
Service Above Self
Mequon, WI 53092
United States of America









Two cargo planes packed with tons of medical equipment have already been flown from Chicago, USA, to Ukraine where members helped to unload the supplies.
by Arnold R. Grahl
Rotary members in North America, Argentina, and Europe are collaborating with a U.S.-based association of Ukrainian health care workers and using their connections to collect and ship more than 100 tons of critical medical supplies to Ukraine.
Rotary is responding to the crisis
in Ukraine.
Two cargo planes packed with tourniquets, blood-clotting gauze, blood pressure equipment, and other items have already been flown from the city of Chicago in the United States to Europe, where members help unload the supplies and get them to Ukraine.
Rotary members in Ukraine, where Russia's military action has caused a humanitarian crisis, are in daily contact with hospitals to determine what supplies are needed most.
"It is Rotary doing what Rotary does best," says Pat Merryweather-Arges, a Rotary International director-elect and member of the Rotary Club of Naperville, Illinois, USA. "It networks, pulls people together, and gets the job done."
North American and Argentine Rotary clubs are combining their resources to purchase items from the list of needed supplies. They're also working with contacts at pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufacturers to arrange donations. A hospital in Peoria, Illinois, sent an ambulance, and members in Maine, USA, secured a C-arm, a mobile imaging device that can be used to X-ray people for shrapnel.
Supplies are streaming into a warehouse operated by the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) near O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. And more are on the way. Rotary clubs in the U.S. states of Nebraska and Iowa are collecting supplies to fill several large cargo trucks that will drive hundreds of miles to the warehouse in Chicago.
Inside the warehouse, UMANA and Rotary volunteers organize, sort, and bundle the items before they are shipped. Several donors have made contributions that offset the cost of shipping.
"It's amazing what one Rotarian talking to another Rotarian can accomplish," says Marga Hewko, president of the Rotary Club of Chicago.
Hewko is the spouse of Rotary International General Secretary and CEO John Hewko, who is of Ukrainian descent and is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Kyiv. The Hewkos lived in Ukraine for five years during the 1990s.
Earlier this year, Marga Hewko and the Rotary Club of Chicago had been working with doctors in Chicago and Ukraine to establish a stem cell storage facility for cancer patients in the Ukrainian city of Lviv that would allow the cells to be stored longer and enable more complex research.
That initiative shifted to a new focus when the war began.
"We were reaching out to the Ukrainian community in Chicago to learn how we could help, and at the same time, we already knew these doctors," says Marga Hewko. "That is how I found out about UMANA."
It was an ideal match. UMANA, founded in 1950, promotes education through conferences and exchanges of doctors between the U.S. or Canada and Ukraine. After the war started, UMANA volunteers began sending medical aid to Ukraine and using their network of doctors and pharmaceutical companies to get supplies and equipment. Rotary clubs soon joined the project.
Marga Hewko, who is from Argentina, used her contacts there to bring Argentine clubs into the effort, and those members are also using their connections to obtain funds and equipment.
During a tour of the UMANA warehouse, Marga Hewko, Merryweather-Arges, and Jane Hopkins, the governor of District 6450 in Illinois, praised the efficiency and scale of the operation.
"UMANA is simply amazing," Merryweather-Arges says. "We opted to work with them because they are well connected to the Ukrainian community in Chicago and have worked to sort and pack nearly 400 pallets of supplies."
Members in Ukraine continue to develop the list of needed supplies. Olha Paliychuk, who is a surgeon, a member of the Rotary Club of Cherkasy, and a member of the Turkey-Ukraine intercountry committee, calls hospitals each night.
The delivery of the items to hospitals is coordinated by Paliychuk in Cherkasy; by Borys Bodnar, of the Rotary Club of Ukraine Unity Passport, in Lviv; and by Mykola Stebljanko, of the Rotary E-Club of Ukraine, in Odesa.
Marga Hewko says the actions of members in and outside of Ukraine demonstrate the power of Rotary's network.
"In the middle of the war, when some of the targets of the Russian army are hospitals, the fact that we have volunteers in Ukraine driving supplies across their country — if that is not Service Above Self, I don't know what is," she says.
15-Apr-2022






