Norsk News 5/6/26
Attendees
Dana Fager, Elizabeth Grabe, Peggy Zalucha, Amanda Braverman, Bill Cunningham, Tracy Deihm, Keith White, Russ Christian, Aubree Hanks, Brent Yauchler, Gary Tree, Steve Salerno, Laura Armstrong, Sarah Straka, Heidi Kopras, Dave Reed, Tammy Weidig, Shawn Bollig, 

Guests
Mary Thompson and exchange student guests Zandra Heilmann, Krystal Chang, and Katharina Schneider.
 

Welcome & Introductions
Amanda Braverman joined as a prospective member, sharing her interest in the club and the alignment she sees with its mission. The group also welcomed two exchange students—one from Taiwan, who has been in the U.S. for eight months, and one from Germany—who shared highlights of their experiences, including involvement in cheer, soccer, student council, DECA, and tech crew, as well as memorable cultural experiences during their time in the United States. It was also noted that Mary Thompson will be joining as a guest speaker at next week’s meeting.
 

Happy Bucks & Celebrations
During Happy Bucks, members shared personal highlights and celebrations. Shawn shared his joy about spending time with his grandchild, Theodore. Tammy reflected on her recent travels to Quebec and Montreal. Russ expressed excitement about Amanda’s presence, noting their shared connection through the same high school band teacher, and also celebrated student accomplishments, including performances at CODA, Clementine’s singing and performance in Milwaukee, and Django achieving a personal record in the triple jump.
 

Club Business & Budget Approval
There were no major foundation updates at this time. Keith White presented the proposed 2026–2027 budget, built on an estimated $30,000 in fundraising profit. Key allocations include 35% to New Generations (youth programs such as scholarships, RYLA, and exchange), 33% to Grants & Giving, 10% to Outreach (formerly PR/Diversity), 10% to unanticipated needs (operating and community), 5% to savings, and 2% to the Rotary Foundation. Following the discussion, two motions were approved: $500 was allocated from the 2025–2026 unanticipated funds to support the Interact Club, and an additional $500 was added to the 2026–2027 budget within operations to continue that support. The full budget, as amended, was then approved by the club.
 

Membership Update
The club celebrated the unanimous approval of Dr. Steven Salinger of the Gonstead Clinic as a new Rotary member.
 

Announcements & Upcoming Events
Several upcoming events and reminders were shared. The Green Team will host a booth at the Mount Horeb Farmers Market on May 7 from 3-6 p.m.
Members are encouraged to participate in the roadside cleanup on May 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the Springdale KwikTrip, with a reminder to wear closed-toe shoes, gloves, and long pants. Zandra’s going-away party will take place during Frolic on June 14. Frolic raffle tickets are now available at $20 each, with a $10,000 grand prize, and each member is encouraged to sell five tickets.
 

Community Grants Celebration
The club celebrated a successful community grants ceremony and expressed appreciation to all who contributed. Per Gary and the Grant Committee's great work, this year’s grant recipients included: UW–FDMH EMT Experience Program ($3,250), Mount Horeb Scholastic Book Fair ($875), Count the Kicks ($500), Morgan’s Caring Connection ($1,250), Bird City Coordinator ($750), Crumble the Pup ($1,500), Disagree Better ($500), and Mount Horeb Youth Softball Equipment & League Fees ($1,000), for a total of $9,625 awarded to support impactful community initiatives.