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Rotary Bowling Season WrapUp

Posted on April 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Submitted by Tom Carroll, Bowling Fellowship Group Chair

From left: Katharyn May, Trey Sprinkman and Bruce Westervelt

April 18 concluded the 2011-12 season of the Civic Bowling League with a final awards banquet at the world famous Maple Tree Restaurant in McFarland, WI.

 In attendance were Gerry Ring, Chuck Elliott, Tom Carroll, George Keehn, Jerry Thain, Doug Gerhart, Katharyn May, Mike Engelberger, Bruce Westervelt and Dick Goldberg.

 Rotary I came in first in league standings for the year and also won the league Tournament which is the equivalent of the NCAA.  In fact, some even call it “March Madness.”  Rotary I regular team members were Doug Gerhart, George Keehn & Jerry Thain with help from non-member Fred Krantz.

 Rotary II came in 8th in the league (no need to ask how many teams are in the league) and 4th in the tournament.  Rotary II regular team members were Tom Carroll, Chuck Elliott, Rick Petershack & Gerry Ring.

Tom Carroll

Tom Carroll

Rotary III finished 7th in league competition and 4th in the “9 Pin Tap Tournament.”  Rotary III regular team members were Mike Engelberger, Katharyn May & Trey Sprinkman.

 All in all, it was a truly great season, fair to all concerned, built goodwill and better friendships, and was beneficial to all concerned.

 The current bowling fellowship group members include: Nelson Cummings, Cathy Durham, Chuck Elliott, Mike Engelberger, Doug Gerhart, Dick Goldberg, Donna Hurd, George Keehn, Katharyn May, Tim Muldowney, Rick Petershack, Gerry Ring, Trey Sprinkman, Jerry Thain and Bruce Westervelt.

 Thanks to all who participated!  We appreciate the support, involvement, and fellowship of those listed above who served as subs and filled in whenever needed during the season. 

Gerry Ring

Gerry Ring

 We look forward to another fun time next season, and we would welcome new members to the group.  Most of the people hadn’t bowled in 30 or 40 years before joining the group.  This is a fun way to get out and meet fellow Rotarians and members of the other service clubs in town.

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Rotary Ethics Symposium 2012

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment
 

 

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High School Juniors Examined Hot Button Ethical Issues on February 17 at Rotary’s 12thAnnual Ethics Symposium

 –Submitted by Sharyn Alden

   When more than 200 students from 17 area high schools gathered at the Monona Terrace, they were part of history in the making. They were participating in Rotary’s 12th annual, nothing-quite-like ethical decision making symposium that provided interesting and compelling topics that tackled the big question, “What would you do in this situation?”

   As a volunteer at past Symposiums (PR Chair of this year’s event), I had not yet had the privilege of sitting in one of the roundtable discussions expertly guided by area leaders who had expertise in specific topics at hand. 

   Here are the 12 topics which students could select from. They had time during the morning’s event to attend three of the following sessions:

  • Ethics in Advertising led by Jim Armstrong, Advertising Executive, Good for Business
  • Ethics in Business led by Denis Collins, Professor of Business at Edgewood College
  • Ethics in Bullying/Cliques led by John Bonsett-Veal, Rotarian & 
    Optometrist, John Bonsett Veal, O.D.
  • Ethics in Dating/Friendships led by Amy Bellmore & Ting-Lan 
    MaDissertator, UW-Madison School of Education 
  • Ethics in Environment led by Paul Riehemann, Rotarian & Director, 
    Integrated Property Assessment System for WI Department of Revenue
  • Ethics in Health Care led by Bill Reay, Chief Pharmacy Officer & Senior 
    Director for Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation
  • Ethics in Social and Internet Use led by Bryan Chan, Rotarian & President of Supranet Communications
  • Ethics in News Media led by Colin Benedict, News Director for WISC-TV
  • Ethics in Politics and Political Campaigns led by Andrea Kaminski, 
    Executive Director for WI League of Women Voters
  • Ethics in Racial Justice led by Norman Davis, Contract Compliance  
    Officer     for City of Madison
  • Ethics in Sports led by Scott Campbell, Rotarian & Dean, School of 
    Graduate &  Professional Studies for Edgewood College

   I decided to sit in on Ethics in Advertising guided by discussion group leader, Jim Armstrong, founder of Good for Business.

