Our next meeting will be Friday (12/14) at Newcastle Place, 12600 N. Port Washington Road, Mequon, WI 53092.

This Friday will be a very important meeting for our club's future. Andrea, Kelli, Danielle and myself (Matt Wolf) will be leading a situational appraisal on how to improve growth and retention for our club, especially as it pertains to younger generations. We will share some thoughts and observations ... but this meeting will be designed to be active and get feedback from as many people as possible. The 4 of us will be serving as facilitators more than presenters. We will be dispensing with some of the usual routine in an effort to maximize the 1 hour we have. I hope to see as many of you as possible this Friday!

The greeter will provide either the thought, a Rotary minute, share a family moment or a cultural tradition ... anything they would like to start off the day positive.

Upcoming "It's your Rotary moment" assignees:

• Elizabeth Suran (12/14)
• Lynn Streeter (12/21)
• Lee Szymborski (12/28)
• Steve Taylor (1/4)

Note: If you are unable to act as "It's your Rotary moment" assignee when scheduled please arrange for your replacement.

Visit our website at mtsunriserotary.org.

When you're 20 you care what everybody thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one was ever thinking about you in the first place. - Winston Churchill

My whole life has lead me to where I am today!

I was raised in Mequon and had a wonderful childhood filled with joy, laughter and lots of family time. I have always known I wanted to work with children. I started babysitting at age 10 and have mostly worked with, cared for, mentored, and coached children of all ages. In the last 2 years, my husband Ben and I made the decision to expand our family in a major way.

Our dear sweet boy, London, joined our family November 3rd, 2017 and has been the center of our lives since. We are also expecting a daughter at the end of the year or beginning of the new year. I asked London if there was anything he would like to share with our Rotary group and he, proudly, said he would like you all to know that he has had 3 moms, he likes Pokeman and going to plays.  His favorite foods are steak, lamb chops, and all the meats. He has not come across a meat he didn’t love!

My life is currently focused on family and making sure to raise our children with a global awareness, a giving nature, and doing all you can with the abilities you have. I think the greatest accomplishment in my life staying a firm and structured parent that surrounds my young man with the love and tools he will need to become a contributing member of our community.

Wizard of Id by Parker and Hart

As you might have heard, we are going to be angels to two St. Marcus families of 5 people each this year.

Family 1: Lasonya (mother, age 41), Avanni (girl, age 3 - K3), Quron (boy, age 15 - 9th grade), Jamarquae (boy, age 16, 11th grade), Anthony (Lasonya's  disabled brother, age 35)

Family 2: Shirley (great aunt & primary caregiver), Jade (girl, age 11 - 5th grade), Jamie (girl, age 9 - 1st grade), Taylor (girl, age 5 - K5), Tatum (girl, age 3).

We will be collecting gifts as well as household staples (cleaning supplies, toiletries, food) over the next few weeks until Friday, December 21. If you would prefer to contribute monetarily instead of shopping on your own, please bring cash to a meeting in advance of the deadline to ensure we're able to get everything together by the 21st. At this Friday's meeting, November 30, we will have gift tags and lists available for you to take to help your shopping excursions. 

On Friday, December 21, we will be wrapping the gifts for the families as a club during our meeting. Will be a fun way to get the spirit and all be a part of the service project!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me (aejorgensen@rwbaird.com, 262-240-3538).

Andrea

UPDATE:

Last week was the first to pick up gift tags and household item lists to start shopping for the two families of 5 we adopted for Christmas this year. Thank you to those of you that took some and have already started shopping! That said, we still have MANY gift tags left (30 to be exact). I will have the tags available again at this Friday's meeting and would love more participation if you're able to help!

Another option if you do not want to shop would be to contribute money and we will take care of as many of the gifts as possible that aren't claimed by a Rotarian. If you'd like to contribute monetarily, please bring your contribution to the meeting this Friday or next so that we have time to shop in advance of our December 21 club wrapping party. You can also venmo me if that is easier: @jorgy.

Following the December 21 meeting, we will need volunteers to take the gifts to the two families homes. Please let me know if you are able to help with deliveries. From our last meeting I think I have Danielle and Connie.

Thank you and see you Friday!

Unforgettable moments are made at Rotary conventions, as you connect with members from all over the world. It’s also an opportunity to explore a place you have never been before. We asked local members of Rotaract what they would recommend people see during the 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany, 1-5 June. Here are their suggestions. (Remember to register by 15 December to save!)

Curtiss Peck, Executive Director of The Fisher House, was our guest speaker at this morning's club meeting. (Photo by Bob Blazich)