Elkhorn Rotary was on hand to sell 30+ tickets and collect $286 in donations at the October 4, 2025 Walworth County Craft Bash. Big thanks to Kristin, Sabura, Katie, Heidi, John H., Katie & Gail Grafenauer for working, and to Shelly for organizing the effort!
Tickets for the 12 Days of Christmas cash raffle are now available. 1,000 tickets were printed and are $20 each or six for $100. Please ask family, friends, and coworkers if they would like to buy a ticket to support all of the wonderful things our club does for the community! Starting on December 1, daily cash drawings will be held... starting with $100 on the first day, going all the up to $1,200 on the 12th day to one big winner!
We are asking each Rotarian to sell at least 15 tickets each to achieve our fundraising goal of $3,250 to pay off our commitment for Babe Mann Park improvements and support other Rotary projects. Together, we can make it happen!
WEEKLY MEETING RECAP:
SE Wisconsin Raptors
Hoo's Woods Raptor Sanctuary Executive Director Dianne Moller flew in with a few of her educational birds to the October 1 meeting. The club got to meet Oopsie (Saw Whet owl), Queen (Great Gray owl), and Victor E. (Bald Eagle) to hear more about how their bodies work and the dangers raptors face in the wild. The collective "Aww!" when lil' Oopsie was came out of the box was so fun!
We also got to hear about Dianne's Milton-based facility and the work she does to return injured raptors to the wild. It was a treat to see these beautiful creatures at a meeting.
OTHER UPDATES:
It was a close call, but the Week 2 Food Pantry debate winner of "Packers vs. Bears" was.... DA BEARS!
October-December membership dues are due October 31. Please note that dues going forward will be $60. Lunch pricing remains the same.
We are looking for a 5K run sponsor: We need $1,500 for event supplies. Want YOUR business logo on those cool tshirts? Talk to Jon today!
Only two more Meals on Wheels dates for 2026! October 27 and December 1.
SAVE THE DATE: New Member Orientation will be Wednesday evening, October 22 for all members who have joined since 2022.
This Week's Pantry Debate:
Rock vs. Country Music
The Elkhorn Food Pantry is operating at dangerously low levels to address food insecurity in our community. The Elkhorn Rotary is going to collect needed items at our Wednesday meetings from September 24-October 22, 2025. Below is the HOT LIST of items needed most... Can YOU help this week?
Jelly - Grape or Strawberry
Juice - bottled not frozen
Soup - Chicken Noodle, Cream of Chicken, Tomato, Cream of Mushroom
Breakfast Cereal
Granola Bars
Pop Tarts
Canned good such as Chili, sloppy joe sauce, beef stew, Sauerkraut, Spinach, Beets, Tomato Sauce, Pasta Sauce or canned pasta, Baked Beans, Pork & Beans, Refried Beans, Mandarin oranges & Pineapple
Egg Noodles
Flour Tortillas
Microwave Popcorn
Brownie Mix
Pancake Mix
Syrup
Sugar
Flour
Oil
Condiments such as Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ Sauce
Toiletries such as Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Laundry Soap, Dish Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner.
No time to shop? No problem! Monetary donations are welcome too.
Coats for Kids Starts Saturday!
Our "Operation Warm" program has a new name but serves the same goal to supply free coats, hats, and gloves to Elkhorn Pre-K through 5th grade children. This year's distribution days will be on October 11 and November 8, 2025.
We still have a few volunteer spots open: Sign up for a two-hour shift to help out our smallest community members. Can you be an individual or business sponsor to support the event? Contact Committee Co-Chair Kristin Belongia at (262) 215-5436 for more information.
Signups are now open to assist with the Oktoberfest 5K Run/Walk for Rotary on Saturday morning, October 18, 2025! We need water station attendants, course helpers, and folks to help cheer on our participants. Can you volunteer? Click below to help encourage a fun community event.
Support Rotary AND Your Business With A Sponsorship
The Fundraising Committee is excited to announce a new sponsorship program that allows businesses to support our Rotary club for a year at various price points. Sponsors receive recognition ranging from social media posts to booths at events to a year’s membership in our club.
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the form. It will take all of us to make this effort successful. With the Coats for Kids and Oktoberfest events coming up next month, the time is now. Consider if there are local business leaders you know who would appreciate the opportunity to make a difference in Elkhorn through Rotary.
We will hand out talking points and copies of the form at the Wednesday lunch meeting. If you have questions, please contact a Fundraising Committee member: Heidi Lloyd, Mariann Hunter, John Henderson, Bill Campbell, Tom Oehler, Shelly Higgins, Jeff Halpin, Dr. John Hall, Karen Kallem, Heather Leasure, or Kristin Belongia. Heidi can be reached at ElkhornRotarySecretary@gmail.com.
The Rotary International membership is experiencing varied trends across continents.
North America, particularly the United States and Canada, is seeing a decline of about 20%, with the US remaining the country with the most Rotarians.
In contrast, Asia is witnessing significant growth, with India, Japan, and South Korea leading the expansion, showing a 26% increase in membership.
Europe presents a mixed picture, with an overall 3% decrease, though countries like Germany show stability.
Africa is experiencing robust growth, with increasing membership in Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana, characterized by a high proportion of young and female members.
Oceania, traditionally a Rotary stronghold, is experiencing membership reduction.
Latin America, with Brazil as a key player, maintains a substantial presence.
The global trend indicates a shift from historical regions towards emerging markets, with the organization focusing on recruiting younger members and expanding in developing countries.