   The hypothetical case study involved a domestic violence shelter which was hosting an annual fundraiser event to raise desperately needed funds for its shelter.  The dilemma presented was this: a sponsor with deep pockets came forward, a liquor distributor who wanted to promote a new brew while also promoting the shelter’s fundraiser. But the high school students attending this session also learned that some studies have found alcohol is linked to domestic abuse between 80-90 percent of the time and that women are more likely (about 95 percent) to be victims.

   The primary ethical question that needed to be answered was this:  Should the domestic violence shelter accept the liquor company’s sponsorship?  The students broke into small groups to discuss the situation and apply the Five Approaches to ethical decision making discussed earlier that morning during the opening welcome presentation.

   My small group of five students quickly drew the conclusion that it would be hypocritical to take the sponsorship and might in fact deter other sponsors from contributing to the event once they learned of the alcohol distributor’s sponsorship. 

   The full group discussion followed and involved about 20 students who came to nearly the same decision with the vast majority in agreement with my group.

   Interestingly, Armstrong had kept track of how all three groups (ours was the last group of the morning) had previously voted. The first group that sat in on Ethics in Advertising that day had a completely different consensus than our group. Their majority voted to take the sponsorship while the second group of the morning resulted in a more mixed vote.

   What did I learn from this?  This one group discussion on one topic might be a good example of how we all look at decision making. Clearly, there is no one way of examining a topic and coming to the same conclusion.

   The votes of the numerous teens who attended these three Ethics in Advertising sessions proved just that.

   And that alone, is a compelling reason why the Rotary Club of Madison’s annual Ethics Symposium is an excellent resource for helping future leaders better prepare for ethical decision making.

Our thanks to Sharyn Alden for working with local media to cover our event:   Wisconsin State Journal Article dated March 12, 2012

 WISCTV Neil Heinen Editorial 

Small Group Discussion About Ethics in Sports

 

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Rotary Tri-Quest FAQ

Posted on March 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

TriQuest Rotary Logo

Planning continues for our club’s Tri-Quest event scheduled for Sunday, May 20, at Bergamont in Oregon.  To help explain the day’s events, here are responses to some frequently asked questions:

   Can I just have my foursome play golf?  There is no option to just play golf unless you are part of a relay (corporate) team. In that case you are one person on a three person relay team, and you can play golf, while your teammates do either the run or the bike.

   Can I register my team all at once?  Yes– Go to Rotary Tri-Quest  and click on ‘Register Now’ and you will be able to register all of your team at once. We will need certain information about each team member including, birthdates, e-mail addresses, emergency contact persons, etc. At some point, we will need each of them to sign waivers. If your team is part of a corporate sponsorship, you should have received a coupon code.

   What happens between events?  Unlike traditional Tri-events, there is no advantage to transition times. After the run, you will have about 45 minutes to change your clothes, tune up your bike and refresh before the bike event. After the bike event, you will have about an hour to take a shower, eat lunch, practice golf. Bergamont is a wonderful facility and will be able to meet any needs.

   How tough are the run and bike courses?  There is some elevation throughout the bike event with some rolling hills. The run and bike will finish with an uphill. You can check out the course at the following links:

Bike: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/68424594

Run: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/71948018

   Can I use a cart when playing golf?  Unfortunately there is no cart option for golf. We do allow pull carts, and a cart will be available for you to get to your hole for a shotgun start.

   Are golf handicaps used?  There is no handicapping system being used for the golf.

   What is the format for the golf event?  For the relay event as well as for the individual one-person event, the one golfer plays stroke play with no handicap.  For the two-person event it is divided into three events: 6 holes of scramble, 6 holes of best ball and 6 holes of alternate shot. For the four-person event it is a scramble.

