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July Message from President Sharon Bradish

Just a reminder to make our monthly July meeting a priority. The meeting has been moved to Friday, July 11th with social time beginning at 7:30 am followed by the meeting at 8:00 am. Come and meet our new district 6250 governor Michael Kloss who will be joining us that day.

Happy New Rotary Year! The 2024-25 year has ended with a big bang at the International Rotary Convention in Calgary with 16,000 participants from 140 countries. Among those were our two Changemakers Cathy Statz and LeRoy Kemnitz. We are looking forward to LeRoy’s August presentation about his amazing journey by bicycle from Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois to Calgary with a group of like minded Rotarians.

On Wednesday, June 25th I was able to attend a Zoom meeting from the convention. Arthur Kanegis, Director of the People Powered Podcast every Wednesday at noon Central, took us on a tour of the Peace House at the Rotary Convention. This is similar to the House of Friendship at TriCon. Arthur stopped at many of the exhibitors’ booths and especially focused on those related to peace.

Some resources that I learned about on the Zoom podcast are:
Rotarian Action Group for Peace rotaryactiongroupforpeace.org
Global Voices for Peace Globalvoices4peace.ca
Rotary E-Club of World Peace rotarye-clubofworldpeace.org

Rotary has 7 major areas of focus: Ending Polio, Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, Providing Clean Water, Supporting Education, Saving Mothers and Children, Growing Local Economies, Protecting the Environment, and Disaster Response. 2025-2025 Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick is in the right photo holding a peace pole. The map below shows the locations of Peace Poles around the world. Find out more about Rotary Peace Poles here.

For our 2025-26 year the Changemakers’ Service Committee has decided to focus on Promoting Peace. We have applied for a district grant to provide a Peace Pole for the Elmwood Elementary School’s Peace Pollinator Garden in Zion, Illinois. Whether we are awarded the grant or not, we will start sometime after mid July to collect funds for this very worthy endeavor started by Changemakers Julie Zillmer, third grade teacher at Elmwood. Please wait to send any donations until we set a start date for this project.

Julie is starting a project called Peace Gardens Global. Elmwood Elementary School is making connections with schools all over the world that have peace gardens. The goal is to: “foster cross-cultural collaboration, environmental education, and student-led conservation through hands-on learning and global sharing”. The Elmwood Elementary garden is accessible to the community.

If you have other ideas for service projects please let us know. Also, we are looking for speakers for our monthly meetings from October through July. If you have suggestions please share them with our board members.

We had a fruitful 2024-2025, let’s make 2025-2026 even better!

Biking to Calgary

LeRoy Kemnitz and several other Rotarians are cycling from Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston Illinois to the 2025 World Rotary Convention in Calgary Canada. Here are some photos from the first weeks of their journey, cycling, making new friends and spreading the Rotary word.

Evanston IL	Lake Michigan

Mountain Pass	Calgary

June Meeting Recap

Find a full recording of the June 2025 meeting here.

We recited the four way test to remind us of our Rotary ethics of truth, fairness, goodwill, friendships and beneficial to all.

Get more involved with Changemakers, we are looking for someone for membership committee, foundation committee, a President Nominee, grants committee and treasurer.

Thank you to current club officers, look for the full list on our website.

LeRoy is currently cycling to Calgary, starting at Rotary headquarters in Evanston Illinois. Follow his progress on our website.

Cathy will be attending the International convention at Calgary, and will volunteer to help if needed.

Sharon and Cathy are currently at the Friendship Exchange in Sweden June 4 - 15.

Val Wachuta was the winner of our 50/50 raffle. Yay Val!

Welcome Hannah Roberg, the newest member of our club.

We will start to use the Rotaryhashtags in our facebook posts.

Executive board meeting is the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:00. All club members are welcome. We will be forgoing the June meeting this month because over half of the executive board is traveling this month.

We have achieved 17 of 18 goals for the 24 - 25 Rotary year ending June 30th. Polio Plus donations was the only one we fell short on.

Committee meetings are the 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:00. Next meeting will be June 24th.

The Ukrainian Refugee School service project is progressing. Our district will match any donations 1:1 The Hungarian Rotarians will be submitting the global grant application in the coming months, and will celebrate this milestone in autumn of 2025.

An international pen pal project is being set up with the Ukrainian Refugee School to enhance English proficiency and foster cross-cultural connections.

