NEXT WEEKS MEETING-PROJECT SEARCH

Project SEARCH is an international program which began at Cincinnati Children's hospital in 1996.The St. Elizabeth Hospital Project SEARCH site began last year. The goal of the program is competitive employment for students with special needs and involves use of an immersion rotational training model implemented at St. Elizabeth Hospital.

MULTICULTRUAL CENTER UPDATE

Nancy Heykes updated the club about the merger between the Multicultural Center and Toward Community.  Their new name is now Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities.  Their renewed Mission:  Celebrate Diversity provides education, honest dialogue, and advocacy, celebrating the broad spectrum of diversity in our community. Their renewed Vision:  The Fox Cities is a welcoming community where every person is valued, and diversity is appreciated as a strength.  Recently Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities hosted a picnic at City Park. There were 300 attendees at this event.  The event provided food, music and dancing, games and piñatas.  Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities would like to thank the Club for its founding support and counsel.  If you would like to contact them they are located at 1800 Appleton Road Menasha, Office Phone is 968-6328 and email is celebratediversityfoxcities@gmail.com.

Honduras Mission Trip

If you wear glasses or contacts, imagine going just one day without them.  Imagine taking them off or out right now and just trying to find your way through the lunch line or to the bathroom. But before you do that, let’s throw some rocks and boulders and horse apples and dog doo in the way.  Oh, and take off your shoes because you don’t own any.  Now let’s see how easy it is to navigate your way to wherever you are going.  It is not easy and Mary Harp-Jirschele has witnessed this firsthand.  She is part of a group known as VOSH, Volunteer Optometric Service to Humanity, that try to make a difference in the lives of needy people in remote regions of Central American countries each year.  Over the past few years this group has been in a region of the Dominican Republic that borders Haiti, deep in the rain forest of Nicaragua and most recently to a wonderful little mountainside village in Honduras.  All of the countries are poverty stricken and a trip to the eye doctor is a luxury that 99% of them will never experience.  A 105 year old man came to see VOSH for his first eye exam of his life.  He was extremely happy to be able to see clearly for the first time in his life.  He received a pair of eyeglasses with a lifetime guarantee!  That is just one happy story but there are sad stories as well. A 2 year old girl came to see the clinic and she had very bad cataracts, she was virtually blind.  They had to send the little girl and her mother away heartbroken because there was nothing they could do to help her.  People come from near and far to get their eyes checked.  Some people travel several hours to wait in a long line to see if they can get their eyes checked and receive eye glasses to improve their eye sight.  Not only does VOSH provide eye care they also bring things for the kids such as balloons, hair ribbons, crayons and stickers.  This past trip Paul Arnold’s sons Mitch and Evan started a nonprofit foundation that provided sporting equipment to needy children.  They sent baseballs, mitts and soccer balls.  These children were so appreciative of these items that they took turns rotating them between families and some children slept with these items at night.  The Father of the Village took the rest of the sporting equipment to divide between the 22 villages he oversees so they could experience these items as well.  Upon departure from the village they left behind sheets, pillowcases, towels, washcloths, clothes, one of two suitcases and anything else that might be valuable to the villagers.  The group always has a list of things to bring next time like salt and pepper shakers and paper products.  As you can see VOSH makes quite a difference in the lives of not just the 1,000 people they serve on average, but also in their own lives. Mary kept a journal and her closing comment this year said it best: “The world is bigger than what WE know, and it’s good to be reminded of that occasionally-whether it’s in a big way like this kind of trip or in a small way at your favorite nonprofit back home.  Either way, you come to realize how blessed we really are.”

Volunteers Needed June 20th at Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass

         Volunteers needed for Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass 40^th Annual Arts Festival on June 20^th.  The festival is scheduled for July 20^th from 10:00 to 4:00 with a new feature of a beer garden, (biergarten—i.e. Germanic drinking vessel collection) on our back lawn with music sponsored by the Scene, from 11-6:00. Set up starts at 6:00 and clean up from 4-6:00 or so with the beer garden after.  Music, family fun, raffles, 70 artists, food vendors, children’s tent, free museum admission, free drink ticket for volunteers and a t-shirt.  Glass demos at the museum and museum tours.  Loads of fun starts at 6:00 am and all shifts are needed for anywhere from 2 hours or more.  Call Kelly at the museum if anyone is able to help.  920-751-4658.

Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities Pot Luck

Join us for the 21^st annual Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities pot-luck picnic!  It will be held at City Park on July 19 from 12-4 p.m.  This family event brings people together for food, fun and laughter and promotes inclusion and good will in our community.  We invite you to bring a dish to pass and we will provide brats, burgers and beverages.  There will be children’s games, music, dancing, drum circle with Oshkosh Rhythm Institute, face-painting, door prizes, piñata and more.  Free and open to the public.  Come celebrate diversity in our community!  Questions? Contact at celebratediversityfoxcities@gmail.com or 920-257-9434.  Celebrate Diversity Fox Cities is a new merger of the non-profits Toward Community:  Unity in Diversity and the Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center.

RYE Students Presentations – Abbie Skorzewski /Isiah Higgs

The mission of the Rotary Youth Exchange is to foster World peace, international understanding and goodwill by extending international communication at the personal level through the exchange of students of high school age.  What began in Copenhagen, Denmark the Rotary International Youth Exchange program has run continually since 1929, and here locally since 1970.  For over forty years the Appleton Downtown Rotary has sponsored from our community student goodwill ambassadors to all parts of the globe. That is quite an achieved we all can be proud of.  Annually, over 29,000 students from 78 countries around the world share their cultures with the Rotary Youth Exchange program and continue in the traditions of the RYE program.  It is Rotary’s hope that these young people will be able to observe, first hand, the problems and accomplishments of other countries by living with and meeting people of cultures, color and creeds other than their own. Two “outbound” Rotary Youth Exchange students Abigail Skorzewski and Isaiah Higgs, who since there selection last October have been attending numerous Rotary conferences and workshops in preparation of their upcoming exchange experience beginning this fall.  They will share their individual Power Point presentations required by the RYE programs to do numerous presentation to Rotary clubs in their host countries.  Abbie will be doing her exchange in Ecuador and Isaiah is doing his exchange in Poland.  Without the club’s support the Rotary Youth Exchange program would not function so many thanks to all.  Please follow Abby Skorzewski on her blog www.luke219.weebly.com.

 

Post-Polio Syndrome

Polio or Poliomyelitis, is an infectious viral disease that can strike at any age, causing a spectrum of neuromuscular deficits.  Between the 1940’s and early 1950’s polio crippled over 35,000 people annually in the United States alone, making it one of the most feared diseases of the 20^th century.  Polio has been eradicated from the U.S. population since the introduction of the polio vaccine in 1955.  As of February 2012, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan have yet to achieve polio eradication.  Post-Polio Syndrome appears to be related to Polio.  The Polio virus has attacked and in some cases destroyed parts of the brain stem and spinal cord of these victims.  Polio survivors have regained lost strength but however years of high use have added stress to the deterioration of the regenerated nerve endings leading to loss of muscle strength.  Bob Williams was diagnosed with polio when he was only 29 years old, but he didn’t let that stop him from living a normal life.  He raised a family and pursed a career.  Years later he was diagnosed with Post-Polio syndrome also known as PPS.  PPS is known as Polio’s second act.  It is a condition that can affect anyone who has had polio and suffered paralysis.  Bob diagnosed himself of this disease after reading an article in The Rotarian in September of 2010.  Bob’s wife Mary is a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Stevens Point.  They have reached out to the Rotary Club of Stevens Point to spread the word on Post-Polio Syndrome.  The club has produced brochures and a video and is now working with the medical community to publicize the symptoms of PPS and treatment resources. The club has developed an approach but needs help from other Rotarians to spread the word on PPS.  They have reached out to Rotary International because there are 34,000 clubs throughout the World and they feel are the most equipped to take on this mission.  Bob wanted to reach out to our club in Appleton because in 1953-1954 Appleton was known as “Ground Zero”.  Appleton had the most cases of polio in the state.  There was a fear of panic throughout the city and everything was closed up for days.  He explained that 1 out of 2 people that had polio have a chance of getting Post-Polio Syndrome.  There are approximately 20,000 people in Wisconsin that have had polio so that means approximately 10,000 people will develop PPS.  This disease needs to be addressed and people need to be made aware of this crippling disease.    

