Events

MARIBETH WITZEL-BEHL has served as Madison’s City Clerk since 2006. She was appointed by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz; reappointed twice by Mayor Paul Soglin; and then reappointed by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.  She will talk about the checks and balances in place to prevent fraud, keep our elections secure and ensure every vote is counted.

LIZ CALLIN is a senior transportation planner at the City of Madison and specializes in transit, passenger rail, public engagement, and policy work.  She will talk about the City of Madison's Passenger Rail Station Identification Study which evaluates options and identifies a recommendation for a passenger rail station location that would be served by a planned extension of Amtrak's Hiawatha route. The existing Hiawatha route connects Chicago and Milwaukee and the extension to Madison is part of an overall expansion of Wisconsin’s passenger rail network which also includes new connections in northeast and northwest Wisconsin and is supported by the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Liz will discuss how a passenger rail connection could benefit our community, and outline next steps.

DOUG MOE is a former editor of Madison Magazine and wrote a daily newspaper column in Madison for two decades and has published more than a dozen books.

When MIKE LECKRONE retired as director of bands at the University of Wisconsin in 2019, he had served in that role for an astonishing fifty years. A brilliant showman, he became known for aerial stunts and sequined outfits. He created the Fifth Quarter celebration that follows all home football games, removed barriers for women to march in the band, and established regular appearances at Camp Randall by special-needs high school musicians. 

On October 9, our club will host a discussion of their new book, Moments of Happiness which details the stories behind the highlights and the unglamorous work that made Leckrone's accomplishments possible. It both cements his legend and offers unprecedented insights into a career that will never be equaled.

Senator MELISSA AGARD was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2012, and is currently serving in her fifth term in the Wisconsin State Legislature. She was elected to the State Senate in November 2020. She represents the 16th Senate District, which encompasses much of the north, east and south side of Dane County. In 2023 she was elected unanimously by her colleagues to serve as Senate Democratic Leader. 

A former small business owner, DANA PELLEBON's 30 year career in affordable housing, marketing & sales, human services, non-profit management, legislative experience, and the arts, has given her the breadth and width of expertise in a variety of industries. She is the current executive Director of RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center.

TOM LOFTUS served as U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway from 1993 through 1997. A member of the Wisconsin Legislature from 1977 to 1991, he was the longest-serving Democratic Speaker of the Assembly, from 1983 to 1991.  He will share stories of the true and historic adventures he had as the U.S. ambassador to Norway during the mid 1990s when NATO was expanding; Germany was reuniting; Norway was hosting both the Oslo Accords and the Winter Olympics; and Loftus was wining, dining, and most importantly, negotiating his way through it all! From dancing with the queen to negotiating with the Russians, Loftus will share tales of the big stakes, historic moments, and the fun times detailed in his book "Mission to Oslo".  Copies of Tom's book will be available for sale at our October 23 Rotary meeting.

ZACH BRANDON became President of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce in November 2012.  His presentation will be a peek at the economic trends driving the projections of an additional 300,000 residents in Greater Madison by 2050. Zach will highlight our economic and demographic growth, emphasizing the need for dense, transit-oriented development and resilient infrastructure. Rooted in collaboration for the collective good, members and guests will be challenged to dive deep into pressing housing and transportation issues, ensuring a vibrant and prosperous future for all.

STEVEN BARTLETT is Director of Public Relations for Badger Honor Flight, an organization whose sole mission is to fly veterans to Washington DC to see the memorials built in their honor.  The Honor Flight Network provides all amenities to the veterans, including all transportation, meals and lodging. Everything is free to the veterans because of how much they have sacrificed for this great country already.  His presentation will cover the history of the Honor Flight program, both nationally and locally. He will also provide updates on its success which will include a brief video of one of the veterans’ trips.  In addition, club member GARY PETERSON will share some highlights from his recent honor flight on November 2.

MICHAEL WAGNER  is the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea, the Director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal, and the Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison.   He is also  a faculty affiliate at the Elections Research Center at UW-Madison.  His Rotary presentation will describe how the slant, diversity and extremity of the different news sources people used to get information, the individuals they talk to most about politics, and the issue preferences they held, influenced their vote in the 2024 presidential election. 

RENEE MOE is President and CEO of United Way of Dane County.  She joined our club in 2006, and serve as Club President 2013-2024.  Volunteering not only broadens your skills and connections but also plays a crucial role in building stronger, more resilient communities. As many people experience increased isolation and disconnection, volunteerism offers a meaningful way to foster learning, find purpose and contribute to positive social change. Renee will talk about ways to find volunteer opportunities that align with your values and time, and help you inspire others to step up, creating a ripple effect of support and engagement across our community and beyond.

JOE GOTHARD is a native Madisonian who moved away to Minnesota and returned in May of this year to become superintendent of the Madison Metroplitan School District.  He is the recipient of several awards including the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year Award from the American Association of School Administrators and the 2024 Minnesota Superintendent of the Year Award from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators.  His presentation will highlight the focus of his work – people, purpose and pride. Joe will outline what’s next for the district following the successful passage of the referenda--from innovative programs and initiatives to modernized facilities and learning spaces that support student learning. He will highlight MMSD’s demographic shifts, this year's increased enrollment, and MMSD’s traditions of excellence. Joe will share his vision for Destination MMSD and the district’s pivotal role in educating students and preparing the future workforce. 

