


Kurt Stanich, Airport Manager of the Waukesha County Airport, provided the Elmbrook Rotary Club (ERC) an excellent presentation. It began with the history of aviation dating back before the Wright Brothers December 17, 1903, flight at Kitty Hawk, as well as highlighting the development of aviation through the years, including the beginning and growth of the Waukesha County Airport/Crites Field located at 2525 Aviation Drive, Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Did you know, the first flight in Wisconsin took place in Beloit on November 9th, 1909.
“Since its humble beginnings in 1935, the Waukesha County Airport/Crites Field has evolved into a state-of-the-art facility meeting the unique aviation needs of both enthusiasts and area businesses, while greatly contributing to the local economy.”...
Bruce Korus has spent his career in numerous healthcare related positions, including hospital administration and physician group management. He joined the Elmbrook Rotary meeting to share his insight on the mental health crisis in colleges today and offer suggestions on how to “help your kids survive and thrive through their college years”.Today, anxiety is the most common challenge for students, with almost 1/3 of college students feeling so depressed that they...
At the Friday breakfast meeting, Rotarian Ralph Gould introduced his grandson Alex Seaborg, a Rotary exchange student who spent 11 months in Hat Yai Thailand experiencing the culture, volunteering his time, and traveling.
After graduating from Middleton High School, Alex applied through Rotary District 6250 to participate in the student exchange program. His parents were part of similar exchange programs; Dad went to Japan and Mom to London. Their experiences inspired Alex to follow in their footsteps.The Rotary International student exchange program has sent young people around the globe to experience new cultures. Currently, about 9,000 students are...
Brookfield, WI – The Elmbrook Rotary Club (ERC) is seeking nominations for its 7th annual Business Person of the Year Award. ERC will present the award to a majority owner and/or operating head of a successful for profit business or non-profit organization. Additionally, applicants must be living in and/or have a business located in the City/Town of Brookfield or Village of Elm Grove.
“ERC presents the Business Person of the Year Award to honor a strong local leader who has entrepreneurial skills and strategic vision,” said Award Program Co-Chair, Ralph Gould. “This award helps ERC shine a spotlight on a successful business owner or non-profit director who is making a difference in our community.” Prior winners include Lisabeth Passalis-Bain of the Elm Grove News-Independent, Mark Mirsberger, of Dana Investment Advisors, Jamie O’Donough, of O’Donough’s Irish Pub, Bill Selzer, retired Elm Grove Fire Chief, Phil Landry, Owner of C3E Geomatics, LLC and Neil Palmer, retired mayor of Elm Grove Village.
Award nominations will be accepted on-line only through Saturday, October 14, 2023 via the Elmbrook Rotary Club website:ElmbrookRotary.org A selection committee of ERC members and local government officials will review all nominations and select the award recepient. ERC members are not eligible for the award. The 2023 Business Person of the Year award winner will be honored Friday morning, October 27th at the Elmbrook Rotary Club meeting. ERC will also make a $200 donation to a charity specified by and in the name of the person who has nominated the award winner.
Established in 1983, the Elmbrook Rotary Club has been active in our community for 40 years. We are a part of Rotary International, founded in 1905. ERC is an energetic group of more that 80 individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, from business professionals to community leaders to those dedicated to public service. The Rotary International official motto is “Service above Self” and our Club slogan is “We rise & Shine” referencing our being the first breakfast club in our Rotary District 6270.
Hebron House, the largest and oldest non-profit organization in Waukesha County, is celebrating 40 years of service to unhoused men, women, and children. The mission is restoring hope and dignity to those still facing a crisis of homelessness and not turn anyone away in need of immediate help or a long-term solution to housing. Hebron House provides two shelters and two affordable housing developments. The goal is to help 6-8 families per month find permanent housing.Kathleen Christianson Fischer, Executive Director and Addy Fahrenkrug, Fund Development Manager, addressed the Sunrise Meeting of the Elmbrook Rotary on August 4th. They reviewed the organizational goals, new programs, and services Hebron House provides to those in need of shelter, stable housing, or...
Ann Marie Hess, Director of Sales, and Dustin Hicks from the City of Brookfield Travel and Tourism Visitor’s Bureau joined the July 28th Elmbrook Rotary Sunrise meeting to share the opportunities available to travelers, and the impact tourism has on the city.
Currently, the City of Brookfield makes up 40% of all tourism, spending, taxes, and employment of Waukesha County and 3% of State visitor spending. This equates to visitor spending of $308.8 million, employment from tourism of 4,076 and $33 million in tourism state and local taxes. During the months of June, July and August, the number of guests visiting Brookfield is greater than the City population of 41,000.
This not-for-profit organization is funded entirely by...
What is a Classification Talk?
A Classification Talk is one component for a newly inducted member in the Red Badge Program. This program is part of the orientation process for becoming a member of the Elmbrook Rotary Club.
Red Badge has...
On Friday July 21st, the Elmbrook Rotary Club received the Bridge to Turkiye Fund (BTF) “Spirit of Humanity Award for Global Kindness in Support of the 2023 Turkish Earthquake and Service Above Self Representing the Very Best of Human Spirit”.
BTF, a volunteer organization, has delivered to date:
After setting up his law practice in Chicago, Paul Harris gathered several business associates to discuss the idea of forming an organization for local professionals. He envisioned a place where professionals of diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. After years of service, Harris died on 27 January 1947 in Chicago at age 78 after a prolonged illness.
Continuing the legacy of the founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program was established in 1957 to show appreciation for financial contributions by members that support the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.
“Rotary Foundation is the economic engine for the good work that we do in the district and around the world.” It is through consistent giving to the foundation that allows us to provide service locally and internationally.
At Fridays Sun Rise meeting, 5 members of the Elmbrook Rotary Club were recognized by Don Griffing, the Rotary District 6270 Governor...
Elmbrook Rotary Past Presidents:
Dennis Lawler 1983-1984
Peter Vanderpool 1984-1985
Rick Little 1985-1986
Chuck Steinbach 1986-1987
Don Wilson 1987-1988...
On July 7, 2023, Francis Vogel, Executive Director of the World Affairs Seminar was accompanied by Ava Gomez, a Senior at Brookfield East, and her mother, to share highlights and experiences from the 2023 World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University in Waukesha. Francis reviewed how the seminar provides a unique forum for future international leaders to address urgent global issues. Student delegates from around the world gather to hear renown speakers, take interesting and fun field trips, and interact in challenging small group learning and projects. The academic approach of critical reflection, interactive learning, and hearing others’ opinions, in a delegate-centric environment allows delegates to develop their own ideas and strategies, and present and defend their ideas and approaches.
Beginning in 1977....
Jack is currently a commercial real estate agent with Judson Realty. He is married with a baby at home and another on the way...
On Friday morning, Pardeep Kaleka shared his story of loss and “forgiveness after hate”. On August 5th, 2012, his religious community was attacked when a white supremacist opened fire on a crowd of worshippers, murdering 7 and wounding four. That day at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Pardeep lost his father in a terror attack.
The loss robbed his family of a loving father and husband who will “never come home”. In a quest to heal...










