Rotary: People of Action
Thank You 2022 ATW Fundraiser Event Sponsors

As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Rotary will cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which people from underrepresented groups have greater opportunities to participate as members and leaders.

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Club Information
Our club meets Friday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM at the Mequon Public Market, 6300 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092. 
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Club Meeting Information
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 28, 2022

When: We meet Friday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

Where: We meet at the Mequon Public Market, 6300 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092.

Special Treat: Thanks to Cindy Shaffer, Karen Willets from Good Life catering will be serving a hot breakfast at our meeting this morning.

Program: This week's program will feature Adam Albrecht - Founder & CEO The Weaponry. We will also be inducting new member Matt Monaco.

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:

  • John Cabaniss (12/2)
  • Bruce Carter (12/9)
  • Seth Duhnke (12/16)
  • Bobby Fisher (12/23)

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

Club Assemblies have been scheduled for the following date(s): 12/16, 1/20, 2/17, 3/17, 4/21, 5/19

Visit our website at mtsunriserotary.org.

Thought of the Week
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 30, 2022

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak: Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. - Winston Churchill.

Ushers Needed
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 28, 2022

Sunrisers,

If you are interested in joining your fellow Rotarians and their family members at The Rep's Christmas Carol, our club will serve as volunteer ushers on Thursday, December 15th.

Details to follow, but please let me know (email: rblazich@gmail.com) if you are available on the evening of the 15th and  interested in ushering.

Bob Blazich

Check Presentation
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 30, 2022

Pictured from left: Cori Guerin, Lynn Streeter, Dave Schlageter, Sam Azinger, Chris Doughty and Lori Lorenz.

A capital destination
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 30, 2022

The host city of the 2023 Rotary International Convention is multiple cities rolled into one

By Meagen Martin Photography by Rhys Martin

The vibrant and stately city of Melbourne is an Australian capital city in every sense of the word. Now, I understand that Canberra is Australia’s federal political capital and Sydney its financial center. But if you dig into Melbourne’s rich history and look closely at its many tourist attractions, you will discover that the home of the 2023 Rotary International Convention might easily claim the crown as Australia’s culinary, cultural, sports, and shopping capital, in addition to being the capital of the state of Victoria.

In the leadup to the 2023 convention, we asked two Australians — Rotary Down Under magazine Editor Meagan Martin and her husband, creative director Rhys Martin — to test those claims. They got a friendly assist from several local Rotary members, who provided insider intel on their much-loved city on Australia’s southeast coast. If their generosity is any indication, Melbourne may very well deserve another accolade: the capital of hospitality. Join us in Melbourne 27-31 May 2023 and find out for yourself. — WEN HUANG

Rotary Projects Around the Globe - Dominican Republic
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 30, 2022

Like other places in the Dominican Republic, Los Cocos de Jacagua faces shortages of suitable housing and sanitation infrastructure. For 15 years, the Rotary Club of Santiago Monumental has addressed community needs there in tandem with a Rotary Community Corps, creating a library, a community center, playgrounds, and a financial cooperative.

They installed hundreds of latrines and provided medical care, among other contributions, many accomplished with the help of international partners in District 7710 (North Carolina). The Santiago Monumental club has begun building homes for families, completing nine as of February at a cost of about $10,000 each, says club member David Crow. “Our international partners spend a week at a time with us, providing labor for the construction effort,” Crow says. “This alliance is a powerful way to promote peace and offer Rotarians the opportunity to live and work together with local Rotarians and the communities served.”

Turning wine bottles back into sand
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 30, 2022

By Joseph Derr Photography by Mike Kane

After oxygen, silicon is the most prevalent naturally occurring substance in the Earth's crust. Add two parts of oxygen to one part silicon (a process that happens naturally there), and you get silicon dioxide, a core component of most rocks and sand. Heat up that sand to about 3,090 degrees, and it becomes a liquid, hardening into glass when it cools.

Though glass is derived from a naturally occurring material, once that substance is transformed into bottles, it is hardly a boon to the environment. Each year in the U.S., people throw away some 8 million tons of glass, a bulky part of landfills that can last ages. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that only about a third of glass that Americans buy gets recycled.

The Rotary Club of Chelan, Washington, found an opportunity to mine some of that glass out of the waste stream. Its 911 Glass Rescue project turns used bottles and broken glass back into sand that can be used in gardening, landscaping, playgrounds, and biological water filter projects. The club partnered with local agencies and businesses to buy a glass pulverizing machine from Andela Products. Company President and CEO Cynthia Andela is not just a glass industry expert; she also happens to be a member of the Rotary Club of Richfield Springs, New York. "I've been a Rotarian for years, and I've been selling these machines for years," says Andela. "But this Chelan club project, which unites both worlds, made me realize just how much Rotary can do."

Club members told us the story of how they make sand from unwanted glass.

