Twenty plus years ago Stan Smith approached me about joining Rotary. The 4- Way test was consistent with my view of life and clinched my interest in joining. Beyond the week to week comaraderie with friends, I enjoy getting aquatinted with a broad mix of people wanting to provide service to our community and our club. Being a Rotarian has opened doors to other organizations and groups involved in the community. Rotary provides numerous avenues to make a difference that are consistent with the 4 - Way test.
Van Mobley is Professor of History & Economics at Concordia University Wisconsin. He earned a BA at Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His Academic work focuses upon Economic Crises and the History of Economic Thought. He has written on the South Sea Bubble, Adam Smith, Henry Carey, and John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Van has appeared on news outlets like the BBC, France 24, CGTN (Chinese National Television), Swedish National Radio, and American National Public Radio, as well as innumerable appearances on local television and radio stations across the United States. He has been quoted in leading national newspapers in Britain, France, and Japan, as well as the USA, and his op-eds have appeared in a variety of Wisconsin based publications. In addition to his work in academia Van has filled a variety of roles in business and is currently serving his fourth term as the Thiensville Village President and is the chair of board of the newly created “Southern Ozaukee Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department”. He lives in Thiensville with his wife Susan. Susan and Van have two grown sons.
Paul Silbergleit is a Milwaukee-based jazz guitarist, composer, educator, and author. Straight-ahead in style, he bears the influence of figures such as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Pat Martino, and Kenny Burrell.
Paul has performed with a wide array of jazz luminaries such as Melvin Rhyne, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Tierney Sutton, Jon Faddis, Richie Cole, Brian Lynch, David Hazeltine, and Jack McDuff, to name just a few. A member of area jazz supergroup We Six, he has also worked with notable institutions like the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. His critically acclaimed albums, from the 1996 debut CD Silberglicity through the recently released January (with the stellar My New Attitude in between), have climbed onto the jazz airwaves and charts.
In addition to his performance career, Paul is an active and experienced teacher and clinician, and the author or co-author of numerous widely-distributed instructional materials. He has taught at Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee) and was a longtime faculty member at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, as part of the celebrated jazz program that made its home there until 2019. His teaching experience ranges from elementary to Elderhostel, including private lessons in guitar and improvisation, ensemble coaching, and jazz history/appreciation. Following his contributions to Hal Leonard’s Guitar Lessons Goldmine book series as well as their Guitar Licks Goldmine DVDs, the publisher released his monumental 25 Great Jazz Guitar Solos in late 2015.
Born in Milwaukee, but growing up mostly in Fargo, North Dakota, he became exposed to jazz when a junior high band director set him for lessons with the late Dr. James F. Condell, a psychology professor and well-studied guitarist who did not have current pop music on the agenda.
Paul continued his studies at Oberlin College in Ohio, with excellent mentors such as the late Dr. Wendell Logan, guitarist Bob Ferrazza, and trumpeter Kenny Davis. Living in Milwaukee since graduation, he enjoyed the close-by influence of veteran players like saxophonist Berkeley Fudge, guitarist Manty Ellis, and the late great organist Melvin Rhyne, while coming into his own as a jazz artist and significant figure on the scene himself.
I received the following follow-up information from The Ability Center re: volunteering. Opportunities are below. For more information and to sign up, click here.
Open Gym Our adaptive Open Gym is reinventing the way people play. Disability or not, Open Gym invites you and your family to come play in a “Different Pair of Shoes.” As we like to say; “Not disABLED sports, wheelchair sports.” Join us for a fun-filled night of activities and games, from wheelchair basketball to sitting volleyball, goal ball to tennis, we adapt all kinds of sports and games.
Volunteers are needed to help unload the sports wheelchairs from the trailer, set chairs up, check participants in and then load the trailer. In between tasks, volunteers are encouraged to play together with family and friends.
Locations: Whitman Middle School, 1110 W. Center Street, Milwaukee Rite-Hite Family YMCA, 9250 N Green Bay Rd, Milwaukee Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) 6255 N Santa Monica Blvd, Whitefish Bay
Bruce Guadalupe Middle School, 920 South 9th Street, Milwaukee
We'll be serving hot chocolate and skating TOGETHER at Red Arrow Park. Volunteers can help with set-up, serving hot chocolate, helping participants check out ice sleds and get them onto the rink. Ice sleds offer another way to enjoy the ice when traditional skates aren't the right fit. This event is weather dependent. You can check for updates on our Facebook page or contact Cay Landowski.
Note: In partnership with Milwaukee County Parks and The Ability Center, Red Arrow Park has free ice sled rental during the winter season.
Event date:
February 18: 1:00-4:00pm (arrive for set-up 12:30pm)
In Spring, April 6-June 1, 2023 we'll have our 3v3 Basketball Program
Wheelchair Basketball – 3v3 League Play
TAC’s 3v3 Wheelchair League is the first of its kind offering the chance for beginners and experienced players to PLAY TOGETHER – no disability required!
Volunteers are needed to help unload the sports wheelchairs from the trailer, set chairs up, check participants in, run the timer during scrimmages and then load chairs in the trailers after games.
Where: Whitman Middle School, 11100 W. Center Street, Milwaukee
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