November 21
Our very own John Eldred shared a Thanksgiving message. The basis for his message came from Paul's letter to the Corinthians in which he stated that "he (Paul) planted, Apollos watered and God gave the growth". John talked about an "ecology of gratitude" and that we need to have the perspective that "not all of this is me". None of us got to where we are today on our own, but through the help of others, and for that we are very grateful. Thanks for this wonderful, seasonal yet timeless message, John!

November 14
John Baker of WPS Health Insurance provided an update on WPS to the club. WPS initially served only retired military benefits through a branch of their business called TriCare. Now they are serving active duty military as well. In addition, WPS has added commercial lines to serve the local market. Currently there are 850 people employed on the TriCare side of the business and approximately 25 people employed on the commercial side. A recent acquisition has allowed WPS to utilize an HMO license so the company is investing in that portion of the business. They continue to grow in Wausau and now occupy most of the Westwood Conference Center. Additional parking has been added to meet the demand by employees.

November 7
Dave Mack of the Marathon County Transportation Department gave the club an update on the Hwy. 29/Hwy. 51 Interchange construction project. A time line was provided on which sections of the highway will be under construction over the next few years. The project has been moved forward more quickly than first anticipated. In 2006 work will begin on the Hwy. 52 portion, the southbound lanes of Hwy. 51 from Oriole to Sherman Streets and Bridge Street southbound, and Sherman to Hwy. 52. There will be several different levels of highway, some as tall as 70 feet in the air. This will all work to keep the anticipated traffic demand moving smoothly throughout the metropolitan area.

October 31
State Secretary for Workforce Development Roberta Gassman addressed the club about workforce development issues facing Wisconsin. Secretary Gassman also outlined Governor Doyle's 2006 Grow Wisconsin strategy and complimented the Marathon County area for strong employment statistics and impressive job growth in the services and health care related fields. Secretary Gassman said that attracting young workers to our community is about more than just good jobs, but also about quality of life issues, such as arts, entertainment, shopping, recreation and great schools.

October 24
The topic for this week was "Be a Friend 4 Life" which is a program presented by Aspirus and other supporting organizations to heighten awareness for breast cancer screening and early detection in the community. A free "Be a Friend for Life" kit containing an informational brochure on increased survival of breast cancer, notecards, and bracelet can be obtained by calling 715-847-2380 or 1-800 847-4707. More information can be obtained from the web site at www.beafriend4life.com.

October 17
Captain Kirk Schuetz of the Salvation Army spoke about their work with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. Most of Captain Schuetz's work related to dispatching the food canteens that served hot meals to the victims of the hurricane in parts of Louisianna. Captain Schuetz shared his experiences with lodging and living conditions for volunteers (primarily Salvation Army volunteers). He stated that work there will be ongoing for quite some time.

September 26
Professor David Brunson of the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine spoke on the topic, "Adventures of a Veterinary Anesthesiologist: A Sandman for Animals". Dr. Brunson spoke about doing anesthesia on animals as small as 5 oz. hamsters, all the way up to 3,000 lb. walruses in Alaska. Each animal species has different anatomy, so receives anesthesia differently. Dr. Brunson shared a story of a Right Whale that was tangled up in some rope. Three attempts were made to remove the rope using a form of anesthesia but the scientists were not met with success. Dr. Brunson showed the needle they used to penetrate the 45 ton animal's skin to administer the drugs. Video clips of a hamster surgery, a rhino waking up from anesthesia and the whale adventure were shown.

August 8
Brad Karger, Deputy Administrator for Marathon County and Ken Day, Chair of the Marathon County Strategic Planning Committee presented to the club the progress of the strategic planning effort at the County level. Core values of the County include service, integrity, quality diversity, shared purpose and stewardship of our resources. The group has identified the mission and vision, and critical issues facing Marathon County in the next 3-5 years. The following major themes have emerged through focus group session: fiscal challenges, changing demographics, quality of life for all, service delivery, economic development and public engagement.

