Rotary Club of Waupaca

So proud to sponsor tonight's event. It is going to be a great community event.

tonight!!!!
5:00: Music is Medicine, a special musical program about the challenges of the indigenous people. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Waupaca!
6:00: SHINE with us: community art project!
***food by Diablos Tacos and Moos Ice Cream!
***Tours at the Hutchinson House!
7:00: Waupaca Poet James Hamilton
***Full Kelly Jackson Band Concert!

as always, 50/50 raffle, beverages for sale...
Bring: lawn chair, blanket, cash and an item for the Waupaca Food Pantry!

See you at South Park!!!

A reminder that our club is sponsoring Kelly Jackson's performances at South Park tomorrow evening, including an educational concert at 5 and rock/soul concert at 7. The event is free, and the weather looks to be fantastic. Join your friends and neighbors for the final Summer Nights Concert of the season.

Learn more about the event and about Kelly in the article below.

Thanks to the Waupaca Community Arts Board for bringing our community together around music this summer. It has been a fabulous season.

‘Music is Medicine’ comes to South Park - Waupaca County Post Kelly Jackson to perform July 24

Our Community Peace Committee is so proud to be sponsoring the educational program and concert by Kelly Jackson on Wednesday, July 24th.

Hope to see you there for both the 5pm educational program and the concert, starting at 7pm.

26 Kelly Jackson.mp3 Kelly Jackson - First broadcast Saturday, July 20, 2024 to help promote her appearance at Summer Nights on Wednesday, July 24th.

The Community Peace Committee of our club is sponsoring the Waupaca Community Arts Board Summer Nights program on Wed, 7/24 at Waupaca's South Park. The evening will feature Kelly Jackson, an international award-winning recording artist.

- At 5:00pm, she will perform "Music is Medicine," an ultimately-uplifting program that blends songs and stories to educate about Native American Boarding Schools, the enduring impacts of these schools, and how we can move forward.

- At 6, beverage sales will begin, food will be available from the Diablos Tacos food truck and Moos Ice Cream, and a family art project will be available.

- At 7:00, the Kelly Jackson Band will rock South Park with a mix of rock, soul, and originals.

Click the link below to hear "Don't Speak," a song featured in the Music is Medicine program at 5pm on Wed, 7/24.

* In case of rain, the event will be moved to Par 4 Bistro at Par 4 Resort in Waupaca. See the Waupaca Community Arts Board page for updates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjzCF_1Wu9Q

Kelly Jackson - Don't Speak (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO WITH LYRICS) Kelly Jackson's tribute to survivors of violence. Kelly Jackson's music video for her award winning song Don’t Speak, released on her album Renditions of the...

Our club is proud to sponsor the 2024 Hartman Creek Naturalist program put on by the Friends of Hartman Creek. Pics below are from the June 29 program on birds of prey. Wonderful to see so many families gathered to learn more about nature.

For more information about Friends of Hartman Creek State Park including a schedule of this summer's programs, go to: www.friendsofhartmancreek.org.

PROTECTING THE WORLD FROM POLIO

The story below provides insight into the diligent surveilance, nimble responsiveness, and uwavering persistence needed to contain an outbreak of Polio - a highly transmissable disease for which their is no cure.

From the article: The successful stopping of this outbreak reflects the unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts of African governments, health workers, communities and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, including the invaluable support of Rotarians on the ground. Through robust surveillance, quality vaccination campaigns and enhanced community engagement, both countries have effectively controlled the spread of the virus, safeguarding the health and well-being of their children.

The Rotary Club of Waupaca - through individual giving and the Pints for Polio fundraiser event we sponsor in October with HH HINDER Brewing Company, contributes over $3,000 per year to polio eradication efforts. And each dollar we contribute is match with another $2 from the Gates Foundation.

We are proud to be part of an organization that plays such a pivotal roll in education, vaccination, and containment efforts that have put the world on the brink of eradicating polio.

Timely outbreak response, enhanced surveillance halts wild poliovirus transmission in Southern Africa Brazzaville/Lilongwe/Maputo – Following thorough assessments in Malawi and Mozambique, an independent Polio Outbreak Response Assessment Team (OBRA) today recommended the closure of the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) outbreak in Malawi and Mozambique, marking a significant milestone in the fight ag...

The Rotary Club of Waupaca is the largest in Rotary District 6220, which covers the Northeaster corner of the state plust most of the UP, from Stevens Point over to Appleton and up to Lake Superior.

On Wednesday, we were pleased to welcome four more members who will join us in our mission to serve others, promote integrity and advance understanding, goodwill, and peace in the Waupaca area and around the world.

Pictured with President Greg Harvey (center) are: Jeff Anderson, Kevin Will, Todd Klismet, and Steve Hendrix.

Every year our club recognizes a Waupaca School District teacher or staff member with a "Service Above Self Award". The award recognizes volunteer service beyond paid responsibilities and activities. The award includes a $500 stipend with $250 going to the teacher and $250 to a non-profit group or organization of the winner’s choice.

Sue Harrington was this year’s Service Above Self Award winner.