REBECCA REDMANN joined the Lullaby Project at the Overture Center for the Arts in 2021 and later became the Lead Teaching Artist for the program.  She will be speaking about the Lullaby Project and its impact on local families.  She will also share snippets of some of the songs that have been created in the five years that Overture has been part of the Lullaby Project, and she will share one song in a live acoustic ("unplugged") performance.  

JOHN KOSKINEN is the Chief Economist for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and has served in that capacity for several administrations.  The Wisconsin Economy enters 2025 with the strongest economy it has had in a generation.  Koshkinen's presentation will review the multiple facets of Wisconsin's improved competitiveness in its region and nationally.  This provides a foundation for Wisconsin to continue a strong economy into 2025. 

For many of us, our knowledge of the contributions of African Americans in America is limited. Historically, the contributions and stories of people of color in America have been omitted or ignored in American history textbooks. During JUDGE DEREK MOSLEY's presentation, he will examine the many contributions of African Americans and help us fully understand that Black History is indeed U.S. History. On this journey, we will meet people and hear stories that will amaze , enlighten and inspire.

JAY ROTHMAN began his tenure as the ninth president of the Universities of Wisconsin on June 1, 2022. With 13 universities and a statewide extension network, the UW is home to world-class education, research, and outreach, serving approximately 161,000 students and awarding nearly 37,000 degrees each year. President Rothman leads a statewide workforce of some 35,000 faculty, academic staff, and university staff, and is responsible for the UW’s $6 billion annual budget. 

The Universities of Wisconsin serve more than 162,500 students.  These 13 public universities are Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live.  Providing a 23:1 return on state investment, the Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.

President Rothman will discuss the Board of Regents approved budget request for the 2025-2027 biennium and its importance for the people of Wisconsin.

Ecologist Jeb Barzen explains what’s behind the comeback of bald eagles in Wisconsin and the on-going efforts to protect and understand them. We’ll learn more about this fascinating raptor found soaring in large numbers in Sauk Prairie these days and what we have learned from them. 

JIM LATTIS is director of the UW Space Place and a native Madisonian. He manages the historic Washburn Observatory and teaches course in introductory astronomy and its history as well as leading many trips focused on astronimical tourism. He will discuss some of this year's current and upcoming astronomical events, including current solar activity and the associated auroral activity, solar and lunar eclipses, and what the planets are up to in our night sky.

Like the rest of the world, Wisconsin is experiencing climate change and its impacts. The past two decades have been the state’s warmest on record, and the 2010s was Wisconsin’s wettest decade. How can we put these kinds of climate changes into historical context, and what does the future hold for our state? For many years the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) have been documenting climate change and its consequences across the state. STEVE VAVRUS's presentation will highlight some of the major trends and effects, including those associated with extreme weather.

The landscape of behavioral health crisis care in Dane County has developed significantly in recent years. While Journey Mental Health has provided a 24/7 crisis hotline as well as mobile crisis response for decades, Community Alternative Response Emergency Services (CARES) adds a fourth branch of emergency response to 911 calls. SARAH HENRICKSON, Clinical Team Manager in Journey Mental Health Center’s Emergency Services Unit, and SHANE QUELLA, a CARES Crisis Response Team Member will discuss a partnership between the City of Madison Fire Department, Journey Mental Health, and the Dane County Public Safety Communications (911) to dispatch a non-law enforcement response to behavioral health calls for service in Madison, with expansion into surrounding areas pending.

YANG TAO is the Director of the City of Madison’s Traffic Engineering Division, which has over 150 employees and is responsible for the City’s pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle transportation systems. 

Yang will talk about the City of Madison’s Vision Zero Initiative, an innovative strategy aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all road users in Madison. He will discuss the progress the City has made so far, such as implementing the Safe System Approach, enhanced public engagement, the new Safe Streets Madison Program, speed management, and the team’s successful efforts on securing over $10 million of safety related federal grant funding. Yang will also share lessons learned along the way.

Regardless of your role, what are people, customers and business partners looking for in you? What is the workplace culture you have created with your team that leads to success? Creating a mission driven culture with compassion and trust turns satisfied customers into loyal customers. In addition, if the work we do is tied into a purpose beyond profits, our job satisfaction increases substantially and employee turnover is reduced.  Guest speaker JOHN McHUGH, Vice President of External Affairs for Kwik Trip, Inc.,  will explore the role you play in your organization’s success and how you can find the key people to help you achieve that greatness. His examples and stories are ones that you won’t forget.

JEN RUBIN, the former producer of the Moth StroySlam, and DANIELLE HAIRSTON GREEN, a host of the Moth StorySlam, will talk about the Moth, a nonprofit organization that celebrates the commonality and diversity of human experience through the art and craft of personal storytelling, what type of storytelling events are happening in Madison and the benefits of storytelling for both the audience and the teller.