Day Meeting Minutes - 05/10/2022 (May 10, 2022)

Brian W. opened the meeting at the Pyramid Event Venue at 12:15pm and led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance followed with the Four-Way Test.

Guests

Third reading for Mark Hanke - induction

Student Rotarians

May be an image of 3 people, outdoors and text

Josy Cefalu – LMHS – 4 way test (April)--absent
Olivia Karlen – LMHS – bio (May)
- Lived in Lake MIlls since 3 yrs. old. Dog named Bacon. Brother Everett is away at college.
- Plays volleyball and soccer.
- President of Student council and Show Choir.
- Volunteers at Food Pantry in Madison
- Plans to attend St Olaf's for Pre-Med/Pre-Dental and Plans to participate in music program
Nina Sapp – LMHS – bio (May)
- Enjoys reading, baking, spending time with family.
- Has 1 brother.
- Dog named Leo
- Plans to attend UW-Whitewater to study Business and journalism.
- Member of Interact, yearbook, Tennis in high school
Caleb Koester –Lakeside – intro

Happy Bucks

Ed H
- Yesterday was his last day at previous employer and tomorrow is 1st day with new employer
Ken S
- Just returned from New York City. He visited the 911 memorial. There was a Fire Station 1.5 blocks from the twin towers...all firefighters from that dept. died that day. Nice place to visit, but would not want to live there!
- Met his great granddaughter that was born on his birthday. Surprised she is not walking yet...they are working on it!
Gerard
- Son graduated from University of Minnesota last weekend
Jenn C
- Spent Mother's Day in gym watching Son play.
- Daughter-1st in shot and discus at Poynette
- Lake Mills is hosting Regionals for Track--Monday May 23rd
Ginger
- Younger sister is getting married this weekend.
Scott T
- Visited family and played pickleball for the 1st time. Plans to play again. Lot of fun!

Fines

None

Birthdays

Amy 5/15^th

CLUB BUSINESS - Announcements and committee reports

Calendar raffle draw-Sponsor this week is Topel's Towing and Repair
- $100-243-Robert Fixmer
- $50-009-Ken Stetson
- $50-044-Tom Boycks
- $50-267-Barbara Reinke
- $50-165-Erin Naatz
  Tickets are still available.
RYLA -Saturday May 21st. Mick and Pam will drive.
Scholarships – Lakeside this Wed; LMHS Sunday 5/22
Hanging baskets report--moving well. Only 150 left of 450 total baskets
1. Thanks for presales
2. Farmers Market this week (Jenny and Raina this week)
Concrete is being poured this week and we will need overnight security to guard it.
Lake Mills Show Choir Next week
Beth Dunn will be taking over ordering of the meals. Email will be coming from her instead of Scott T.
Adjournment--12:40 pm
LM Rotary Foundation Election
- Board Member Election--nominations closed. none opposed.
- Candidate Janine Fixmer--voted in!

PROGRAM

History of our club continued...

Mick Selck has been doing a great deal of research and compiling the history or Rotary in Lake Mills. He shared with us more of his findings.

Although Lake Mills was not chartered until 1954 , there was talk of Rotary in Lake Mills as early as 1925. Rotary International, did an Extension Survey in 1925 to test whether Lake Mills would be a possible location for a club. The population of Lake Mills was listed as 1800 at the time. A.W. Engsberg a local banker was listed as a possible Chairman for an organizational committee. The suggested meeting location was the Cottage Hotel on main street. The club was not formed due to lack of interest.

In 1937, another survey was conducted. The Watertown Rotary President, Mr. Lehrkind came to Lake Mills to meet with Ralph Seward and Attorney Robert Ferry to discuss starting a club. Sadly, Seward's mother had just died and he was unavailable to meet. Ferry was opposed to the idea of Rotary, since it conflicted with a "men's club" that already existed in Lake Mills. They eventually had 12 sign up to form a group. There was dissention among the possible group members and Ferry still opposed. Ultimately, there was no Rotary Club is formed at that time in Lake Mills.

In 1953 Clarence "Pop" Wendt approached Rotary to inquire about starting a Rotary Club in Lake Mills. He lived in Fargo Mansion. He partnered with Bud Hughes, Ted Vitcenda who were members of the Watertown Rotary. Nov. 1st 1954 we were approved for our charter. A "dinner" meeting was held in Lake Mills on Tuesday Sept 30th, 1954 at 12:15 pm at the Cottage Hotel to discuss and finalize starting a Rotary Club. There were 25 business men invited. Reverend Fred Jordan was the keynote speaker. They enjoyed dinner and were led in song by "song leader" Kopheim. The application to join Rotary International as a Club was received on October 28th, 1954 and Lake Mills was admitted on November 1st, 1954.

The first Lake Mills Rotary Club officers were:

•Willard Hughes-- President

•Earl Ruepp -- Vice President

•Rev. James Wiengarth-- Secretary

•S. C. Sorenson -- Treasurer

•Robert Ferry -- Director

•Homer Graper-- Director

•Durward McVey-- Director

•Tom Nuebauer was appointed to set up the Charter night celebration with Watertown

•First speaker was Anis Karpes presented

Since the Lake Mills Rotary Club was formed in 1954, there have been several meeting venues:

1954-1968 @ Cottage Hotel

1968-1971 @ The Riverside in Milford

1971 @ The American Legion

1971 @ Catholic Church Catechetical Center

1971-2011 @ Pine Knoll (40 years with open bar at meetings!)

2011-2013 @ Carp's Landing in winter/Golf Course in Summer

2013-2020 @ EMS Building

2020 to present @ The Pyramid Event Venue

Over the years, we have stored supplies, banners and even Chariots in storage units in Lake Mills. Without a good system to track the "inventory" some items have been listed as "missing".

We are currently on an "Indiana Jones Quest" to find missing items, like the chariot. Contact a Rotarian if you can help us locate any missing items.

The Lake Mills Rotary always has creative fundraising ideas to help support community projects. In the 1980's we had a Steak and Hot Dogs Fundraiser Contest. Those who met the challenge got to eat Steak, while those who did not meet the challenge got to eat hot dogs. John Black was quoted as saying, "The Hot Dogs were delicious!"

Stay tuned for more Lake Mills Rotary History!

Thanks Mick for all your research and for sharing.

Meeting adjourned 1:00pm