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Club Information
Thiensville-Mequon Rotary
Service Above Self
We meet Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Ozaukee Country Club
10823 N River Rd
Mequon, WI  53092
United States
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Stories
The Rundown, September 24, 2018
1. Bulletin prepared this week from my iPhone. Please pardon any formatting issues. It’s impossible to move the “if you are unable to fulfill your meeting responsibilities” line to below the new assignment. Also, I don’t know how to resize Nick’s photo, so we’ll see how that works out.
 
2. There are a couple new members assigned upcoming meeting responsibility as Greeter. If anyone has questions or cannot fulfil their meeting responsibilities, let me know. Instructions for Greeter include showing up 10 minutes early, wearing the badge that says “Greeter,” and, you guessed it, saying hello and shaking hands with people when they walk in.
 
3. Fall into Comedy still has plenty of tickets available, and is looking for silent auction items. Talk to the wonderful and beautiful Ellen MacFarlane if you would like to donate an item for the silent auction. To purchase a ticket go to  tmrotary.org and click the “Get Your Tickets Now” link. 
 
4. I’m proud to report the the club has reached the halfway point to our goal for Rotary Foundation giving for the 2018-2019 year. Don’t forget there are more ways to give back than making financial contributions. 
 
5. District Governor to present at Tuesday’s meeting. Board members are asked to arrive 30 minutes early. We expect everyone to be on their best behavior, and to cut down on all the usual shenanigans of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club meetings!
Thumbnail Presentation: Nick Moran
 
Nick Moran from Port Washington State Bank in Thiensville gave a new member thumbnail presentation at Tuesday’s meeting. We always enjoy an opportunity to get to know our new members, and look forward to continuing to get to know them as fellow Rotarians.
Congratulations Maureen and Jeremy
Madeline Jean Guth came into this world on Friday, September 14.  Madeline was born at 36 and a half weeks, weighing 6.5 lbs. and 18.5 inches.  Mom and baby are home and healthy.  Another generational reminder why Rotarians are needed to make this world a better place.  Congratulations to Maureen and Jeremy Guth.
Ode to Russ, Karle, Dan and Sandy, by Ace of Base
 
A new chapter was written in the story of the hard working Rotarian.  Thank you to Russ Brown, Karle Naggs, Dan Gannon and Sandy Custer for putting in the elbow grease to touch up the Rotary Park sign seen above. 
 
"I got a new life, you would hardly recognize me, I'm so glad
How can a person like me care for you?
 
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong
But where do you belong?"
   
Claire Essman and Ron Irwin with Special Olympics Wisconsin
 
Special Olympics Wisconsin Director of Development, Claire Essman and Coach/Member of Board of Directors, Ron Irwin spoke to the Club at Tuesday's meeting.  
 
Ron told the story of how he came to be involved in Special Olympics Wisconsin.  It all started 16 years ago at the birth of his son, Max.  Max has Down syndrome, and the words spoken to Ron haunted him for years.  "He probably won't have much of a future." Any parent could imagine what it would do to hear those words spoken at such a joyous moment as bringing new life into this world.  Ron wasn't buying it, and neither is Max or Special Olympics Wisconsin.  In competing as a Special Olympics athlete, Max has had great success, has created great memories, and has found inclusion among fellow-athletes as well as within his school.  The future for Max is bright!
 
Special Olympics programs have provided enormous benefits to people with and without intellectual disabilities.  By providing an encouraging environment in which athletes can compete, socialize, and exercise, individuals with intellectual disabilities receive both emotional and physical health benefits.  Additionally, athletes are provided with free medical screenings which provide screenings for general fitness, podiatry, hearing, visions, dental hygiene, healthy lifestyle choices and sports physicals. Each year over 1,300 health screens are performed, and since 2001 Special Olympics Wisconsin has provided more than 5,700 prescription eyeglasses to those in need, free of charge. 
 
Special Olympics Wisconsin has additionally worked with schools to create Unified Sports programs.  Unified Sports programs allow individuals with intellectual disabilities to compete along with individuals without disabilities.  These programs have helped to create a better understanding and acceptance by students without intellectual disabilities.  For a group that generally faces stigma, discrimination, social isolation and injustice, the Unified Sports programs has had an incredible impact.  Of those with intellectual disabilities, 93% who participated reported a significant change to self-esteem and self-confidence.  Among those youth without intellectual disabilities, 91% reported significant change in their social skills.  These programs don't only help individuals with disabilities, but schools as a whole.  
 
Of the more than 10,000 individuals who have taken part of Special Olympics programs, still 13 of 14 individuals with intellectual disabilities have not.  Hopefully nobody with intellectual disabilities is still living in a world where they believe they don't have much of a future, but encouraging education and participation could provide for an inclusive future for all individuals with intellectual disabilities.  I'm certain that any financial contributions would also be appreciated and put to good use.  To quote one of our country's great [village] presidents, "Send us money and we will spend it wisely." Donations can be made by going to http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org and clicking the Donate button. Volunteering opportunities or fundraising opportunities may also be available.  
Fall Into Comedy 
 
Mark your calendars, tell your friends, ask how you can support, sponsor a table, come hungry, bring your checkbook and an extra $20 per person for a knee slapping, tail grabbing, head touching, auction bidding, item winning, dinner eating, friend meeting, network outing evening with the comedy stylings of Steve Mittleman. 
 
Fall into Comedy is Thiensville-Mequon Rotary's largest annual fundraiser and supports the club and its community projects such as the Mequon-Thiensville Gateway Promenade, the Student of the Month Scholarship Program, and many other projects that make being a Rotarian something we are all truly proud of.  
 