Carol Jean Lind
(nee Hiddle)
Entered peacefully into Heaven Saturday, April 9, 2022, with her family by her side. Cherished wife of Stanley for 56 years. Loving mother of Brian, Tammy, Heather (Gregory) Wessel, and Christina (Timothy) Holmes. Proud Nana of Lena, Aria, and Jason. Also loved by sister Susan Hiddle and dear friend Shirley Hauri. Preceded in death by brother David Hiddle and parents Lloyd and Irma.
Born on May 2, 1944, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, she was proud to be the “Original Packer Fan” in the family. She moved to Paris, Illinois at a very young age and lived there until marrying Stanley and moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin before settling in Mequon, where they lived for more than 50 years.
In all that she did Carol lived out her faith in Jesus by deeply loving her family and friends. She lived a life of service teaching piano, teaching music at Heritage Christian School, and acting as a Community Bible Study teaching director for more than 25 years.
Carol was well known for her green thumb as she grew orchids, African Violets, and many varieties of hibiscus plants. Her numerous gardens were meticulously maintained and groomed each spring and summer. She took great joy in spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren and loved to sit outside chatting while they played in the pool. She loved caring for her many pets and enjoyed watching the animals that visited her yard.
Carol will be greatly missed by many of her friends, family and pets.
Visitation at CrossWay NorthShore Church, 2500 West Brown Deer Road, Milwaukee, on Friday, April 22, 2022, from 10:00 AM.- 12:00 PM. Celebration of Life from 12:00 PM. – 1:00 PM.
Private family burial Pinelawn Memorial Park.












What is Rotary to Me
When I moved into the Mequon business community taking on the position of GM at Elite Sports Club in 2009, I wanted a connection to the community. Stan Smith approached me about joining Rotary but I wasn’t sure what the organization was all about. As he and others were getting to know me through meetings I attended, I slowly got more involved. I felt I was valued as a new Rotarian in this club and did not feel pressured into getting more involved. Unfortunately, I didn’t get as involved as quickly as I should have. It took me at least a year to join a committee. This was on me as I thought I could have been much more proactive in participating. And in delaying my involvement, I feel I missed a whole year of meaningful interaction.
As I soon discovered, service above self is a grounding experience where other leaders in the community are right there with you doing what it takes to get our service jobs done. You get to know them in another way where you feel more personally connected to them. They become more than just a connection when you are shoulder to shoulder dedicating time to a worthy cause.
My time being part of our Fundraising Committee has been very rewarding. Through, sometimes what can be a stressful responsibility, our committee has bonded and come together to produce a fun and successful annual event to raise money each year for what our club needs to contribute to both Rotary International and our community. This committee is now my favorite part of my Rotary experience.
Getting involved in Rotary has made me more connected as well as humbled to know I have this wonderful community in my life that cares so much about helping others as well as about me.
No matter where I land, I feel blessed to have had all the wonderful experiences in Rotary along with lifelong friends and believe that Rotary will continue to be a part of my life.


During my Account Manager tenure at WEC I originally predominantly worked with Communities then later with Commercial & Industrial (C&I) business customers. I came to realize how important Community Stewardship will always be during both your work career and throughout your entire life. It provides an opportunity to develop life long friendships with talented, interesting, intelligent, caring giving loving individuals who want to make a positive difference and contribution in their community and around the world year after year! Unfortunately we lost another terrific Club Rotarian in Jack Wiese, he will forever be missed! I personally take comfort in the thought that the spirit of Rotary Jack and all those who have gone before him had is with us all every time we meet. I will always be a very proud member of the TM Rotary Club!
What is Rotary to me?
I first started working in the Mequon-Thiensville School District in the fall of 1999 when I was hired as an elementary teacher at Wilson Elementary School. In 2004, I was selected to serve as one of the two assistant principals at Homestead High School and it was at the annual National Honors Society Recognition Dinner that I made my first connection with the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club. Donned in gold aprons with blue trim, I remember being introduced to the likes of Greg Huffman, Stan Smith, and Sandy Custer along with many other members that were volunteering to serve food to the students and families at the event. That year, I was also impressed to learn about the monthly recognition that the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club provided in partnership with the school district for high school students that included an opportunity to be honored at the end of the school year with a scholarship. When I was named the superintendent of schools in MTSD in 2017, I learned and found it quite impressive that the school board expected me to be a member of one of the local Rotary clubs. With the opportunity to select a club to join, I did not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Karl Hertz and requested consideration for the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club. I know how influential Dr. Hertz has been in his work with Rotary and in that he is a mentor, a guide, and a friend, there was no other Rotary Club to consider.
In the Mequon-Thiensville School District, our mission is: Together, we ignite each student’s passion for learning, preparing for a life of infinite possibilities. Rotary clubs are a fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders that work together to promote lasting and positive change. Our school community includes all those who contribute in some way to the ecosystem of our children’s educational journey, and the TM Rotary Club is a valuable friend in that work. Rotary Clubs, including ours, support education for all children and that means the world to me. I am forever grateful to call myself a member of this club and for the opportunity to serve our community alongside my fellow Rotarians.
How do we do that?
Most often, an additive manufacturing conversation is centered around an application or what the machine can do; its capabilities, it's build volume, its speed, and its material options. But what we've found is that is neither beneficial nor appropriate starting out. Before we can begin to evaluate the technology, we need to understand the needs of your business. Not just from a departmental standpoint, but from the zoomed out view of everything overall. Why does that matter? It matters because when your machinist has a backlog of 15-20 projects, or 100hrs, or 30 days - you need to know what that's worth. If one of those projects is worth $100,000 and the customer wants it yesterday - your ability to fill that order is worth $100,000. Lose 5 of those projects, and that just cost your company half a million dollars. Now, a 3D printer (or printers) becomes relevant. It is then, that we discover together, how additive manufacturing can help solve that problem.


