Tag Archives: Fellowship

Speed Rotary – Rockstar Networking

Posted on June 7, 2012 by | 2 comments

Submitted by Rotarian Linda Baldwin

Who knows networking? Rotarians.  We displayed our prowess on May 30 with a fast round of Speed Rotary.

For the 2nd time this year, Rotarians spent five minutes each with five different Rotarians learning a little bit more about their lives.  Speed Rotary sped along, and those five-minute conversations seemed over in an instant. 

Overheard and tweeted…
“Old dogs can learn new tricks…when they are taught them by younger dogs.”

“Having your legacy go on after you are gone involves bringing in new blood.”

“Take your wife to your favorite places in the world before it’s too late.”    “LinkedIn has all these bells and whistles I could really use.”

“As a guest, I was totally impressed that Rotarians would take this time to get to know one another.”  
“Different generations talked today – someone asked me how old I was!”  

“People are job hunting….subtly.”  
“Caught up with some old friends.”  
“Made a return phone call in person.”  
“Met a techie who doesn’t tweet.”

Try it – tweeting that is, go to twitter.com, find #speedrotary and comment about today.  Then touch tweet.  

Rotarians – what an interesting bunch.

Mary Gaffney-Ward & Dora Zuniga

2 Comments

Posted in 2. Meetings, 4. Fellowship Groups, Social Media, Speed Rotary, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , ,

Inaugural Rotary Tri-Quest May 20

Posted on May 31, 2012 by | 1 comment

Volunteers began arriving at The Legend at Bergamont at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 20th, to begin the registration and course set-up for our Rotary Club of Madison’s Inaugural Tri-Quest Event.  We had over 50 Rotary volunteers to help throughout the day, and the location and staff at Bergamont were superb.

By 7:00 am, many participants were on site—some were on the golf course and others getting ready for the 8:00 am 5K Run.  The 31K Bicycle Race started by 9:15 a.m. and we also had an afternoon golf event.

Weather cooperated in general, although many of our participants would tell you that it was a little warmer than they preferred and the wind presented more of a challenge for parts of the course.

Registrations totaled 129 for our event, and this was a good level for our first time around.  We will provide news on the total amount raised for our Madison Rotary Foundation Synergy Fund in the coming weeks but expect it to be at the $25,000 level.

Congratulations to the following winners:
Corporate/Relay Division
Mens’s               Group Health Cooperative
Women’s          Sun Prairie Rotary
Coed                  CUNA Mutual
Individual Division
Men’s                 Dave Nelson
Women’s          Karen Mittelstadt
Two-Person Team
Men’s                 John Ratkovich & Tim Schertz
Coed                   Paul & Debbie Zampelli
Four-Person Team
Men’s                  McGladrey
Individual Medalists
Run- 1st place Men’s              David Schneekloth (Smith& Gesteland)
Run- 1st place Women’s       Jennifer Norr (CUNA Mutual)
Bike- 1st place Men’s             Jon Furlow (CUNA Mutual)
Bike- 1st place Women’s      Glenda Hodge (M3 Insurance)
Golf-1st place Men’s               Rob Peters (CUNA Mutual)
Golf 1st place Women’s         Carrie Wall (Rotary Team #2)     

Dave Nelson

 

From left: Tri-Quest Committee Chair Scott Haumersen, Steve Goldberg (CUNA Mutual) and Larry Zanoni (Group Health Cooperative)

For additional photos in a slideshow format visit:
Rotary Tri-Quest

Thanks to everyone—sponsors, participants, volunteers and those staffing the event—for helping us to make our 1st annual Rotary Tri-Quest event a huge success.

1 Comment

Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, Social Media, Tri-Quest, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , ,

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.

Leave a comment

Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, 5. Members, Bowling fellowship, Uncategorized

Tagged , ,

Rotary Fellowship Groups – Great Opportunities to Make Connections

Posted on March 22, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Our Rotary Club has over 20 fellowship groups to help members make connections with others that have like interests.  At the March 21 Rotary luncheon, members present received fellowship and committee sign-up forms for the 2012-13 Rotary year.  Members not present will be receiving one via email soon.  Be sure to fill out your forms and return them to the Rotary office as your current assignments end June 30.

Below are photos of some recent fellowship group activities.  Other fellowship groups are encouraged to submit photos to the Rotary office for future blog postings.

Fly Fishing Group at On the Creek

Fish Stories Told Here…Some True! 

The fly fishing fellowship enjoyed its best turn out ever with eleven members attending our “ice breaker” meeting on March 8. Todd Opsal and Nick Volk of On the Creek Fly Shop in Cross Plains led an informative discussion on fly fishing. The meeting covered everything from equipment to basic stream side insect life. Wine, cheese and crackers complemented the presentation on fly fishing and most importantly the good fellowship enjoyed by all. Our next meeting is scheduled for 7:00pm on April 12 at On the Creek Fly Shop in Cross Plains. There is a good chance that we will do a road trip to sample some of the trout fishing in southwestern Wisconsin on April 6. We hope to firm up dates for future outings at our next meeting.  Proposed ideas include the ever popular Black Earth Creek, Gordon Creek and a late May trip to Lake Waubesa for Blue Gills followed by a Canadian style shore dinner. 