We are wrapping up our collection for ShelterBox USA, who provide shelter and supplies after natural disasters or in areas of conflict. Changemakers has collected $580. Thank you to all who have donated.

Operation Pollination is gearing up for the upcoming growing season. Plants are coming in fast, projects are under-way. Visit the Operation Pollination website, or find out more about the school project in Zion Illinois.

Sun Prairie East High School Interact Club completed two projects for the second semester!

•Letters of Love to make and send cards to patients in Children’s Hospitals and to involve elementary and middle school students

•End of semester book drive to donate books to elementary students to take home for the summer.

Changemakers Rotary sponsored Mackenzie Carpenter to the Rotary 2025 Youth Leadership Award. She attended camp May 9 - 11 at Upham Woods. Teegan Davis returned as a counsellor. The camp is designed to build future leaders and Rotarians. You can find out more about RYLA at rotary6250.org.

Next month, due to the July 4 holiday, our meeting will be on July 11th. The speaker will be our new district governor Mike Kloss.

Michael was born at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming while his father was in the service. Their family would spend several years in the service, including serving overseas on a airbase outside of Casablanca, Morocco, before moving to Wisconsin where Michael would spend much of his childhood growing-up between Eau Claire, La Crosse, and the Green Bay area. Eventually Michael and his family would move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Michael would finish high school and go on to receive a degree in Marketing at Indiana University.

Michael would also meet his future wife and best friend, Leisa, while in Indiana. They have been married since 1984 and have three children as well as a granddaughter who is in her senior year in high school. Michael and his family have long been active members of their communities and with the Boy Scouts of America. Michael himself has been involved with Scouting for over 40 years, including 12 years as a Scoutmaster and has had the honor of awarding 12 scouters with their Eagle Scout awards. In his time in Scouting he was also the recipient of the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, and Order of Arrow Vigil Honor. He also served as a Wood Badge Course Director and is currently in his eleventh year as VP of Program for the Chippewa Valley Council.

Beyond Scouting, Michael has also been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 1999, and is currently a member of the 4th degree with the Altoona council. While working with the Knights he has served as council Grand Knight for 5 years, the state District Deputy for two terms, and one term as Diocesan Program Coordinator. Professionally, he has been in Sales and Management for over 40 years. Currently he works for Airgas in Eau Claire as an Account Manager for large industrial manufacturers. He and his wife Leisa enjoy the outdoors, community events and causes, travel whenever possible and quiet time with their two dogs. Michael 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.

Sharon recorded her travels Walking the French Way of the Camino of Santiago in Spain. Watch the video for details, starting at 11:22.

A Message for June

Greetings, Changemakers. The new Rotary year starts on July 1st and this is like our New Year’s Eve, time to look back on our 2024-2025 year. Julie Zillmer and Rita Wachuta-Breckel joined us this year and in May we welcomed our newest member Hannah Roberg. Last fall Changemakers along with the Rotary Club of Jefferson each donated $500 for the upgrade of equipment for a mobile dental clinic sponsored by the Rotary Club of Metro Kalibo in the Philippines. In September Cathy Statz and I were part of the Madison contingent that hosted our Philippine friendship exchange partners for a week of Rotary fellowship and touring before they headed to a second week with their La Crosse hosts. Changemakers continues our support of the Ukrainian-Hungarian Bilingual School in Budapest. Plans are being made for a fall celebration of the global grant for which the Changemakers and other clubs in our district have raised funds. Our third service project, to raise $500 for Shelter Box by June 10th, will be completed soon. A big thank you to all who have donated this year. The Sun Prairie East High School Interact Club had an active and successful year and Changemakers sponsored a student to attend the District 6250 Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp in May.

Our fellow Changemakers are busy this month, LeRoy Kemnitz is on a bike ride with fellow Rotarians. They started May 23rd at the Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois with their destination being Calgary, Canada site of this year’s Rotary International Convention.

Cathy Statz will also be attending the conference. She is not biking to Canada because she and I will be on the District 6250 Friendship Exchange to Sweden from June 4th through June 15th. LeRoy, Cathy, and I will be sharing our experiences with you in future club meetings.

