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News & Updates
News & Updates, October 19, 2019
Hello fellow Rotarians,
 
Besides being Rotary International's signature project, ridding the world of polio has a place close to my heart for a more personal reason:  my father-in-law is a polio survivor. Bruce doesn't remember a whole summer from his childhood, when he was bedridden and close to death. He pulled through, after nearly having been placed in an iron lung, but the neuro-degenerative effects of the disease linger to this day, impeding his desire to be as active with his grandchildren as he'd like. We are so close to eradicating this devastating disease, and $3 from every beer purchase ($1 from the Great Dane and $2 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) at Pints for Polio on October 24th goes to the Polio Plus Foundation. Our club's "official" location for our social is at the Great Dane-Hilldale, but feel free to visit any Great Dane location and socialize for a great cause. 
 
Another excellent opportunity to get together with other Madison-area Rotarians is at one of the One Rotary Summits coming up at the end of October/early November. The focus this year is storytelling: learn how to be a better storyteller through words and pictures, and inspire your club through sharing stories. I'll be at the Sun Prairie Summit on October 29th, but there are four others to choose from. See below for the registration link. I attended by first One Rotary Summit last year and found the event both educational and fun. 
 
Last, but not least, I'm super excited for our speaker this Sunday:  Will Harris of Working Capital for Community Needs. Our new member group invested our $1,000 grant with WCCN earlier this year, and now Will is back to tell the rest of our club about microfinance and how our money works to directly impact and improve the lives of the working poor in Latin America. I hope that you will be inspired by his story and the opportunities for our growing club to expand our impact in this area of the world. 
 
See you on Sunday...and Thursday!
 
Erin Luken
2019-2020 President
  
Upcoming Events
 
Sunday, October 20th  – Club Meeting: Will Harris, Executive Director of WCCN
The Post at Park Hotel, 22 S Carroll St, Madison, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Will was a recipient of the Rotary World Peace Fellowship, which he used to pursue a Master's Degree in International Relations at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, focusing his thesis on the topic of microfinance in Latin America. For 35 years, Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) has created opportunities for access to microfinance, services and markets to improve the lives and communities of the working poor in Latin America. In that time, they have invested a total of $134 million, reaching an average of 25,000 small business owners every year.  
 
Thursday, October 24th - Club Social: Pints for Polio
Great Dane Hilldale, 357 Price Place, Madison, all day
October 24th is World Polio Day and to celebrate, all Madison Great Dane Pubs will be donating $1 to Rotary's Polio Plus Fund for every pint, crowler, growler, and 6-pack sold that day. Every dollar donated will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. All Rotary members are encouraged to share this event and also attend with families and friends. See you on the 24th!
 
Tuesday, October 29th - One Rotary Summit
Hilton Garden Inn, 1220 South Grand Avenue, Sun Prairie, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
We are connected by our Rotary stories. Stories inspire us - service transforms us. Join us to learn how to be a better storyteller in words and pictures. Enjoy the easy fellowship of sharing stories. You'll be glad you came. We're looking forward to a fun even that strengthens and supports both your and your club! Food provided and cash bar available. Registration link:  https://rotary6250.org/page/2019-district-6250-one-rotary-summit
 
Saturday, November 2nd - Volunteer Event: Lussier Food Pantry
Lussier Community Education Center, 55 S. Gammon Rd, Madison, 11:45 am - 1:00 pm
Volunteer with us at the Lussier Community Education Center food pantry!  Four volunteers are needed to work from 11:45 am until 1:00 pm.  Sign up for shifts here or email us at madisonrotaryah@gmail.com. 
 
Sunday, November 3rd  – Club Meeting: The Brain Game
The Post at Park Hotel, 22 S Carroll St, Madison, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Join us at The Post for a social at 6:30 pm, then stay for our meeting at 7:00 pm. Our speaker this week is recent District Governor Bill Hoel of the La Crosse Rotary Club. The Brain Game is a book developed by the Rotary Club of La Crosse and given to every new parent in the La Crosse, WI area. Now in its 3rd edition, Bill will tell us all about how his club came up with the project and saw it through to fruition. 
Club Meeting: Will Harris of WCCN
Join us at our meeting on Sunday, October 20 at 6:30 pm. Our speaker will be Will Harris, Executive Director of WCCN.
 
For 35 years, Working Capital for Community Needs (WCCN) has created opportunities for access to microfinance, services and markets to improve the lives and communities of the working poor in Latin America. In that time, we have invested a total of $134 million, reaching an average of 25,000 small business owners every year. WCCN empowers low-income Latin American entrepreneurs by sustaining partnerships with microfinance organizations and fair trade coffee organizations in Nicaragua, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico and Peru.
 
