Bill shared congratulations to Liz for earning a seat on the MHASD Board of Education. Brent celebrated his sister’s birthday. Sarah shared that her family successfully completed a spring break road trip to Florida in a truck and made it back safely. Susan announced that National Resource Foundation signups are open, with opportunities including trips to Effigy Mounds, York Prairie, and kestrel banding. Paul shared that his parents experienced a severe ice storm and power outage last week, but the family remained safe. Russ shared that Clementine will be attending Northwestern and also noted that his dental office is available if anyone is in need of services.

Zandra recently visited the Mall of America and spent time with friends at Stewart Lake. She has also begun soccer practice, though there is a concern that she may have a stress fracture.

Keith noted that the budget will be reviewed, discussed, and decided on April 15, with final edits to be incorporated by May 1. 

Brent shared that task force contributions from Paul, Russ, Susan, and others have now been incorporated into policy. 

Gary previously reported that voting for Community Grants awards will take place on April 14, with the awards ceremony scheduled for April 30 at the Violet Room. 

Upland Hills Health announced upcoming events, including the 10th Annual Sip & Savor on July 11 and the UHH Foundation Golf Outing on September 11. 

It was also shared that the Rotary Club will be recognized at the Green Team’s Bird City recognition ceremony April 14th at Stewart Park Shelter starting at 10 am. and that the Green Team will have an information table at the Mount Horeb Farmers Market on May 7 and 28th. Additional updates included the availability of styrofoam recycling program and plastic recycling through Anna Tranel’s Girl Scouts Gold Award project, which involves collecting stretchy plastics such as grocery bags and produce bags to create a bench. Donations can be made at the high school. Anna is also an active Green Team leader and recently attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, where she participated in leadership development activities.

Karen Carlock, Founder and Executive Director, and Alison Ludt, Director of Development, presented on the Black Earth Children’s Museum. The museum began in 2014 when the founders purchased the building with the intention of creating something meaningful for the community. Inspired by a visit to a small, hands-on museum in Marquette, they engaged the community in shaping the concept by inviting feedback on exhibit ideas and enlisting hundreds of volunteers. Local businesses contributed through sponsorships, including Culver’s, which supported the original kitchen exhibit.

Since opening, the museum has experienced steady growth, increasing from approximately 6,000 visitors in the beginning to around 20,000 visitors in recent years, along with about 350 family memberships. The museum operates seven days a week, with designated maintenance time, and offers approximately 4,500 square feet of space featuring 15–20 exhibits. The exhibits are intentionally low-tech and designed to engage children for about 15 minutes each, catering primarily to ages 2–8. Features include interactive spaces such as the Wacky Wetland, a ranger tower where children match birds to their calls, an art room with weekly crafts, and a rotating themed “food truck” exhibit.

The museum continues to build strong community partnerships and offers a variety of programming, including birthday parties, field trips, and rotating exhibits to keep the experience fresh. New initiatives include sensory-friendly hours on Sundays from 2–4 PM, featuring activities focused on sound, texture, and hands-on play. Upcoming programming includes a beekeeper visit and a seed planting activity. As a nonprofit, the museum remains committed to affordability, accessibility, and providing meaningful learning experiences for young children and families while continuing to grow sustainably within the community.
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