Events

Dinner at Merchant prior to A Beautiful Noice, The Neil Diamond Musical

ANTHONY COOPER has worked for Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development since February 2013 as Director of Reentry Service and recently as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Reentry Services.  Having a strong foundation in financial management and business operations, MARK CASH continues to expand his expertise through ongoing education in technology, legal frameworks, and business practices bringing those skills to serve Focused Interruption.  Together, they will highlight building safer communities through engagement and support, and they will share data-driven insights, lessons learned, and future plans for expansion to address systematic challenges.  

Book = The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85239514533?pwd=IamquF88aQzMveRdJNbJOAviEOzb8p.1

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is a national leader in technology innovations and the use of data to inform decision making. Secretary DAVE CASEY will discuss innovations in customer service and fraud detection, including new tools to improve business and individual taxpayer experiences.  DOR also maintains a wealth of publicly accessible economic, tax and property data used by government agencies and businesses alike to plan for economic growth. He will also touch on the use of this data to round out this less than taxing discussion.

Going Green Fellowship members to meet with UW Madison students to discuss composting projects for 2025 and a Spring seminar about composting facts for community gardeners.

Do you know how many voting members are in the House of Representatives? What year the US Constitution was written? Passing the US Citizenship Test might be trickier than you think! Approximately 9.1 million immigrants in the US are eligible to naturalize but haven’t done so yet (US Department of Homeland Security, 2019). In this overview of the citizenship process, you’ll learn the basics: eligibility requirements, steps in the legal process, the four areas of the test, and how Literacy Network helps over 100 students on their citizenship journey each year. A tutor-learner pair in the citizenship program will also join us to share their experience working toward this essential milestone.

CAITLIN MACKESEY found her way to the world of adult education when she signed up as a volunteer tutor at Literacy Network in 2010. After studying languages at UW-Madison, she taught English in Marseille, France. Since 2015, she’s lead ESL and citizenship programs at Literacy Network for adult learners from over 100 countries. 

Guest Speaker = Trey Sprinkman

Congressman MARK POCAN was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In the 119th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.  He will share the latest news from Congress with Rotarians and guests.

Steve Wallman to report on Technological Republic by Alex Karp and Nicholas Zamiska

League Awards Banquet

THOMAS FRIEDRICH is a professor of virology at UW-Madison, where he teaches students about global health, HIV/AIDS and emerging infectious diseases. In his research, Dr. Friedrich works with teams of scientists to understand how viruses like influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and Zika jump species to spread and cause disease in humans.  His Rotary presentation will cover: 1) what we specifically know about the dairy cattle outbreak; 2) what we know and don't know about how influenza viruses jump species and cause pandemics; 3) how we access pandemic risks; and 4) what we can do the control outbreaks.

Morton Forest, Dane County Parks - https://parks-lwrd.danecounty.gov/Forest/Morton-Forest

https://parks-lwrd.danecounty.gov/ParkDocument/GetFile/543/MortonForest_OverviewUpdates.pdf

Total = 10 volunteers will make non-perishable boxes for drive through food pantry. This activity would include bending, twisting, lifting up to 20lbs, and being on your feet for two hours. 

Organizer = Jenni Jeffress

ZOOM DETAILS

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87381790527?pwd=uz4HCIscgGJUog659UGHx4BnqU9y5q.1

Meeting ID: 873 8179 0527
Passcode: 581217

MARK MALONEY is a member of the law firm of Blackburn, Maloney and Schuppert, LLC, focusing on taxation, estate planning, and agricultural law.  A member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA since 1980, Mark is currently serving as Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation. He also served as Rotary International president during 2019-2020 when he advocated for the addition of the environment as a seventh area of focus. He also emphasized strategies to grow Rotary, presided over the first virtual RI Convention that was organized during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased awareness of Rotary’s longstanding relationship with the United Nations.  Mark led a Group Study Exchange to Nigeria.

3-5 Rotarian volunteers to help Simpson Street Free Press students to edit their stoires that will be published online on May 10, 2025.

Organizer = Eric Krieghoff

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85239514533?pwd=IamquF88aQzMveRdJNbJOAviEOzb8p.1

Communities Learning to Invest and Mobilize for Business (CLIMB) has a mission to help teens and young adults to improve there financial capability through education and capital market engagement.  CLIMB's president, ROBERT WYNN, will provide an overview of CLIMB's work to date in our community and  its launchpad program elements.  In addition, Oregon High School senior PIERRE NICKLES will share his experience as a CLIMB Youth Leader.

