Rotary Club of Madison Fall Membership Event, Chazen Museum of Art

Posted on October 28, 2011 by | Leave a comment

At Chazen Museum of Art, Submitted By Maggie Peterman.

Even the draperies are a work of art… if you enjoy the waltz, you will discover Petra Blaisse’s design for indoor architectural spaces at work in the Chazen Museum of Art lobby.

When closed, the 20-foot-high curtain covers the glass wall with a pattern designed in voile and felt. As it opens, it coils around a LED-studded column with the elegance of the leading man and lady in ABC’s hottest TV series “Dancing With the Stars.”

Russell Panczenko, the museum’s director and Rotary member, gave nearly 300 Madison Rotarians, their guests and prospective members a glimpse of this graceful dance step Thursday night during Rotary’s Special Autumn Fellowship Event in the new $43 million, 86,000-square-foot addition that opened to the Madison community less than a week ago.

Museum docents escorted small groups of visitors through the museum’s 10 new galleries and 22,500-square feet of new exhibition space.

Sporting a classic bow tie, Max Gaebler, a retired minister from the First Unitarian Society of Madison, praised the work of Boston-based architects Machado and Silvetti Associates, as well as display of artwork previously kept in storage.

“It’s so much bigger, so much richer in contents than it was years ago,” says Gaebler, who served the Unitarian congregation more than 35 years. “It now feels like a significant museum.”

Visitors were charmed by the Alexander Calder sculptures in Gallery 10, the Claes Oldenburg Typewriter Eraser in Gallery 12 and the Spirit Wall by an unknown Chinese artist in Gallery 15.
Few could resist the temptation not to touch the display of bottle caps and liquor wrappers a Nigerian university professor sewed together with copper wire.

“This is just amazing,” says Barb Kubly, who is in residential real estate and a prospective member. “It’s phenomenal.”

The museum also features the private collection of Simona and Jerome Chazen whose $25 million gift sparked the expansion.

“This shows you the Chazens really like color and the human figure,” Docent Sandra Loman points out.

One evening is not enough time to absorb all the exhibitions in the building featuring a two-story glass lobby with a limestone “carpet” and a 160-seat auditorium for films and lecutures.

“I’d like to spend more time just looking around,” says Rob Stroud, a Madison attorney and Rotary District Governor-elect. “There are some real interesting pieces here.”

Click photos to enlarge.

 
The Rotary Club of Madison has 500 members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service.  It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.  Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach.  It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs. 

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Rotary Madison Fellowships | Scotch Whiskey, Wellness, Bridge

Posted on October 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Scotch Whiskey/Lew Harned Society – October 17

Submitted by Ellis Waller, Chair.
The October meeting of the Lew Harned Society took place at Ellis and Katie

Katie & Ellis Waller

Waller’s home in Maple Bluff. About twenty members assembled to taste a variety of single malt Scotch Whiskies. Included in the assortment was a bottle of “Whisky” made in India. Members thought that while it tasted like Scotch Whisky it was certainly not in keeping with the Society’s charter to sample single malt Scotch Whisky.

John Bonsett-Veal

Next month’s meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 14th at the home of Moses Altsech. Those who signed up for this fellowship group receive an email reminder before each meeting, however all Rotary members are invited to attend any of the Society’s events. Please remember to contact the host so that he or she can arrange for proper amounts of food and beverages.

Gary Peterson, Susan Schmitz, & Melanie Ramey

Wellness/Healing Fellowship – October 12, Waisman Center

Submitted by Rob Stroud, Member.
During the evening of October 12, the Wellness Fellowship was treated to a fascinating tour of the Waisman Center and the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds. Eight of us, joined by four Edgewood College Rotaractors, met with the lab manager and his team of experts, all of whom were young, energetic, enthusiastic researchers.

