This past month, our club participated in The World's Largest Polio Walk - to raise global awareness and funds for Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis.  The club gathered at the Waupaca Town Square for activities that included:

• A short, family-friendly educational walk around the square highlighting Rotary's global efforts to eradicate polio and the history of the disease.
• Free candy and popcorn provided by Main Street Popcorn.
• Fun awareness traditions like "purple pinkies" to symbolize the marker used on children's fingers during polio immunization drives

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The Rotary Club of Waupaca Shop for Good Business of the Month is Mexico Grill & Bar. Be sure to stop by to enjoy a delicious meal, and support all our local businesses. When we shop local, it helps our local economy and community thrive.

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Our club's exchange students - Sophie from Germany and Juliette from France - were part of Waupaca High School's Homecoming festivities. Ezra (next to sign) and AJ (pictured with Brazilian Exchange Student form New London) attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award leadership camp experience at Camp Manito-wish in Boulder Junction. Great experiences!
 

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This year, our club will contribute $10,000 to improve the lives of people living far from Waupaca. This week, we're sending $1,000 to Shelter Box - an organization started by a Rotary club that is now an international agency providing emergency shelter and tools for families displaced from their homes by natural disasters and war. Check out the video to learn more.

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H.H. HINDER Brewing Co. once again teamed up with the Rotary Club of Waupaca on October 17 to support the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. The event paired a meaningful cause with food, live music, and a 50/50 raffle. The brewery pledged to donate $1 from every pint sold during the event to help advance that effort.

A food tent offered brats, burgers, and pulled pork throughout the afternoon, while Rotary Club members sold 50/50 raffle tickets, and Still Kickin' provided live music, adding to the afternoon’s festivities.

By bringing local fundraising and entertainment together, H.H. HINDER Brewing Co. and the Rotary Club of Waupaca kept the global goal of ending polio at the heart of the event.
 

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Rotary License Plates are here. 
Click here for a quick unboxing video, or just follow these instructions: 

1. Click this link: https://specialplates.wi.gov/
2. Click the "Let's Get Started" button 
3. In the search bar, type "Rotary" 
4. View details, and follow instructions from there.

Drive with pride!
 

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Thank you to everyone who attended Waupaca Rotary's Rocktoberfest 2026 and to all the volunteers who made our fundraiser possible!  This year marked the inaugural Hansel & Gretel contest... And what a contest it was!

A great event that brought people together while raising money so the Rotary Club of Waupaca can do good in our community and in the world.
 

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Sara Poehlman has worked in international education and early childhood development for 25 years in more than 40 countries and learned nine languages. She recently joined Rotary International as a Senior Advisor for Basic Education and Literacy, after having served as the Chief of Education for UNICEF—Senegal and coordinator of education sector with the Ministry of Education.  As a global leader in education, Sara spent years working overseas and the US to build education systems, strengthen evidence and advocacy for children, write child-friendly policies, deliver education programs, and rebuild schools and communities affected by war and disaster. She served UNICEF as the Chief of Education in Sri Lanka, India and Niger and worked on education and peace-building projects in The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Colombia, Bhutan, Haiti, and other countries.  Sara has been an ardent advocate for children and families, gender equity, peace and justice. To better advise the UN Security Council, she also helped create www.peacewomen.org.

In the US, Sara has led anti-bias education, taught bilingual kindergarten, supported parent education in immigrant communities and families living in homeless shelters. She served on the Head Start and Chancellor’s Advisory Committees in Washington DC and as part of the Local School Advisory Team.

Taking a fully remote position with Rotary International has allowed Sara to move back to her native town of Waupaca and reconnect with family, community and nature. She enjoys the local offerings and lake life with her daughters who attend WLC and WHS. After decades of traveling, in her spare time, Sara enjoys staying home, kayaking, dancing and finishing up her first novel.
 

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• Sophie is 16 and from Brunswick, Germany - a town in Lower Saxony.  Sophie plays tennis back in Germany. She is currently playing volleyball here.
• Juliette is from Gap, France - "a small town" of 40,000, two hours from Marseille.  She does classical dance and scouting back in France.

Both of our students love the outdoors and are excited for all the new experiences they are encountering here.  Meet them at Rotary and watch for them in the Homecoming Parade on Oct 3rd.

A huge thank you to TIm Koll for incredible pictures for the yearbook and beyond!!

Talk with Brett or Sandy if you would like contact information.

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This past month, Barb Laedtke and Joe Jones received Paul Harris awards, recognizing their commitment to our club and The Rotary Foundation. 
 

Congrats Joe and Barb!

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The Rotary Club of Waupaca presents yet another "bucket list" travel opportunity - the Tauck Belgium-Holland excursion on the Rhine River.

Our club has secured 23 rooms for high-demand excursion that runs only while spring flowers are blooming in Holland. Highlights of the 9-day cruise include:

• Visit Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse to walk among the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths that are on brilliant display for only two months a year
• Attend a private evening at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, home to a world-class collection of art including Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring
• Enjoy an early-opening visit to the open-air Zuiderzee Museum before the day's crowds arrive, reflecting the rich maritime history of the region

If you’re interested and want to learn more about the trip, check out this web page created just for our club - Belgium & Holland in the Spring 2028 and be sure to watch the video about the trip found on the page. And don't forget, you can invite friends to share this once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

While 2028 pricing has not yet been released, spots can be held now with a down payment. Official pricing will be shared in mid-January 2027. Once pricing is announced, those who held rooms will have 14 days to confirm or cancel their reservation. Those who cancel within 14 days will receive a complete refund of their deposit. Note: Airfare is not included in cruise pricing.

General questions about the cruise and our club’s group travel arrangement should be directed to club member Nancy Grams at [email protected].

Booking-related inquiries should be directed to Kristine Kuhn, the Tauck Group Sales person who is handling our club for this trip (203-899-6539 or [email protected]). When booking, let Kristine know that you are part of the Rotary Club of Waupaca group. 

These trips provide us with the opportunity for wonderful travel experiences while also helping raise funds for the good work our club does in our community and around the world!

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Our pints for polio event is just a few weeks away. This is a fun event and it will be held on October 17 at HH Hinder. Where else can you volunteer, eat good food, listen to good music and drink good beer all at the same time?

Keep in mind that we are still in need of volunteers as well.  The Sign-up Sheet to volunteer for this event can be found on the Waupaca Rotary website.

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