As a Vice President of Commercial Lines at WPS, Scott has a front-row seat for all the changes in healthcare. WPS is a not-for-profit regional player in the marketplace, dealing with Medicare supplemental coverage and small groups. The company also handles provides insurance products for the Department of Defense and manages Medicare and Medicaid for seniors in multiple states.
The Affordable Care Act didn’t have any impact on the affordability of care; it focused on the delivery of care. The ACA dissolved Wisconsin’s High-Risk insurance pool. 90% of the people in the ACA exchanges received some sort of subsidy. WPS left the ACA Exchange two years ago – the costs were unsustainable. As insurance premiums continue to rise, we can expect to see more and more insurance decisions move to the states under the new administration.
The next five years will see major consolidation in the healthcare marketplace. It will become increasingly difficult for standalone players to survive. We’re seeing non-traditional companies entering healthcare, like CVS’s recent purchase of Aetna, and with Walmart and Amazon eying the prescription market. Things aren’t going to settle down anytime soon.
MadWest Winter Farmers’ Market is a bustling hub of good friends and healthy food hosted indoors at the Lussier Community Education Center.
Past market vendors have brought fresh, organic produce like potatoes, winter squash, carrots, broccoli, beets, cabbage, parsnips, salad greens, and more plus local cheeses, pasture-raised meats, eggs, jams and jellies, all-natural soaps, and wool.
OPEN 8am-noon: Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24.
Join us in the bar area from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Thursday, February 8. Come hang out have a few beverages… an opportunity to get out with the crew for a bit.
Questions??? Contact: Brian J. Brown email: brian_J_brown@glic.com Phone: 608-662-8763
One of our service projects for this Rotary year is a winter clothing drive for Jefferson Middle School. Since the weather has turned cold, it is time to hunt through your home or go to the store and purchase hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves suitable for middle school boys and girls.
Sizes:
Ladies sizes small, medium and large
Men's sizes small, medium, large and extra large
Please bring your items to the rotary meetings over the next few weeks.
Saturday, February 10, 2018, Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI
The morning is the annual DTTS – District Team Training Seminar – where District committees come together to report on what they are doing now and what their plans are for the future. You will hear reports from all District committees like Youth Programs, Visioning, Foundation, Membership and Friendship Exchange just to name a few. This will help update the Board and generate awareness on all that is happening in our District and the resources available to help. With so much change in Rotary and the District in the last few years, this is certain to be time well spent.
Our own John Gerold (Bingo Czar) leads a group of volunteers to run bingo games at Oakwood Village – University Woods at 6 – 7:30 pm the third Thursday every month from October through May.
Sign up on the pass around sheet during Friday meetings.
John will send a reminder and logistical information to each volunteer ahead of each session. This activity also qualifies for a meeting make-up, if one is needed.
Beginning 1 July 2018, clubs and districts that apply for global grants to support their humanitarian projects or vocational training teams will be required to include a community assessment. Working with a community to determine what it needs most and can sustain in the future builds important relationships, involves residents in decisions that affect their communities, and fosters long-term participation in community projects. Project planners can use district grant funds to conduct an assessment. The results of the assessment will be included with the grant application in the Grant Center.
As you plan your next grant management seminar, take time to review these useful resources:
Posted by Dave Warren, District Rotary Foundation Chair on Jan 04, 2018
Happy New Year!
The time to ensure your club is qualified to apply for a Rotary Foundation District or Global Grant in the upcoming Rotary year is upon us. As you may already know, there are a few prerequisites that must be completed. The first requirement is that a minimum of one member (more is always preferable) from your club must attend a district-specific grant management seminar (GMS). Attendance at either the January 20, March 15 or May 4 will be sufficient but having attended a previous year’s GMS will not.
The club’s representative/s should sign up today on the district’s website.
If you have any questions regarding Rotary Foundation Grants please do not hesitate to ask. David Warren, District Rotary Foundation Chair dave@davesace.com
Posted by Derek Schneider, President, Oregon Rotary Club on Jan 10, 2018
Area Rotarians…………..If you love Wisconsin Artisan Cheeses, this is the event for you! Past cheeses have included Red Rock from Roelli Cheese, Merlot Bellavitano from Satori and Foenegreek from Thorp WI. This year’s list should be another list of Wisconsin Cheese Superstars! And let’s not forget the wine to go with it. Attached is flyer to share with your clubs and directions on how to get tickets. Hope to see many of you again at this year’s event.
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.
Posted by Rotary Weekly January 5, 2018 on Jan 11, 2018
Show Us Your Best Shot
Do you have a great shot from a club project or fundraiser? Did you capture a memorable moment at the convention or during an international trip? Enter your images in The Rotarian's 2018 photo contest and you might see them in the pages of the magazine. You may enter up to three photos taken since 1 January 2017. While some photos might have elements of all three, select one category to enter your photo.
Our previous guest judges have included Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, Kathy Ryan, director of photography for the New York Times Magazine and photojournalist Steve McCurry. This year's judge will be announced soon.
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.
