Attendance: Members Present: Aubree Hanks, Brent Yauchler, Dr. Steve Salerno, Elizabeth Grabe, Gary Tree, Heidi Kopras, Mark Rooney, Peggy Zalucha, Gabe Altenbernd, Russ Christian, Susan Smith, and Franke Wallitch.
Guests: Aria Johnson, Mackenzie Meinholz, and Maddie Becker.
Student Representatives and Introductions
Aria Johnson, Maddie Becker, and Mackenzie Meinholz, Mount Horeb Area School District Club Interact representatives, joined the meeting to share their experiences. Aria and Maddie, both Board of Education Student Representatives, discussed their participation in the World Affairs Seminar.
Mackenzie Meinholz plays on our girls' golf team and is an esteemed member of FFA. Aria is involved in DECA, Model UN, Best Buddies, and dance, and is currently working on college applications. Best Buddies is a newer club that pairs students with disabilities with peers to encourage friendship and inclusion. Maddie participates in swimming, spring track, and dance.
Happy Bucks
Susan celebrated securing three tickets to a World Series game. Mark shared highlights from exploring caves in southern France and traveling by rail in England with his son, David, including a visit to King’s Cross. Heidi recounted a two-week trip to Greece with her daughter, McKenna, and asked members to keep her friend Sue in their thoughts following the recent death of Sue’s 24-year-old son, Michael.
Russ shared that Django was scheduled for surgery with Dr. Bear, followed by an anticipated recovery period of six to nine months. Gary reported making significant progress on a basement cleanout, donating multiple truckloads of items to St. Vincent de Paul. Steve shared that his wife is preparing to retire beginning January 31 and recently traveled to Switzerland with friends.
PolioPlus Campaign and October 24 Event
The club’s PolioPlus awareness campaign will continue throughout October. Members discussed an awareness walk scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at 9:30 a.m., with Interact students helping to participate. Volunteers will meet in the Middle School parking lot and walk along the street carrying signs to raise awareness of Rotary’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio.
The event will emphasize public awareness, with donations welcomed. Social media posts and additional outreach are planned, with Susan assisting with outreach efforts. Permission from MHASD will be needed to use the Middle School parking lot.
World Affairs Seminar Presentation
Aria, and Maddie attended the World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University in July. The experience brought together students from more than 20 countries to explore global issues, develop cross-cultural understanding, and participate in discussions and simulations focused on diplomacy and international relations.
One activity explored the global impact of fast fashion through a diplomacy simulation. The students also heard from speakers with diverse backgrounds and experiences and completed individual capstone projects.
Aria shared how the seminar reinforced the importance of making others feel welcome and included. During the week, she befriended Patrick, who shared that he felt he had few friends. The experience encouraged Aria to be more intentional about reaching out to others and helping people feel they belong. She also described a powerful discussion about Afghanistan, during which a student her age shared firsthand experiences and the restrictions affecting daily life there.
Aria’s capstone project used a “Where’s Waldo?” theme to explore inequality in Afghanistan, including differences in housing, education, opportunities, and personal freedoms. Her project also considered possible solutions to these challenges. Aria shared the seminar’s tradition of signing a commemorative T-shirt.
Maddie highlighted a presentation about artificial intelligence in classrooms. One takeaway was that generative AI often produces common or predictable responses, reinforcing the importance of developing original ideas and independent thinking. The students also learned about the intercultural interaction continuum and how people engage across cultural differences. Maddie’s capstone project focused on global education and the choices people make in their interactions with others. She also brought a Guatemalan worry doll as a keepsake from the experience.
Club Administration and Officer Nominations
Members were encouraged to begin considering nominations for club officers. Anyone interested in serving or recommending a candidate should connect with a past president or the current president.
The shared Google Calendar has been updated by Liz to include important deadlines, administrative and grant reminders, fundraising activities, board meeting dates, and links to meeting agendas.
Thanksgiving Meal Delivery
The club discussed plans for the annual Thanksgiving meal delivery, including potential assistance from High Point and coordination with the Senior Center, which is collecting recipient names. Members emphasized the need to establish a firm deadline for referrals and final counts to avoid duplicate recipients or late additions. The proposed deadline was approximately 13 days before Thanksgiving, potentially November 16, because High Point needs the final count 10 days in advance.
Coordination with the Senior Center will help publicize the opportunity, gather referrals, and ensure recipient lists are consistent. Meals are expected to be ready around 11:00 a.m., with volunteers gathering around 11:30 a.m. to begin deliveries. A volunteer offered to coordinate drivers again.
