Speakers

The program is a 16 minute film "Dare to Dream" which introduces many of the challenges that Rotary faced as we moved towards implementing large service projects on a global scale such as Polio Plus.  Polio Plus was initiated by RI in 1985 and has been a landmark  project for these many years.

Members are also encouraged to read their October issue of The Rotarian magazine which includes an inspiring letter from RI President, Barry Rassin, and several articles on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.​

COA Youth & Family Centers was founded in 1906 by a group of women who sought to provide families in poverty the means to achieve self-sufficiency and raise healthy, productive, successful children. Following the framework of Jane Addams’ Hull House in Chicago, they established Milwaukee’s first Settlement House, and through this holistic model of community service, they provided an array of resources for families.

Today, COA's mission is to help Milwaukee children, teens, and families reach their greatest potential through a continuum of educational, recreational, and social work programs offered at its urban community centers, rural camp facility, and partnering Milwaukee Public Schools. COA’s philosophy is that the best way to achieve positive outcomes for youth is through a family-centered approach that engages parents in their child’s education, growth, and development. This philosophy is woven through COA's entire programming continuum, which is comprised of three core focus areas: Early Child Development (ages 0-6), Youth Development (ages 7-18), and Community Development. COA programs will serve over 10,000 children and families this year. All programs are inclusive and provided regardless of the participant's ability to pay. And 110 years of experience and innovation make COA Youth & Family Centers a smart investment.

Over 90 cents of every dollar donated to COA goes directly to our family-centered programs. Plus, Charity Navigator (a national evaluator of nonprofits) has awarded COA its highest four-star rating for 13 years in a row, highlighting COA’s transparency and financial accountability. COA is in the top ten rated nonprofits statewide and is the highest rated children and family services agency in Wisconsin.

Thomas P. Schneider has served as COA’s Executive Director for since 2001. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Tom currently serves on the Board of the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM), Safe & Sound, and the Campaign Cabinet of United Way of Greater Milwaukee. He is the founder of Milwaukee Weed & Seed and co-founder of the Milwaukee HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and Safe & Sound (a community-wide crime prevention initiative).

Christine joined Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT)  in Fall of 2014 after M-T Sunrise Rotary negotiated a partnership with the City of Mequon and OWLT; created an opportunity to hire a land stewardship intern to help deliver greater environmental care to the Pukaite Woods in Mequon’s Rotary Park.

After completing her undergraduate degree in Conservation and Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Christine was hired to a full-time position as Project Coordinator for OWLT.   She has also been trained through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group in Wildland Fire Behavior and Firefighter Safety.

Her main focus is administering a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)  to control invasive species and promote the reestablishment of sustainable, native vegetative communities in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. In addition, Christine now coordinates woodland restoration work and long-term management planning for Pukaite Woods, guiding Sunrise Rotary's stewardship commitment to the woodland.   Recently, in recognition of her environmental leadership and work with landowners as well as community groups, she was honored with an invitation to join the well-established Friends of Cedarburg Bog Stewardship Committee.