Waisman Center

For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, the Waisman Center is largely a center for brain research.  We learned about EEG’s, MRI’s and PET scans and how each of them measures different brain functions in different ways. We saw how Ansel makes radioactive isotopes for PET scans and how Steve uses magnetic imaging to record the brain’s response to pain. We saw how EEG technology has been made easier to use and easier to interpret results. We heard about the Center’s studies on the brains of Tibetan monks during meditation.  Then, to cap off the evening, the executive director of the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds told us about their work in investigating and teaching mind awareness. Her presentation showed us some of the ways that the research results are being applied to real life problems.

Our thanks go to our fellowship chair, Frank Stein, and to the wonderful people at the Waisman Center for an informative evening.

Bridge Fellowship – October 11, nancy young,  host

Submitted by Mary Helen Becker.
The bridge fellowship has met for more than a decade and welcomes new

Mary Helen Becker & Paul Madsen, seated; L-R, Front: Lori Kay, Sally Phelps, Lynn Phelps, Jon Udell, Susan Udell, Mary Hamre, Jim Hamre, Jim Ebben & Nancy Young. Back: Brooks Becker, Dick Rieselbach, Arlan Kay, Jed Engeler & Mike Lovejoy.

members. We meet in members’ homes most of the time, but occasionally gather at a local club for dinner and bridge. Members get to know each other better and strengthen friendships.

L-R, Foreground: Brooks Becker, Jim Hamre, Sally Phelps & Linda Lovejoy; Background: Arlan Kay, Lori Kay, Dick Rieselbach & Nina Rieselbach

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month, but have recently tried to hold an occasional game on a Thursday to accommodate players who are not available on the second Tuesday. For more information, contact the Rotary office or Mary Helen Becker.

 
 
 
The Rotary Club of Madison has 500 members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service.  It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.  Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach.  It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs. 

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Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, Bridge, Scotch Whisky, Lew Harned Society, Wellness/Healing

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Outstanding Fall Semesters at UW_Madison and Edgewood College Rotaract Clubs

Posted on October 17, 2011 by | 1 comment

Outstanding September meetings of Edgewood College and UW-Madison Rotaract Clubs, have set the stage for a great fall on our local campuses.

These informative and engaging meetings, are open to all Rotary Club members, and District officers, and we can all benefit from attending.

The meetings on the two campuses are slightly different in format, although both run from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

At Edgewood they generally have quite a bit to share about their volunteering activities before a 45-60 minute presentation from a professional from the community who challenges the audience to think differently about how they go to work. In September students and guests heard from an entrepreneur who had taken the risk of trying new ventures, she took the lessons from each as she drew a curtain over the past and moved confidently and more aware into her future, with plans not to repeat her past mistakes.

On UW- Campus  a short update on volunteering, is traditionally followed by a 10-15 minute presentation by an international student, who will share about the culture of their home country.  In September, Erman bought our friendship with Turkish Delight, which he passed around the group as he spoke. He definitely left the podium with many many new friends!  UW students were challenged to think a little less selfishly about their networking agenda in their professional presentation, and they very quickly realized that the more they serve, the more they will be served by the people in their lives.

With first class speakers, and students who lap up every drop of experience and wisdom we can share, these meeting should be unmissable.

Fall Schedule:-

UW-Madison – Grainger Hall

October 25th – Ralph Kauten, Biotech Entrepreneur, founder of Promega, PanVera, Mirus Bio and  Quintessence BioSciences.

November 15th – Ken Waysalik, International Business Consultant who works with US companies to expand their businesses into global markets.

December 6th – Tom Guerin , VP of Research & Development for Kerry Ingredients & Flavors, Americas, who travels the globe to ensure that products fit the markets they serve.

Edgewood College – Predolin Hall

October 19th – Carmen Porco, a member of our Rotary Club who will discuss community issues and answers in the works.

November 9th – Moses Altsech,  Rotarian and Edgewood College faculty will provide a workshop on creating a great resume.

November 30th – Annemarie Spitznagle, will share lessons learned in founding and operating Bloom Bake Shop in Middleton, WI.

The Rotary Club of Madison has 500+ members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service. It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013. Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach. It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs.

 

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Madison Rotary — Dinner & Discussion Group

Posted on October 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Do you Like to Eat? Do you Like Stimulating Conversation?