After being awarded an Illinois DNR grant, Julie Zillmer and her third grade students have built their pollinator garden. Julie is launching a new initiative Peace Gardens Global to establish a network of international schools that are creating peace and pollinator gardens. Julie’s goal is to “foster cross-cultural awareness, environmental education, and student-led conservation through hands-on learning and global sharing”.

Our new year starts July 1st. Due to the first Friday being the 4th of July, our regular monthly meeting will be on Friday, July 11th starting at 7:30 am for fellowship with the meeting starting at 8:00. Our 2025-2026 Governor Mike Kloss will be speaking to us as we are the first of his visits to every club in the district. Please make it a priority to attend this Zoom meeting in person. Let’s show our new governor that we may be small but we are mighty. Please invite your friends and colleagues to join us via the Zoom link on our changemakersrotary.org website.

I want to thank all of our current board members who will be continuing their roles into 2025-2026. Treasurer LeRoy Kemnitz, Secretary and Operation Pollination coordinator Valerie Wachuta, Public Relations/Social Media Peter Groth, and Service Committee Co-chair Cathy Statz, Youth Protection Officer and Co-Liaison to Sun Prairie East High School Interact Club.

Changemakers needs a President-Elect for the next year who will be President in 2026-2027. We also are open to new committees. If you would like to create a committee about something that interests you, let a board member know. Please consider these opportunities to serve our club.

Lastly, we mourn the recent loss of Dwight Heaney, one of the founding members of the Changemakers Rotary Club. Dwight was a driving force and a generous donor to this club until he was no longer able to actively participate due to his cancer. Dwight was a Paul Harris Fellow who generously donated to the Rotary International Foundation and distributed his remaining Foundation Recognition Points among our active members. Before he passed, Dwight and I exchanged several emails. He said he was watching our meetings and keeping up on our activities. His messages with his words of encouragement will always be with me as I continue as a proud member of the Changemakers Rotary Club. Dwight’s Rotary career is a true inspiration for us all. Thank you, Dwight. Memorial donations may be made to the Rotary International Foundation.

Fellow Changemakers, let’s go out and conquer our world this new Rotary Year!

Dwight Heaney Donates Foundation Recognition Points to Changemakers Members

The Rotary Foundation awards Foundation Recognition Points (FRP) for every donation made. Transfers of FRP are added to your personal total to qualify for a Paul Harris Fellow.

FRP can be given to anyone. Some Rotarians use FRP to award Paul Harris Fellows to family, friends, or other Rotarians. Clubs use FRP to encourage giving and service by their members.

Dwight Heaney has decided to use his FRP to recognize Changemakers members who are active participants this year. Nine Changemakers will be receiving this personal recognition.

A charter Changemaker, Heaney said: “I am very proud of the Rotarians who have stepped up to make our club a success. Every Rotarian I know finds deeper value to membership as their involvement grows.

Invite a friend to join you as we make our world a more peaceful place through humanitarian service.”

You can find your FRP on your Donor History Report. Login to My Rotary. Under the Foundation header, select Foundation Reports, then Donor History Report.

Rotarians Cycle to Rotary International Convention

Beginning on May 23rd 2025, a small team of Rotarians and friends of Rotary will embark on an epic 1800 mile, month long, bicycle ride which will take them from Rotary International headquarters to the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary.

Over their journey they will ride through seven states and climb over 78,000 feet. They will visit some of North America's most iconic parks and sights as they traverse a number of mountain ranges. During their adventure they will meet with Rotarians along the way and raise awareness of Rotary.

Each rider has a unique story and connection to cycling and Rotary which will be enhanced by this once in a lifetime adventure. Riding the entire way will be John Schultz, President of the Rotary Club of Linn County; DGE Ward Budwig of the Decorah Rotary Club; as well as past president of Changemakers Rotary Club, LeRoy Kemnitz. They will begin their ride with PDG Tom Drenan and other Rotarian friends from the Evanston Illinois area.

To learn more about their ride or get involved, please contact John Schultz at johnmschultz@gmail.com

May Meeting Recap

Find a full recording of the May 2025 meeting here.

We recited the four way test to remind us of our Rotary ethics of truth, fairness, goodwill, friendships and beneficial to all.

Get more involved with Changemakers, we are looking for someone for membership committee, foundation committee, a President Nominee, grants committee and treasurer. Thank you to current club officers, look for the full list on our website.

