Rotary on the Road - Goodwill Industries Shiner Center

Bob Pedersen told how the Goodwill Movement began 110 years ago by Dr. Edgar Helms, a pastor at the Morgan Methodist Chapel in Boston. Now, there are 166 independent autonomous Goodwill organizations generating $4.3 billion each year.

Goodwill Industries of Northcentral Wisconsin is the 14 largest Goodwill in the country. It has retail stores for donated goods; post retail; provides vocational, community/diversity, financial and family programs and services; and a Community Center that contains 24 agencies providing a one stop shop for programs and services. Last year, Goodwill touched the lives of 48,000 people.

Bruce Senn took us on a tour of the Shiner Center which is currently undergoing a $3.5 million remodeling project including a production area, warehouse and outlet center. The outlet center is the last chance for the public to purchase items by the pound which gives Goodwill a new customer base. The area with the most growth potential is e-commerce – shopgoodwill.com. Goods Made Good was established to use material to design patterns and make products such as scarves, skirts, handbags, etc. Goodwill not only provides training and work opportunities for those with barriers to employment but also tries to find innovative ways to sell or use items donated so that they stay out of the landfill. The renovation of the Shiner Center should be completed by February 2013. By: Kathy Dreyer

Rotary on the Road - Fox Cities Performing Arts Center

About 20 of us gathered at the Performing Arts Center for an “Insider’s Tour”. We started in Room 180 for lunch. During a big show, this room would be filled with wigs and costumes. After some enlightening theater trivia, we were joined by the Center’s Production Stage Manager Pete Duecker and proceeded on our tour of the dressing rooms, the stage (where we encountered the ‘ghost light’) and we even got to “ride” on the Orchestra Pit Lift. We learned about lighting, screening and just how all those big sets can be literally “dropped in” during a show. Upon leaving the stage, we split into 2 groups. One group accompanied Susan to the second level of the house to see the Partner’s Lounge, Founders Room and Entrance 21 and walk through the theatre from the point of view of the first row of the Dress Circle.

The more adventurous among us went with Pete up a lift the size of a phone booth to the fly rail for a bird’s eye view of the stage and saw the rigging. We were then taken up to the lighting grid which is 8 stories above ground level! After this tour, I have a far greater appreciation for many of the “Behind the scenes” things that happen to make a show come off well. I will, no doubt, enjoy my next show at the PAC a little more as a result. By: Matt Rehbbein

Rotary on the Road - Festival Foods

Rotarians enjoyed learning about Festival Foods’ commitment to be an innovative grocer that makes a positive difference in the communities it serves. Rotary is an important relationship as are various non-profit organizations. Festival has 16 store locations at present, and is looking forward to opening number 17 in Neenah by the end of 2012.

Festival employs three nutritionists, including Leah Anderson. Leah introduced the group to the NuVal system, an objective calculation of the nutritional value of various products. The higher the NuVal score, the better its nutritional value. Festival’s nutritionists provide information on its website and through informational presentations like the one Rotary heard, aiming to provide helpful information to the community to help consumers make smart shopping choices. Leah emphasized “trading up” to higher valued items within product categories. Festival also promotes its “Eat Well” program, labeling certain products with this program name to indicate it is a healthy choice adhering to the program’s higher standards. By: Curt Detjen

Rotary on the Road - St. Elizabeth's Hospital

Nineteen Rotarians gathered at St. Elizabeth's hospital for an introduction to the new facility by Dr. Lawrence Donatelle, and a quick-step walking tour led by Tara Pearce. We began in the beautiful new main entrance, which was part of the first phase of the expansion, remodeling process along with the new parking facility. The Heart/Lung/Vascular unit was next, and the third phase is underway, including a Cancer center, Women and Family center and a combined Emergency and Surgical Preparation Area (known as SPA). These last two are adjacent to each other and allow overflow from one to the other if necessary.

Dr. Donatelle noted that a major project currently being developed is Catalpa, a children and adolescent mental health service. This is a collaboration between Affinity, Children's Hospital and Thedacare. He also discussed the special emphasis that Affinity, a part of Ministry Health Care System, has on care for the poor. There is an effort to provide "right care in the right place", using LEAN principles, and a need to balance the "mission and the margin" in providing care for everyone - the fully insured, the underinsured and the uninsured, medicare and medicaid patients.

Following his presentation, we toured the new sections of the hospital. Eventually, most public walkways between functional areas will be along the exterior of the building, with floor to ceiling windows on the outside, helping people find their bearings on the large property. Public walkways will mainly be separated from hospital patient areas, increasing privacy for patients. By: Barbara Kelly

Rotary on the Road - Bassett Mechanical

It started as a refrigeration company in l936. Seventy Five years later Bassett Mechanical Contractors and Engineers of Kaukauna is a global enterprise employing 345 persons.

Rotarians Tuesday toured the sprawling facility viewing its high tech approach to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration manufacture and component assembly. The firm now in its third generation of family management is known for its expertise in ammonia refrigeration, carbon capture systems, air handling , waste water, wind tunnel , food and beverage and health worldwide.
In 2009 the firm was recognized as a Wisconsin Family Business with leadership in LEED and ISO certifications. Submitted by: Roy Valitchka