Events

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. 

Carol Koby will lead a discussion on the book, One Nation Under Guns: How Gun Culture distorts our history and threatens our democracy by Dominic Erdozain. The book was published in 2024. This historical dissection of the American gun culture argues that the nation’s founders did not intend the Second Amendment to guarantee an individual right to bear arms and that this distortion is an urgent threat to democracy.

Guest speaker = John Cobb

John Cobb is the Associate Director of Retail Operations for St. Vincent DePaul, he will be speaking about sustainability in our community and how his organization supports those efforts. 

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.  

Join fellow Rotarians in volunteering for the Empty Stocking Club at the Alliant Energy Center on Thursday, Dec 12, 4:00PM - 6:30PM:

• 4 Volunteers Needed at Checkout
• 1 Volunteer Needed as Greeter/Registration

Book = Precipice ,a historical novel about the British cabinet during World War I, by Robert Harris

Meeting location is Rich Leffler's Home; if inclement weather, then mtg will be via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82032368763?pwd=ZEFqSDM2YjRhYUFERnFGSndFMTJQUT09

Meeting ID: 820 3236 8763
Passcode: 821622

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.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81758211401?pwd=WVFFMVcya3dCRnZNU2k0Z3dGcUhJQT09

Meeting ID: 817 5821 1401
Passcode: 968367

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

Meeting ID: 891 1792 5371
Passcode: 211495