Speakers

Our club's Annual Rotary Youth Awards Program honors Madison high school students for their scholastic achievements and contributions to the Madison community by receiving Rotary certificates and cash awards.

BEN AUSTIN is the Sustainability Lead at J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. headquartered in Madison.  He will provide a definition of sustainability and its current trends in the marketplace. Ben will also share some local examples of why organizations are acting on sustainability for a better future.

For almost 40 years, KAREN OBERHAUSER and her students have conducted research on several aspects of monarch butterfly ecology; this research depends on traditional lab and field techniques, as well as the contributions of a variety of audiences through participatory science.  Karen will describe the amazing biology of migratory monarchs, how we can use data collected by scientists and public to understand what is driving monarch numbers, and what we can do with that information.  Her take-home message will be how we can address species conservation—in our own gardens and beyond—in the face of climate and other human-driven changes.

A Rotary Scholarship Committee annually selects students from each participating Madison high school to receive 4-year MRF Scholarships. Applicants chosen are students with high academic standing and with character and leadership ability who have made contributions to their schools and communities and have financial need.  In addition to financial support, some of these students will have a Rotarian Mentor as a way to help them transition into college and will be available for counsel during their continuing coursework.  

Volunteers have agreed to hold Breakout Luncheons in their offices or conference rooms on June 5.  Members must register in advance to attend one of these luncheons.  Deadline for reservations is May 15, 2024.  Contact the Rotary office for more details and to sign up to attend one of the locations.

RI President GORDON MCINALLY is a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, Lothain, Scotland.  He is a graduate of dental surgery at the University of Dundee, and he owned and operated his own dental practice in Edinburgh.  He says, "My vision is to see Rotary continue to change and reflect the times, especailly at this pivotal moment.  The opportunities with which we have been presented will shape the direction we take over [the next] several years." 

Another Rotary year is coming to a close, and on June 26 we bid farewell Club President CHARLES McLIMANS. We thank him for his Rotary service over this past year. Charles will hand the gavel to incoming president JASON ILSTRUP. Then, following our club's tradition, we will review and highlight key accomplishments over the past year.