If you answered “yes” to these two questions, you might enjoy the Dinner and Discussion Fellowship Group.  The group held its first meeting of the year on September 22 at Bonfyre.  Eight eager Rotarians (pictured below) joined in a spirited discussion and dined on fine food.

Back (L-R): Deb Raupp, Jacqui Sakowski, Jim Ruhly, Carol Koby, Karen Christianson & Bill Muehl. Front (L-R): Robyn Kitson & Denny Carey

The group discussed the purpose of the fellowship and decided that we prefer a low-key, open-ended discussion rather than a rigid agenda.  We would like to have a casual night out with food and conversation. We plan to discuss philosophy-behind-the-news rather than current events.  We’re committed to listening to each other’s viewpoints and learning from each other, regardless of beliefs or opinions.  We invite all perspectives and beliefs to deepen the conversation.

The next meeting is planned for Monday, October 10, at 6:00pm at Great Dane-Hilldale.  Please join us! If you enjoy food and conversation, this group is right up your alley!

Contact the Rotary office at office@rotarymadison.org or 255-9164 to sign up and to receive invitations to attend the Dinner and Discussion Fellowship Group meetings.

Thanks to Deb Raupp for this post.
 
The Rotary Club of Madison has 500 members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service.  It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.  Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach.  It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs. 
 

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Rotary Madison — Notable Books Fellowship

Posted on September 29, 2011 by | Leave a comment

So, what goes on at a monthly meeting of the Rotary Notable Books Group you ask?

A lot of discussion about interesting books! For example, on September 22, the Rotary Notable Book Group met at the Takara Japanese restaurant to discuss the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The book has been on the New York Times best seller list for many months.

Notable Books Fellowship Group (L-R): Ruth Ann Schoer, Darrell Behnke, Rich Leffler, Joan Leffler, Frank Stein and Roberta Sladky.

Frank Stein, a member of the group, gives us the following summary of their meeting:

Essentially the author describes the case of Henrietta Lacks, a mother of five who died in 1951 from cervical cancer. While in treatment at the noted Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, a slice of cancerous tissue was taken from the cervix and given to a laboratory scientist for analysis. The cancer cells in the tissue proved to be very much alive and continued to reproduce at a tremendous pace. This was a great scientific breakthrough since previous tissue cultures used in laboratory research containing cancer cells usually died within days.

The most fascinating part of the book was the depiction of the Lack’s family.  They were descendants of black slaves from Virginia who lived on the edges of society in poverty with poor education and lack of opportunities to better their lives. Another aspect of the story was the question of informed consent in research studies and who benefits from research that uses tissues from someone’s body? We had a lively discussion of the abuse of research in the lack of informed consent to patients in the past, such as with syphilis
patients and prisoners who were given live cancer cells.  In this book Skloot examines specifically how the exploitation of poor, uneducated people who are unaware of the research taking place can lead to legal dilemmas especially when huge profits are made on the basis of the findings. Should patients have any financial gains from tissues taken from their bodies?  This question has not been completely settled and the courts have been split in their verdicts.

In summary this was an excellent book that raised many scientific issues and described a culture of poverty that still exists in this country.

The Rotary Club of Madison has 500 members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service.  It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.  Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach.  It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs. 
 

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Rotary Madison – Madison Club New Member Event

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Today, a New Member Coffee Event was held at The Madison Club with 40 Rotarians, including 28 new members, in attendance.   This was an opportunity for newer members to enjoy fellowship with one another and meet some of our longer tenured Rotarians.

While introducing themselves, each was asked to share his/her favorite Rotary moments.  The event also had three presenters:

Our thanks to Jason Beren of the Member Development Committee for organizing this event for new members.

The Rotary Club of Madison has 500 members from business, academia, healthcare and public and community service.  It is one of the ten largest Rotary International clubs in the world and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.  Rotary International is a service club with local and global reach.  It’s 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries have 1.2 million members who meet weekly to develop friendships, learn, and work together to address important humanitarian needs. 
 

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Posted in 5. Members, New Member Events