Chartered in 1967, Madison South Rotary is a group of friendly professionals who value the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.” While contributing to Rotary International’s worldwide projects, we also support Madison area students through scholarships and fund dozens of local nonprofits through our Foundation's Grant program.
Our club meets Mondays for lunch 12:00 - 1:15 pm at
Madison College Goodman South Campus
2429 Perry Street (2nd Floor)
Madison, WI 53713
We enjoy fellowship, networking, a delicious catered lunch ($15 per person), and informative, engaging presentations from location businesses and nonprofits.
Cheers for Charity: Pre-Concert Tailgate!
Grab an ice-cold can of beer or seltzer and hang out before the show—all while supporting a great cause.
Volunteer-run and 100% of proceeds benefit local nonprofits.
Located just outside Camp Randall's Gate 1 at Madison South Rotary Park1487 Monroe St, Madison, WI 53711
Open to the publicTailgate with purpose! Learn More On Facebook >>
Mike Dillis, MSRF Chair
Jun 16, 2025
Madison South Rotary Foundation Annual Meeting
If you are a guest, please RSVP here: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/7391/Stories/guest-registration-form
Our Brat Stand
Our fall Brat Stand across from UW Madison's Camp Randall Stadium is our primary fundraiser. The club then returns much-needed financial assistance back to the community using a deliberate, thoughtful grant process each Spring.
Active Fellowship Groups
Social connections are the biggest reason our members enjoy our club. Unlike committees, fellowship groups are organized by club members to promote social interaction and fun.
About our Membership
As a medium-sized club of more than 60 active members, the Madison South Rotary club spans all ages and occupations.
Steve Busalacchi is working as an editor for a previous MSR member, Lyn Kenney, who is writing a book re: Women In Rotary. 
Steve arranged a zoom call with RI President, Stephanie Urchick, to get her perspective on keeping clubs vibrant and adding new members.
Stephanie suggested thinking about gender diversity and how we could bring in more women and other groups of people who can relate to each other.
Retention is gained by making the club irresistible and giving members a feeling that they belong here and fit here. If members feel comfortable, are having fun,
are participating in meaningful service, find value in social and service activities, they are likely to stay members. It is not a duty to be at meetings or do service.
It is exciting! The club members and leaders have a youthful outlook. It is the Magic of Rotary to create wonderment and change people's lives with passion, energy, and a good attitude. Rotary has changed with the influence of Paul Harris and with time. Rotary is seeing eclubs, cause based clubs, passport clubs in order to be a fit for more people and mirror the diversity of the community. It is not Romeo(rich old white men eating out) who started Rotary in 1905. Women were accepted as members in 1989.
Members have built on their depth of knowlege and risen to leadership positions. We are different now.
The club then discussed these ideas and what is the GOLD of our Club - fellowship, fun, humor, love, diversity - as well as what we heard today - needs to be fun and look like our communities. Irresistible!
Equine-assisted learning is both unusual and highly effective. The Executive Director of 3 Gaits, Jolie Hope, says nobody really knows why horses have this effect on disabled people, but they do. The organization, which Madison South Rotary supports, helps people from age 3 to 92! The horses have a “profound impact” on the riders, half of whom are on the autism spectrum, according to Hope. They gain social skills, confidence and strength coordination, among other skills. For example, Hope mentioned one student who was non-verbal and spoke for the first time after this therapy!The program horses are 10-20 years old and are trained to work with people.
For more information, see https://three-gaits.org.
Hundreds of Volunteers Keep the Specialty Medical Clinic Running
Low-income and uninsured patients in the Madison area have a place to go when they are in need of specialty medical care. The Specialty Free Clinic on Emil Street, run by 130 volunteers, offered 1,500 medical visits last year, according to Sheila Martin, its Executive Director. “The health care system is broken,” she lamented. Visits to her clinic are up 51% over the past five years.Madison South Rotary has contributed funds to support the clinic’s work.
Volunteers devote about 3 hours of work every other month, and include 21 medical specialists, in addition to physician assistants, nurse practitioners and physical therapists. Martin says there is still a particular need for ophthalmologists, rheumatologists and endocrinologists.
Most patients are referred by a free clinic, while some just find the clinic by searching the internet. The patient base includes non-English speakers, with the clinic able to communicate in 26 languages!
This past week Madison South Rotarians Jeff Mayers, Kathie Newman, and Paula Possin volunteered at the Dane-ARC Wings for All event at the Dane County Regional Airport. They were guides throughout the flight experience to assist developmentally disabled participants and their chaperones. Paula mentioned, "We could see firsthand the emotion, thrill, and gratification the event generated. We were all touched by our involvement in this amazing happening!"
Thanks for your service, Rotarians!
#serviceaboveself #rotariansinaction
Kristin Fabisch grew up in Juneau and learned the restaurant business from her father. He owned a popular restaurant there and she spent many years working multiple roles for him, including as a waitress. One of 9 kids, Kristin lost her mom when she was just 3 years old. After college, Kristin used her experience in the restaurant business to pursue food sales. Then she worked in radio sales in Beaver Dam and event planning and fundraising positions. That led to her current role at the YMCA as Director of financial Development. “Fundraising and event planning are my passions,” she said.
This past week, Madison South Rotary hosted Rotarians from the Philippines, who performed a dance and song routine after Monday's lunch. Thanks to Rotarian Aaron Frank for coordinating the visit and offering a truly memorable Madison-area experience for our guests!
2024 Madison South Rotary Foundation Grant Recipients Announced
We are proud to announce the selection of local nonprofits for our 2024 grant program. These grants, which support vital community services, will help organizations address critical needs in youth development, homelessness, mental health, and senior care.
The Foundation is committed to positively impacting the Greater Madison area by funding programs that directly benefit our community. We encourage local nonprofits to prepare for our next grant cycle in early Spring 2025, where they can apply for funding up to $2,500 to support their essential work.
For more information and application directions, please visit our GRANT PAGE >>
The Foundation is committed to positively impacting the Greater Madison area by funding programs that directly benefit our community. We encourage local nonprofits to prepare for our next grant cycle in early Spring 2025, where they can apply for funding up to $2,500 to support their essential work.
For more information and application directions, please visit our GRANT PAGE >>
Photos from Madison South Rotary's Changing of the Guard party at The Madison Club on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Thank you to our outgoing President Adam Peck and board members, and best wishes to our newcomers led by President Steve Fine for our 2024-2025 Rotary year.
#PeopleOfAction - Shout out to our Habitat for Humanity of Dane County volunteers Rob Gooze, Mike & Lee Ann Dillis, John Deininger, Eric Fleming, Jordan Smith, and Dan Millmann! You guys are the best!
The Rotary Delegation from the Philippines Arrives
Madison South Rotary
P.O. Box 259672
Madison, WI 53725
From e-waste to empowerment
How a Rotary initiative turns old computers into new opportunities
Rotary projects around the globe June 2025
Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Italy, Uganda, and Taiwan.
A moment in time: Rotary magazine's 2025 Photo Awards
Sparks fly as Rotary members focus their cameras and freeze-frame the wonders of the world for Rotary magazine’s 2025 Photo Awards.
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