Will was a recipient of the Rotary World Peace Fellowship which he used to pursue a Master’s Degree in International Relations at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, focusing his thesis on the topic of microfinance in Latin America. Will came to WCCN from the World Council of Credit Unions, and previously served on the WCCN Board of Directors for three years. He has a deep interest in Latin American culture, poverty issues, and economic development. Will speaks near native Spanish and Portuguese.   
Pints for Polio
October 24th is World Polio Day and to celebrate, all Madison Great Dane Pubs will be donating $1 to Rotary’s Polio Plus Fund for every pint, crowler, growler and 6 pack sold that day. Every dollar donated will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. All Rotary members are encouraged to share this event and also attend with families and friends. See you on the 24th!
 
Pints for Polio shirts can be ordered directly via Madison Top's website. The cost is $15. A portion of that will cover the cost of production and the remainder will go back to the clubs. The shirts, when ready, will be sorted by club and delivered for further distribution.
One Rotary Summit
We are Connected by Our Rotary Stories.  Stories inspire us - service transforms us.
 
Join us to learn how to be a better storyteller in words and pictures. Enjoy the easy fellowship of sharing stories. Make a plan to advance club Membership and Service goals through stories shared in two settings: Club Events and Social Media. 
 
You'll be glad you came.  We're looking forward to a fun event that strengthens and supports both you and  your club!
 
Food provided and cash bar available. 
Club Meeting: The Brain Game
Join us on Sunday, November 3rd at The Post for a social at 6:30 pm, then stay for our meeting at 7:00 pm. Our speaker this week is Past District Governor Bill Hoel of the LaCrosse Rotary Club. The Brain Game is a book developed by the Rotary Club of LaCrosse and given to every new parent in the LaCrosse, WI area. Now in it's 3rd edition, Bill will tell us all about how his club came up with this project and saw it though to fruition.

 

The Brain Game was born when the Director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families spoke to the Rotary Club of La Crosse, WI. She was excited to spread the word of new, cutting-edge research into early child brain development. More than ever before, scientists discovered that proper stimulation of children in the first three years could play a huge role in growing a healthy brain.

Interested in getting this information into plain English (and later Spanish), which regular parents could use, a coalition was formed. This group effort involved pediatricians, early childhood development experts, neonatologists, in partnership with two major medical centers, local schools, and parenting resource agencies.

After two years of research, the first book was published. Since that time, every new parent in the La Crosse, WI area has received a free copy. The book has been purchased for use by major city charities, medical centers in many states, and service clubs across the US and Canada. It has even been translated into Spanish. Now in its third edition, it has been substantially revised after surveys, follow up studies with pediatricians, and much feedback from parents

Humanitarian Trip to Nicaragua
Dave Warren, of the Rotary Club of Janesville, has helped design a portion of this multi-club humanitarian expedition to Nicaragua. The main trip will be from December 4th- 9th, and there is an optional add-on to stay and continue the visit through December 13th. There are several visits to schools and hospitals on the schedule, as well as distributing Christmas gifts. To see the entire schedule, costs, and how to sign up, click on "Club Documents" on the upper right of our website, and choose the Nicaragua Trip folder. The details of the trip extension that Dave has planned can be accessed here. Contact Dave Warren for more information and answers to your questions, too.
President's Challenge
Have you started the President's Challenge yet? How far along are you? Attend a meeting to track your progress with other members! 
 
Download your own copy of the Challenge and win!
 

Prizes will be awarded to the first person to complete items 1-7, everyone that completes items 1-7 before December 31, 2019, and to anyone that completes items 1-12 before June 30, 2020.

Read more...
Upcoming Events
Service Event - UW Arboretum Restoration
UW Arboretum (Grady Tract)
Oct 19, 2019
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Club Meeting: Will Harris, WCCN
Oct 20, 2019
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Pints for Polio
All Great Dane Brew Pub locations
Oct 24, 2019 11:00 AM
 
One Rotary Summit
Hilton Garden Inn
Oct 29, 2019
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Lussier Community Food Pantry
Lussier Community Education Center
Nov 02, 2019
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Club Meeting: The Brain Game
Park Hotel
Nov 03, 2019
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Lussier Community Food Pantry
Lussier Community Education Center
Dec 07, 2019
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
 
View entire list
Russell Hampton
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