Wednesday, January25, 2012 from Noon to 1:30pm ($15 per person)
At North HillsCountry Club, N73 W13430 Appleton Avenue in Menomonee Falls
For reservationscall Mary Jo McGraw, 262-844-1272

Rotary International, and its partners, continue their campaign to eradicate polio in every corner of the world. Rotary will not stop its efforts until Polio is totally eradicated!

 
Locally, Menomonee Falls Police Chief ( AND ROTARIAN ) Anna Ruzinski is the spokesperson and face on this Year's Polio Awareness Campaign. Look for Chief Ruzinski on posters and signs around town where she shows us just how close we are to ending this dreaded disease. Included in the campaign, look for "Extinguish Polio" Banks where you can help contribute to this important effort.

For more information about Rotary's work to eradicate polio and the work of the PolioPlus Partners Task Force, and how you can join in the effort, please visit www.rotary.org

Special thanks to Harry Stoetzel and Menomonee Falls Local Cable access channel for taping and regularly airing Public Service Announcements about Polio Awareness and Rotary International. And thanks to all the banks and businesses displaying the posters and banks.

 Menomonee Falls Rotary Club Member and General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn  at Park Place, Daryl Johnson, participated in a food drive challenge with a  co-worker who is a member of the Mequon-Thiensville Sunrise Rotary Club.  Daryl's team won the challenge.  As a result, approximately 300 pieces  were donated to the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry.

   Daryl Johnson pictured with MF Food Pantry Director, Kathy Wodushek,inside the food pantry.

At the Dec. 7th meeting, Danielle (Dani) Richmond was honored as Rotary's Student of the Month! Kathy Martin, principal from the Ben Franklin school system introduced Dani and shared a very moving and powerful story about Dani, and the type of person she is. Dani was also accompanied by her classroom teacher and parents.

Dani was born with many defects, including the need for a breathing tube, and multiple surgeries to insert rods to brace her back. Today, her nickname is “heart breaker”, which describes Dani to a tee. Described as "a good student, a good friend, and a bit of a mischief maker". Dani has overcome many of the disabilities she was born with and her positive attitude doesn’t let her physical challenges take away her spirit. 

Congratulations Dani, and keep up the great work!!!

Two new members were inducted into the Menomonee Falls Rotary Club at last weeks meeting. In the center is Ric Hartman, Hartman Design, President Elect inducting Shelli Manning (L) of Associated Bank & Josh Schoemann (R) Village Manager of Richfield. Looking on are Mike Bauman,(far R), Membership Chair, Joseph Douglas Homes & Remodeling/Realty Executives & Bob Baer (far L) of Dan's Tog Shop, member sponsor.

Rotary November Student of the Month Mindy Yadar a 5th grader from Marcy Elementary School talks about herself while school principal Michelle Trawicki (far right) & Teacher Erin Pandia look on. 

After 25 years of hard work, Rotary and it's partners (including Bill Gates) are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions. Polio still lives in our world! Just this month there was another outbreak in China - where they were Polio free for 11 Years!!!  We are literally "This close". Visit www.rotary.org/endpolio

Awareness is half way to success, here is a link where you, your friends, and associates can go to help contribute to the Polio Campaign:

http://www.rotary.org/en/EndPolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx

A huge thank you to all of our attendees and sponsors who made this year's Grapes & Hops event a huge success. 183 attendees were able to taste fabulous wines & beers paired with delicious food pairings prepared by the chef's of the Hilton. (The torch seared scallops were to die for) The highlight of the evening was the highly attended VIP tasting event, where guests were able to learn about, and taste a number of high end wines. They learned how to taste different wines as well as how to differentiate different wines.

Guests were treated to numerous raffle and silent auction opportunities and many walked home with some great items, including Aaron Rogers images, hotel stays, wine baskets, golf foursomes and a Lake Michigan boat ride. 

A special thank you to our sponsors who made this all happen: MALKINS CARPETS, Community Memorial Hospital, Cornerstone Bank, Dianne Johnson, M&I Bank, Jerrold Wicentowski of National Planning Corp., Aurora Advanced Healthcare, Fast Signs, Circle Electric, Fall's Manufacturing, Associated Bank, Strosahl CPA's & Wealth Management, Falls Chiropractic, Pool Park, Tri-City Bank, Marcus Corp., Gehl Floor Covering & Kathy Cooke.

We look forward to an even bigger and better event next year. Plans are already in progress. See you then.

The Menomonee Falls Rotary Club is proud to welcome Dr. Patricia Greco into our club. Pat was a Rotarian in west Bend and recently moved to Menomonee Falls to take over the position of School Superintendent, replacing Dr. Keith Marty, also a Rotarian. Shown in the photo are Pat Greco (L) Club President Ann Nitschke (C) and Membership Co-Chair Joe Miller.

The Menomonee Falls Rotary Club is proud to announce the addition of our newest member Dr Jess Thomas. Jess is originally from Waterford where his father has been a Rotarian for many years. Dr. Jess recently took over the Orthodontics practice of Dr. McGowan. His practice is located on Menomonee Ave, just west of Starbucks. We look forward to having Jess as a member of our club and helping make Menomonee Falls and the World a better palce.

          Dr Jess Thomas telling about himself                      Mike Bauman (C) and Joe Miller (R), membership Co-Chairs

                                                                                                                      Induct Jess into the Falls Rotary

http://fallscable-wi.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=2f5f224c5e08e32c794d77a2002202ff

At the Menomonee Rotary Club's annual Presidents dinner, Dennis Pollard was honored for his community involvment with the distinguished "Paul Harris Fellowship". Paul Harris founded Rotary in 1928 in Racine, WI. Rotary is now the largest service club in the world and is made up of over 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs around the world. Rotary's current mission is to wipe out Polio worldwide. We are 4 countries away. The Paul Harris Fellowship donation goes directly toward this effort.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is awarded to those who donate a minimum of $1000 to the Rotary foundation. This is a special society of individuals around the world. Kind of a club within a club. The presentation was made by outgoing club President Mary Jo McGraw with Dr. Sri Vasudevan, a club member and Pain Management specialist at Community Memorial Medical Commons talking about the great Person that Pollard is and the successes Pollard has achieved. Dennis is truely a deserving recepient of this award.

The Menomonee Falls Rotary Club has recognized Dale Lancelle of Menomonee Falls as the newest Paul Harris Fellow.  

A huge THANK YOU goes out to our sponsors and everyone who attended our "Rotary Evening of Grapes & Hops" event. The evening was well attended by about 140 of the most influential individuals from our area. Final counts are still out but it apprars that the event was a huge success and we should be able to make a nice donation to the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry as well as the Shelter Box, USA program.

Our Sponsors:

LEEKLEY LAW OFFICE, KESSLER DIAMONDS, Malkins Carpets, Community Memorial Hospital, Cornerstone Bank, K.C.'s Cafe, Thrivent Financial-Ann Nischke, M&I Bank, Federal Wehlan Moving & Storage, Strosahl CPA's & Wealth Management, AAA-Kerry Gillis, North Hills Country Club, Jerold Wicentowski, CFP- National Planning Corp., Met Life-Mike Russo, Calderone Club.