Meet at Olin Park at 5:30PM Sharp

Ride with fellow Rotarians of our club and with Madison South Rotary members

9 Holes

Cost = $36/person with cart; $25/person walking

Going Green Fellowship members to tour the Dane County Landfill.  Tour organized by Mike Engelberger.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89117925371?pwd=NkxMUjNlTnQ5TC9JYkpLRzhtTmlydz09

Meeting ID: 891 1792 5371
Passcode: 211495

TOM BARRETT has served the people of Wisconsin at the local, state, national and international level for decades. After being mayor of Milwaukee for almost eighteen years, he most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg under President Biden.   He will discuss his three years in Luxembourg, the historical and present-day relationship between the two countries, as well as the challenges to the countries’ relations by China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Book = "The Great Rover: the Making and Unmkaing of the Mississippi"

Reporter = Joyce Bromley

Rev. Dr. ALEXANDER GEE, a native Madisonian, is the Founder and CEO of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture.  The center will serve as a multifaceted transformational space where Alex and his team challenge systemic barriers to Black wellness and flourishing, while fostering Black excellence through Pan-African cultural celebration, innovation, leadership development, artistic and theatrical expression, as well as intergenerational programming. The Center broke ground in 2024 and is scheduled to open its doors later this year.

Book = The Economic Consequences of the Peace by John Maynard Keynes  (Book #2 in a Series) 

First sworn into office in May of 2020, DAVID CROWLEY became the youngest county executive in the history of Milwaukee County and the first Black leader elected to serve in the role. On April 2, 2024, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was reelected to a second term. The fundamental tenet of Executive Crowley’s administration is to build bridges that bring people together, deliver prosperity for working families, and foster a safer, stronger and healthier Milwaukee County.

IAN ABSTON and our club president Jason Ilstrup created the Hoan Group—a private network of 160 civic-minded leaders focused on connecting the Milwaukee and Madison business communities.  Ian is a member of the Wauwatosa Rotary Club.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley  and Ian Abston will discuss the economic development opportunities and challenges that both Milwaukee County and Dane County are facing, and how partnerships will help create successful results for both communities, as well as the entire State of Wisconsin. As the two leading economic and educational engines of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Dane Counties share many of the same priorities. Addressing these shared priorities is critical in boosting economic development efforts, recruiting and retaining talented workers, and supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and contractors to grow Wisconsin’s economy. They will share their perspectives on how Milwaukee and Dane Counties can continue investing in innovation and leading the Badger State forward in building the Made-in-Wisconsin economy of today, tomorrow and beyond.

Guest Speaker is Russ Horton, WVM's Reference Archivist

A former small business owner and Dane County Board Supervisor, MELISSA AGARD was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2012, and served five terms in the Wisconsin State Legislature. She was elected to the State Senate in November 2020 and was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as Senate Democratic Leader in November 2022.  She was then elected as Dane County Executive in November 2024.  Agard will talk about renovation plans for the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

18 Holes  Cost = $116/person with cart

Broadway Show at Overture = MJ the Musical

GRANT SOVERN is the president of the board of the Community Immigration Law Center, the second in the country public defender service for immigrants threatened with deportation.  While we all know immigrants at our workplaces, schools, and families, almost none of us understand how dramatically the US immigration system has changed from the welcoming woman with a torch in New York Harbor to today’s promises to deport millions of people.  The basis of the misunderstanding is the various words and statuses we use to describe the immigration processes and who qualifies, or doesn’t qualify, for what.  While that may sound basic, Sovern's presentation will provide the vocabulary and understanding to weigh in more effectively at a dramatic time for this issue.   

18 Holes Cost = $142/person with cart & range

Did you know that public library service was established as one of the first municipally-funded services for Madison in 1875?  Library Director TANA ELIAS will present the history and growth of Madison Public Library in the past 150 years and a preview of what's next for Madison's public library system.

Our Second Century Fellowship Group invites children and grandchildren to learn more about our Rotary Club and the many wonderful things we do as well as to see how it has impacted their parents and/or grandparents, neighbors, etc.  The master of chemical demonstrations and science policy advocate, UW-Madison Emeritus Professor of Chemistry BASSAM SHAKHASHIRI will share the fun of science by doing experiments at our meeting to learn, enjoy, and take good action for the benefit of our community.  

JOHNEISHA PRESCOTT is a housing program specialist with the Dane County Division of Housing Access & Affordability.  NICOLE CHRISTEN is program director for The Road Home Dane County.  They will talk about managing housing and shelter initiatives for Dane County, contract oversight, and cross-agency collaboration to address homelessness and housing instability.

The Economic Consequences of the Peace by John Maynard Keynes

MICHAEL KLOSS was invited to join the Eau Claire Morning Rotary Club in 2014.  He quickly became passionate for community service to both local and international communities and greatly enjoys the sense of self-fulfillment that he receives from helping others. During his time, he has been Club President for two terms; is currently active as their Foundation Chair; and has been the Assistant Governor for Group 1 for the past four years.  

