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The Rotary Club of Waupaca
Serving others, promoting integrity, and advancing understanding, goodwill, and peace in the Waupaca area and around the world.
Over 90 members strong, we are committed to acting locally and globally to address the biggest challenges of our time. Together, we work to:
- Support education
- Protect the environment
- Grow local economies
- Promote Peace
- Support mothers & children
- Provide Clean water, sanitation & hygiene
- Fight disease
In addition to hands-on projects focused on the environment, housing, hunger and other needs, we raise funds through community events to support a range of programs and service projects that improve lives locally and around the world.
Ready to attend a meeting?
Thanks to Our Ambassadors
Learn more about Rotary Club of Waupaca Ambassadors here.
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
The Good Things We’re Doing!
Jim Miller's Pumpkin Shows Gratitude to Rotary
Waupaca's Halloween celebration is here!
Proud to have Jim Miller, resident pumpkin carver, as a member of our club. The call for help to get pumpkins in place, was met by a number of Rotarians and others in our community.
The Community Center Blood Drive
Service In Action Committee Seeking Members
Did you know our club has a Service in Action Committee? Our mission is to connect club members—and ultimately the broader community—with projects that address local needs. In the coming months, we will:
- Work with local agency partners to identify service opportunities.
- Collaborate with other community groups to explore the creation of a volunteer hub.
- Promote various opportunities for community involvement.
Celebrating Our Founder’s 90th
Just a day before his 90th Birthday, our club celebrated its founder, Ron Reynolds. The special day included the band accompanying Ron singing “My Way,” Ron Reynolds trivia questions (which apparently weren’t too trivial since every question was answered correctly), presentation of a Paul Harris plus 5, and reminiscences by by Joe Jones, Jim Klismet, John DeVoss, and Chuck Reynolds.
The message of the day was gratitude to Ron for his foresight, hard work, optimism, and leadership in founding our wonderful club!
3rd Annual Pints for Polio
Our 3rd annual Pints for Polio event was a great success! The weather was perfect and the H.H. Hinder patrons were thirsty.
A big thank you to all Rotarians who made this community event a success. Between the Raffle, the food tent and our event sponsors (Voyagerr, Waupaca Towing Service and Turners Fresh Ketchup) we took in $1,784.49. With the contributions from our Ambassador Sponsors we made a grand total of $6,534.49.
With the generosity of the Gates Foundation and their 2:1 match we will have made,
to contribute to Rotary’s fight against Polio.
WOW!!
Third graders receive dictionaries
Third graders at Iola-Scandinavia Elementary School received a personal copy of a dictionary courtesy of the Rotary Club of Waupaca. The club also distributes dictionaries to third graders in Waupaca and Weyauwega-Fremont. A total of 259 dictionaries will be distributed this year.
Presenting dictionaries on Friday, Oct. 18, was Rotarian Trey Foerster. Teachers will utilize the dictionaries in classroom instruction. This program is just one of the many educational programs and projects in which the Rotary Club of Waupaca is involved. Others include Project Backpack, the Arts Hub, scholarship grants, Operation School Supplies, Youth Connection grants, Guatemala Literacy Program, Jorgens Park Preserve, grants to the ISHS Garden Club, and Future Farmers of America.
Environmental Committee at ECO Park
On September 27 members volunteered their time working with Waupaca 7th grade students at Eco Park. It was science day for the kids. The entire 7th grade moved through 7 stations learning about edible plants, identifying trees, all about ticks, catching organisms from the river, how animals adapt to their surroundings and meeting some interesting turtles. A big hit were the hissing cockroaches from Madagascar.
Rotarians present were Mark and Linda Schmid, Joe and Maggie Jones, and Dale Feldt.
The event was sponsored by the Waupaca School District and Winchester Academy.
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
John Dewey
Paul Harris Fellow Awards Aplenty!
October brought out the Paul Harris Fellow Awards in abundance:
Let’s celebrate our distinguished Paul Harris Fellow awardees!
Congratulations to Trey Foerster, Brett Grams, Paul Sletten, Cheryl Sletten, and Jim Klismet for their exceptional contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
And a big congratulations to Chris Sands for earning a Paul Harris Fellow +3!
Chris's commitment to the Rotary Foundation and dedication to making a positive impact in our community have not gone unnoticed. His efforts continue to inspire and uplift us all. Here's to more milestones and achievements in the future!