With a commitment to safety, respect, and compassion for individuals and families, Advocates of Ozaukee works to end domestic and sexual violence through education, prevention, and intervention services.
- Established in 1980 in response to the need of services for domestic violence in Ozaukee County, and in 1981 earned its 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
- Reached full status as domestic abuse shelter in 1988 through implementation of the seven Mandates required by Wisconsin statute 46.95:
- 24-hour crisis line
- Temporary housing and food
- Advocacy and counseling
- Community education services
- Arrangements for education of school-age children
- Emergency transport to shelter
- Referral and follow-up services
- Formed countywide task force in April of 1995: Ozaukee Peace Initiative (OPI)
- Employed personnel include a full-time Executive Director, Associate Director, Office Manager, Sexual Violence Services Director/Outreach Services Director. Part-time employees include Resource Development Manager, Client & Child Advocate, Volunteer Manager/Advocate, Shelter Manager, Associates, Relief Workers, and Support Group Facilitators.
Outreach Services
We have so many services - so much more than our brief "about" page describes (or could contain, for that matter). Besides having 24-hour crisis lines and client intake (housing, etc.), we actually do more outside of our doors than in.
Outreach Services Include:
- Counseling & Education
- Group for adults and children
- Speaking to children, teens , adults
- Legal Advocacy
- Medical Advocacy and accompaniment
- Safety Planning
- Court Accompaniment
- Advocacy Services within the Social Services system
- Transportation assistance
- Housing assistance
- Information and referrals
- Children and teen counseling - one on one
- Volunteer opportunities

In our post-pandemic, digitized, virtual age we find ourselves in, separation and isolation have become the new normal. It’s easy to become disillusioned with general state of things. My fellow Rotarians are a refreshing reminder of the good that inhabits our community. My involvement provides me the innate satisfaction that comes from doing good things with good people. A stark confirmation of all the good within my community.
Oh yes, much more than just lunch ; -)













The speakers plan to use the 4-way Rotary test as the outline for explaining the issues to all of us. Deb will help us look to the future with a legislative solution, Beth will discuss success stories elsewhere and encourage conversations among people with differing views, and then Deborah will close with a "possible action" recap, once again tied to the 4-way test.




Thank you for participating in our holiday giving. Our Family Sharing Drive has kicked off with a bang. We have raised $1256.00 so far! Remember, you can donate online at https://www.familysharingozaukee.org. Click on the pink "Contribute Now" button on the top right corner. In order to acknowledge the club, please type TM Rotary in the Tribute box. The deadline for the Family Sharing Giving Drive is Tuesday, December 14.Our current totals are:Team Jenne: $819.00Team Sandy: $437.00Please note that our Kapco K2K Wonderland Light Show date to volunteer is: SUNDAY, 12/5/21, 4 pm - 8 pmSmall denomination gift cards are being accepted for Advocates of Ozaukee. We will include them when Karl Hertz delivers a tree and ornaments we are donating for their families to decorate. (Thank you Karl!) The deadline for this is Tuesday, November 30, 2021.











