Happy Hour at Spats

DAWN DOBERSTEIN’S INDUCTION (ROAST)

This past year, we have been led by a man so soft spoken that we could not hear him and so short that we could not see him.  It was the year of the invisible presidency.  That, fellow Rotarians, is about to change.  Dawn is a presence to contend with.  She describes herself as having been a perfectly normal teenage girl:  a cheerleader, a girl who liked to party and have fun.  She enrolled in U. W. Oshkosh hoping to find bigger and better parties and managed to get through two years of classes before getting married and dropping out of school to have babies.  After giving birth to the third of her four children, Dawn had an “aha” moment.  While at Hardy’s, she looked around at the frazzled moms chasing after their toddlers with ketchup stains and baby drool and realized that was what her future was going to be like if she did not go back to college.  She then earned her degree in accounting, secured a job at Grant Thorton, passed her CPA exam and Dawn and her husband divorced.  She was hired away from Grant Thorton to work for M&I Bank by Dan Nisler.  She was recruited to take a position in commercial loans at American National Bank by Dan Nisler as well.  Dan either holds her work in high regard or she has some amazing dirt on him that she has leveraged into two jobs and the Rotary presidency.  Dawn is the grandma to a two year old grandson demonstrating that it is possible to be both a grandma and smoking hot.  If a Rotarian returns from a trip bearing a gift, he/she is now required to address her as “President Smoking-Hot Dawn”.  Dawn has had substantial experience in international relations.  She has engaged in diplomacy over beers in Germany, Austria and Ireland and a talent for margarita diplomacy in Mexico.  A reputable psychotherapist has diagnosed Dawn as a “serial dater”.  She is rarely without a gentleman on her arm, but if you blink your eyes or look away for a minute it is likely to be a different gentleman.  Her friends believed that she ditched men so quickly because her standards were so extraordinarily high that no man could maintain them for more than 90 seconds.  Her standards in men are a teensy bit lower these days.  Dawn drives a pick up truck even though she has never hauled anything heavier than a bag of potting soil.  This is because she does not want to eliminate men with mullets named Billy-Bob from her potential dating pool.  As president, she will require every Rotarian who is male and single to date her at least twice.  Dawn uses these terms to describe herself:  silly, impatient, demanding and goal oriented.  The Stunts Committee polled a random group of her co-workers who described her as “high maintenance”.  There you have it, fellow Rotarians!  We give you your new, silly, impatient, demanding, serial-dating, pick-up driving, high maintenance leader:  President Smoking Hot Dawn.  President Dawn then presented Past President Dan with a Past President’s pin and introduced the following officers and directors for the 2012-2013 Rotary year:

Immediate Past President               Dan Nisler

President                                           Dawn Doberstein

President Elect                                 Peter Kelly

Secretary                                           Deborah Wetter

Treasurer                                           John Fuller

Sergeant at Arms                              Paul Hillmer

One year term board                        Two year term board members

Greg Linnemanstons                        Caroline Lasecki

Rich Redman                                     Trey Neher

Susan Stockton                                 Mary Schmidt

Jennifer Wanke                                 Robb Waugus

ROTARY YEAR IN REVIEW (2011-2012)

President Dan wanted to thank the Board for their assistance and input, the committee chairs for the guidance they provided to the various committees and the members for their involvement in one form or another throughout the year.  The following are some of the things we accomplished:

·       We inducted 26 new members which is critical to the long term vitality of the Club.

·       Rotary Shines raised $31,347.62 so we were able to award $13,173.81 to the Peruvian Mobile Medical Unit, $13,173.81 to Even Start Family Literacy and $5,000 to PolioPlus. The event was held on a Friday night at the OuterEdge.

·       Through a joint effort between the Community Service Committee and the Rotary Ambassadors we had 8 members participate in the Good Garden Works program at St. Joseph’s Food Pantry.

·       We held the first Rotary on the Road in which members toured five different organizations / companies in place of our regular meeting.  Over 100 members attended the meetings and very positive feedback was received.

·       The Program Committee provided outstanding programs all year and the second theme series “You and Your Brain” was very successful.

·       The Appleton Rotary Foundation distributed $71,892.40.

·       Last October, Roy Valitchka led a Group Study Exchange team to Japan.

·       We hosted a terrific Rotary Youth Exchange student, Ella Proll.

·       Our Club sponsored 6 high school students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Conference.

·       SAMP sent one shipment to Jamaica with commitments from the District Governors for continued District support going forward for at least the next 3 years.

