By Administrator Account on Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Brat & Burger is now! Get your tickets sold. If you sell out, extra tickets are available this year. Just as importantly, get your prize donations turned in by August 5th. The B&B is only two weeks away and it takes several days to build the scoreboard, print the program and make other preparations for this, our biggest annual fund-raising event.

A balanced budget is being drafted by the Board. A few tweaks are being made here and there. Once the budget is approved by the Board, it’ll be presented to the members for codification. Stay tuned next month.

The St. John Vacation fundraiser, originally planned to launch on Labor Day, will be postponed until this winter (probably January or February). This is because of the press of current activity, as well as cancellation of the CPA’s Antique & Craft Show originally planned to coincide with the condo vacation raffle.

Our equal-opportunity Sergeant at Arms, Tom Moore, fined himself today for coming late and leaving early! Mike Swartz was nailed for wearing Sandy’s badge.

Money’s cheap these days! Commenting on the Fed’s announcement of continued low interest rates, Banker Jim threw a buck in the basket. So did Paul Novitzke, who’s headed to Brewer’s Fantasy Camp. School Super MikeS thinks it’s super that the feds also ponied up $13+ million in no-interest loans to build the new high school addition. Prez Janet’s pullin’ for her sister who just pulled thru heart by-pass surgery. TomM is happy to be back from a family reunion in Missouri, and even happier to find his basement dry.

Good to see Sue Happ and Chris Stelzer back at our meeting after a too-long hiatus.

Word of the Week: DISCOMBOBULATED. This is a funny sounding word, isn’t it? But it means “to be made to feel uncomfortable; also disconcerting.” It is your editor’s lame attempt to not get completely morose about a very sad development this week – the retirement of Steve Lehmann from our Rotary Club. Steve is a 26-year veteran of our Club with a perfect attendance record. He’s a Past President and Paul Harris Fellow. He’s also the man who inspired/created both the Brat & Burger and Breakfast with Santa. Every Rotarian who cares about the future of our Club should be very discombobulated today.

Upcoming programs & activities:

July 28, Farmers Market, Concert in Rotary Park (Michael Drake and the No Tan Line Band)
July 31, Rock River Gallery Open House, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
August 4, Sue Johnson – Honduras Trip
August 11, Concert in Rotary Park (Anna Laube)
August 16, Brat & Burger
August 25, Concert in Rotary Park (Jesse Aron)

Questions or comments? Contact President Janet Werner, 674-4511, or Spoke Editor Gary Myers, 674-6235.

We adjourned our meeting by reciting the Four Way Test
 

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By Administrator Account on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

 

Where in the world is Camate, Benin? It’s on the “slave coast” of West Africa between Toga and Ghana on the west, Nigeria on the east, and a small strip of the Atlantic Ocean on the south. According to Peace Corps Volunteer Anthony Uhl – Andy’s son -- Benin used to be the hub of the slave trade. Today, Benin is a poor, rural nation of 8.8 million souls with a dysfunctional government. Benin gained its independence in 1960. Communistic between ’72 and ’90, Benin shifted to a democracy in ’91. Only 1% of the population is educated.

Tony graduated from UW-Madison in 2009 and spent the last year as a PCV in Benin. He returns to Benin in a week and will return home for good in Fall 2011.

The official language in Benin is French, but there are more than 50 languages and dialects spoken there. Benin has almost no small business and no meaningful jobs. Electricity, hard-surfaced roads and clean water are scarce commodities. The biggest industries in the nation are agriculture and “rock breaking” that produces gravel for road construction initiatives.

According to Tony, the most significant environmental and social issues are deforestation, erosion, soil depletion, water availability, food security, diet, sanitation and lack of economic infrastructure for job creation – all of which are caused by the demands of short-term existence (ie., lack of a long-term view).

Is traditional international foreign aide the answer? “Absolutely not,” says Tony. “The system is broken.” He blames the lack of a cultural entrepreneurial spirit, corruption and waste, and the need to create small businesses. “Stop giving to governments. Instead, invest in small business and industry through micro-loans,” Tony advises.

Jim van Lieshout confessed that he’s offloading some of his Rotary treasurer’s duties to a hapless subordinate at the bank. [Is that fair to all concerned?] Del Chmielewski’s heading to Turkey for some sailing on the Aegean Sea as part of the Rotary Friendship Exchange. Happy Bucks all ‘round.

Hello, Tina Jossart. It’s always great to see you accompanying Jim at our weekly meetings.

“Cool stuff” is needed for the Brat and Burger prizes, says co-chair Colleen Locke. Get your prizes turned in to Prez Janet at the Chamber office ASAP. Same goes for ticket sales. The August 16th B&B is sneaking up on us fast.

Word-of-the-Week: NUPTIALS. Lots of Rotarians in the full-house crowd at the marriage of Rev. Nancy Carmichael to Craig Stoner tonight. The bride was radiant, of course. Congratulations to the new couple. Maybe the new groom would like to join Rotary?