—Submitted by Dana Corbett, Chair of Fly Fishing Fellowship Group

Gayle Langer & Curt Brink

Scotch Whisky Fellowship Group Event

On Monday, March 12, Gayle Langer and Melanie Ramey co-hosted the March Lew Harned Society’s Fellowship event at Gayle’s Cherokee home. Pictured above are Gayle and Curt Brink.  Gayle and Melanie put together a fine selection of scotch and complimented it with some quality cheese and some wonderful shrimp.  Fellowship Chair Ellis Waller gathered feedback from the attendees on what type of community project the group would like to participate in as part of our club’s Centennial Celebration.

–Submitted by Mike Wenzel, member of Scotch Whisky Fellowship Group

Members and guests of the Wine Fellowship Group enjoyed the hospitality of Steve and Meryl Mixtacki on February 12. Pictured here from left: Mike Wenzel, Dick Pearson, Noel Pearson, Todd Perkins, Tracy Perkins and Pat Wilson.

Our Notable Books Fellowship Group meets at Takara Restaurant in Whitney Square. Pictured from left: Ruth Ann Schoer, Darrell Behnke, Rich Leffler, Joan Leffler, Frank Stein and Roberta Stadky.

The Bridge Fellowship Group meets at various homes of its members on a monthly basis. Pictured above from left: Mary Helen Becker, Lori Kay and Jim Ebben.

Congratulations to Rotary Bowling Team I which is currently in first place in this year’s Madison Civic League.  Main bowlers for Rotary I this year are Gerry Thain (pictured at right), Doug Gerhart & George Keehn (pictured at left) with help this season from Dick Goldberg and Mike Engelberger.

Leave a comment

Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, 5. Members, Bridge, Fly Fishing, Notable Books, Scotch Whisky, Lew Harned Society, Wine Fellowship

Tagged ,

Rotary New Member Coffee BINGO!

Posted on March 8, 2012 by | 3 comments

Jason Beren, with the assistance of Mary Gaffney-Ward of The Madison Club, organized an enjoyable coffee for new members at The Madison Club on Tuesday morning, March 6. About 25 new and longer-term Rotarians gathered for a tasty breakfast buffet, followed by “Rotary Bingo” devised by Jason. Everyone received a bingo card with mysterious clues to the identities of those who attended and proceeded to write in the names that fit the clues.

Roger Phelps and Sarah Dunn-Carpenter

Steve Musser, Mary Helen Becker, Melanie Ramey and Roger Phelps

Did you know that a member of our club spent 3 months in the Sahara at a camel market?

Do you know which fellow Rotarian went to an Edgewood High School prom with the late comedian Chris Farley?

Mary Kaminski and Rico Goedjen

Or who played on a “Final Four” soccer team at the University of Chicago?

Who was arrested in North Carolina during a Civil Rights Protest?

Ralph Cagle and Tim Hausmann

Who went hunting with Sam Walton of Walmart?

One Rotarian had just participated in the Birkebeiner, and another was in an Ironman Triathlon.

John Thompson and TJ Blitz

A good time was had by all, and new friends were discovered among a very fascinating group of Rotarians.

–Submitted by Mary Helen Becker; Photos by Michael Engelberger

Our thanks to Deb Raupp who pitched the idea of bingo and provided Jason assistance in bringing this event together.

3 Comments

Posted in 5. Members, New Member Events, Social Media

Tagged , , ,

Rotaract Tour and Supper, 12.01.11

Posted on December 5, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Dan Larson, Chair and Jacqui Sakowski, members of the Rotaract Advisory Committee, accompanied students from Edgewood College and UW Madison on a tour of Full Compass Systems and to supper at The Imperial Garden Chinese Restaurant.

Roxanne Wenzel, VP Sales & Marketing, left above, guided the party through showrooms, recording studios, the colossal 80,000 sqaure foot warehouse and the a la carte bistro.

Johnathon Lipp, founder took the students through the history of the firm to the present day. The students were truly inspired to learn how Full Compass had bucked the recession and grown dramatically by doing the opposite of conventional business wisdom.

During a half-hour Q&A session Johnathon shared some of the downs as well as many of the ups, so everyone left with a taste of success underpinned with a good sense of the reality of managing a growing business in a fast changing industry.

Cool space, fast growing, hi-tech, rewarding, inspiring, were the words much used over a luscious buffet style meal at The Imperial Garden Chinese Restaurant.

Many thanks to Full Compass Systems and to Imperial Garden Chinese Restuarant for their time and contributions to this fun evening.

The Full Compass goody bags and cartons of Chinese food were enthusiastically apprreciated by our group.

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.

Leave a comment

Posted in a. Rotaract

Tagged , , , , , , , ,