My membership with the M-T Sunrise Rotary is almost at the one-year mark. I was asked to join when Peter Welch left Concordia and a new representative from campus was sought to join the club. I jumped at the chance, as both my father and stepfather were active members of Rotary, and I grew up knowing the organization's greatness.

I was born and raised in Midland, MI, graduating from Midland High (The Chemics) in 1994. A highlight from high school was playing on the state runner up football team in the fall of 1993. I then attended and graduated from Concordia with a B.A. in History in 1998 and a MS in Higher Education Administration in 2001. Currently I am a student in a Doctoral program in Education Administration with an anticipated graduation date of 2019.

Since graduating with my bachelor’s degree I have served at Concordia in many different capacities including Residence Hall Director, Director of Residence Life, Director of Financial Aid, and since July of 2015 the Vice President of Student Life. 

My wife Sonia and I live in West Bend with our 3 children, Nick (13), Hannah (12), and Josh (10). They are involved in many activities like sports that range from football and basketball to ice skating and horseback riding and some in between. They also participate in bands, choirs, clubs, and drama. People say we will miss all the running someday; we will see about that!

My hobbies and interests include traveling with my family and being outdoors. Some of our favorite trips include Disney, Yellowstone, and the UP. One of my favorite outdoor activities is fishing, which I am able to do often in local lakes.

Chase your baseball dream

George “the Waterman” Lewis, Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Fla. (Published in The Rotarian - January 2018)

When I was growing up, not many people thought about going to college. So in 1952, when I graduated from Rahway High School in New Jersey, I knew what I was going to do: sign a contract to play baseball. I had made the varsity team for the Rahway Indians my freshman year, and in my sophomore year we won three major New Jersey championships. I was All State my junior and senior year, and team captain in my senior year. I was feeling pretty good.

In those days there were no drafts, but scouts for the major league teams were going around and looking at high school players. I had become friendly with a scout for the Boston Red Sox, and I ended up signing with them. They sent me to upstate New York to play in the All Star College League. It was my first time ever on an airplane, and I found myself sitting next to another young guy. Like me, he was a catcher, and he had some impressive credentials. This worried me. He might get the starting job ahead of me. I thought, “How can I be on the bench? I’m the best baseball player in the world.” 

Things turned out differently than expected. In my first at-bat, I struck out on three pitches, and they sent me back home. I thought, “My life has ended.” I was practically crying.

By Don Behm - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The last unprotected reach of Trinity Creek close to its headwater springs in Mequon will be relieved of a recurring burden of soil and agricultural pollutants now that it has been acquired by the Mequon Nature Preserve.

To ensure the 6.38-acre property west of busy Wauwatosa Road is not developed in the future, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has proposed paying $50,000 to the nature preserve to create a permanent conservation easement on the property deed that prohibits subdivision and building construction.

Not to stop there, the easement would require restoration of native grasses and trees on the land.

The easement would allow one change to the landscape. The Mequon Nature Preserve could shift the flow of the creek through the roadside property out of a straightened agricultural drainage ditch and into a more natural, meandering channel, said David Grusznski, Milwaukee program manager for The Conservation Fund.