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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
Introducing "The Rundown"
The weekly Rotary Bulletin is a great resource for reaching Rotarians about upcoming events and the happenings of each week.  There are often a list of highlights and stories which deserve a full story with photographs, but there are other considerations which have brought about the idea of the Rundown.  
 
The Rundown will be a short list and summary of information and reminders that Rotary and Rotarians would like to pass along to the Club which will be included in each newsletter.  Here's some information about the Rundown that might be helpful. 
 
1. If you have an item that you would like to have included in the Rundown, please email me (sazinger@willmslaw.com) or drop a written note to me at meetings.  If you email me, please email before or shortly after the meeting as the Rundown will be drafted Tuesday afternoons for the following Monday meeting. If you send me something to be included after 2pm on a Tuesday and request that it is included in the following Monday's Bulletin I will gladly do so, but you will be fined $5 payable at the next meeting (assuming I'm allowed to fine people and Shelly will follow through on collecting). 
 
2. Items that could be included in the Rundown would be reminders about events, important brags (published after official brags or by Rotarians who were unable to attend that weeks meeting), or any other information you would like to pass along. 
 
3. Please do not be offended if a News worthy story is included in the Rundown as opposed to as a separate story.  The determination factors for if something is included as a separate story versus an item in the Rundown will be based on things such as if I have time to write a separate story, if there is a photograph, or if I was at the meeting. 
 
4. If you feel an item in the Rundown is worthy of a separate story and would like to see it published as such, please feel free to write a story and send it to me to be published on the Website and in the next issue of the Bulletin.
 
Hopefully this format will be fun and a good way to convey certain information to the Club going forward.
The Rundown
1. Congratulations and thank you to our incoming Club Executives and Directors. The Changing of the Guard seems to have gone off without a hitch.  
 
2. Always looking for writers and photographers. If you are willing to write for the website and bulletins, regularly or occasionally, please talk to Sam Azinger.  We'd love to have more people involved.
 
3. Meeting at the park to begin this week. High temperature of 68 degrees and thunderstorms possible.  
 
4. Annual Fund Contributions for 2017-2018 are currently $4,925 of our $5,500 goal.  Polio Plus contributions for 2017-2018 are currently $1,940 of our $2,500 goal. 
 
5. Each Rotarian who has given to the Rotary Foundation likely has Paul Harris recognition points available.  You could be using accumulated points to recognize other Rotarians or non-Rotarians with a Paul Harris Award. If you want to know how many points you currently have accumulated or if you want information about how to assign them, please touch based with Foundation Chair Sam Azinger.  
Ellen MacFarlane Honored with 5th Paul Harris Award
 
Congratulation to Ellen Macfarlane on receipt of her 5th Paul Harris Award. Thank you Ellen for your dedication to Rotary and all that Rotary stands for. 
Gateway Project Open House Tuesday
 
Rotary would love to have a large presence at the Gateway Project Open House on Tuesday evening at the Frank L. Weyenberg Library. Hope to see you all there. 
Troop 852 Camping Trip
 
24 Scouts and 8 adult leaders of Boy Scout troop 852 are at Camp Tesomas this week in Rhinelander. 
Charitable Giving - A Tax Deduction is Just an Added Bonus
Thank you to Atty. Maureen O'Leary for presenting on the 2017 tax law changes and the impact the changes may have on charitable giving. Maureen highlighted the changes to the tax law, including the increased standard deduction and limits on the State and Local Tax deduction, and how less people may itemize their deductions (including charitable deductions) as a result.  Maureen additionally provided shared some strategies for maximizing tax deductions by using Qualified Charitable Distributions to satisfy IRA Required Minimum Distributions, or by "Bunching" to increase charitable giving in a single year and itemizing your deductions for that year, while taking the standard deduction for other years.  
 
Of course, no presentation from an attorney (or subsequent story written by an attorney) would be complete without the disclaimer that nothing in the presentation (or subsequent story about the presentation) should be construed as tax or legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship.  You should consult your attorney and tax adviser regarding your personal situation.  If you missed the presentation but are interested in reading about it, please email me at sazinger@willmslaw and I would be happy to send you a copy of the Powerpoint.  
Karl Hertz - Pillar of our Community
 
I first met Karl Hertz about a year ago at one of my first Rotary meetings.  Karl was one of the first Rotarians to engage me in conversation, and I was quickly taken in by his charm. Writing an article for the T-M Rotary about a man with such great accomplishments whom I have only had the pleasure of knowing for one year will be a great challenge, in particular due to his background in education and his indubitable ability to identify plagiarism. That being said, here is a link to the JS Online article about Karl's recent Pillar of the Community Award. 
 
https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/news/mequon/2018/02/08/karl-hertz-honored-pillar-mequon-community/315962002/
 
I will also encourage you to read the excellent article in the News Graphic written by Gary Achterberg from Thursday if you have not done so already, however I was unable to find a link.
 
Finally, the question I may be the only one asking, why does Karl not have a Wikipedia Page (yet)?
 
So, what would Karl's Wikipedia page say? It would certainly start with his history, his family including his beautiful wife Carol, his career from teaching to being the superintendent of the Mequon-Thiensville School District, and his commitment to the community.  Karl served as President of T-M Rotary for the 1989-1990 year. He also served as Thiensville Village Trustee, Village President and Ozaukee County Supervisor (anyone would be welcome to add dates to this service on his Wikipedia page). Among other things, I do not think it would be a stretch to say Karl could do the best Christopher Walken impression. 
 
