TM Rotary News 8/28 (Aug 28, 2017)

Bill Hart

A Message from President Bill Hart

I would like to recognize and thank Sandy Custer for supporting the Rotary tree planting initiative. Information is included in this newsletter, but we sincerely appreciate his efforts.

I would also like to acknowledge and recognize the great summer of meetings at Rotary Park. I know that we all appreciated the awesome weather and everyone who helped to make our final evening at Rotary Park a great event.

I have a couple of reminders. Our meetings moving forward will be held at Ozaukee Country Club, beginning with this week's meeting on August 28th. The Country Club has advised us that there is expected to be high usage of the club on Tuesday, so it is advisable to carpool where possible as parking may be limited. Also, we do not have a meeting on September 5th (after Labor Day).

I would also like to remind everyone that we continue to look for new quality members. Please think about including Rotary in your annual planning for philanthropy. Let's make this week a fantastic week!

Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Celebrates 80 Years

Posted by Nicholas Robinson

Family, friendship, history and service were at the forefront at the August 22nd Family Night Event at Rotary Park. Our Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club celebrated 80 years of service with excitement, laughter and memories during the annual event.

As the club looked on, Karl Hertz and Stan Smith gave members a history lesson on the club we are all so proud to be a part of. Stan kicked off the presentation by sharing the club's roots. The Thienvsille-Mequon Rotary Club was founded on July 29, 1937 and received it's charter on September 21, 1937. The very first club president was Edwin Wiese in 1937. Edwin is the father of current member, Jack Wiese.

Stan Smith joined the club in 1977. During Stan's tenure, a lot occurred within the club. The club added "Mequon" to it's name. In 1987, the club celebrated its 50th year in service, which was also the first year that women were brought into the club. Mequon Mayor Constance "Connie" Pukaite was the first woman member of the TM Rotary Club that year. 1987 also marked the first major project of the TM Rotary Club, the construction of Rotary Park.

2005 marked the 100th year of Rotary International. As part of the commemoration, each club was tasked with identifying a large community project to focus on. The TM Rotary Club decided the project was going to be the the Rotary Riverwalk in Thiensville. The Riverwalk is visited by thousands of patrons each year, increasing tourism to the area and bringing joy to the families of Thiensville and Mequon.

Karl Hertz shared some insight on the history of TM Rotary fundraisers, taking the group back to when the annual fundraiser was a corn roast in the park. Karl shared a story about a large raffle item that the club offered: a vehicle loaded with beer. Karl stated that the raffle item caused concern because there was confusion as to whether or not the vehicle was to be included as part of the raffle (it was not, of course). Hertz recalled that the gentleman who won the raffle stated that he did not want the vehicle, "but was very clear that he would take the beer," Hertz shared.

Hertz reaffirmed Rotary Internationals four major commitments: Fighting disease through Polio Plus; Promoting Peace; Ensuring Access to Clean Water and Focusing on Education.

In the end, Karl cleared up a question that was on the minds of the masses when he stated, vehemently, "I want to make clear, Stan (Smith) and I were not founding members."

Family Night 2017

Boy Scout Troop 852 Celebrates 70 Years

Boy Scout Troop 852 (sponsored by our Rotary Club) had their 70th anniversary party at Rotary park. You’ll also notice that Dr. Jacobs joined the celebration as well (in black) and gave a brief history about the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary’s sponsorship of the Troop.

TM Rotary Tree Planting Initiative

One hundred sugar maples, 2-3 foot whips, were planted west of Green Bay Road, north of Bonniwell Road, south of Pioneer Road in Mequon, WI as part of the process of reforestation of fallow farm land. Costs of the initiative were about $200.00. TM Rotary President Bill Hart recognizes and thanks Sandy Custer for supporting the Rotary tree planting initiative.