Upcoming programs & activities:

July 28, Business meeting
July 28, Farmers Market, Concert in the Park
July 31, Rock River Gallery Open House, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
August 4, Sue Johnson – Honduras Trip
August 16, Brat & Burger

Questions or comments? Contact President Janet Werner, 674-4511, or Spoke Editor Gary Myers, 674-6235.

We adjourned our meeting by reciting the Four Way Test
 

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By Administrator Account on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Pooping for profit: The Club cleared about $1,600 in profit from the Cow Chip Challenge at last week’s County Fair. Besides the Club coffers, the other big winners were Jeremy Chwala ($1,000), Shalayna Anderson ($500), and Verna Stelse ($250). All 3 winners were from Jefferson. While your Spoke editor wasn’t an actual eye witness, Mike Swartz says it took only 9 minutes for bossy to do her business and identify the winner. Thanks, Mike, for this creative fund-raising idea and all of the tail-twisting it took to make this event a success.

Get this man some raffle tickets! President Janet Werner inducted Drew Hansen into the club today. We’re looking forward to Drew’s classification speech. Did someone tell Drew that newbies are expected to sell 100 Brat & Burger tickets? B&B tickets were handed out today, by the way. Get your prizes turned in to Prez Janet at the Chamber office.

Lot’s of happy bucks this week. Chad Stelse for selling 2 of the winning Cow Chip tix; Paul Novitzske for a successful Fair; Colleen Locke for still being able to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl without throwing up; Ray Krek apologized for having a crappy attitude about what turned out to be a successful Cow Chip Challenge, and Prez Janet hyped tonite’s concert at Rotary Park.

What’s a Hospitalist? Fort HealthCare’s Dr. Alan Detwiler presented today’s program on the trend to “hospitalists.” A hospitalist is a doc who focuses on treatment of hospitalized patients typically referred there by an office-based Primary Care Provider (PCP). Hospitalists are the fastest-growing specialty in US health care, reports Dr.D. The trend to this type of treatment is driven by increasing time demands on PCPs as well as pressure from managed case schemes to reduce cost. For patients, hospitalists will allow PCPs more generous office hour availability, improve the quality of care and enhance patient satisfaction. The hospitalist program begins this summer at Fort Hospital with 3 practicing internists. Participation in the program is optional for PCPs.

Thanks, Tom Monogue, for stepping up to take on the Club Secretary’s responsibility.

Word-of-the-Week: Ruminant. The Rotary word-of-the-week is in honor of our Cow Chip Challenge. Cows are ruminants – that is, they have multiple stomachs, the first one being the rumen. Just in case you’re uncommonly curious, the other stomachs are the reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The 4-chamber GI tract is one reason bovines are such efficient converters of grass into milk. Camels are ruminants, too, but they have only three stomachs. Try working this word-of-the-week into the conversation at your next dinner party or wedding reception toast.

Upcoming programs & activities:

July 14 - TONITE, Concert in the Park – Liberty Blue Grass, 6:30 to 8:30
July 21, Alan Sherman – Open Range and Tony Uhl – Benin (West Africa) Water project
July 21, Wedding for Rotarian Nancy Carmichael & Craig Stoner, Methodist Church, 5:00 p.m.
July 28, Business meeting
July 28, Downtown Retail Gala, Farmers Market, Concert in the Park – A full day downtown!
July 31, Rock River Gallery Open House, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
August 4, Sue Johnson – Honduras Trip
August 16, Brat & Burger

Questions or comments? Contact President Janet Werner, 674-4511, or Spoke Editor Gary Myers, 674-6235.

We adjourned our meeting by reciting the Four Way Test

 

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By Administrator Account on Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Pooping for profit: The Club cleared about $1,600 in profit from the Cow Chip Challenge at last week’s County Fair. Besides the Club coffers, the other big winners were Jeremy Chwala ($1,000), Shalayna Anderson ($500), and Verna Stelse ($250). All 3 winners were from Jefferson. While your Spoke editor wasn’t an actual eye witness, Mike Swartz says it took only 9 minutes for bossy to do her business and identify the winner. Thanks, Mike, for this creative fund-raising idea and all of the tail-twisting it took to make this event a success.

Get this man some raffle tickets! President Janet Werner inducted Drew Hansen into the club today. We’re looking forward to Drew’s classification speech. Did someone tell Drew that newbies are expected to sell 100 Brat & Burger tickets? B&B tickets were handed out today, by the way. Get your prizes turned in to Prez Janet at the Chamber office.

Lot’s of happy bucks this week. Chad Stelse for selling 2 of the winning Cow Chip tix; Paul Novitzski for a successful Fair; Colleen Locke for still being able to ride the Tilt-A-Whirl without throwing up; Ray Krek apologized for having a crappy attitude about what turned out to be a successful Cow Chip Challenge, and Prez Janet hyped tonite’s concert at Rotary Park.

