–submitted by Maria Alvarez-Stroud; photos by Moses Altsech, Dennis Birke and Stan Kitson
What a great event for Rotary Scholars and Mentors at the home of Nancy and Ed Young on Sunday, July 26. As hoped for, the crowd included not only new Scholars heading off to various colleges both in Wisconsin and beyond but also past scholars who have continued to be connected to their mentors and to the Downtown Rotary Club.
As intended, the main focus was good conversation and tasty food. For the Scholars, the picnic gave them the opportunity to get to know each other a bit more and compare notes about their plans for first years at college. It was terrific to see multiple groups just chatting away, sometimes amongst themselves other times with their mentors at their side. And for the Mentors, especially those that are new at this, what a great time to hear and see the kind of bonds that can be created.
With well over 90 in attendance, kitchen committee members had their work cut out for them. But Mentors did a good job in providing snacks, salads and desserts to compliment the hamburgers and brats provided.
Dick Pearson and Ed Young were of course busy providing boat rides around Lake Monona. And a couple of us were fortunate enough to actually arrive and leave by Dick’s boat; highly recommended, as he is a fabulous tour guide.
Thanks much to Nancy and Ed for letting such a large group of people take over their back yard and for their gracious hospitability.
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 