I think of Karl every time someone from outside of our community mentions they are "looking for a good school for their kids." Thanks in great part to Karl's contributions, we have some of the greatest public schools in the country. This in particular we cannot be grateful for enough.  
 
What is next for a man who has accomplished so much? I'm sure Karl is open to a conversation about his future plans, and is certainly approachable. I cannot think of a person more deserving of being taken out to lunch by anyone who wants to experience what it truly means to be a Rotarian. 
Thank You Sandy:  Sandy Custer Awarded 6th Paul Harris!
President Tim Vertz announced Sandy Custer's  2017-2018 Paul Harris Award at Tuesday's Meeting (as seen in the first image). Tim then presented the Award to Sandy and shook his hand, followed by Sandy beginning to walk back to his seat (as seen in the second image). This is Sandy's 6th Paul Harris award, an accomplishment worth great applause.  Sandy should expect to receive his 10 Sam Azinger Awards in the near future as soon as the Board approves the Sam Azinger Award for $100 contributions.     
Student of The Month - Katie McCarthy
Three Generations Celebrate "Student of the Month"
Carol Rosenberg (Katie's grandmother), Katie McCarthy (Student of the Month) and Lyn McCarthy (Katie's mother)
 
Katie McCarthy (Student of the Month) and Megan Borland (Rotarian)
 
We honored our final Student of the Month for the 2017 – 2018 school year, Katie McCarthy.  Three generations were present while we recognized Katie.  She was accompanied by her mom, Lyn McCarthy, and her grandmother, Carol Rosenberg.
 
Katie has spent the past 3 years volunteering as a summer camp counselor for Camp Phillip in Wautoma Wisconsin.  She also volunteered for 3 years as a counselor for Jesus Cares, a program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  She is the co-founder and organizer for Homestead’s Soles 4 Souls shoe drive. 
 
She has participated as a Link Crew leader, a program that mentors freshman to successfully transition to high school, volunteered as a clinician for Glen Hills Middle School, a tutor for World Studies and Latin, and organized a local food pantry, among other volunteer projects. 
 
Katie has a passion for learning the Latin language and has held leadership positions on the Wisconsin State Latin Board, as well as the Homestead Latin Board.  Katie will be attending Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, this fall.  Katie, thank you for your “service above self” and we wish you the best as you start your college career!
Lots to Talk About
1. If you're reading this before 9:00 AM and don't have plans, feel free to hop on over to Rotary Park to help Sandy get the park ready for our summer meetings. This shall also serve as a reminder that our meetings from June 26th until further notice will be held at Rotary Park.
 
2. Gathering on the Green is just around the corner.  Pam Koch will be sending out emails requesting you RSVP, but if you don't get the emails (and do get the bulletin) please feel free to talk to Pam. 
 
3. Rotary Chinooks Night will be Thursday, August 9, 2018 to see the Lakeshore Chinooks battle the Battle Creek Bombers. Tickets are $35.00 and include dinner and 2 drinks on the Leinenkugel's Dock.  RSVP to Dan Gannon if you would like to attend. dgannon@gmail.com or (262)327-2925. Ticket costs will be added to your Rotary Bill. 
 
4. Changing of the Guard will take place Tuesday at 5:30 PM at the Mequon American Legion.  There will be no regular afternoon meeting. Join Rotary in the evening to witness the passing of the Rotary Torch from current interim President Tim Vertz to President Elect, Tim Vertz.  
 
5. There will be no meeting on July 3rd in observation of our nation's independence.
 
6. No Newsletter went out on Memorial Day, May 28th, so I would like to take this opportunity to remember those who gave their lives for our country, and to thank those Rotarians who served: Sandy Custer, George Witte, Robert Jacobs, Dan Gannon, Stan Smith, Jack Wiese, Karle Naggs, Herb Hillman, and Jim Ott.  
Congratulations Chiara
Congratulations to Chiara our Rotary Exchange Student on her graduation from Homestead High School. Pictured with Chiara are her host families. (Photo by Bob Blazich) (Copied from the Sunrise Club Page, permission pending).
 
Dr. Sem Presents Developments on Concordia Business School
 
Dr. Sem with Concordia business school provided Rotary with an update on the developments with the new Batterman School of Business.  The building will help support Concordia's already great business program which has worked with the Thiensville Business Association to provide priceless educational experiences to students and valuable marketing assistance to local businesses.  The project looks to expand in the coming years to assist both Mequon and Thiensville Businesses.  
Upcoming Speakers
Feb 19, 2019
Ozaukee County Land Trust
Feb 26, 2019
Mar 05, 2019
New member thumbnail sketch
View entire list
Meeting Responsibilities
Prayer/Inspiration
 
February 19
MacFarlane, Ellen
 
February 26
Mader, Heather
 
March 5
Milshteyn, Masha
 
Greeter
 
February 19
Holtz, Rob
 
February 26
Huffman, Greg
 
March 5
Joynt, Matthew
 
Pledge
 
February 19
Smith, Stanford
 
February 26
Sommersberger, Greg
 
March 5
Vertz, Tim
 
If you cannot fulfill your responsibility, please make arrangements for someone else to take your place.
 
Seriously!
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Secretary
 
Director of Club Service
 
Treasurer
 
Director of International Service
 
Director of Community Service
 
Director of Vocational Service
 
Past President
 
Exec. Secr. Tres.
 
Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Russell Hampton
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