March 26: Focused Interruption Shares Story of Gun Violence Intervention

Posted on March 28, 2025 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Valerie Renk

Anthony Cooper and Mark Cash

We show up at the hospital when gun violence victims and families need answers and support. We show up when police, during developing situations, ask for help verbally de-escalating a potentially violent situation.
That’s how Anthony Cooper, Sr, Founder/CEO, described some of the work of Focused Interruption. Their gun violence prevention programs include this outreach plus:

• Community Safety Work
• Mentorship
• Aftercare & Recovery

Cooper said they partner with hospitals, community groups, government and law enforcement. He concluded saying the organization’s goal is to improve lives by interrupting cycles of violence and trauma in communities.

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

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Wes Sparkman Receives Rotary Club of Madison’s Club Service Award

Posted on March 26, 2025 by | Leave a comment

–presented by Joyce Bromley on March 26, 2025

Today, Wes Sparkman is being recognized with a Rotary Club of Madison Club Service Award for his service to our Club.

Professionally, Wes Sparkman is the Director of the Dane County Tamara D. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion.

Wes joined our Rotary Club in 2005. In these past 20 years he has held leadership roles and has been involved in a variety of club committees.

He has served as trustee on our Club Board of Directors and as our Club President during our Centennial Year in 2012-13 and also served as President of our Madison Rotary Foundation.

Among the committees he has served are Ethics Symposium, Scholarship, Program, Orientations and DEI. He has also served as a Rotary scholar mentor.

For his continuing dedicated service, we are naming Wes with a 2025 Rotary Club of Madison Club Service Award. The Club has made a gift of 200 Paul Harris Fellows points in Wes’s name to The Rotary International Foundation as part of this recognition.

Congratulations to Wes on receiving this recognition! At the meeting, President-elect Anthony presented Wes with a certificate and a special pin to recognize him with this award.

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Posted in 2. Meetings, Madison WI, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Club Service Award

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March 19: Harrison Green Prompts Rotarians to Tell Their Stories

Posted on March 21, 2025 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Valerie Renk

“Stories connect people,” says Danielle Hairston Green, after telling a story about her personal life. She is cohost of Madison Moth StorySlam. The non-profit has been a platform for people’s stories since 1997 on the second Monday of each month at High Noon Saloon. Ten people are selected to share their five-minute story.

StorySlam has told 90,000 stories, had 90 million video downloads, travelled to 28 major US cities plus Melbourn and London at 9,000 events.

“We need both qualitative and quantitative information to tell a story,” Green reminded everyone, as she urged them to share their own stories.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/l2sD-LwSZe0.

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

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March 12: Kwik Trip’s Story is Purpose and Passion

Posted on March 14, 2025 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Valerie Renk

John McHugh shared Kwik Trip’s mission isn’t to sell gas or donuts, but to increase loyalty through culture for their 11.5 million weekly guests. To find staff with this “golden rule” culture baked in, their first three interview questions are:

  1. Tell me about your last random act of kindness.
  2. How have you treated others last month with the golden rule?
  3. How did you help others last week?

This culture helped make Kwik Trip/Kwik Star the 88th best US employer last year, while paying a 12% cash bonus plus 4.8% retirement contribution to every associate.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/reD7zBUdZDY.

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

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Valerie Renk Receives Rotary Club of Madison’s Club Service Award

Posted on March 13, 2025 by | Leave a comment

Presented by Joyce Bromley on March 12, 2025

Our Avenues of Service Awards recognize members of our club for their contributions to our Club, to our community, to youth programs, to international programs, and for sharing their vocation.

Valerie Renk has been selected for this year’s Club Avenue of Service Award.

Professionally, Valerie Renk retired as CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County in 2023 and presently owns her own development consulting business.

Since joining Rotary in 2012 she has extensively served our club in a variety of ways. In addition, to serving on our Club’s Board of Directors for two years, she has served on several committees that include Budget and Finance, Member Engagement, Fund Drive, International Projects, Personnel, Photography, and as chair of our Rotary News Committee. She has been a Rotary Scholar Mentor, including hosting our Rotary Scholar mentor picnic with her husband at their farm. She and her husband have also hosted a number of our Dinner and Discussion Fellowship Group events. She has served on our Madison Rotary Foundation, including as President in 2023-24. Currently she chairs our Foundation’s Major Gifts Committee.

It is an honor on behalf of our club, to thank Valerie for her extensive contributions with the 2025 Rotary Club of Madison Club Service Award!

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Posted in 8. Honors, Club Service Award, Madison WI, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Club of Madison Club Service Award

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March 5: Yang Tao Shares Vision Zero Making Roads Safer

Posted on March 7, 2025 by | Leave a comment

–submitted by Valerie Renk

Yang Tao, city Traffic Engineering Director, shared Madison’s Vision Zero program is reducing traffic fatalities while increasing safety and health equitability for all road users.
Vision Zero focuses on systemic collision prevention. Tactics:
• Events educating safe behavior, safe vehicles
• Safe Streets Madison projects: speed management, altering street design
• Comprehensive pedestrian court(s)
• Using data to guide decisions
• Safety focused enforcement proportionate in impact
Vision 2020 was included in 2020 budget; first comprehensive report in spring 2024. Outcomes include 180 safe street projects funded; 40 miles of major street speed reduction, introducing “20 is plenty” citywide, safety improvement in street reconstruction.

If you missed our meeting this week, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/zqw9XWQyfoE .

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Posted in Rotary Club of Madison, Weekly Rotary Guest Speaker

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