masks when talking from the floor ... just go to the microphone and remove your mask.
Relatedly, we're aware that our usage of Zoom has been too often problematic. We know this is an issue and we're working on it.
The Board hopes this revised policy encourages more members to attend the meetings in person. We want the safest, healthiest environment for members to enjoy what they primarily come to the Club FOR: fellowship. We want to re-establish the importance of regular attendance in our members' lives. We can't do the good we do without engaged members. We think many have just gotten out of the habit of attending meetings regularly, especially in light of Covid. We want to change that. We NEED to change that.
We will review this policy regularly. We hope that Covid continues its downward trend. We'll follow Dane County on refining our mask policy. We have moved our Fiftieth Anniversary event from January to the spring in the hope that the Covid situation is better, and that we can hold part of the event outdoors.
Finally, please, please make a hearty effort to attend meetings in person. Venue directions are in the Bulletin. Your Club needs you.
If you have questions about this new policy, please reach out to President-Elect Kathy Roberg (kar8525@gmail.com )
Today, December 03 Our own Kathy Roberg as a member of "Walking Each Other Home" will talk about the conversation none of us wants to have, Death and Dying.
Birthdays:
Dec 06: Deb Dieter
Dec 17: Jack Ferreri
Dec 31: Jerry Smith
Anniversaries:
Dec 20: Jim Emerick, 52 years
Join Date:
Dec 04: Barry Pace, 6 years
Dec 06: Abby Benbow, 2 years
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
December 10Middleton School Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue
December 17 Open
December 24 No Meeting
December 31 No Meeting
Our January 50th anniversary meeting is postponed until spring.
January 7Veterinarian Dr. Marty Greer will talk about her drive-thru pet clinic. She and her husband, also a vet, own three animal clinics in Wisconsin but their newest clinic, Checkout Veterinary in Sun Prairie, is a drive-through wellness pet clinic and the only one in the U.S. -- the concept is patented. Pet owners love this no waiting room, of not having to fend off bigger dogs.
January 14 Jim Emerick's son Tyler and daughter-in-law Meredith Emerick will talk about Adopting Children in China.
January 21 Open
January 28 Author and publisher David Benjamin will talk about his craft. He is the winner of numerous literary awards and has written and published 12 books and over two thousand essays. One is called "Almost Killed by a Train of Thought.” Benjamin graduated from LaFollette High School and lives part-time in Madison and part-time in Paris.
February 4 Dr. Daniel Dickinson, a psychologist at UW Clinics, will discuss sleep disorders.
February 11 Anne Goodwin will tell us how to relax and let go of everyday stress via her real-life experiences of a "get away" place called "Come to the Lake."
Here is a photo of (most of) our nine-person McAdow Miles Team at the Epic Campus on our 14-mile ride today around Verona for Polio Plus. A big thanks to Paul Patenaude for organizing it, and also to Mary Ruth Marks for her wonderfully narrated tour of Epic.
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 the Rotary Foundation. It’s an important Club fundraiser. In the past, we’ve talked about cents per mile, but this year we’re going to simplify things by asking for pledges in the amount of $50, $100, or $250. Because several of our other fundraisers may be in some jeopardy because of the coronavirus, this is your chance to give a boost to the Foundation’s coffers. We’re gonna ride no matter what!
John Olsen writes …
With the nice weather this week, we had an impromptu gathering of seven riders on Tuesday. As this was “Giving Tuesday” we had a discussion about donations to our Club’s Foundation for the McAdow Miles fundraiser. We haven’t given it a lot of publicity this year, but we have had a lot of participation (probably over 15,000 miles by the participants), and several of us have already made monetary donations. I plan to make an announcement about it at our Club meeting on Friday. This was our eleventh year!
Kevin Hayden is the newest member of the Club, sponsored by Mary Beth Growney-Selene. Classification is Healthcare, Retired. The Board approved his membership on Nov 17.
Aaron Kiefert will shortly be a member of our Club. The Board approved his membership in emails, and this is his second appearance in the Bulletin.
Todd Wiegand’s work schedule as a commercial airline pilot has forced him to resign his role on the Board. He will remain a member of the Club.