August 1
Ron Schnyder from North Central Community Action Program was the guest speaker. The main goal of the organization is to address the causes and effects of poverty. Ron and his organization are advocates for low income people for training and employment as well as assisting with housing needs and other things. The need for emergency housing and housing affordability are critical issues for the organization Ron represents. They take a holistic approach to assistance through collaboration among agencies. Ron shared the core values of the organization in addition to a few success stories about people who had received assistance in the past. Ron stated that it is less expensive to keep someone in their existing residence than it is to help them once they've become homeless and need to start over.

July 25
Tom Rau, Executive Director of the Neighbor's Place presented a brief talk on hunger in Marathon County. The Neighbor's Place provides a bag of groceries to 260 families each week, or over 1100 families per month. The largest percent of the people they give food to is made up of senior citizens (37-39%). Government commodities are provided to the Neighbor's Place, and items in recent years have been reduced to only 11 items per bag of groceries. These items include things like canned cranberries, sweet potatoes, corn, pudding, etc. The Community Garden was established to provide fresh food to the people of the area. Anyone with a garden plot is asked to give 10% back to the Neighbor's Place and they in-turn donate it where it can be best used. After several years of the Community Garden operating successfully in Wausau, they've distributed over 40,800 lbs. of fresh produce in the area. Approximately 230-300 plots are planted each year.

May 16
The Rotary Club of Wausau met at Camp Birch Trails with the Merrill Rotary Club and the Early Bird Rotary Club on Monday May 16th for the celebration and dedication of the new lodge and kitchen facility which served as a Centennial Project for the three clubs. The event was well-attended as Rotarians and their spouses/families enjoyed a picnic of chicken, brats, burgers, and all the trimmings. Groups toured the camp and a plaque was presented to Mary Radtke, Executive Director for the Girl Scouts and Rosemary Barnes, President of the Birch Trails Girl Scout Council. Debi Traeder spoke on Suicide Prevention. A program is offered by Apirus Behavioral Health Services entitled QPR, Question, Persuade, Refer. This program equips people with the skills to help anyone they think may be in danger of commiting suicide. Marathon County has a higher than average suicide rate and prevention is a focus for healthcare professionals and others. The QPR training program is available to groups of any size. Contact Debi Traeder at 847-2462 for details or to schedule your training.

May 2
Sylvia Lambrecht, Technical Director for the Blood Center of Northcentral Wisconsin shared the history, current status and future need of the Blood Center, formerly known as the Marathon County Blood Bank. The not-for-profit organization was founded in 1952 and currently employs 17 people. The Blood Center is the sole supplier of blood products for Apirus/Wausau Hospital, and hospitals in Langlade, Shawano and Taylor counties. Donor recruitment is a focus for the center, and 75-80 percent of the blood that is collected for the center is collected on mobile blood drives, at employer-sponsored drives, and even at high school-sponsored blood drives. The need is increasing overall, but the times that the largest shortages occur is in the summer months and during December. Ms. Lambrecht encouraged everyone to consider donating blood today.

April 25
Karen Spaude of Northcentral Technical College spoke the the Rotary Club of Wausau about the new Public Safety Training Facility to be built on a large parcel of land in the Merrill area. The facility will host training activities for police and fire protection officers in a several county area throughout north central Wisconsin. Fundraising efforts have been intense and plans are underway for phase I to begin construction this year. This will alleviate the space use issues at the current Northcentral Technical College parking lot. The state of the art facility will be one of its kind in the state.

April 18
Joe Johnson of Family Advocacy Mentoring provided the Rotary Club of Wausau with information about his mentoring program. This program is a partnership with the Wausau school district involving at risk youth from Thomas Jefferson elementary, and Horace Mann and John Muir Middle Schools. The program teaches manners, values, gang awareness, apprenticeship mentoring training, and provides family support. The program currently serves 45-50 kids and can show results through improved grades. One of the key components of the program is working with attitude, which according to Mr. Johnson is a signature for a lifetime.

April 11
Patrick Phalen, Director of the Fine Arts program at DC Everest School Distrist presented information about the DC Everest Fine Arts program. DC Everest has an active fine arts program including music (vocal and instrumental), art and theater arts. Mr. Phalen shared many of the activities and performances that have occurred already as well as those yet upcoming. As an added bonus, the Rotary Club of Wausau heard a theatrical performance (monologue) from one of our youth rotars and a musical duet from two other Everest students.