What’s a Hospitalist? Fort HealthCare’s Dr. Alan Detwiler presented today’s program on the trend to “hospitalists.” A hospitalist is a doc who focuses on treatment of hospitalized patients typically referred there by an office-based Primary Care Provider (PCP). Hospitalists are the fastest-growing specialty in US health care, reports Dr.D. The trend to this type of treatment is driven by increasing time demands on PCPs as well as pressure from managed case schemes to reduce cost. For patients, hospitalists will allow PCPs more generous office hour availability, improve the quality of care and enhance patient satisfaction. The hospitalist program begins this summer at Fort Hospital with 3 practicing internists. Participation in the program is optional for PCPs.

Thanks, Tom Monogue, for stepping up to take on the Club Secretary’s responsibility.

Word-of-the-Week: Ruminant. The Rotary word of the week is in honor of our Cow Chip Challenge. Cows are ruminants – that is, they have multiple stomachs, the first one being the rumen. Just in case you’re uncommonly curious, the other stomachs are the reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The 4-chamber GI tract is one reason bovines are such efficient converters of grass into milk. Camels are ruminants, too, but they have only three stomachs. Try working this word-of-the-week into the conversation at your next dinner party or wedding reception toast.

Upcoming programs & activities:

July 14 - TONITE, Concert in the Park – Liberty Blue Grass, 6:30 to 8:30
July 21, Alan Sherman – Open Range and Tony Uhl – Benin (West Africa) Water project
July 21, Wedding for Rotarian Nancy Carmichael & Craig Stoner, Methodist Church, 5:00 p.m.
July 28, Business meeting
July 28, Downtown Retail Gala, Farmers Market, Concert in the Park – A full day downtown!
July 31, Rock River Gallery Open House, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
August 4, Sue Johnson – Honduras Trip
August 16, Brat & Burger

Questions or comments? Contact President Janet Werner, 674-4511, or Spoke Editor Gary Myers, 674-6235.

We adjourned our meeting by reciting the Four Way Test
 

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By Administrator Account on Wednesday, July 07, 2010

July 7, 2010

President Janet Werner has set an ambitious agenda. In her first official meeting as our new numero uno, Janet reviewed the top line results of the “visioning session” attended by 17 members last week.

Following are the most interesting findings reflected from brainstorming club members as they looked ahead to the next 5 years:

• By May 2015, the club will have 60 members (up from about 36 today). The Club will continue to be the “service organization of choice” for Jefferson business leaders and professionals.

• There is a perception that the Club needs to actively recruit new, youthful members willing to step into active leadership roles.

• Scholarships and youth leadership programs will continue to be prominent beneficiaries of Club vocational and community service, as will completion of the band shell at Rotary Park. [Prez Janet notes that the pending decision regarding relocation of Tyson Foods will affect on the speed at which the band shell can be completed.]

• On the international scene, there is a ton of member support for Rotarian Arvind Shah’s India eye project.

• The Brat & Burger (coming up on August 16th) receives high acceptance for fund raising. And the new Rock River Regatta shows potential as a more aggressive future fund raiser in years to come.

A complete copy of the notes from the visioning session appear below (click on read more).

Welcome Drew Hansen. Michael Blau introduced new member prospect, Drew Hansen. Drew fits the youthful and energetic mold for future club members. He’s one of the owners of American Weld Design and will be inducted into the club in a few weeks.

Fine-Master Tom Moore wasn’t hard pressed to press worthy candidates to cough up a buck for the cause: Tom Monogue, Nancy Carmichael, Ray Krek and Del Olson were each nailed for not wearing their Paul Harris Fellows pins to the Annual Meeting. Steve Lehmann did something obscure to offend the Sergeant at Arms. And Jim van Lieshout was hit with a cell phone violation.

Fish stories and other happiness were shared by Club members: Mike Swartz was happy to be “past” president. Tom Monogue just got back from catching his walleye limit in Canada while Del Chmielewski told a whopper about catching 25 20-pound tuna in 2 hours while on a recent trek to Costa Rica with Turkish Rotarians. [Your editor thinks Del’s trying to promote Central American tourism.] Colleen Locke claims that the County Fair, which starts today, is her favorite five days of the year. [Get a life, Colleen!] And biker extraordinaire, Steve Lewis, reported covering 5 states and 400+ miles in 4 days on just 2 wheels. [That guy has too much energy!]. Steve is also hosting an open house at JABC tomorrow from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Free food and bev – plus a chance to see his truly impressive new digs.

[The views expressed in this newsletter are those of your new Spoke blog editor. In the spirit of open communication and freedom of the press, the writer of this weekly tome herby declares himself exempt from fines from the Sergeant at Arms or retribution from any other Rotarian. – GM]

Upcoming programs & activities:
July 8, Open House at Jefferson Area Business Center, 4:00 to 7:30
July 11, Cow Chip Challenge, 2:00, Fairgrounds
July 14, Dr. Detweiler – Fort Health Care
July 21, Alan Sherman – Open Range
July 28, Business meeting
August 4, Sue Johnson – Honduras Trip
August 16, Brat & Burger

Questions or comments? Contact President Janet Werner, 674-4511, or Spoke Editor Gary Myers, 674-6235.
 

 

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