FOX CITIES EXHIBITION CENTER UPDATE

Walt Rugland presented an update to the Club on how the Fox Cities Exhibition Center is coming along.  An Economic Development project for the times. A collaboration of County, City, Tourism and the Private Sector. Walt presented a Time Line of the Exhibition Center. In 2008 a Feasibility Study was conducted and it concluded that Appleton was missing an exhibition capacity.  In May 2009, Follow-Up Data by CS&L. April 2010, Appleton Council/Mayor appoint study. December 2010, CCCC Report to the Community.  January 2011, Non-profit FCEC chartered.  February 2011, RPV agrees to take operating risk. June 2011, County Board agrees to transfer site subject to hotel, price and parking agreements.  January 2012, CVB Grant approved for design work.  May 2012, Architect team completes concept design.  July 2012, Hotel ownership defaults on financing which puts the project in limbo waiting for Hotel restructuring.  In November 2012, Hotel sold at auction to lender putting the project again in LIMBO waiting for Hotel ownership to surface.  In May 2013, Owner surfaces with potential agreement.  In July 2013, Lease term sheet agreed between Hotel ownership and FCEC. August 2013, Appleton Mayor sets actual lease as criteria for moving forward with approvals.  July 2012:  Hotel ownership defaults on financing which put the project in limbo waiting for Hotel restructuring.  November 2012, Hotel sold at auction to lender again putting the project in limbo waiting for Hotel ownership to surface. May 2013, Owner surfaces with potential agreement.  July 2013, Lease term sheet agreed between Hotel ownership and FCEC.  August 2013, Appleton Mayor sets actual lease as criteria for moving forward with approvals.  November 2013, City Council renews capital support.  December 2013, CVB funds feasibility study update.  April 2014, Feasibility update complete.  April 2014, Community Foundation resolves to purchase bonds when available.  June 2014, County Board agrees to sale terms for site.  The conclusions from the 2014 Feasibility Study were: Viable from market, financial and economic perspectives, Radisson participation is key to value, Industry is still in recovery, “Good work” to date and $6.5 million annual economic impact.  As far as the Visitor Impact: Full service convention center capacity annually adds 16,600 additional hotel nights.  The Annual Economic Impact is 6.5 Million Dollars, which is about 100 Million over 15 years of new dollars to the Region.  The Financial Variables:  Design concepts are done, Cost Estimates are done but need updating, Radisson agreement to take risk is done, Obtain site is done, Infrastructure development is budgeted, bonding interest costs, room tax level and other gifts and grants are still are not known at this time.  The Radisson Paper Valley Operations Management and long term risk agreed to by Hotel with Lease Term sheet in July of 2013.  The Hotel Occupancy Tax (room tax) is assessed until bonds retired.  The tax covers construction, not operation losses.  A big question to the community is:  How much will it cost the community taxpayers to have a $100,000,000 economic impact?  It will cost taxpayers about 3.8 million the rest will be funded by grants and by room tax.  The Rest of the Story is that the City resolves ownership option structure.  The City Council sets the room tax increment and other required items.  7 other municipalities enact same room tax.  The Construction bonds are issued.  The cost estimate is reconciled to funds available.  The Design concepts are translated to firm plans.  A few questions were asked by the Club.  What types of organizations will this bring to the area?  The Exhibition Center will bring Fishing Shows, Book Shows, Church groups from all over the state and region.  How will parking be handled?  The same as the hotel handles it now.  There will be a ramp from the hotel to the Exhibition Center.  How does the square feet compare the Ballroom located in the Radisson?  The Ballroom located in the Radisson is 13,500 sq. ft. and the Exhibition Center is 2 ½ times that size and will not contain pillars.  It is similar in size to the KI Center in Green Bay.  The difference is that people will want to come back to Appleton, per Walt.  Is there a date to break ground?  It could be as early as this fall or next spring.  It all depends on the room tax.  How many jobs will this bring to the Fox Cities?  There is an estimate of 150 jobs to the community and this is not just within the Exhibition Center.