Category Archives: Social Media

Rotary New Member Coffee BINGO!

Jason Beren, with the assistance of Mary Gaffney-Ward of The Madison Club, organized an enjoyable coffee for new members at The Madison Club on Tuesday morning, March 6. About 25 new and longer-term Rotarians gathered for a tasty breakfast buffet, followed by “Rotary Bingo” devised by Jason. Everyone received a bingo card with mysterious clues to the identities of those who attended and proceeded to write in the names that fit the clues.

Roger Phelps and Sarah Dunn-Carpenter

Steve Musser, Mary Helen Becker, Melanie Ramey and Roger Phelps

Did you know that a member of our club spent 3 months in the Sahara at a camel market?

Do you know which fellow Rotarian went to an Edgewood High School prom with the late comedian Chris Farley?

Mary Kaminski and Rico Goedjen

Or who played on a “Final Four” soccer team at the University of Chicago?

Who was arrested in North Carolina during a Civil Rights Protest?

Ralph Cagle and Tim Hausmann

Who went hunting with Sam Walton of Walmart?

One Rotarian had just participated in the Birkebeiner, and another was in an Ironman Triathlon.

John Thompson and TJ Blitz

A good time was had by all, and new friends were discovered among a very fascinating group of Rotarians.

–Submitted by Mary Helen Becker; Photos by Michael Engelberger

Our thanks to Deb Raupp who pitched the idea of bingo and provided Jason assistance in bringing this event together.

A Typical Rotary Moment

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to my blog.

This little adventure is prompted by the social media committee and as is typical in Rotary only through the support, encouragement and hands on work of several members is this a reality.  Social committee members read a draft post, got me to switch to a different platform, coached me extensively on making the most of this, did behind-the-scenes IT work. . . Special thanks to all who commented and Rick Kiley, Tony Stroessenreuther, and Bryan Chan.  Also to UW Health phototog John Maniaci who took the shot of the Capitol skyline on a moment’s notice for me.

All of which is to say this is the club’s blog so please read, comment, and I hope enjoy.

My objectives are to offer my personal reflections on my year as president, offer information and (if we are lucky) insights, and create another forum for fellowship and a place to advance the ideals of our club.  This is an experiment yet designed as a project that can be sustained by future presidents.

It is also an alternative to me just free-associating at the podium.

With that, we are off!