Attendance
Members present included Russ Christian, Sarah Straka, Keith White, Dana Fager, Judy Steinhower, Dave Reed, Mark Rooney, Heidi Kopras, Gary Tree, Elizabeth Grabe, Peggy Zalucha, Shawn Bollig, Brent Yauchler, Tracy Deihm, Aubree Hanks, Melissa Lease, Laura Armstrong, Susan Smith, Steve Salerno, Jon LaVenture, and Dr. Steven Salinger.
Guests attending included exchange students Zandra Heilmann and Katharina Schneider.
Happy Bucks & Member Updates
Dana shared that she recently spent time with the baby and described her as “a dream.”
Tammy shared that although the hockey playoffs ended in a loss, the positive news is that all three family members are finally back home.
Susan shared a “sad buck,” explaining that she was supposed to be traveling to Wyoming but had to cancel at the last minute because her husband, Ben, experienced a subdural hematoma, or brain bleed. Fortunately, his condition has stabilized, and she is hopeful they may still be able to travel later this summer pending approval from neurosurgeons. She also reflected on how fortunate we are to have access to excellent medical care locally.
Laura shared that she and her family spent the weekend in Chicago visiting several museums, including the Field Museum. They also enjoyed a river tour and joked about becoming “personal friends” with the tour guide after spending so much time exploring the city’s cultural attractions.
Brent shared two happy bucks. First, he is heading to Sedona for five days with his brother for their annual “maintenance trip.” Second, he expressed sincere appreciation to Steve and Gary for stepping in at the last minute to handle scholarship presentations at Mount Horeb High School due to his early travel plans.
Scholarship Presentation & Albert Grove Scholarship
Discussion followed regarding the Albert Grove Scholarship, one of the largest scholarships presented by the club at Mount Horeb High School. The scholarship has grown to a $3,000 annual award.
Judy shared the history behind the scholarship. The donor, a 1972 Monroe High School graduate, participated in a Rotary-sponsored exchange year in Australia after being encouraged by Dr. Grove. That experience reportedly changed the course of his life, inspiring him to give back through Rotary. Since 2015, he has consistently funded the scholarship with the intention of making it a sustaining contribution. Judy also noted that the same donor contributed to the Hawaii property associated with the club’s $10,000 raffle fundraiser.
Club members reflected on how Rotary’s youth exchange and scholarship programs continue to create life-changing opportunities for students.
Exchange Student Update – Zandra Heilmann
Zandra introduced Katharina (“Katie”), who celebrated her birthday the following day.
Zandra shared highlights from the week, including a visit to the Japanese Garden in Rockford with other exchange students from the district. She also visited local attractions and spent time reconnecting with fellow exchange students before many returned home. She mentioned plans to visit Devil’s Lake over the weekend as part of another gathering with exchange students.
In addition, Zandra shared that she has Senior Night for soccer coming up and recently played in another soccer match. Although the team lost, she said they still had a great time.
A reminder was also shared that Zandra’s Going Away Party will take place on June 14 during Frolic.
AI & Phishing Reminder
Members discussed the increasing sophistication of AI-generated phishing emails and spam messages. A reminder was given to remain cautious with urgent-looking emails, texts, and messages, especially those appearing to come from familiar or trusted sources. Members were encouraged to pause before responding, carefully examine URLs and sender information, and remain alert to emotional “hooks” designed to create urgency.
Frolic Raffle Update
Please sign up for Mount Horeb Summer Frolic volunteer shifts, specifically the Rotary Food Service shifts and any other Rotary shifts that are available!
The club reviewed updates regarding the Frolic raffle fundraiser.
This year’s raffle features:
- $20 raffle tickets
- A $10,000 grand prize
Each member has been asked to sell five tickets. Approximately 45 tickets remain available for distribution. Members were reminded that tickets make excellent gifts and can also be sold during Frolic activities, including at the food stand.
The committee noted that this year’s raffle structure differs from previous years. Ticket quantities have been reduced to improve odds, and payout structures have been simplified. Members were encouraged to continue promoting ticket sales leading up to the event.
A SignUp Genius link for Frolic volunteer shifts is also being prepared and will be distributed soon.
Library Fence Restoration Project
Gary Tree and Peggy Zalucha provided an update on the Mount Horeb Library fence restoration project.
The project began with extensive power washing of the fence after it became clear that the old paint and weathered surfaces required significant preparation before staining. Most of the section facing the trees has already been completed, with approximately 25 feet remaining.
The fence will now be allowed to dry before volunteers gather for a staining workday. Premier Co-op’s Do It Center generously offered a 50% discount on stain supplies for the project.
Additional minor repairs are also needed, including the replacement of a split board and gate hinge repairs near the dumpster area.
Members expressed appreciation for the continued volunteer effort and community support behind the project.
Additional Announcements
A presentation was made recognizing Dr. Steven Salinger, including a gift and acknowledgment of Rotary’s Four-Way Test.
The meeting concluded with committee breakout discussions focused on locations, youth services, fundraising, outreach, and membership. Members also briefly discussed the use of AI tools for meeting transcription and note-taking, noting improvements in the technology’s ability to accurately capture conversations and speaker identification.