Flying above the clouds provided a new and larger prespective of life for DIANE BALLWEG, and it also opened an inner door of personal possibilities.  An advocate of lifelong learning, Diane secretly took flying lessons for two years, surprising family and friends when she became a pilot.  She has flown to six continents, navigated remote airstrips, and retraced the flight path of Japanese fighter pilots on their approach to Pearl Harbor. Her love of flying inspired her to establish and teach an aviation class at Edgewood High School.  On August 13, she will talk about her experiences that have culminated into a book titled, "Into the Wind, Above the Clouds: Love at First Flight."

The Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) reaches a milestone with the 2025-2026 season.  The MSO celebrates its 100^th Anniversary season and joins the ranks of many of the leading US symphony orchestras who have provided symphonic music to the communities they have served for 100 or more years.  Join Music Director John DeMain and Executive Director Robert Reed as they chat about what this means to the Madison region.

18 Holes  Cost = $115/person with cart; $90/person walking

SCOTT DIKKERS served as The Onion’s co-owner and editor-in-chief for most of its first 3 decades. He’s the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over 40 books and the creator of the  comic strip “Jim’s Journal,” as well as founder of The AV Club, and founder and proprietor of How to Write Funny, an online comedy-training center. His work has won the Thurber Prize for American Humor and a Peabody. He publishes a daily article on creativity and productivity on Substack under the banner, “No Dikkering Around." Scott's latest book, “The Onion Story: How a Band of Misfits, Dropouts, and Sad Sacks Built the World's Most Trusted News Source,” comes out in October.

My Friends by Fredrick Backman

Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau is the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor and Grace Wahba Professor of Computer Sciences at UW-Madison. Remzi is a widely renowned scholar, dedicated teacher, and a special advisor to the Provost on Computing and serves as the Director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. He co-leads a group with Professor Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau. Together, they have graduated 32 Ph.D. students and won numerous best-paper and test-of-time awards; many of their innovations are used by commercial systems, and their group is considered one of the leading storage-systems groups in the world. He and Andrea's operating systems book, "Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces" (www.ostep.org) is downloaded millions of times yearly and used at numerous institutions worldwide; despite being freely available, it has been the top-selling book on Amazon in operating system theory for many years.

Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau will present information about CDIS, the newest and fastest growing school at UW-Madison. His presentation will discuss its origins, current projects and programs, and new directions, in particular as related to the ongoing “AI moment” in the world.

Our Rotary Friendship Exchange guests from Turkey will be wrapping up their visit to Madison with a final night farewell celebration, and you are invited to join us on Thursday, September 11 at Valerie Renk’s farm in Sun Prairie for a Wisconsin-style tailgate party, complete with great food, good company, and plenty of international fellowship. Your presence will help send them off with warm memories of Madison and the friendships they’ve built here.

Cocktails kick off at 5:30 PM

Come as you are, bring a guest, and get into the spirit with your favorite team apparel—Packers, Badgers, Brewers, or your local favorite!

Dinner at 6:00 PM

Please bring a dish to share—something hearty, homey, or uniquely you. Think brats and beer, cheese curds, old-fashioneds, chips, salads, sweets, or whatever says “Wisconsin hospitality.”

Enjoy:

• Meeting Rotarians who love cheese almost as much as they love service above self 🧀
• Tailgate fun without the Camp Randall traffic or Lambeau frostbite 🧤
• Building international friendships one Johnsonville at a time 🌭
• Beautiful farm views, fresh country air, and maybe even a tractor selfie or two 🚜📸
• Wearing your favorite team gear with zero risk of being booed (unless it's the Bears!)

Help us give our Turkish visitors a final night to remember!

• RSVP to Margaret Murphy, MSMurphy4@wisc.edu or text: 920-268-2187 by Sept. 8
• If you would like to bring a dish to share, please sign up here:  https://doodle.com/sign-up-sheet/participate/9be53789-ff0b-43e9-bcf2-169421a65771/select

Looking forward to seeing you—let’s show them how Wisconsin tailgates!

18 Holes  Cost = $128/person with card & range;  9 Holes  Cost = $64/person

Join Executive Director of the Dane County Historical Society Rick Bernstein and Dane County Senior Planner Bridgit Van Belleghem, as they discuss the history and impact of racial covenants. These clauses, made illegal in 1968 with the passage of the Fair Housing Act, prevented non-Christians and non-Whites from buying or occupying land.

Rick Bernstein served as a Public Historian of 30 years with the Wisconsin Historical Society before taking on the Executive Director role. 

Bridgit Van Belleghem works with property owners in the Prejudice in Places project, and also works with rural landowners to preserve agricultural and natural resources in rural Dane County.