   What if I just want to make a contribution to the event?  Checks made payable to the Madison Rotary Foundation, a 501(C) 3, are fully deductible. If you are participating in the event, there would be some limitations according to the benefit received. All other checks should be made payable to the Rotary Club of Madison.

   Who does this benefit?  The Rotary Club of Madison through its foundation, the Madison Rotary Foundation, has established the Synergy Fund. This fund will provide 4 year college scholarships to disadvantaged youth in Dane County. We hope to raise $50,000 for this fund.

   I want to be on a team, but don’t have team members.  We have started a list of individuals who want to be on a relay team to help them find team members.  Simply email your name, sex, age, & event to info@rotarytri-quest.org.

   Will there be age brackets?  Because of the limited size of the event, we do not anticipate needing age categories unless one category is large enough to warrant it. There are male, female and co-ed divisions.

   I can’t participate, but want to help out.  There are many ways to help out, and we are currently looking for volunteers. Just e-mail us at info@rotarytri-quest.org, and we will certainly find a way to include you.

For more information visit:  http://tri-quest.rotarymadison.org/

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Hello, Goodbye

Posted on June 29, 2011 by | 1 comment

I am pressing to depart for Summerfest, so briefly:

We had a great year and accomplished significant objectives.

We had meaningful fellowship.

I survived the roast.

My last post is to share a dense one-pager reporting on the year.   Add or amend and happy 4th.Rotary Club of Madison 2010 11 Summary

Service above self, Juli

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reflections on “busted” as well as a report

Posted on April 29, 2011 by | 1 comment

Last night, I cochaired the Access Community Health Center Dinner with fellow Rotarian Brad Hutter and former Rotarian Jeanan Yasiri.  At the end of the night, I had a napkin full of pin/no pin notes (more on that below) and realized that there is something more important:  Actually talking with people.

Whether or not Rotarians had on their pins became the topic of conversation and at the end of the night, I felt the absence of more meaningful exchanges.  I feel like I have created a parable about elevating a symbol to importance and through that learning the importance of what it stands for: friendship and fellowship.

That said, we did have some fun and we are about to have some more.

Since “busted” started, we had a trial run on election night.  I was just back from vacation and not in Presidential mode or prepared to record names but I did learn some valuable lessons: Not everyone has read the rules.  Frank Byrne and I were both in casual clothes (i.e. not acceptable at the Madison Club) and not wearing pins.  We were not fineable. If you are not wearing a pin and if you ask me if enough Rotarians are present to earn a make up, there should be a whole new class of fine for you.  If you are wearing a different pin, it doesn’t count.

I am too busy during our weekly meeting to play “busted,” but I understand pin sales have been swift at the button box.

Otherwise, here is my report for April thus far:

4/15 @ the new Union South.  Dawn Crim=busted. (Dawn: no pin + me: pin = $1 to MRF).

4/19 @ YMCA HQ. Carrie Wall=busted. Me=busted. (Carrie: no pin + me: no pin = $2 or a buck each).

4/27 @ UW Hospital. Larry Zanoni= not busted! We were both wearing our pins!

4/28 @ ACHC dinner:

No pin: Brian Fick, Mark Moody, Kevin Huddleston (pin he was wearning did not count), Kathryne McGowan, Virginia Henderson (I know, how can I fine Virginia), Susan Phillips, Cheryl DeMars, Suresh Chandra, Katharyn May, and Joan Collins. Several of the women listed were wearing jackets, esp Joan, that one would not stick a pin into.  That is sad.  I am sorry.  Joan’s story about wearing her Rotary bike shirt in line in Florida and meeting a fellow Rotarian doesn’t count but it’s a great story.  That is a whopping $10 to the MRF.

Certain people I just didn’t quite remember such as one who has bought four pins recently and reported the latest, a magnetic one, attached itself to her curling iron.

Pins on:

Perry Henderson (of course), Steve Goldberg (of course and extra credit for bringing pin for Rich Lynch to another event last week to save him a fine), George Nelson, Brad Hutter, Larry Zanoni and me!