Sue has taught in School District of Waupaca for 37 years, is a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she serves an a range of capacities, and has been the backbone of the WICEC, Waupaca International Cultural Exchange Committee for well over a decade. She has hosted, traveled, and coordinated travels to our sister city, Mitoyo City, Japan. Her work as the co-president helped ensure strong ties that will last a lifetime.

Sue and her family have been involved with the Waupaca Rotary Youth Exchange program, hosting multiple exchange students, and her daughter was an exchange student to Germany in 2019-2020.

A co-worker describes Sue as "... a teacher who teaches the whole child. She treats every child as if they were her own. Not only wanting them to learn academics, but to be kind, productive human beings in life. She loves her students from day one and the students know she loves them. They love her too. She looks for the best in everyone.”

Congratulations Sue! You make our community better, and are so deserving of the Service Above Self Award!

About 2.5 years ago, we approached Josh Warner and Wayne Netzler of Waupaca Radio FM 96.3 with the idea of starting a radio program that would feature the sorts of people we often have come speak at our weekly meetings - people who were doing good things in our community. It just so happened that Josh and Wayne had been having similar thoughts about a program that would be a platform for local groups to talk about their organizations and upcoming events.

In the space of two meetings, the idea for Good News Waupaca took shape, and just a few months later, in June of 2022, we broadcast our first Good News Waupaca radio show!

Since then, we've broadcast nearly 50 shows, each of which features an update from our club, a "Waupaca Proud" guest, good news from the Waupaca County Post, and four guests talking about their organizations and programs. And, through the "Our Money - Your Cause" drawing, the Rotary Club of Waupaca has given over $2,000 to local charities selected by drawing winners. How great is that!

Thanks to Josh and Wayne, and to the City of Waupaca for being such great partners in shining a light on good people, good stories, and good news in the community we love.

We had a grand Birthday bash yesterday! Thanks to Ali, Marci, Carolyn, Jeff, R.R., James, Joe, Chuck, Mike, Aunt Edie, and most of all…Thank you for tuning in and hanging with us over the last 2 years.

Oh the places they'll go!

The Rotary Club of Waupaca congratulates all area graduating seniors, and we are pleased to announce the following graduates of Waupaca High received Rotary scholarships this year:

HENRY WILLIAMS received the Rotary Service Above Self $4000 Scholarship. Henry performed over 560 hours of community service and volunteerism during his school years. He will be attending Trine University majoring in Electrical Engineering

POPPY BEESE received a $1000 Technical College Scholarship. She will be attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College majoring in Nursing

TATUM SCHROEDER received a $1000 Technical College Scholarship. She will be attending Fox Valley Technical College majoring in Mechanical CAD Design

School District of Waupaca

Volunteer at the Iola Car Show. It's fun and raises money for our club!

Each year, the Rotary Club of Waupaca volunteers to help at the Iola Car Show. Our job? To drive golf carts, shuttling volunteers and show attendees around the grounds. It's a great time, and provides the opportunity for a unique and expansive view of the show. Further, the Iola Car Show pays our club for every hour worked by one of our volunteers, and that's money that we then put to work doing good in our community and the world.

If you'd like to help, you can sign up on our club website by clicking this link: https://www.waupacarotary.org/volunteer-sign-up/

Thanks.

Cari Honken, Iola Elementary School Reading Specialist, received a Rotary Education Grant that she used to purchase materials for the One School, One Book program, which encourages reading at school and at home..

In Cari's own words: "Thanks to your donation, each family in our school received a copy of the same chapter book, Fenway and Hattie by Victoria J. Coe. Each day, a chapter was read at school by all classroom teachers. Students then read the chapter at home again with their families. This is a great way to increase the home school connection, practice reading fluency and comprehension, and just enjoy reading an awesome book together! The students fell in love with the characters and took part in many activities at school related to the book including a daily trivia contest and in-class extension activities including more reading, writing, art, and drama. Thanks again for your support!

Iola-Scandinavia School District

Ever wonder why Rotary Park in Waupaca is so beautiful this time of year? Now you have your answer. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Waupaca volunteers who plucked, scooped, trimmed, and planted to beautify Rotary Park! And thanks to Turners Fresh Market for donating the beautiful flowers that were planted at the park!

City of Waupaca Parks and Recreation

Imagine running a hospital without fresh water. Imagine being a patient in that hospital and told that you needed to provide your own water.

That was the situation in one hospital in Guatemala until the Rotary Club of Milwaukee partnered with Engineers Without Borders and in-country municipal officials and NGOs. With funding support from other Rotary clubs (including the Rotary Club of Waupaca) and matching grant funds from the Rotary Foundation, that hospital now has clean water. As a result, infections rates have fallen to 15% from over 80%, and hospital deaths have decreased by 1,600 per year. Talk about impacting lives!

Pictured with Club President Greg Harvey below, Jerry Stepaniak of the Milwaukee club and Jean Bergener of the Rotary Club of Wausau, who presented about water projects in Guatemala and their recent visit to the country.

Weyauwega Fremont School District Elementary school Librarian Naomi Peuse received a Rotary Education Grant to purchase cubelets to help students explore coding and robotic basics.

