April 24: The Weather Guys on Wisconsin Weather

Posted on April 26, 2024 by | Leave a comment

submitted by Jessika Kasten

On April 24, Professors Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin, affectionately known as the “Weather Guys,” answered questions regarding, “What’s up with Wisconsin Weather?” They confirmed that climate change is real based on a wide variety of data and factors, and likely played a role in Wisconsin’s warmest winter on record in 132 years in 2023-2024. The professors provided hope to the group that it’s never too late to reverse climate change, but cautioned that even when we do, it may take generations to relax back to the weather of the mid-20th century.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here:  https://youtu.be/jOZZNb7mm_g.

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Posted in Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Guest Speaker, Rotary Weekly Guest Speaker, Weekly Rotary Guest Speaker

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April 17: Is It Fair to All Concerned?

Posted on April 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

submitted by Ellsworth Brown

Is it fair to all concerned?  No, this is not about our Rotary Club. 

Gavin Luter, club member and Director of the University Alliance, and Tim Swadley, Mayor of Stoughton, explained that their combined efforts advanced the Wisconsin Idea as representatives of a program identified as the UniverCity initiative.

The UniverCity initiative trades on two assumptions, first that as strong as a college education is, it is inherently still limited, often to whatever a teacher and classroom can provide; and second, cities and towns in Wisconsin have unmet needs—e.g. analysis, ideas, planning—which they can’t afford and for which they do not have the resources to manage themselves.

Consultants can provide objective viewpoints, cost analysis, and surveys, for example, and selected groups of students can provide these and other services, advancing community development as well as their own skills and teamwork experience.  This arrangement is directed as virtually any project that the community selects, fulfilling assistance in whatever way the client—the town or city—has identified:  tourism, parks, roadways and crossings, affordable housing, surveys, health and well-being, solutions to the opioid crisis. . . all ideas can be considered.

If you missed our meeting last week, you can watch it here:  https://youtu.be/NW7yEF-fX0w.

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Posted in 2. Meetings, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Guest Speaker, Rotary Weekly Guest Speaker, Weekly Rotary Guest Speaker

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April 10: Highlighting the Changing Face of Labor Migration

Posted on April 12, 2024 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Sharyn Alden

“Today, the majority of Latinos living in Wisconsin were born in the state or in the U.S.,” said Dr. Ibarra at the April 10th Rotary meeting.

Wisconsin has become a destination of choice for labor migration. Latinos now live in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. There are as many Latinos living in Brown County, home to Green Bay, as there are in Dane County noted Armando Ibarra, UW-Madison Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the School for Workers |Department of Labor Education and Chicano and Latino Studies.

Wisconsin has seen a shift in social demographics. “Latinos choose Wisconsin because of opportunity but also because they have generational connections here,” Dr. Ibarra said.

He spoke about his own family’s history of labor migration working in the fields of California. He came of age living in migrant camps, picking peaches and kiwi fruit. This type of generational migrant work continues to this day.  His parents continue to work in the fields despite his father being 81 years old.

“In my estimation, labor migration is a very beautiful process,” he said.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here:  https://youtu.be/8WvkM7wUUj0.

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Posted in Madison WI, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Guest Speaker, Weekly Rotary Guest Speaker

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April 3: “Nobody Knows Who Will Win”

Posted on April 5, 2024 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Ellsworth Brown

“Nobody knows who will win,” said Professor Ken Mayer in anticipation of the universal question. Thus, he provided a framework for understanding the current presidential campaign.

Once, United States politics honored democratic systems relying on a public ethos of virtue. This “democratic bargain” honored the winner but has succumbed to a new ecosystem fueled by unlimited and unregulated social mediums, falsehoods, AI, punishment in defeat, loss of regulatory structure, and asymmetric polarization.

The forecasting model, however, depends on stable inputs and outputs, so . . . nobody knows.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/zemNwK94qj8. We’d also like to thank WisEYE for livestreaming and videotaping our guest speaker this week.

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Posted in 2. Meetings, Madison WI, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Guest Speaker, Rotary Weekly Guest Speaker, UW-Madison

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March 27: Total Eclipse of the Sun

Posted on March 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

submitted by Joy Cardin

During his presentation before the Rotary Club of Madison, UW Space Place Director Jim Lattis explained the science behind the upcoming total solar eclipse; what we can expect on April 8; and how to safely experience it.  

Lattis said it is a multi-sensory experience when the moon is positioned between the earth and the sun, and its shadow is cast on earth. The sky becomes darker, the sun’s outer atmosphere or corona becomes visible, temperatures drop, and birds may sing and get ready to roost for the “night.”  The path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse runs across the United States from Texas to Maine. 

Madison will experience a partial eclipse–89% of the sun will be covered by the moon.  The partial eclipse in Madison will reach its peak or maximum at 2:06pm.  Eclipse glasses are a must to safely look at the sun during a partial eclipse.  

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/v6VIBdddpwE.

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March 20:  Madison Mallards’ Women’s Softball Team 

Posted on March 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Submitted by:  Joy Cardin 

Samantha Rubin, the general manager of the Madison Mallards and Madison Softball, shared an enthusiastic update about the new women’s collegiate softball team that will start playing at the Duck Pond in Warner Park in June.  

A new head coach has been hired, players are being signed, renovations are happening on the field to adjust the size of the diamond when the women play – and the organization is about to unveil the new fan-picked name for Madison Softball!   

Will it be – the Night Mares, Lake Muensters, Thunder Chickens, or Swamp Angels?  

We can find out at the name reveal event on April 20 at 5:30pm at the Orpheum Theater.  

If you missed the program, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/ceYAj8dqv6o.

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Posted in Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Guest Speaker, Weekly Rotary Guest Speaker

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