Founding member Dwight Heaney has recently distributed his accumulated Paul Harris Points amongst our active members. He has also donated $1000 to Changemakers Rotary Club. Thank you Dwight for your generosity and your many years of service to Rotary International.

Congratulations to Mary Van Hout, founding member Cheryl Mader's sister. Mary has been awarded the Rotary International Service Before Self Award. Only 150 members world-wide receive this award per year. Mary has been the President Elect Training Seminar Chair and has served as governor of district 6250. Mary is a member of the Middleton West Madison Club.

Rita Wachuta-Breckel was the winner of our 50/50 raffle. Congratulations Rita!

In order for our club to be eligible to receive grants, we need everyone to contribute $100 or more to the Rotary Foundation annually. It’s easy to participate in Every Rotarian, Every Year, go to MyRotary and set up ongoing payments, or make a single donation. Polio Plus does not count toward Every Rotarian, Every Year, but is a worthy cause, donations can be made the same way. Changemakers has a goal of $400 for the Rotarian year ending June 30th. So far we have donated $225.

We are still looking for new members. Invite people to our monthly meetings, post on social media.

The fourth Tuesday of the month is for committee meetings. The service committee is currently our only committee. The next committee meetings scheduled time is May 27 at 5:00. You are always welcome to join the service committee or attend our meetings. Everyone is encouraged to join a committee to enhance your Rotary experience. If there is something that you are passionate about that would help Rotary to advance its mission, let a club officer know and form a committee. If this time is not convenient, you can schedule your own monthly meetings.

An international pen pal project is being set up with the Ukrainian Refugee School to enhance English proficiency and foster cross-cultural connections.

We are currently collecting for ShelterBox USA, who provide shelter and supplies after natural disasters or in areas of conflict. Changemakers has pledged $500 by June 10th. We are half-way there, thank you to all who have donated.

ShelterBox and Ukrainian Refugee School donations can be made online at Rotary6250.org, under Foundation; District 6250 Donation Click on the Donate Now button and be sure to select ShelterBox - Changemakers Rotary Club in the dropdown. Alternatively, you can write a check to Rotary District 6250 Foundation and mail it directly to: Rotary District 6250 Foundation c/o Brian Watson, 4030 E. Stone Ridge Dr., Milton, WI 53563. Be sure to note our club name and which project it is for.

The Rotary Rose Bowl Parade Committee is also accepting donations through their website.

Changemakers Rotary is sponsoring Mackenzie Carpenter to the Rotary 2025 Youth Leadership Award. She will attend camp May 9 - 11 at Upham Woods. The camp is designed to build future leaders and Rotarians. You can find out more about RYLA at rotary6250.org.

Congratulations to our Sun Prairie East High School Interact President Teegan Davis. Teegan started this club and led it for these past two years. Teegan and her Cap City Cougars won the state hockey tournament Sportsmanship Award for the second time this year.

Sun Prairie East High School Interact Club has 3 projects for the second semester!

•Letters of Love to make and send cards to patients in Children’s Hospitals and to involve elementary and middle school students

•To make pollinator garden seed packets to pair with a small pamphlet and to hand them out at a community event

•End of semester book drive to donate books to elementary students to take home for the summer.

Sharon and Cathy attended Tri-con April 25-26 in Brookfield. They encourage all of us to attend next year on April 17 - 18 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Cathy is attending the International convention at Calgary, and will volunteer to help if needed. She went to the one in Sydney, Australia. LeRoy is cycling to Calgary, starting at Rotary headquarters in Evanston Illinois. Follow his progress on our website.

Sharon and Cathy will be going on the Friendship Exchange to Sweeden June 4 - 15.

Next month the speaker will be Sharon Bradish on Walking the French Way of the Camino of Santiago in Spain.

Liz O'Donnell, a certified organic inspector for MOSA (Midwest Organic Services Organization) spoke to us about her experiences as an organic inspector. The world of an organic inspector is to verify the process of organic production and handling by a farm or business seeking organic certification to meet the requirements of the USDA National Organic Standards.

The USDA organic logo signifies that a food product has been produced according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards. These standards cover various aspects of production, including soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and ween control, and the use of additives. The logo ensures the product is free from genetically modified organisms (GMO's) artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, and that it is not produced using synthetic pesticedes or fertilizers. The national standard was started in 2002.