Changemakers Rotary Club

President's April Message
Changemakers has so many exciting initiatives!  We are sponsoring Mackenzie Carpenter, a Sun Prairie East High School sophomore, for the District 6250 Rotary Youth Leadership Award.  Mackenzie will attend the camp at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center in the Wisconsin Dells from May 9th through May 11th. Our current SPEHS Interact President attended two years ago, started the Interact Club, and last year was a RYLA counselor. 

We are seeking donations for Shelter Box, a Rotary partner, that aids people in need in natural disaster areas and in areas of political unrest.  We have set a $500 goal by June 10th and we are halfway there!  Thank you to all who have already contributed.  

Val Wachuta has been heading up our club’s pledge to the Operation Pollination project and Val will be sharing more information with you during our regular Friday morning meeting on April 4th.  If you cannot make it to the online live meeting, the meeting recordings and summaries are on the changemakersrotary.org website thanks to Val!

TriCon 2025 will be in Brookfield, Wisconsin on April 25-26. You can still register!  Attendees from three Rotary Districts from most of Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, and a portion of Minnesota will be there.  Come meet and network with fellow Rotarians, attend presentations, and enjoy the fellowship.  I hope to see you there!

One more thing, when I attended PETS and exchanged ideas with many other president-elects, they were incredulous that we have never met in person!  I  had never thought about it.  Another virtual club in the Chicago area meets once a month in person for fellowship.  I am open to any suggestions.  Perhaps we try an evening virtual social event first.  Let me or any of the other club officers know if you have any ideas. 


 
April Meeting Recap
Find a full recording of the April 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. 
 
Thank you to current members.  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
 

Sharon Bradish has accepted the presidency for one more year and has attended the Midwest President-Elect Training Seminar. She will serve one more term, but needs help.  We are looking for:

Someone to serve as Co chair of the Service Committee

Someone to arrange for monthly guest speakers for 2025-2026.

Please talk to Sharon about any opportunity for you to serve your club.
 
Rita Wachuta-Breckel was the winner of our 50/50 raffle.  Congratulations Rita!
 
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 is in the same category.

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

Use the hashtags #servicebeforeself, #peopleofaction, and #rotary to add to service related social media posts.  Rotary has a presence in FaceBook, Reddit, TicToc and Instagram.

The next committee meetings scheduled time is April 22nd at 5:00.

The Ukrainian Refugee School service project is progressing.  Our district will match any donations 1:1

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. 

Operation Pollination is gearing up for the upcoming growing season.  Visit the Operation Pollination website.     We will have a presentation provided by ESRAG later this meeting.
 

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.

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.

Tri-con is coming up April 25-26 in Brookfield.  Sharon and Cathy are going.  

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.  Register here for the Rotary International Convention

Next month our speaker will be Elizabeth O’Donnell, a certified organic inspector for Midwest Organic Services Assn (MOSA).  She is National Organic Program (NOP) accredited.

This month we have a recording of Eric Toensmeier, talking about perennials, pollinators, and permaculture.  The recording was sent by the ESRAG Operation Pollination group. 

 

He provided information about ecological edible landscaping, food forests in urban settings, low maintenance delicious foods, easy native fruits and berries. 

 

He spoke about native plant species for pollinators and beneficial insects, native plant nitrogen fixers, and indigenous management history.  He shared lots of resources with us, all available in the recorded presentation. 

Sharon recorded an interview with Julie Zilmer, a member of our club and a third grade teacher who received a grant for establishing a pollinator garden at her school, for the students and the community to learn and enjoy.   Congratulations to Julie on getting this grant.
 

 
Volunteer!
Volunteer Opportunity LCEC Food Pantry
Title:  LCEC Food Pantry
When: Recurring - Second Saturday of the month from 10:30-12:30 
Where: 55 N. Gammon, Madison
Contact: Brad Matthiesen  bradleymatthiesen@gmail.com    608-469-9555
Website:
Description:  We should be there by 10:30 a.m., and our shift ends at 12:30 pm.  The food pantry is now providing in-person shopping.
 
Please let me know as soon as possible if you can make it, and I’ll confirm with you.  
Speakers
May 02, 2025 8:00 AM
MOSA Organic inspector/certifier
Jun 06, 2025
Visiting Philippines District 6250 Friendship Activities
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Service Project Committee
Apr 22, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Club Meeting
Zoom
May 02, 2025
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
 
Executive Board Meeting
May 13, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Service Project Committee
May 27, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
Club Meeting
Zoom
Jun 06, 2025
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
 
Executive Board Meeting
Jun 10, 2025
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Immediate Past President
 
Public Relations/Social Media
 
Club Service Chair
 
Club Service Chair
 
Youth Protection Officer
 
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile
Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7