April 4
Club Assembly. The Rotary Club of Wausau heard reports/updates from President Bradley on general club news as well as a detailed report from the fundraising committee regarding the "Wausau On Board" project. Members are asked to review information about this potential fundraising project on the web site. The board will address the issue at its May 9th meeting and if approved, send it to the general membership for a private ballot vote.

March 21
Thomas Peterson, M.D. Aspirus/Wausau Hospital - Dr. Peterson presented on the topic of Advanced Directives. He stressed the importance of getting one's wishes/instructions for life sustaining activities in advance of a hospital stay.

March 14
Jeff Frenette, Regional Commander for the Wisconsin State Patrol was the guest speaker. He shared amusing stories about his view of the history of traffic enforcement and then projected about the future of traffic enforcement. Commander Frenette stated that some very specialized technology exists today that would aid traffic enforcement greatly but not all of it is in the area yet.

March 7
Jim O'Connell, Executive Director of the Performing Arts Foundation spoke about the Arts Block and how far the project of Arts Block has come since its inception. Jim shared plans for the coming year, and how and why the program will look different this year (listing fewer events). Jim told about how the funding of Arts Block has evolved and what the first years of operating the improved facility has taught them about management and programming of the facility.

February 28
Derek Bell, Director of the National Wellness Institute presented "Walk Wisconsin", a non-competitive walking marathon to take place on June 4, 2005 in Stevens Point, WI. The benefits of walking for health and fitness were discussed with the group and everyone was invited to participate in this event.

February 14
Mary Jane Hettinga from the Marathon County Historical Society presented the Wausau Story, focusing on the time period when Rotary was founded in the community. She stated that the Wausau Group, who had been instrumental in the City's founding, had established much of the infrastructure by 1914 and was looking for more social and service-related things to do. An application was made to start a Rotary Club in Wausau and the Wausau Rotary Club was the first club in Rotary's history to be established in a community of less than 25,000 people. Because of the character and affluence of the founders, it was allowed to be established.

February 7
Kris Gilmore, Superintendent of DC Everest Public Schools spoke about the upcoming referendum on February 15th. The voters will be asked to approve approximately $13.5 million of construction and improvements to facilities in the district. A new elementary school is proposed, to help absorb an influx in students to the district. Superintendent Gilmore reported 160 new students this year alone, and more expected with the residential and commercial growth in the region. Improvements will also be made to elementary schools, the junior high and the senior high school.

January 31
Club Assembly - Ann London of NTC reviewed the data gathered at the club assembly on January 17 and President Patrick Bradley led a discussion about what our club is really about. A survey was distributed and it is desired that every member fill one out and return it as soon as possible. Those not in attendance at today's meeting will be receiving an electronic version of the survey.

January 24
Tour of Weston YMCA - The Rotary Club of Wausau met at the Weston YMCA for the weekly meeting where we heard that the facility, though not yet complete, will be complete and open to the public by the end of February. The new facility sports a high-tech training center with Nautilus and free weights, three basketball/volleyball courts, indoor running track, swimming pool with slides, various options for locker rooms (including family locker rooms), and a complete daycare facility. Current members of the downtown YMCA will be able to use both facilities without an extra fee.

January 17
The Rotary Club of Wausau met for a Club Assembly at the Great Hall on Arts Block. Ann London, a facilitator from NTC, led the group through a brainstorming session to generate thoughts about where we've been and where we'd like to be going. Groups particpated by table. The comments and ideas generated at the session Monday will be compiled and organized and there may be another club assembly in the coming weeks.

January 10
The speaker was Matheus Monteiro Campigotto, the Rotary Club of Wausau's Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student. Matheus has been in Wausau since August and was hosted by Don and Barb Hermanson. At the end of January Matheus will move to the second host family's house, that of Lee and Joanne Kelly.

Matheus has enjoyed his time in the United States so far. He said that some of the things that surprised him the most about Wausau and the United States in general include the cold weather and the fact that most people go everywhere in their cars. In Brazil they do not drive everywhere. Matheus shared a slide show that introduced pictures of his family (Mom, Dad and Brother), as well as photos of his extended families. Matheus enjoys cycles (motorcross) and kayaking. The club also saw photos of his father's furniture business and some of the products they produce. Matheus is from the southern state of Parana'.

