Tag Archives: Fellowship

Join Us to Make More Rotary History on February 26

Posted on February 12, 2013 by joannamartinez | Leave a comment

Your Centennial Celebration sub-committee has extended the registration deadline for our Tuesday, February 26 event through February 14. You may still register through the office, at our meeting tomorrow, or online. Click here for details and link to online registration.

With much input from the full Centennial committee, this event will focus on fellowship – there is no long program, we ourselves are the main attraction. We will put the Capitol Theater to use in fun ways and have a lovely evening kicking off our special Centennial year.

One of the tasks I volunteered to work on is a slide show of images from our history. This led Terry Anderson and Rich Leffler (both Centennial committee members) to meet me at the office one Friday afternoon to go through our archives together. Rich has been working on them for the documentary project, and it was great assistance to have him guide us. It took enormous restraint to not stop to read everything and have Rich tell a story to put materials in context. I now regret not convening later in the afternoon with a bottle of Scotch and a sleeping bag because it was truly a special experience to get to review the archives, and it was far too brief and expeditious a tour.

As a result, when you join us at the event, playing on the big screen will be snapshots of great moments from our first 100 years: some formal portraits, some action shots, past anniversary celebrations, current members in years past, and current members in the present. Here is one of my favorites:

The hand-written label on the back of it reads “Baseball team loses game in 1925, watches Kiwanis’ team victory banquet at new Madison Club.”

Also in the show will be sets of historic and contemporary photos taken from the Capitol dome. By sheer chance, Terry Anderson hosted a vocational fellowship group at the Capitol last summer, and Rick Kiley snapped photos all the way around the Capitol. Terry observed these photos happen to match historic photos in a project the full Centennial committee is working on with Gregg Tipple. They are paired in the presentation so you can see “then and now.”

We will celebrate not only our past but our present and future on the 26th. I hope to see you there.

Juli Aulik
Rotary Centennial Celebration Event co-chair

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Posted in 2. Meetings, Centennial Celebration, History

Tagged Centennial Celebration, Centennial History, Fellowship, Rotary, Rotary Club of Madison, Special Event

New Member Event at Top of the Park – Message: Follow Your Passion

Posted on February 8, 2013 by joannamartinez | Leave a comment

(Pictured above from left; Photo 1: Yigit Uctum, Cary Heyer & Michelle McGrath; Photo 2: Mike McKay & Herman Baumann; Photo 3: Wendy Wink & Yigit Uctum)

From left: Rob Stoud, Terry Heinrichs & Jessica Schock

What started off as handshakes and introductions budded into the start of many new friendships at the recent new member event on February 4, at the Top of the Park. President Wes Sparkman along with veteran Rotarians passed along the secret to having a successful Rotary experience; follow your passion. Making impact in the club and community will come from your ability to get involved with those causes that you feel most passionate about. A veteran Rotarian shared a story with a newcomer about the passion he and his family have had for hosting exchange students and the impact it has made in his life for both himself and his family. It’s these shared stories that can help to ignite another’s passion and make Rotary what Rotary is all about. Based on the size of the club, it may be impossible to meet everyone and share in their passion. But it’s exciting to think that after years of being a Rotarian, the passion can still be found simply in sharing a story.
—submitted by Jessica Schock

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Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, 5. Members, New Member Events

Tagged Fellowship, Membership, New Members, Rotary, Rotary Club of Madison

Mixer Magic – Rotary Scholars Came Together with Mentors on January 9

Posted on January 10, 2013 by joannamartinez | Leave a comment

–submitted by Ellie Schatz, Rotary Scholar Mentor Committee Chair

Most members of the club are well aware that we have 80 scholarship recipients attending college with our support. But where are they; what are they doing? On January 9, we found out. About 40 scholars and mentors spent an hour learning about each other and sharing their stories. Kyle Gallagher Schmitz graduated in December and has new wheels to show for it, according to mentor Bob Shumaker. From our mixer questionnaires we learned that only Kyle has a motorcycle, only Dick Lovell eats oatmeal for breakfast and Brian Basken eggs!

(Pictured in 3 photos above from left: Dick Lovell, Danielle Greenfield, Leslie Villarreal, Sharyl Kato, Lin Rohr and Ana Selenske)

The question of how mentors might better help their scholars resulted in the only moment of silence during the whole hour. But when reworded to ask what has a mentor done that you consider awesome, the scholars all seemed anxious to share: Sharyl Kato has been there for Leslie Villarreal day and night. Being that they are neighbors (how did that happen?) Ismat Bhuiyan and Deb Raupp take walks together regularly. Khadim Niang is proud of Tom Popp’s work in Malawi, and Sharyn Alden is proud of Emma Crawford’s trip to help provide dental care in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Raven Wood likes shopping with Melanie Ramey and Jazzmin Franks thanks Mike and Pat Wilson for finding her a job in the administration office at Madison College.

(Pictured in 3 photos above from left: Patrick Mather, Ana Selenske, Sergio Becerra-Ramirez, Lily Gonzalez, Jazzmin Franks, Khadim Niang and Kyle Gallagher Schmitz)

We had fun trying to figure out who had traveled the furthest in 2012 and who was born the furthest away from Madison. Ismat thought she might have the record with both her birth and her recent trip back to Bangladesh. Several people thought Mike Wilson, our kiwi, might have it. With no geography expert in the room, neither could claim the prize. Pa Done Yang, born in Thailand, kept her claims for distance silent. She told me she hasn’t been back and instead is seeking scholarships to go to China to find her Hmong people’s roots. Internet research shows Christchurch is about 600 miles further than Dhaka, and although Christchurch has it over Bangkok by a hair, it had to be some distance to the refugee camp. Hats off to all three!

