I feel like I need a shockingly good introduction or this will just be a sad shell of a thing. Unfortunately, this comes from a shy girl who sits at the same table in the same chair and eats the same breakfast food week after week because I have an insatiable desire for routine, consistency and safe spaces. But I'll try my best to break out of that, so here it goes: 

You'll find me spending my days living the good life at Newcastle Place as the Director of Community Life Services. How convenient Friday morning Rotary meetings are for me! I've worked with youth and adult programs my entire life, so I enjoy being able to share my curiosity and creativity and still be able to call it work!

I have two grown daughters. Alaina is 22, and she is a 2nd year law school student at Arizona State University. She traded her snow shovel in for sunscreen. Anyone in need of a criminal law attorney in the near future? Call me. 

My youngest, Alexis, is 21 and she is studying environmental science at UW-Madison. You'll find her saving baby turtles on the beach, protesting any worthy cause on the steps of the Capitol, schooling people on climate change and confronting flat earth believers who hand her pamphlets all over State Street. I think she wants to save the world. Good on her. 

My greatest joys in life are watching my children learn, love and grow and to spend as much time as possible with them while they still like me and enjoy my company. My favorite things to do are travel (especially to Disney World where I someday aspire to earn the role of Jungle Cruise Skipper in the Magic Kingdom). I'd love to get my passport renewed and try a few new destinations around the world. Too bad I have such an irrational fear of flying, otherwise I probably would've checked off a few places on the map already. And yes, I've tried drinking and it doesn't help. Any other suggestions are highly welcomed. Now that I'm adulting, I'd like to visit more historical sites and learn about new cultures.  My last trip overseas was when I was in high school, and I'm pretty sure I went just to get my first taste of freedom and to get away from my parents for a couple weeks. 

Now that my kids are grown, perhaps it's time to reboot a few goals of my own or think about an empty-nester bucket list. Oh, the places I could go and the things I would do!

I initially got involved with Rotary because I wanted to give back to the community I grew up in. I've had so many opportunities to participate in projects, and it's been a great way to get to know each one of you and to know that in some small way, I'm making a difference in the lives of others. 

"The way to get started is quit talking and begin doing" - Walt Disney.

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee hosted current RI President Barry Rassin on Tuesday 4 December. There were 23 D6270 clubs that sent one or more representatives to be part of this special event. The Mequon-Thiensville Rotary Clubs were represented by PDG Karl Hertz and Brian Monroe. President Rassin explained the design and call to action behind this year’s Rotary theme “Be the Inspiration”.

President Rassin shared updates with regards to the Polio Plus and many positive life changing projects funded by our dollars that we give to The Rotary Foundation. He also asked us to make sure that are clubs are relevant in order to keep our members engaged and to be attractive to younger leaders.