At the Friday Sunrise meeting, Anna Zack, Executive Director of the WI State Fairs Park Foundation, provided a history and overview of the Foundation’s activities, highlighting changes and projects underway at the Fairgrounds.
The Foundation’s Mission is to preserve and enhance the WI State Fair and help it to grow for generations to come! Through the support of:


Ian Smith – Coordinator and Cook
Thomas Steinbach – Shopping for Groceries
Emily Jones – Cook & Recipes
Paul Sawicki, Harry Farchmin, Dan Roads, Anne Klug - Cooks
Participants report that it was fun, rewarding, and they are open to organizing another one.
If this project looks interesting, please reach out to Ian Smith or any of the other participants. As with all of our projects, the more interest we have, the more effort we can direct toward that cause.
Larry Myers, Chair of the Rotary International District 6270's Scholarships Subcommittee, meets some of the most outstanding young people who are making a difference in the world. While introducing our speaker, Myers stated how amazed he is at what the recipients of Global Grant Scholarships are doing worldwide.
One of those outstanding recipients is Brigitte Potter, the District 6270 2023-2024 Rotary Global Scholar, and graduate from Brookfield East High School. At the Friday morning meeting, Brigitte presented her goals, dreams, and journey to becoming one that can make a difference in this world through peace building and conflict prevention.
She attended UWM and received an undergraduate degree in English Second Education with the thought of becoming a teacher. Her experiences since have provided clarity for her mission in life, drawing her in another direction. After UWM, Brigitte spent a semester abroad at the Universidad De Granada in Spain...

The PR Team makes a weekly impact on our members and is
The Bridge to Turkiye Fund (BTF) has a culture of giving and civic involvement as a part of their heritage. It was founded in 2003 by a few like-minded Turkish Americans and Friends of Türkiye with the simple desire to Give-Back. Based in the Triangle region of North Carolina, BTF quickly grew all across the US with many regional grassroots Giving Circles, and today has individual donors and supporting communities in all parts of the globe.”
Emin Pamucak, President of the Bridge to Turkiye Fund, presented a program highlighting the great work this organization provides to Turkiye including the recent earthquake response and the Child Amputee program.
Joining our Friday morning meeting, School Counselor Jason Lippold, Principal Andy Farley and School Psychologist Aimee Schneidewent from Brookfield East High School. They presented the Hope Squad, a school-based peer to peer suicide prevention program, with a mission to reduce youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention. In its sixth year at East, the Squad is comprise of 50 students representing each grade.
Hope Squad members are nominated by their classmates as...
The collection is on-going...
MILWAUKEE, WI—Rotary International District 6270 is awarding a Global Grant Scholarship in the amount of $30,000 to Brigitte N. Potter of Glendale, Wisc. The grant has been approved by The Rotary Foundation with an 80% match of District Designated Funds (DDF) provided by the district.
Ms. Potter will use the grant to obtain a Master of Science degree in International Migration and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. She intends to focus on the issues surrounding refugees and forced migration. Her Rotary Area of Focus is “Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution.”
Ms. Potter is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee and has studied abroad at the University of Granada in Spain. She has also worked in refugee camps in Greece and for a maternal health organization in Uganda. In Milwaukee she continues to volunteer among the refugee population. She states, “I’m eager to learn what can be done from a social and political perspective to prevent forced migration at its root and as a result keep people safe within their communities.”
Her graduate program is a 12-month program and will end in September 2024. She is married to Dan Scholz, also a Milwaukee native, whom she describes as “a wonderfully supportive husband."
Ms. Potter will be the featured speaker at Elmbrook Rotary on Friday, June 9. A breakfast buffet is served at 06:45 a.m.
Rotarian John Schindler, Village of Elm Grove Trustee, shared with the Elmbrook Rotary Club his involvement in the Underwood Creek Daylighting Project. On 12 May he also discussed other duties and village related projects including the Chair of the Public Works Committee...
Inspiring the Hope of Recovery
Mary Madden, Executive Director of NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness, presented an overview of how NAMI serves individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. At no cost, NAMI provides services to Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Jefferson County residents. Mary was accompanied by Angela Reilly Director of Development and Marketing.