Visit from District Governor Roger Utnehmer
Last Wednesday our club was honored by a visit from District Governor Roger Utnehmer. Roger recognized our club for the good we do in our community as well as the impact we're having around the world through our generous support of The Rotary Foundation. Individual and club contributions enable Rotary International (one of the top-rated charitable organizations in the world) to take action in 7 Areas of Focus.
Save the Date: Tauck River Cruise (07-27-2026)
I have placed a tentative hold on this Tauck river cruise trip for our club. If you are like me, you may want to put the dates on your phone now to avoid any conflicts!
Features / Cities:
Versailles, Paris, Beaches of Normandy, Rouen, Giverny, Caudebec-en-Caux
Highlight:
Values:
- TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Dinner at 16th-century Château du Taillis in Duclair
- All gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
- Tauck's private shore excursions and distinctive inclusions valued at $2,506
- Choice of sightseeing in Paris includes visits to the Opéra Garnier or a walking tour of the Latin Quarter
- A locally guided walking tour of historic Rouen, including the Cathedral painted by Monet more than 30 times and Joan of Arc Square
- Guided exploration of D-Day sites with a local expert, including Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, with lunch at the Omaha Beach Club
- Cider and Calvados tasting at a farm in Tilly
- A visit to the Château Gaillard ruins in Les Andelys
- Early-opening visit to Monet's house and gardens and the Impressionist Museum in Giverny
- Unlimited complimentary beverages aboard ship include regional wine, beer and premium spirits in addition to specialty coffee, water and soft drinks
- Airport and train station transfers on arrival and departure as noted
- 20 meals; service charges, taxes, porterage, and applicable fuel surcharges
A Rocktoberfest Sized Thank You to All
A massive thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Rocktoberfest with us! Your energy and enthusiasm made the event unforgettable!
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From the incredible music to the delicious food and refreshing beer, it was a day to remember. And we couldn’t have done it without the support of our amazing community!
Here’s to many more years of great tunes, tasty brews, and fantastic company. We are already counting down days until next year!
Cheers to you all!
Pints for Polio October 19th
For over 35 years, the Rotary Foundation has been at the forefront of the global effort to eradicate polio. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of Rotary members, we’ve contributed over $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this devastating disease!
But our work isn’t done yet! We need your help to continue this vital mission. That’s why we’re excited to invite you to our Pints for Polio event at HH Hinder Brewing Company on October 19th from 12pm-10pm
Event Highlights:
- Delicious food from our food tent, including burgers, brats, and pulled pork sandwiches. (12p-6p)
- Live music by the band Hijinx from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
- A 50/50 raffle with a chance to win big!
Special thank you to our Ambassador sponsors as well as WTS Waupaca Towing & Service and Voyagerr for their financial support of this important event!!
Location: HH Hinder Brewing Company
Let’s raise our glasses and our spirits for a polio-free world!
#EndPolio #RotaryFoundation #PintsForPolio #HHHinder
If You Love Rotary AND Love Podcasts, Rotary Voices Is For You!
If you are a fan of podcasts and also interested in keeping up with the great things happening in Rotary, I highly recommend you check out Rotary Voices. Rotary Voices combines content from Rotary Magazine with in-depth interviews to provide a great menu of content. And, the production quality is top notch, making listening even easier. A great example, this interview with Atul Gwande, best-selling author and Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID talks about his family’s connection to Rotary, global health, and Rotary’s important role in achieving global health goals. Informative and inspiring!
Paul Harris Recognitions: Tim Neuville
At the September 4th meeting, Tim Neuville was presented with Rotary’s prestigious Paul Harris Award!
Tim was nominated by one of our Amassadors, ThedaCare, for his long term service to the community through philanthropy, advocacy, and board involvement.
Environmental Committee Update - Eco Park
On September 27 members volunteered their time working with Waupaca 7th grade students at Eco Park. It was science day for the kids. The entire 7th grade moved through 7 stations learning about edible plants, identifying trees, all about ticks, catching organisms from the river, how animals adapt to their surroundings and meeting some interesting turtles. A big hit were the hissing cockroaches from Madagascar.
Rotarians present were Mark and Linda Schmid, Joe and Maggie Jones, and Dale Feldt.
The event was sponsored by the Waupaca School District and Winchester Academy.
Iola Car Show Fundraiser Proceeds are In!
Exciting News from September 25th's Meeting!
Our club received a check presentation from the Iola Car Show!
A big thank you to Ali Johnson from the car show and Rotarian Mike Phelan!
This generous contribution is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone who participated in and volunteered at the show this year. Let’s keep up the great work and continue making a positive impact in our community!