The Wisconsin Academic Decathlon The State Competition takes place Thursday-Friday, February 24-25, 2022
at the Wilderness Resort/Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells.
Our Club has participated – and for years funded the meal – for many years. It’s an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here’s a link to the Volunteer section of their website.
More than one-third of the global population lacks basic sanitation. About 10 percent of people worldwide do not have clean water. Rotary and USAID share a commitment to providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene through sustainable projects that are built on local needs. The unique partnership pairs the technical expertise of USAID professionals with Rotary members, who are leaders in their communities, and who build the capacity of local governments and residents to plan and implement solutions. The partnership has committed $18 million through 2025 and has improved the lives of an estimated 450,000 people since 2007. Learn more about the partnership and share with your members how it’s making a difference in countries like the Dominican Republic, Ghana, the Philippines, and Uganda.
The meeting place is Serendipity Labs, a co-working facility on the sixth floor of the Johnson Bank Building at 525 Junction Road (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.
Our meeting place is circled in red on this map. 6th floor. 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.
Our District 6250 Grant Committee is pleased to offer matching grants through a one-time pilot project through the rest of 2021-22. $33,453 is available on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are granted. There is no change to the criteria used to review and approve applications. Project reports are due by May 15, 2022.
According to Liz Evans, District Grant Committee Chair, “This pilot project is intended to give our clubs the ability to apply for a grant at any time a project is identified as long as funds are available. We hope this gives Rotarians more flexibility to consider projects that might be difficult to fund with short-term notice. It can also help to provide more timely responses due to the shortened time available to complete projects.”
This pilot project will be evaluated at the end of the year to determine if there is a positive impact for District 6250 Clubs. If this process works well for our clubs, we will consider using it in years that District Designated Funds are available after the June review period.
Qualified clubs can submit an application at any time to D6250Grants@gmail.com.
Applications materials and supporting information are available on the District 6250 website under the Foundation header. Questions about the application process can also be sent to the email above.
One of the "Happy Bucks," offered last Friday was for the birth of former Rotary Exchange Student Rumi Matsukata Hige's baby girl. Rumi was our exchange student, at the time we were sponsoring a new club in Reedsburg. We placed Rumi with three families in the Reedsburg School District. The following is a brief excerpt from a recent e-mail we received. The birth of this baby is extra special because Rumi is 47 years old. This is the couple's first child.
"... I returned home from the hospital yesterday (in Japan, we stay at least 5 days at the hospital and I stayed 9 days at the hospital) and I can now write you back! The baby was born on Nov 2nd, weighed 7.63 pounds and 19.68 inches. We are both well. Haven’t finalized the name yet … but more likely to be Yui Hige (Yui is the first name)."
Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, PO Box 620312, Middleton WI 53562
We meet at Serendipity Labs, 6th floor Johnson Bank Building, SOUTH TOWER, 525 Junction Road (right next to Panera Bread) We’re doing this on a month-to-month basis right now, but it may lead to a long-term arrangement.
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.’
Our website is mwt-mrotaryclub.org
Executives
President
Connie Fish
President-Elect
Kathy Roberg
Secretary
Jack Ferreri
Treasurer
Matt Loch
Club Service
Dean Ryerson & Rod Nilles
Community Service
Abby Benbow & Todd Wigand
International Service
Paul Patenaude & Mary Cobb Dunn
Vocational Service
Roxanne Brazeau & Jim Emerick
We meet
FRIDAYS at 12:12 pm
at
Serendipity Labs, Suite 6500 Johnson Bank Building 525 Junction Road Madison, Wisconsin 53717
Here is a photo of (most of) our nine-person McAdow Miles Team at the Epic Campus on our 14-mile ride today around Verona for Polio Plus. A big thanks to Paul Patenaude for organizing it, and also to Mary Ruth Marks for her wonderfully narrated tour of Epic.
Our District 6250 Grant Committee is pleased to offer matching grants through a one-time pilot project through the rest of 2021-22. $33,453 is available on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are granted. There is no change to the criteria used to review and approve applications. Project reports are due by May 15, 2022.