St. Marcus School Gala 2022 - Feature Video - Unwritten Stories
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 22, 2022

Dear Friends,

I wanted to share some exciting news and the tremendous blessings that you have made possible.

We are humbled by your generosity. The St. Marcus Gala had another record-breaking year with $1,324,424 raised in support of St. Marcus scholars. This included a $375,000 match by an anonymous donor and members of our Leadership Council. 

Your support made the opening of a third campus possible as well as continued renovations, creating the space necessary to provide the 5-star education that scholars deserve.

On that note, I am excited to share that St. Marcus maintained its 5-star status on the recently released state report card, further validating St. Marcus as a leading Wisconsin school.

Thank you for partnering with us in this important work. You are helping to create scholars’ stories and providing the faith, character, and competencies that lay the foundation for the rest of their lives.

 

Henry Tyson
Superintendent

Using district resource networks
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 23, 2022

For a long time, the incredible amount of knowledge within Rotary that could help clubs create more effective and sustainable projects was scattered and difficult to access. The creation of district resource networks has remedied that.

People can think of the resource networks as "in-house consulting firms" that collaborate with partners around the world to make humanitarian projects easier to launch and maintain, says Elva Heyge, a district international service chair in Canada. These resource networks bring together the expertise of our own members and of their connections beyond Rotary.

Clubs can get assistance finding language experts, initiating community assessments, designing meaningful service projects, acquiring funding, securing partners, or even sourcing materials or aid in the location where the project will take place. And every expert and partner in the network is carefully vetted by the district, so clubs can have confidence in the guidance they're receiving.

The next goal is for these resource networks to become essential early partners in any club's project planning. But the networks "are not well-understood in Rotary," says Roslyn Teirney, an international service chair in Australia.

Read more...
Global Citizen Festival excites passion for service in Ghana
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 15, 2022

Photo caption: Ernest Afun of the Rotary Club of Accra East and Chinazo Asunwa of the Rotary Club of Accra Legon East during the Global Citizen Festival in Accra, Ghana.

By Julian Andoh, president of the Rotaract Club of Accra-La East, Ghana

I was standing at the Black Star Square, a large public space in Accra, watching a global change movement happen right before my eyes. And the best part? It was a concert.

It all started when I was scrolling through social media and came across a flyer for a concert in Accra. I wondered what organization could get all these artists to come to Ghana to hold a concert this big. A quick Google search gave me the answer: Global Citizen, an action platform dedicated to rallying people around critical issues of climate change, poverty, and inequality.

I wanted to attend the concert not only to watch amazing performances, but also to be a part of this movement. I followed Global Citizen on social media, downloaded their app, and signed the petitions necessary to be sent a ticket. Failing to redeem it within the given time, I signed more petitions hoping to get another chance, but then I was told that Rotaractors all over Ghana were welcome to attend the concert because Rotary International has been a supporter of the Global Citizen Campaign.

As the president of my Rotaract club, which chartered three months ago, I was elated. It was a good opportunity to get members even more excited about Rotaract and what it has to offer.

I was also thrilled by the thought of getting the chance to finally watch Usher perform live. Rotaractors across Ghana came in numbers. We took pictures and secured spots in front as the Black Star Square got even more crowded.

Read more...
Winter Wonderland 2022
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 15, 2022

Join us at Mequon’s Winter Wonderland . . . a magical evening of community spirit, holiday lights, horse & carriage rides, local choirs and winter fun.

Take a photo with Santa in the Isham Day House or Judah the Maccabee in front of a Menorah, make your own ornament, decorate cookies, jump in a Gingerbread Bounce House, enjoy food from Mr. P's Grilled Cheese, and beverages from Ruby Tap.

Many thanks to event sponsor Kohler Credit Union!

Volunteer for Winter Wonderland 2022.

New Treasurer & RI Council on Resolutions/Council on Legislation Representatives Selected
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 16, 2022

We are pleased to announce that Dean Danner (Rotary Club of Waukesha Sunrise) has been named District 6270 Treasurer. Dean also serves as treasurer for Rotary Club of Waukesha Sunrise.

Past District Governor Rick Debe (Rotary Club of Mukwonago) has been selected to serve as District 6270 Representative to RI Council on Resolutions/Council on Legislation for the 2023/26 Rotary Years, and Past District Governor Jeff Reed (Rotary Club of Fond du Lac Morning) has been selected as the District 6270 Alternate Representative to RI Council on Resolutions/Council on Legislation for the 2023/26 Rotary Years, subject to ratification by the District at the Annual District 6270 Business Meeting.

Please join us in congratulating our new appointees and in thanking our outgoing District 6270 Treasurer, Dennis Swetlik (Two Rivers), for his service. If you have an interest in Rotary service beyond your club, please reach out to Dana Kohlmeyer at dana.kohlmeyer@rotary6270.org. We have a variety of committees that would be happy to put your skills to work for the good of all clubs in District 6270.