(Pictured in 3 photos above from left: Juan Becerra, Karl Gutknecht, Kalia Winkle, Pa Done Yang, Julius Starlin and Mike Wilson)

Sergio Becerra-Ramirez thought it unusual that he and Juan Becerra were unrelated and shared a last name. Pa Done Yang and Chie Yang, also unrelated, said that’s not unusual — Yang is a common name in their culture. What they do share is a mentor — me, and I share the common-name syndrome with them, given my maiden name — Smith! The bottom line: our Foundation scholarship money is being well invested in supporting these scholars. And, the mentors agree that their time is just as well invested. It was indeed Mixer Magic to spend time together with all these scholars and mentors.

(Pictured in 4 photos above from left: Ismat Bhuiyan, Deb Raupp, Ellie Schatz, Chie Yang, Mary Rouse, Lily Gonzalez, Jazzmin Franks, Club President Wes Sparkman with Ellie Schatz)

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Posted in 2. Meetings, 3. Committees, Scholars & Mentors

Tagged Fellowship, Madison Rotary Foundation, Rotary, Rotary Club of Madison, Rotary Mentors, Rotary Scholars

Learning About Ways to Participate in Rotary

Posted on December 17, 2012 by joannamartinez | Leave a comment

–submitted by Jason Beren

On Thursday, December 13, our Member Development Committee hosted a New Member Event where over 20 Rotarians met in the morning for coffee at Blackhawk Country Club arranged by Mike Wenzel to enjoy fellowship, the beautiful view, and to help new members learn more about Rotary.

Experienced Rotarians also in attendance helped Jason Beren with a “Ways To Participate In Rotary” presentation. The discussion emphasized the many opportunities available to participate in Rotary, which also count as make-ups. A number of Rotarians shared personal stories about participating in our own club’s activities and attending meetings at other Rotary Clubs at home and abroad. Hopefully, our new members will be inspired to visit other clubs all over the world, explore and experience the benefits of committee and club service, and participate in the ever-popular fellowship groups.

The event concluded with a quiz, including Panera Bread gift cards for the first new members to answer the questions properly.

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Posted in 2. Meetings, 3. Committees, New Member Events

Tagged Fellowship, Membership, Rotary, Rotary Club of Madison

Madison Downtown Rotary Club – One Club Fits All

Posted on December 6, 2012 by joannamartinez | 1 comment

–submitted by Ellis Waller, Chair of Lew Harned Society Fellowship Group

At the most recent Lew Harned Society Event, I was talking with Joy Rice about the many good things the Downtown Madison Rotary Club offers. We both agreed that the luncheon programs were superb, week after week. Upon giving further thought about why Rotary appeals to me it occurred to me that the Downtown Madison Rotary is an all-encompassing organization that provides a wide variety of opportunities for service, education, fellowship and leadership, all within one organization.

First, there are the luncheon programs that combine a balanced dose of food, information, programs and fellowship. Second, there are opportunities for leadership or just participation in any of the many committees and fellowship groups. Third, but not least, there are many opportunities for service. These range from simply writing a check, volunteering on a committee, or for an event like the Ethics Symposium, Triquest, or an international project.

Rotary members can pick and choose those activities that appeal to them. If one’s career limits free time, then one can opt to attend the Wednesday luncheons until time is available for additional areas of service. Very little is required of our members and one’s involvement can be adjusted accordingly. There is no need to be a member of multiple organizations, as it can all take place within Rotary.

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Posted in 4. Fellowship Groups, Scotch Whisky, Lew Harned Society

Tagged Fellowship, Lew Harned Society, Rotary, Rotary Club of Madison, Scotch Whisky Fellowship Group

Wine Fellowship Group Raises Over $1,800 for Rotaract Project

Posted on November 29, 2012 by joannamartinez | Leave a comment

From left: Carol Koby, Rich Leffler & Joan Leffler

The Rotary Wine Fellowship Group enjoyed a great tasting at Mike Wilson’s home on Sunday, the 18^th of November. This event marked the group’s 8^th Annual Fundraiser for the UW Rotaract’s Mashambanzou orphanage project.

The 18 participants tasted 18 different wines, and most were available for sale for the cause.

Two Rotaract representatives (Charlotte Smith and Derek Shupe) as well as Dan Larson (Chair of our club’s Rotaract Advisory Committee) were present for the event.

: From Left: Charlotte Smith, Derek Shupe & Dan Larson

Purple Feet provided the wines as they have for past tastings. Mark Bausch (the principal) and I selected the wines from the Purple Feet “book.” We cannot thank Mark enough for his generosity and help in this fundraiser event.

Some of the wines were three sparklers including Duval “Leroy Nieman Paris Label,” a cremant, and a great New Mexico version. Next we had two NZ Sauvignon Blancs and two NZ Pinot Noirs for an Antipodean experience. Two good Chardonnays, and four Italianesque reds followed. We had cheeses with each of the whites and some meat cuts with the reds. The final phase included Ports, Sauternes and an Icewine (Eiswein) – with chocolates.

The really good news is that we helped the UW Rotaract Group raise $1,838 for the Zimbabwean orphans project, and we made the Rotaract students and Dan Larson very happy. The tasters were also happy with the selections, as everyone purchased some for home use at a later date.