By Steve Bione, Friends of Scott-Shiloh Rotary Club, Illinois, USA

A little more than a year ago, I was looking to join Rotary. I wanted to be involved in Rotary but also help out Scott Air Force Base in St. Claire County, near St. Louis, Illinois. The base is a big part of our community, and I knew Rotary could help connect men and women in the service with life outside the base.

I spoke with our past district governor, and she felt that it could be easier to get a new club started if we approached the nearby Rotary Club of Mascoutah to form as a satellite club. Satellite clubs provide another option for creating a new club, by functioning as a short-term transitional step on the way to becoming a full, independent Rotary club.

We faced challenges along the way. But what helped us was starting with a clear mission. As a group, we decided to build our niche around the Exceptional Family Member Program, a military program that addresses the needs of families with special needs.

Tickets go on sale Friday

Madison Goldbeck - News Graphic

MEQUON — Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee Cheap Trick will perform in Mequon Saturday, July 11 as the classic rock headliner for Gathering on the Green’s annual event.

The festival in Mequon’s Rotary Park will include the American rock band with special guests 52nd Street – The Music of Billy Joel, for its 26th anniversary of the music festival that is a much-celebrated summer event in Ozaukee County.

Gathering on the Green’s Executive Director Rob Kos said Cheap Trick has been on the “wishlist” for several years.

“This is the year everything aligned to make it possible,” Kos said. “Once we found out they were interested, we moved quickly to get the deal done. They had many other offers in our area and we’re thrilled that they chose us.”