Family of Rotary Survey

The Family of Rotary Committee needs your feedback to assist our club in offering meaningful activities to build better friendships with club members and their families.  Please take a few minutes now to answer our simple 4 question survey by clicking on this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KM3BXS2 .  Thank you for your assistance!      

Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center’s 15th Foods of All Nations

The Fox Cities Rotary Multicultural Center’s 15^th Foods of All Nations event will be held on Saturday, March 23 from  10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the U. W. Fox Valley’s Fieldhouse located at 1478 Midway Road in Menasha.  Expanded interactive activities from 10 to Noon for children (art, drumming, dance by YMCA Fox Cities) and adults (informal cultural conversation circles, mini-Diversity circles, Walk of Nations displays by FVTC international students).  Noon:  Traditional FAN tasting buffet and 3 hour cultural stage, featuring local groups and headlined by Mali Blues, with Tani Diakite on the ngoni. Tickets cost $10 for adults in advance; $15.00 at the door; children 6-12 $5; and under 6 free.  Ticket includes all activities, buffet and admission to the Weis Earth Science Museum on March 23.  They can be purchased online at www.fcrmulticultural.org or UW-FV Business Center and Goodwill Community Center.  

Fox Valley Memory Project

Susan McFadden told how in December 2010, the Basic Needs Giving Partnership noted that they were not getting many applications for programs serving older adults.  The Aging Initiatives Task Force was formed to look at various needs in the Valley such as the End of Life Care Coalition and programs/services with people living with dementia.  John and Susan McFadden began a study of Memory Café’s inspired by Rotary Clubs in England.  In 2011, they flew to England and drove 860 miles visiting Memory Café’s.  They requested Planning Grants from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership and the Helen Bader Foundation.  These funds were used to have a Community Breakfast and Think Tank that was held in October 2011.  Together participants identified what needs were in our region to serve people that live with memory loss and other cognitive problems.  The Fox Valley Memory Project was then formed.  They applied and received a grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership as well as funds from the Helen Bader Foundation, the Rotary Club of Appleton and in-kind support from Goodwill Industries, Family Medicine Residency, U. W. Oshkosh, Lutheran Social Services, Thompson Community Center, Alzheimer’s Association and the Aging and Disability Resource Center.  Currently there are two Memory Café’s in Appleton – Atlas Coffee Mill and the Thompson Community Center.  One will begin the end of the month at the Neenah Public Library and in June at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna.  Memory Cafe's are for those with early stage dementia, mild memory loss or cognitive impairment, and for the family and friends of those affected.  Betty Lefebvre-Hill, Program Coordinator, told that the mission of the Fox Valley Memory Café is to make our community more dementia friendly.  About 75% of those who care for people with dementia do so in their homes.  Over time these people can experience loss of friendships and socialization.  Memory Café’s give people an opportunity for lively discussions, information gathering, drama, music, dancing, singing, games, art, playacting, refreshments and camaraderie.  The Care Partners Welcome Center, a program of the Fox Valley Memory Project, will open on March 25, 2013 at the Thompson Community Center which will be place to find information and support, for creative expressions and meaningful activities and to share and learn.  On Thursday, April 4 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at The Grand Meridian, Dr. Marc Agronin and Dr. Ab Desai will talk about Resilience:  Aging in a Dementia-Friendly Community.  

Rotary Youth Exchange Student - Flora Prada

President Dawn receives the host club banner of Argentina from Flora the club's Rotary Youth Exchange student who will return with the Rotary Club of Appleton banner.

Courtesy Awards

The Courtesy Awards are given to recognize sales people and others who work with the public and have provided service above and beyond the call (went the “extra mile” for the Rotarian). The recipients received a framed Courtesy Awards certificate, a check in the amount of $75.00 and a Rotary pen. Congratulations to the following Courtesy Award recipients:

Dr. James Beck
Beck-Thibodeau Chiropractic Clinic
Nominated by: Alan Blake

Ruben Contreras
Action Painting and Carpet Care
Nominated by: Roger Van Vreede

Cory Hathaway
Milo Milo
Nominated by: Tom Scheetz

Deirdra Moon
Milo Milo
Nominated by: Lee Allinger

Jacob Thomack
Delta Airlines
Nominated by: Susan Stockton

Christopher Wojahn
Salon CTI
Nominated by: Nora and Jeff Schulz

Thanks to the Courtesy Awards Committee for putting on this program: Barbara Kelly (Chair), Patti Habeck, Mary Harp-Jirschele, Carolyn Nankervis, Gail Popp, Tim Reich, and Deborah Wetter.

Rotary Shines

Rotary Shines will be held on Friday, April 19 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. at the OuterEdge in Appleton. The cost is $100 which admits two adults. This is our club’s one and only fundraising event. Tickets will be sold next week. As part of Rotary Shines, the committee is offering a presale of chocolates from Wilmar’s for Easter. For every 5 boxes sold, a $50 gift card to Avenue Jewelry will be given away. At the event, there will be a reverse raffle, silent auction and live auction. The people who have the numbers of the last 5 tickets will decide if they want to go for the grand prize or split it. So far, the live auction will have two trips to Africa and a custom built brick fire pit donated by Oberstadt Landscaping. There will be live music by the Neenah Jazz ensemble. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Fox Banquets and Rivertyme Catering. It is an evening of fun, fellowship and will benefit the Fox Valley Memory Project, Clean Water Projects for school children in Gangavathi, India & Burundi, Africa, and Polio Plus.

Group Study Exchange

There will be a Group Study Exchange team coming to Appleton from Australia May 4-8, 2013. They will be visiting Clubs in District 6220 throughout the month of May. We are looking for 5 families to host 4 team members and 1 team leader. The team will be visiting businesses/organizations relating to their vocation as well as cultural and local places of interest. If you are interested in being on the committee, being a tour guide or hosting a team member, please contact Jay Drzewiecki at jay@watermarkfncl.biz.