The pics below show 3rd graders working with the cubelets - magnetic blocks that combine to make robots that can think, act and do.

Our club is proud to provide support that enables innovative educators like Naomi Peuse to create new learning opportunties for their students.

Amanda Nelson, Family and Consumer Science Teacher at Waupaca High, received a Rotary Education Grant for purchase of supplies so her students could prepare foods from recipes they created to participate in the Wisconsin Department of Education Whipping Up Wellness Student Chef Competition. Recipes are evaluated on their nutritious content and potential for being included in school menus.

Recently, 8 Rotarians visited classes to sample the dishes prepared to provide feedback to the culinary students before they submit their recipes.

This is a great example of teacher innovation in action. Thank you Amanda.

Another special thing happened during our meeting on Wednesday. Brianna Hepfler High School Director of Bands - who had received an education grant to purchase a repertoire of new music for students to play for state solo & ensemble competitions - introduced us to a couple of students who are benefitting from the new selection.

In the pic below, sophomores Taylor Kling, flute, & Syl Fries, clarinet, performed a piece from that new collection by Scott Joplin - the piece they'll be playing in the upcoming state competition.

Thanks to Brianna for applying for a grant, using funds to enrich the education and experience of our high schoolers, and for her leadership and coaching that helps her young musicians excel!

About a month ago, we dedicated a meeting to honor Greg Biba, retired band teacher for the Waupaca Middle School. As part of the celebration, members of the club contributed to a fund that would go to repair and replace band instruments in our schools. Below, Shana Rogney (Middle School Director of Bands), and Brianna Hepfler (High School Director of Bands) receive a ceremonial big check for $1,905 for instrument replacement and repair from Greg Biba (center) and Club President, Greg Harvey.

Great story about doing good in the world form the Rotary Club of Stevens Point in this week's Waupaca County Post.

Pic of story below. Check out the full story in the Waupaca County Post.

At a recent meeting, we were delighted to welcome two members - Cori Caryl & Kimberly Vanevenhoven - both corporate members representing ThedaCare. Welcome Cori and Kimberly to our club and to the work of doing good in our community and world!

On Wednesday, Greg Biba was presented with a Paul Harris recognition, an honor made possible by donations from other members. The award is fitting for Greg, recognizing that he is part of Rotary International's worldwide commitment to promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment.

Below, Denis Everson presents Greg with his Paul Harris award.

Learn more about Rotary International's seven causes here: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes

We raised over $12,000 at Friday's Casino Royale. It's fair to ask: What does the Rotary Club of Waupaca do with all that money?

If you watch this page, you've seen that we give grants to teachers, youth, and to community organizations; we host Rotary Youth Exchange students, and send youth from Waupaca to countries around the world; we work on projects to protect our local environment, and are involved in other service work.

We do a lot of good in our community, and, because we're part of Rotary International, we're part of the good that Rotary does in the world. Below is a video we shared at our meeting this morning to remind us all of the breadth and depth of good Rotary does for people and communities across the globe. Enjoy.

We Are Rotary Rotary is one of the world's largest and most successful global membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million members in over 200 count...

A big THANK YOU to all who attended our Casino Royale fundraiser on Friday night. It was a great evening in so many ways.

And, a big SHOUT OUT TO OUR SPONSORS who made sure the event will help our club continue to be a force of good in our community and around the world. Please keep our sponsors in mind when making purchasing decisions for your family or business:
- Bank First
- Neuville Motors
- Waupaca Foundry

- Farmers State Bank
- Faye Wilson Realty
- Jim & Diane Klismet
- Premier Community Bank
- Riverhill Dental
- Thedacare

- Baker Tilly
- Central Orthodontics
- Percsoft

- Art Parry Law Offices
- Community Insurance
- Eric Hendrickson Law Office
- First State Bank
- Janssen Accounting
- Par 4 Resort
- Stratton Drug Store

Tickets are still available to celebrate Valentines Day this Friday - 7 to 11 PM at the Rotary Club of Waupaca’s Casino Royale at Par 4 Bistro at Par 4 Resort. Play games of chance, share a pizza buffet, win prizes and enjoy live music from Hijinx.

Prizes include a 1 night stay at Par-4 and a round of golf, an overnight at a cabin in Saxeville with 3 hours of guided fly fishing, Amazon Fire Stick, Wine in time for Valentines Day, a Color Street Basket and many more.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to charities locally and internationally. Tickets are $20 and available Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce or at the door.

Rotary Club of Waupaca The Rotary Club of Waupaca is a vibrant organization with over 90 members who represent different bac

This is the second of three posts we'll make about recent education grant awards. Two grants were made to teachers in Weyauwega-Fremont schools, supporting innovations to better engage and instruct their students as follows:

- $1,000 for library maker space robotics to expand access to new technology and support student creativity

- $948.45 for Quad Stroller Wagon to allow younger autism students greater access to general education activities

Since the founding of our club 30 years ago, education has been a major area of focus for us. Thanks to all the teachers who submitted their ideas for grant funding, and thanks to the community for supporting our club by attending fundraising events like Casino Royale, which will be on February 9th, 2024.