Because I am a wise and just President, I will pay the $10 in fines for those at the ACHC dinner to say “thank you for coming even though you weren’t wearing your pin.” Also I have some mercy for our sgt at arms.  I however will dispatch Ann after Dawn and Carrie.

Tomorrow is Rotarians at Work Day and I dearly hope I can find my fluorescent yellow shirt from last year as that is far more effective than a pin.  Even if under a fleece (Rotary of course).

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Irving Levy

Posted on April 20, 2011 by | 1 comment

One of the prices of being President has been being extracted from my beloved breakfast table companionship which has always included Marv Levy.  I have known Marv, Jeff and Phil in different ways over the years and today it took me a long time to sign cards from the club to them about the loss of their father, our member, Irving.

I did not know Irving.  Today I learned he was our member with the second-longest tenure, joining in 1963.  I just read his obituary (below) which poignantly reminded me of why we should make an effort to get to know each other, sit with new people, and just introduce ourselves in the valet line.

So I grieve for this family, especially during Passover.  But I am mindful of the legacy that softens that grief.  How rich a legacy described of service, business success, and family.  To cry for someone you didn’t know because of what their life stood for and seeing their legacy firsthand, well, that is something most of us can only wish for.

Of course, I grieve for the family and my friends in it too.  Is it really possible to feel a loss that is not your own?  I don’t know.  But whether through empathy or personal experience, we have lost a great one of our own.  The Levy Scholarship at this moment becomes such a tangible way to keep this in front of us for the “forever” of our club.  Imbuing this family’s spirit and generosity in young people is the rainbow at the end of the storm (to paraphrase badly Dolly Parton re today’s birthday quote).

Juli

Obituary for Irving E. Levy

Madison

Irving E. Levy

Irving E. Levy, age 95, retired President of Phillips Distributing Corporation, died on Sunday, April 17, 2011, after sustaining injuries in an accidental fall. A longtime Madison resident, he was born to Philip and Rebecca (Epstein) Levy on September 6, 1915, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Irving attended the University of Minnesota and Princeton. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Barvin on May 14, 1941.

During World War II, he served in the South Pacific as a Captain in the U. S. Army. Returning to Wisconsin after the War, he became an executive officer of Ed. Phillips and Sons Co. in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1961, he moved his family to Madison after purchasing Phillips Distributing Corporation. The firm operated the Phillips Home Specialty stores in the Madison area for many years. Phillips Distributing Corporation has distributed liquor and wine in southern and western Wisconsin since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.

He was a loving husband and father, who enjoyed supporting his family and encouraging his sons to live accomplished lives. He helped found and was President of the Jewish Synagogue in La Crosse. In Madison, he was a director of the Madison Jewish Community Council and Temple Beth El. He was also chairman of the Methodist Retirement Center Board, now Capital Lakes, where he lived and served on the residents’ foundation board. He and his beloved wife, Dorothy, also enjoyed golfing together at their winter home in Rancho Mirage, California. The charitable activities of the Irving and Dorothy Levy Family Foundation held a very special place in his heart. In 2010, the Levy family along with the Foundation was honored with the Tocqueville Society Award by United Way of Dane County.

He established a named scholarship fund within the Downtown Madison Rotary that currently helps support four Madison area students throughout their undergraduate careers. He also provided significant fund support to Beth Israel Center, UW Hillel Student Center, Madison Chabad House, Jewish Social Services and the Madison Jewish Community Council. He also gave support to the Meriter Foundation and the American Family Children’s Hospital. He was a Benefactor of the Mayo Clinic.

He is survived by his three sons, Phillip, Marvin and Jeffrey. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy; and an infant son, Marc.

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of the Meriter Hospital ICU for the care they gave Irving on the last day of his life.

Visitation will begin at 3:30 pm, with the funeral service at 4 p.m., on Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. A celebration of Irving’s life will be held at Nakoma Golf Club, 4145 Country Club Road, Madison, from 6 until 8 pm. Memorials may be made to the United Way of Dane County Foundation, or the Levy Family Scholarship Fund of the Downtown Madison Rotary.

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