Segueing Into a New Era at the Rotary Club of New Berlin
A challenging year gave way to a promising new one this week. Outgoing president David Grzesk passed the gavel to our new president, Olivia Kelley, during the Changing of the Guard, held June 22 at Cleveland Pub & Grill in New Berlin.
“It was a tough year, but I’m thankful we could stay together,” Grzesk says. A few club meetings took place at ProHealth Care Park in New Berlin. But – like most of the world – the club turned to technology when the pandemic made in-person meetings impossible. “Zoom allowed us to talk with each other and with like-minded folks,” Grzesk points out.
A regular attendee of PTA meetings, Grzesk met many people who shared a desire to help their community. “Perhaps [we could] tap into some of that passion to raise money for school projects and the like,” he thought at the time. Unfortunately, that was not to be. Yet he continued to hold regular meetings and maintained the club’s online presence.
Grzesk is glad for the opportunity to serve our club as president. Members present thanked him for his determined effort during that very challenging time.
Determined to rebuild the club
Noting that Rotary International’s theme for the new year is “Everyone Bring One,” Kelley says members should take that effort to heart. “If everyone at the table made it a goal to bring in one person” she says, ”we’d double the size of the club.”
Kelley, who also served as president for the 2012-2013 term, has a simple wish as well: “Try to get back to normal.” A good place to start is with in-person meetings. The club discussed the possibility of meeting again at the park, weather permitting.
Kelley is interested in reaching out to the City of New Berlin and to other clubs to assess what their needs are. And she’d like to partner with other Rotary Clubs on various projects.
Fundraising is very important for the Rotary Club of New Berlin. One possibility is a calendar sale. To encourage sales, there would be daily drawings for one month of the year. Cash prizes would be awarded to the lucky winners.
We also touched briefly on the murder mystery event, the club’s most popular and successful fundraising endeavor. That discussion will continue; stay in touch with the club for more details.
For now, please join us in welcoming Olivia Kelley as the new president of the Rotary Club of New Berlin.
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Introducing the World Affairs Seminar Students
On April 12, 2021, the two New Berlin students that were selected for sponsorship to attend the World Affairs Seminar were announced at the New Berlin School Board of Education meeting held in the Eisenhower Commons. They were introduced by Kelli Kwiatkowski, Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning, and Arthur Angove from Rotary Club of New Berlin. The student-delegates for this prestigious event will be Faith Lopez from New Berlin West and Laura Stadler from New Berlin Eisenhower. Congratulations Faith and Laura!
World Affairs Seminar is an initiative of Rotary District 6270, which comprises most of the clubs in Wisconsin. This event is designed to create global leaders and citizens through an international seminar with an innovative, rigorous program. The course is typically held at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., and involves high school students from across the US and around the world. Due to Covid, World Affairs Seminar has gone fully virtual for 2021. The theme for this year's program, which runs June 19-25, is "Cities: Urban Life in a Changing World”.
World Affairs Seminar is open to students of New Berlin West and New Berlin Eisenhower. If your child is interested in applying for the 2022 session, have him or her speak with their school's guidance counselor.
Pictured: Laura Stadler and Arthur Angove
Pictured: Chuck Stadler, Laura Stadler, Kelli Kwiatkowski, and Anne Stadler
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Rotary Peace Fellowship - Apply Today
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is the world’s most prestigious and generous fellowship. It is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Our fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 80 fellowships for certificate studies at premier universities throughout the world.
Choose the program that's right for you
Master’s degree programs
Master’s degree programs
Accepted candidates study peace and development issues with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body. The programs last 15 to 24 months and include a two- to three-month field study, which participants design themselves. Partner universities include: Duke University and University of North Carolina, Durham & Chapel Hill, USA; International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan; University of Bradford, Bradford, England; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Professional development certificate program
During the one-year blended learning program, experienced peace and development professionals with diverse backgrounds gain practical skills to promote peace within their communities and across the globe. Fellows complete field studies, and they also design and carry out a social change initiative. This program is intended for working professionals. University partners include: Chulalong University, Bangkok, Thailand; and Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Application timeline
The Rotary Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Rotary Peace Fellowship program.
Candidates have until 15 May to submit online applications to The Rotary Foundation. District endorsement is required, and districts must submit their endorsement decisions to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July. Click here for detailed information.
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Rotary: Doing good all around the world
The Rotary Foundation supports ongoing efforts to eradicate polio (now found in just three countries in the world!), bring clean water and sanitation services to impoverished communities, and build schools and other structures, to name just a few.
This video offers just a glimpse of the important work Rotary International does for the needy everywhere.
Welcome to Rotary Club of New Berlin!
New Berlin, WI 53151
United States of America