Rotary Projects Around the Globe - United States
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 16, 2022

Four Rotary clubs in Florida flexed their muscles with a fire truck pull to raise more than $15,000 to refurbish the entrance of an assisted living facility.

Sixteen teams competed to be the fastest to tug the 17-ton truck 50 feet across the parking lot of a sponsoring brewpub. Led by the Rotary Club of Mid-Bay Bridge (Choctawhatchee Bay), the April event drew about 400 people. Joining the effort were the Rotary clubs of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville-Valparaiso, which sponsored the winning team of Niceville High School football players. Members of two Knights of Columbus chapters and the Boggy Sisters, a senior support group, assisted the Rotarians. Community partnerships “lightened the load and made the event possible,” says Steve Wolfrom, immediate past president of the Mid-Bay Bridge club.

Friday's Guest Speaker - Tomika Vukovic
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 11, 2022

Tomika Vukovic - Co-Executive Director of Wisconsin Voices was our featured speaker at this morning's meting. Photo by Bob Blazich.

Happy Birthday Brian 🎂
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 11, 2022

Serenading Brian on his birthday at today's meeting is our own Rene Settle-Robinson.  Photo by Bob Blazich.

MSO Holiday Concert
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 09, 2022

Featuring the

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
December 15, 2022

7:00 PM
Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
W68 N611 Evergreen Blvd, Cedarburg, WI 53012

Presented by the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club

One of our signature fundraising events is the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Holiday Concert held at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center in December.  The MSO is one of the premier orchestras in the country and we are proud to present them during the holidays to perform in front of a sold-out audience every year. 

The Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary provides a robust program book to every concert-goer featuring ads from local businesses, organizations, and individuals who support our cause. Over the years, ads in this program book have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund our technical scholarship program and provide grants for local charities and community projects.

For the Record: 11/4/2022
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 10, 2022

Top: Our greeter this morning was Errol Barnett. Bottom: Mark Gierach the Executive Director and founder of the the Saukville Community Food Pantry was our guest speaker. Photos by Dean Johnson.

Home from war, a hard-won struggle to find peace
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 08, 2022

An Iraq veteran works through his trauma — and adopts a mission to help others

By Kate Silver

Zach Skiles thought he was fine.

He completed his time in the Marines at 22 in 2004 after serving in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. His unit was shelled so many times he'd lost count. He was mourning friends lost in combat. But he was home, ready for what was next. "I was just happy to be alive," he says.

Still, the tendrils of war followed him. Skiles, soft-spoken with kind green eyes, found himself waking up to his own screams at night. He had spells where he'd wind up in a public place, like a Walmart, with no idea how he got there. "I didn't realize that I was in a bit of shock," he says. "And I continued to just disassociate every day."

For those first few years, he bounced between San Francisco and Los Angeles, worked different jobs, and took college classes. He even acted in local theater, channeling his anger into rage-filled characters. But when that anger and frustration started to consume him, he numbed himself with booze and weed. He fell hard for conspiracy theories about the 9/11 terrorist attacks and found himself using phrases like "New World Order" and "the Illuminati." He got fired in 2008 when his employer learned he'd been organizing conspiracy-oriented demonstrations in the community. "Then I slowly spiraled and ended up homeless," he says. "My family didn't really know what to do." After crashing on a friend's couch, he started sleeping on park benches in the Bay Area.

Rotary Projects Around the Globe - Germany
Posted by Steve Lettau on Nov 08, 2022

by Brad Webber

The Rotary Club of Göttingen-Sternwarte teamed up with the Production School Göttingen, a trades-oriented institution for teens, to harvest about 2 tons of apples and turn them into nearly 400 gallons of juice. The Apfelfest project culminated in October 2021 with the juice being donated to elementary schools or sold, raising more than $3,300 for End Polio Now. “The juice is amazing — a sweet-sour note, pure apple flavors,” reports club member Sönke Jaek. “And the dry apple mash was used to feed game such as deer and boar. They loved it.” Club members also serve as tutors and assist the students in writing resumes, finding internships, and applying for jobs.

Upcoming Speakers
Matt Wolf - MT Sunrise Rotary
Dec 09, 2022
Empathy Elephant
Brittany Vulich - Local Campaign Digital Organizer
Dec 23, 2022
The Redress Movement
Bob Blazich - MT Sunrise Rotary
Dec 30, 2022
Rotary Youth Exchange & International Committee
View entire list...
Upcoming Events
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Site Pages
Club Executives & Directors
President
Corinne Guerin
President Elect
Dick Kinney
Immediate Past President
Matt Wolf
Executive Secretary / Director
Michael Shay
Secretary
David Schlageter
Treasurer
Michael Shay
Club Membership Chair
Brian Monroe
The Rotary Foundation
Alice Sedgwick
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Photo Galleries
Our Mailing Address

MT Sunrise Rotary
PO Box 251
Thiensville, WI 53092