Dist Gov Elect Julie Craig

 

District Governor Elect Julie Craig visited us on Oct. 14. Craig, a member of the Kenosha West club, provided a fascinating review of our District and of Rotary itself. Among the many highlights she provided:

 

- Membership in Rotary is 1.2 million, up 34,000 worldwide (though our district is down a bit).

- 2016-17 is the Centennial year for The Rotary Foundation. Rotary predicts that polio will be eliminated during that year, Craig says.

- There are 54 clubs in District 6270 with more than 2,900 members.

- In the past year, those members donated more than $325,000 to Polio Plus and The Rotary Foundation. "Our District is very passionate about this," Craig says.

 

Because appealing to young people is so important, Craig reviewed the World Affairs Seminar (300 participants this year) and Rotary Youth Exchange program. In addition, she discussed Rotaract (for young professionals 18-30) and Interact (youth 12-18).

 

District 6270 has several priorities, Craig says. Chief among them are to support Rotary's polio eradication efforts and to build membership.

 

Craig invites all Rotarians to attend the focus groups she is holding around the District. What they learn at those meetings will help the administration "find a better way to run the District for the benefit of the clubs," she says.

 

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Rotary Club of New Berlin is proud to donate to the school district's music program. Club president Schawn Schnabl presents a check for $2,200 to Natalie Baertschy, Director of Choirs for New Berlin Eisenhower.

 

The money will be put toward a digital drum set. "We're pretty excited about it," Baertschy says. It will produce more varied and authentic sounds for such performances as "AIDA," scheduled for February 2016. While primarily for the benefit of Eisenhower's theater department, Baertschy says the choir and marching band will use the drum set on occasion.

 

This is the second consecutive year we have donated to the music program, for a total of $4,200. These contributions are made possible due to the successful KIDS From Wisconsin concerts we host in summer.

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In other news, Rotarian Stephanie Friemoth returned from maternity leave. She brought her little pride and joy, Lucy Adele, to our meeting Wednesday. Lucy, now two months old, decided against a grand appearance, opting instead for a long nap. Congratulations, Stephanie (and husband Bill)!