How can you support?  Here's a few suggestions: 1. buy a ticket, 2. tell your friends to buy tickets, 3. sponsor a table (includes 10 tickets), 4. donate an item for the silent auction (talk to Rob Kos or Pam Koch), 5. tell your friends to donate silent auction items, 6. tell your table of 10 to donate silent auction items, 7. bid on silent auction items, 8. tell your friends to bid on silent auction items, 9. tell your table of 10 to bid on auction items. 
 
On a serious note (there is no serious note, it's a comedy show). 
 
If you've been to Fall into Comedy in the past you know it's a great time.  If you have not, you should find out exactly how great of a time it is. Hope to see everyone there! 
Photos From Tuesday's Family Night Event!
AFS Foreign Exchange Student's Gather
 
Rotary sponsored exchange student Elisabeth Burschel joined the other Homestead exchange students for an AFS sponsored gathering this week. 
Representative Ott Speaks to Club
 
Rotarian and State Representative Jim Ott for spoke to the Club at Tuesday's meeting.  Representative Ott gave a few of the highlights from the last years legislative session, including the Foxconn deal, the education bill, closing the loophole for ignition interlock requirements for drunk drivers, and the passing of a structured settlement law. 
 
Representative Ott serves as the Representative for the 23rd Assembly District and where he is the Chair for the Committee on Judiciary, co-Chair on the Law Revision Committee, and also sits on the Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, and Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs. Sporting an I Voted sticker, Jim Ott was unopposed in the August Primary and learned later Tuesday evening that he would be facing off in the General Election against Democrat Liz Sumner in November.
 
Speaking of November, Ott provided a very interesting history on the November elections, and how the partisan election came to take place on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November.     
Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business
Innovation Center at Concordia University to
Launch This Week!
 
MEQUON, WI, August 27 - Vertz Marketing and Concordia University Wisconsin are excited to announce the creation of the Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center at Concordia University Wisconsin.

Starting in the fall semester, there will be openings for up to 10 Mequon-Thiensville businesses to become a part of this innovative marketing and business mentoring program.

The Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center at Concordia University partners with select Mequon-Thiensville businesses to provide marketing and business development service to foster economic development in the region.

The Batterman School of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin, Vertz Marketing and Rotary International have combined their forces to share their business expertise with the Mequon-Thiensville Business Community. These entities will provide FREE digital marketing and business development planning to ten qualified area businesses each semester.
 
“We are proud to be a part in creating the Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center at Concordia University and help give back to our local community,” said Tim Vertz, founder and CEO of Vertz Marketing.
 
Young, growing businesses in the Mequon-Thiensville community are encouraged to apply for the fall 2018 program. Each business will be assigned up to three Concordia University student interns for the semester under the direction of Concordia University and Vertz Marketing.
 
“We had a lot of success in the spring 2018 semester testing this concept with Thiensville area businesses and we’re very excited to expand this into Mequon and our new partnership with Vertz Marketing to serve the community,” said Dr. Daniel Sem, Dean of the Batterman School of Business at Concordia University Wisconsin.
 
Organizations including the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce, Thiensville Business Association, Thiensville-Mequon Rotary and Ozaukee Economic Development are signed on as business association sponsors to help recruit businesses to take part in the Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center program.
 
“This is a great service for up and coming businesses in the Mequon-Thiensville community. With all of the economic growth in Mequon-Thiensville and many new businesses coming to the area, the Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center is a great community service. We appreciate the commitment of Vertz Marketing and Concordia University Wisconsin in our community,” said Tina Schwantes, Executive Director of the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce.
 
Businesses can apply now for fall, 2018 programs at
https://vertzmarketing.com/concordia

For more information about the Vertz Marketing Rotary Small Business Innovation Center,
please contact:
Tim Vertz | timv@vertzmarketing.com | 414-379-1677
Dr. Daniel Sem | daniel.sem@cuw.edu | 262-243-2778
 
Thiensville President Van Mobley and Administrator Dianne Robertson Provide Update on the Happenings in Thiensville
Thiensville Village President Van Mobley and Administrator Dianne Robertson, both fellow Rotarians provide an update on the things that are happening in Thiensville.  A need for volunteer firefighters, an expiring TIF, and a visit from a member of President Trump's cabinet. The quote of the week from the off the cuff Village President is "send us money and we will spend it wisely." Thanks Van and Dianne for a very informative discussion about what's happening in Thiensville. 
Rotary Family Grows - Welcome Kathleen Schneider
Rotary loves welcoming new members with the character necessary to be a Rotarian.  Kathleen Schneider is a physician working in hospice and palliative care and also serves the City of Mequon as the Alderperson for the 7th District.  We welcome Kathleen and look forward to getting to know her better. Featured with Rotarian Dan Gannon and President Tim Vertz.
Welcome Elisabeth
Rotary welcomes Elisabeth Bu, Rotary sponsored foreign exchange studied from Germany.  We look forward to getting to know Elisabeth over the course of the next year.  Thank you to Bob Blazich from the AM club (and so much more) for bringing Elisabeth to the meeting.
Upcoming Speakers
Sep 25, 2018
Oct 02, 2018
United Way of Ozaukee County
Oct 09, 2018
Healthcare Partnerships and Strategy - Medical College of Wisconsin
View entire list
Meeting Responsibilities
Prayer/Inspiration
 
September 25
Azinger, Samuel
 
October 2
Bonaparte, Wilma
 
October 9
Borland, Megan
 
Greeter
 
September 25
Schneider, Kathleen
 
October 2
Shneyder, Melissa
 
October 9
Smith, Stanford
 
Pledge
 
September 25
Koch, Pamela
 
October 2
Kos, Robert
 
If you cannot fulfill your responsibility, please make arrangements for someone else to take your place.
 
October 9
Lind, Stanley
 
Russell Hampton
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