January 3
The presenter was Jean Potter, Field Coordinator for the Ice Age Scenic Trail. The Ice Age Trail is a scenic walking trail that will be 1200 miles long when it is finished. Currently the trail has 600 miles completed, 13 of which are in eastern Marathon County, near Hatley and through the Dells of the Eau Claire. The trail is a footpath that is mowed or native materials through woods, and fields following the path of the last glacier in the state. This glacier traveled through Wisconsin 10,000 years ago, and left behind some of the world's best-known glacial features, like the Kettle Morrain, granite, lakes and other "gifts of the glacier".

The trail is open for public seasonal hikes, school groups, wildflower hikes and fall color hikes, all hosted by the volunteers of the local chapter of the Ice Age Scenic Trail group of volunteers. The trail will be extended south of Highway 29 in Marathon County in the near future.

December 20
Peter Holtz from American Transmission Company provided the members with some background on ATC as well as an update on the Arrowhead/Weston power line project. ATC was formed on January 1, 2001 when utility companies in Wisconsin and Minnesota divested their transmission function. It is ATC's obligation to provide transmission of electricity generated by the power companies to the area.

ATC is the project manager on the Arrowhead/Weston power line project and the company had recently completed a study to re-evaluate the options and costs associated with the project. The study resoundingly confirmed the line is in the best interest of the public. Eighty percent of the power line will be in existing right of way. Permitting is nearly complete and ATC is currently working with landowners. All of the easements required in the state of Minnesota are secured, but only one third of those needed in Wisconsin are secured. Economic benefits to all counties will be realized with the construction of the line. Marathon County will receive a one-time payment of $1.4 million plus ongoing payments annually.

December 13
Stuart Kulpinski of Granite Peak shared an update on the exciting happenings at Central Wisconsin's premiere ski hill. He reported that Granite Peak is rated #3 in the Midwest on the ski facility itself, the lodging, dining and community (other activities to do in the area). He attributes a lot of the success Granite Peak is having to the community and its ability to provide excellent lodging, fine dining, and other activities. He shared that the busiest day the hill had last year was Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday (in January) and said that a busy weekend will see 3,000 skiers. The parking lot has been paved recently, which will benefit the patrons and improve the parking situation on busy days especially. Plans to build lodging on site have been put on hold until the demand is more apparent. Granite Peak's owners want to make sure the hotels in the area are full consistently, before constructing an on-site lodging option.

December 6
Cheryl Davis, Executive Director of the YWCA presented the various services the YWCA provides, beginning with a brief history. She shared statistics about the Wausau area and how many children attend childcare at the Child Care Center. A majority of those receiving child care come from low-to-moderate income families that receive some assistance for the child care provided. The YWCA also offers mentoring programs for teenage girls, and is currently serving several youth in the area through that program but there are more opportunities to become a mentor. Interested Rotarians should contact Cheryl Davis. Ms. Davis highlighted the various events hosted at and by the YWCA including Apple Annie and others.

November 29
Steve Schmidt, Science Teacher at Newman Catholic Schools, presented "The Armada Project," a 40 day experience aboard a scientific exploration/ice breaking (i.e. huge) ship, analyzing carbon levels in the Artic Ocean last summer. The data and findings will in turn help other scientists forecast the impact of changing temperatures for marine and land habitat, which has been getting warmer and throwing off what we used to take for granted as "natural conditions."

It was fascinating to learn how the "cycle of life" is impacted by the so called "global warming" phenomenon.

November 22
Holly Callen, Former District Governor for District 5950 in Minneapolis spoke about the Rotary Foundation. She shared the structure of the foundation, where the money is spent and how the dollars are controlled. She shared that the Rotary Foundation is unique as foundations go, because the members of the organization decide where the money is spent. This is not the case in other foundations and it is important because the members of Rotary can see the impact their dollars are making throughout the world.

Holly encouraged every Rotarian to donate to the Foundation through the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) program.