·       We honored 10 students who managed to overcome a number of obstacles in their lives with Bright Future Awards.  In addition, Ken Johnston’s memorial provided five $800 scholarships to the students who are planning on continuing their education.

·       Ten outstanding seniors and juniors were recognized. 

·       Two $5,000 scholarships were given to high school seniors from the Scholarship Committee.

·       We added 2 new Paul Harris Fellows.

·       Tonya Julien competed for the Ambassadorial Scholarship at the District level.

·       Items were collected for LEAVEN at the Holiday Celebration.

·       The decision was made to start the meetings 15 minutes earlier.

·       Several Happy Hours were held.

·       Several Fellowship Groups were formed and a number of gatherings were held.

·       Finally, the Club has been fiscally responsible and we will end the year with a surplus.

This has been a rewarding and humbling experience.  The amount of talent, commitment and dedication among the membership has been very heartwarming.  Thanks to Kathy for all she has done this past year.  She is the glue that holds the Club together.  

Happy Hour

The Family of Rotary Committee is holding a Happy Hour on Tuesday, June 26 from 5-7:00 p.m. at Spats in Appleton.  Please come and congratulate our new President - Dawn Doberstein.

2012-2013 Committees

Our meeting on Tuesday, gave members the opportunity to learn about the various committees of the Rotary Club of Appleton.  Members are asked to serve on at least 2 committees.  By becoming actively involved with your fellow Rotarians you will get to know them on a more personal level while gaining the satisfaction of serving Humanity. You also receive a make-up for every committee meeting or service project you are involved in.  

Rotarians of the Year

This year our Club is again please to honor two very deserving Rotarians of the Year. Members being considered for Rotarian of the Year have demonstrated outstanding service as a Rotarian during the past Rotary year or an individual who, over the course of a number of Rotary years has demonstrated exceptional leadership in a major Club project or multiple projects; or exceptional service in a key leadership role within the Club, or significant contribution to the community on behalf of the Club. 

Tom Berkedal was inducted into this Club on March 11, 2003 after having been a member of the Rotary Club of LaCrosse from 1985-2002, serving as its President during the 1996-1997 Rotary year.  Tom has been a member of the World Service Committee for this Club serving as its chair for a number of years.  In addition, he is the chair of the Music Committee, member of the Membership Committee, Recognitions Committee and Fundraising Committee.  Tom came on the Board in 2006, became an officer and became President during the 2010-2011 Rotary year.  Tom accomplished many things for the Club during his term and this played a large role in Tom being selected by the District as its District Governor Nominee and District Governor for the 2014-2015 Rotary year.  Tom was presented with a Rotarian of the Year plaque and Paul Harris Fellowship with 3 sapphires.

Dave Rothmann has been a member since October 7, 1986.  He has served in many capacities within the Club such as member and/or chair of the following committees:  Children with Disabilities, SAMP, Community Service, Rotary Multicultural Center, Recognitions and Rotary International Foundation.  He was awarded a Charles and Adele Heeter Outstanding Community Leadership Award and Paul Harris Fellowship in 2002.  Dave came on the Club Board in 2002 and served as its President during the 2005-2006 Rotary year.  In 2004, he became a member of the Appleton Rotary Foundation Board and has served as its President since 2008.  Dave was awarded a Rotarian of the Year plaque and Paul Harris Fellowship pin with 3 sapphires. 

Bright Future Scholarships

Ken Johnston was a member of the Rotary Club of Appleton for over 13 years.  He was active in many committees associated with youth such as Ambassadorial Scholarship, Children with Disabilities, Scholarship and Youth Services and Education Awards as well as Programs, Music and Courtesy Awards.  When Ken passed away on June 28, 2011, a memorial was established in his name to provide educational scholarships through the Appleton Rotary Foundation.  The Board recommended that these funds be used to provide scholarships to the Bright Future Award recipients who will be attending a college, technical school or university in the fall.  Bright Future Award recipients were asked to fill out an application and the monies from the memorial were divided equally among those who applied. Those receiving $800 scholarships were:

Breanna Taylor

Abby Mirsberger

Tierney Kerr

Carli Finley

Cullen Tousey

Our thanks to Carol Johnston and her daughters Julie and Barbara for providing these scholarships to these students.

Honoring 50+ Years of Membership

On behalf of the members of the Club, President Dan formally recognized and honored 5 individuals who have been members of the Rotary Club of Appleton for 50 years or more.  It is this type of selfless service to this Club, our community and the greater world that inspires my desire as President of this Club to pay tribute to these individuals.  Each received an engraved World Map Rollerball pen and a Paul Harris Fellowship for all the years of service they have given. 

