When: We meet Friday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
Where: Our next meeting is Friday (4/29) will be at the Mequon Public Market, 6300 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092.
Program: Our program will feature Kenneth Ginlack Sr. - Executive Director of Serenity Inns.
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:
Connie Pukaite (4/29)
Dan O'Connor (5/6)
Dick Kinney (5/13)
Tom Martin (5/20)
Steve Peterman (5/27)
Kay Newell (6/3)
Note: If you are unable to act as "It's your Rotary moment" assignee when scheduled please arrange for your replacement.
A couple of weeks ago Jo Ann Vetter shared with us the work her friend Victor was doing in Ukraine. Victor lives close to the Polish border and has made his home available to people fleeing the war.
Club members wanted to know how they could help. To date, Jo Ann has received and has forwarded to Victor $1,010 in contributions to help support his humanitarian efforts.
A big thank you to Jo Ann and to everyone who contributed.
In 2020, Mequon-Thiensville (M-T) Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) was able to maintain large tracts of land in an environmental-friendly way and still engage the community. The 2020 COVID restrictions on the gathering of large-scale volunteer groups required finding innovative ways to keep up with ongoing maintenance and stewardship amidst the pandemic. Without ongoing stewardship, the quality of the natural spaces will deteriorate over time. Missing a year of invasive species control efforts can result in the re-invasion of an area and threaten previous years of investment in staff/volunteer time and organizational resources. As a result, in mid-June 2020, the team welcomed some new recruits, the 'Grazing Goats Crew'.
The goats, along with M-T Sunrise Rotary and OWLT stewardship volunteers, began working on this important invasive species management activity, to tackle buckthorn and other brushy invasive species. This activity is beneficial as a sustainable management practice. Avoiding the use of herbicides maintains soil and water health, as well as, is friendly to our pollinators. Additionally, not only does this type of project support farmers, it keeps the goats happy by giving them a food source, and it allows for community engagement, in that park visitors were able to view the 'Grazing Goat Crew' in residence.
Due to the project success, the M-T Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with OWLT continues to welcome the goats back to Mequon Rotary Parks - Pukaite Woods to continue their multiple-year job of eliminating brushy invasive species, which severely degrade critical wildlife habitats by shading out native species, and therefore, limiting available food sources for local wildlife. When an invasive species like buckthorn outcompetes native species like oaks, hickories, and other berry/nut-producing shrubs, woodlands trend towards fostering a lower diversity of trees, shrubs and woodland wildflowers. Maintaining diversity is important in keeping natural areas resilient against diseases, pests, and changing climate, as well as to provide ample food sources for local wildlife.
Two cargo planes packed with tons of medical equipment have already been flown from Chicago, USA, to Ukraine where members helped to unload the supplies.
by Arnold R. Grahl
Rotary members in North America, Argentina, and Europe are collaborating with a U.S.-based association of Ukrainian health care workers and using their connections to collect and ship more than 100 tons of critical medical supplies to Ukraine.
Two cargo planes packed with tourniquets, blood-clotting gauze, blood pressure equipment, and other items have already been flown from the city of Chicago in the United States to Europe, where members help unload the supplies and get them to Ukraine.
Rotary members in Ukraine, where Russia's military action has caused a humanitarian crisis, are in daily contact with hospitals to determine what supplies are needed most.
"It is Rotary doing what Rotary does best," says Pat Merryweather-Arges, a Rotary International director-elect and member of the Rotary Club of Naperville, Illinois, USA. "It networks, pulls people together, and gets the job done."
Kenneth Ginlack is a mental health and substance use disorder therapist. He earned his undergraduate degree from Upper Iowa University in human services with an emphasis in social work. He earned his graduate degree from Loyola University in social work. He has worked in all levels of care including medically monitored patients, youth in out-of-home placement, and individuals in correctional settings.
Prior to accepting the position of CEO and Executive Director of Serenity Inns, he served as the Director of Outpatient Programs for Milwaukee County Behavior Health Division (BHD), and as an ad-hoc instructor at the University of Wisconsin Continuing Education extension program. At UW-Milwaukee, Ken instructs professionals on best practices for clinical supervision. He is the President of the Board of Directors for Revive Youth and Family Services, a Board member for SALS Recovery Houses & Coaching, and previously served as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Daystar Inc. Most recently, Ken was invited to become a member of the Milwaukee County Mental Health Board. Mr. Ginlack is a recipient of the President’s Award at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) for his academic achievements and outstanding work in the community. At the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Wisconsin Annual Conference, Ken will be honored amongst his colleagues and receive the prestigious IRIS Award for Outstanding Mental Health Professional, for his dedication and commitment to promoting recovery and improving the treatment and quality of life for people affected by mental illness.
Ken is known for his many contributions and volunteerism to various non-profit agencies throughout Milwaukee. He is a master-level social worker and holds the following licensures in Wisconsin: licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), clinical substance abuse counselor (CSAC), and independent clinical supervisor (ICS).