O. C. Boldt – 58 years 5 months

(Paul Harris pin with 1 ruby)

                            

Tony Kuehmsted – 59 years 5 months

(Paul Harris pin with 5 sapphires)

Jerry Zaug – 50 years 2 months

(Paul Harris pin with 2 sapphires)

                                                                        Unable to attend were:

Harold Gross – 52 years 10 months

(Paul Harris pin with 3 sapphires)

Bob Rahn – 52 years 11 months

(Paul Harris pin with 1 sapphire)

O. C. Boldt, Jerry Zaug and Tony Kuehmsted

Good Garden Works

Thank you to those who helped with the Good Garden Works Project at St. Joe’s Food Pantry on Monday night:   Sharon Blake, Carol Busey, Kathy Dreyer, John Fuller, Dan and Cheryl Nisler, Jan Quinlan, Jan Smith, Jennifer and Isabella Stephany, Jerry Wetter and JoEllen Wollangk.

Good Garden Works Volunteer Opportunity

Good Garden Works – All Rotary project: June 11^th

Location: St Joseph Food Program: 1465 Opportunity Way   Menasha, WI.

Time: 5pm – 8pm

Up to 20 volunteers

The night will include: an informal veggie dinner (no cost) and burlap bag garden building and decoration.

This was one of the grants supported by the Community Service Committee.  

Voices of Men

Marc Brink told how at the age of 13 he witnessed his father knock his mother unconscious.  Marc laid on the floor motionless pretending to sleep.  Marc was scared as his dad paced the room smoking a cigarette.  By standing over Marc, his dad knew he had Marc’s silence.  As Marc grew older and witnessed this repeatedly, he told his dad that this cannot continue to happen.  He took his mother and 10 year old brother out of the house.  This ended the cycle of violence in his family and Marc vowed to no longer remain silent.

Josh Puls discussed how Voices of Men is a group of Fox Valley men dedicated to changing the attitudes and actions of men and boys that contribute to the abuse of women and girls. Voices of Men started in 2007 when 4 agencies, Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Harbor House Domestic Abuse Services, Reach Counseling Services and Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, got together in an effort to engage men in the solution to end abuse against women and girls.  Together these agencies brought a nationally acclaimed performance entitled “Voices of Men” to 600 high school students and 130 community leaders.  The four agencies then sponsored a “Men’s Summit” in October to gain support of local men in affecting change in our own communities.  This event led to the formation of Fox Valley Voices of Men.  In January 2010, 400 men attended the first breakfast event in Neenah.  The goal is to focus on changing the mindset and behavior over the long term through education, awareness and action.  When men are ready they are asked to take the White Ribbon Pledge – I pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women and girls.  There are 10 things men can do to end violence against women.  1.  Break out of the man box and challenge traditional images of manhood that keep you from taking a stand.  2.  Ask how you can help if you suspect abuse or an assault.  3.  Teach your children that “no” means “no”.  4. Don’t buy the argument that sexual and domestic violence are due to mental illness, lack of anger management skills, chemical dependency, stress or other excuses.  5.  Stand up and speak out because silence affirms and supports sexual and domestic violence.  6.  Look in the mirror and ask if your own attitudes and actions help support the objectification and de-valuing of women and girls.  7.  Be a model for youth.  8.  Educate yourself as well as listen and learn from women.  9. Step up and create a culture shift that doesn’t tolerate disrespecting or degradation of women. 10. Host a video, discussion or presenter through work, school, church, service club or sports team. The Fox Valley Voices of Men 3^rd Annual Breakfast will be held on Wednesday, June 13 from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel.  Ted Bunch, “A Call to Men”, will be the speaker.  You can register at www.voicesofmen.com.  When the time comes and you see abuse happening, will you speak? If you remain silent you give these men the power.  You can say something as simple as, “That makes me feel uncomfortable?”  Help Fox Valley Voices of Men end violence again women and girls.

Paul Harris Fellowships

We are pleased to recognize those members who have made a financial commitment to The Rotary Foundation. The work of Rotary International is vast and touches the lives of millions.  This is evidenced most visibly through its work to eradicate polio worldwide.  Each of us has been encouraged to support Rotary International so these efforts as well as others can continue. Today we honor Bill Anciaux, Karla Blair, Jon Kester and Susan Stockton for their commitment to Rotary International.  Together with our club's matching program they have made contributions totaling $1,000.  In recognition of this gift they received a Paul Harris Fellowship.