WELCOME! 

Our Rotary Club serves the Cedarburg and Grafton communities in central Ozaukee County.

Date Chartered:  Oct 18, 1965
 
We meet on Thursdays at 12:00 noon
September through May
American Legion - Peter Wollner Post 288
June - August 
Summer Schedule - Meeting locations rotate weekly.
 
Please check our Club Calendar to verify meeting locations and times.
Visiting Rotarians are welcome to join in at our meetings.
No Lunch Meeting on...
Dec 26 >>> Happy Holidays!
Jan 2 >>> Happy New Year!
Click here for more Club information

Invest in your community through the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton.

Your investment of time, talent, and treasures for our community through the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton allows us to provide deserving students with scholarships to technical and vocational schools and supports our community's quality of life through the grants we give and the projects we're involved in.
 
To donate, click the "Donate Today" image or make your check payable to Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Foundation and mail to PO Box 194 Cedarburg, WI 53012. As a Wisconsin 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton. Donations are 100% tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Ref EIN 39-1446118.
Home Page Stories
One of our signature fundraising events is the Rotary Holiday Concert featuring the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Annually, it is held at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center in December.  The MSO is one of the premier orchestras in the country and we are proud to present them during the holidays to perform in front of a sold-out audience every year. 
 
Tonight's conductor, Ryan Tani shown here, engaged often with the audience giving background on a piece or leading us in the Christmas Singalong.
 
Learn more here.
 
Photo Credit: Cindy Petted
Before and after every Rotary Holiday Concert members of the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton help to unload instruments, chairs, music stands, and the conductor's platform. Immediately after the concert, it is all packed up and put back on the MSO truck.
 
Because of our efforts to put on quality events and the backing of the MSO program booklet advertisers, the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton is able to raise funds that support the communities we serve with scholarships to deserving high school seniors and grants to local non-profits.
 
Learn more here.
 
Photo Credit: Carol Alexander Coutts
 
 
Cedarburg High School senior Tess Latzl was recognized as the December Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton at its weekly lunch meeting on Dec. 12 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post.
 
Latzl, who is the president of the Best Buddies program at Cedarburg High School, is described by High School Principal Casey Bowe as an “impactful senior leader” who is known for her “well-rounded academic excellence and mature, humble demeanor.”
 
She has accumulated over 120 hours of documented community service. Under her leadership, the Best Buddies program at CHS this year was presented with the outstanding chapter award given to one high school in every state and was recently highlighted on CBS 58’s “Natalie’s Everyday Heroes” segment.  Best Buddies is an international organization dedicated to ending social, physical and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
 
“As a local and state leader for Best Buddies, Tess advocates for inclusivity and challenges herself and others to embrace acceptance, understanding and striving for excellence,” Bowe said. Additionally, Latzl has volunteered at the annual dinner dance for Mel’s Charities and works with elementary schools on such things as their Kindness Retreat. 
 
Latzl plans to attend UW-Oshkosh in the fall, majoring in both elementary and special education.
 
The Rotary award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools, to students who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and the Club makes a $50 donation to a charity of the student’s choice. Latzl chose Best Buddies to receive her donation.
 
Photo Caption: Student of the Month Tess Latzl, center, receives her award from Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club president Minal Hahm, left, and Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe.

25th Annual Rotary Music Festival - Wednesday July 2, 2025

Performances Start at 7:00 PM ... Sharp
Cedarburg High School Athletic Field
All seats are reserved so advanced tickets are encouraged to get the best seats in the stadium.
 
6 of the top 2024 DCI World Champions will be performing on July 2nd
Blue Stars - La Crosse, WI
The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL
Colt Cadets - Dubuque, IA
Colts - Dubuque, IA
Madison Scouts - Madison, WI
Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL
Troopers - Casper, WY
 
According to the DCI website, Cedarburg is one of 75 hosting venues for this international competition.

The Drum Corps International Summer Tour Schedule serves as the foundation for countless memories made by performers and fans alike. A tapestry of tour events across the country over a six-week span, the DCI Tour map is meticulously woven together in order to maximize the opportunities, needs, and preferences of DCI’s many stakeholders — its members, its participating organizations, and more. The 2025 edition will feature more than 75 events in more than 30 states, all building toward the annual DCI World Championships, to be held August 4-9 in Indiana.

Caption & photo credit: www.DCI.org

Grafton High School senior Kaitlin Muecke was recognized as the November Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton at its weekly lunch meeting on Nov. 14 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post.
 
School Superintendent Jeff Nelson said Muecke was selected for the award for her outstanding achievements in the classroom and beyond. She is currently taking advanced placement courses in calculus, biology and German and holds a 3.992 grade point average. As part of the Grafton School District’s Vision 2030 curriculum designed to prepare students to be career and life-ready, Muecke is also taking classes in biomedical innovations as well as auto service.
 
Outside the classroom, she is an accomplished student-athlete, serving as captain of her varsity volleyball team the past two seasons. She is a three-year varsity letter winner and a 3-time second-team all-conference nominee. She volunteers as an assistant coach for the John Long Middle School volleyball program, and last year led the 7th grade A team to a 13–1 season record. She also participates in the high school’s Best Buddies program and volunteers as a sideline photographer at all football games.
 
Kaitlin plans to attend an in-state university, majoring in either radiologic technology or engineering.
 
The Rotary award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools, to students who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and the Club makes a $50 donation to a charity of the student’s choice. Muecke chose Mel’s Charities to receive her donation.
 
Photo Caption: Student of the Month Kaitlin Muecke, second from right, is joined by (l-r) Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei, Rotary President Minal Hahm, and Grafton School Superintendent Jeff Nelson to receive her award from the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton.
OWEN FROHMADER NAMED OCTOBER ROTARY STUDENT OF THE MONTH
 
Cedarburg High School senior Owen Frohmader was recognized as the October Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton at its weekly lunch meeting on Oct. 17 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post.

Principal Casey Bowe said that Frohmader’s talents represent the diversity of C.H.S. students and called him a technical education “standout” who has completed and excelled in every carpentry and metalworking class offered in high school while taking advanced and college-level math courses. His skills are showcased in a sign he built for the C.H.S. Bulldog Café for which he created a welded metal frame and precision-cut metal graphic. The sign is backlit by LED lighting and layered in front of rough, weathered barn wood.

“He is known for being driven, kind, hardworking, broadly intelligent, and immensely talented,” Bowe said.

Frohmader is one of the top high school competitive archers in the nation, earning the title of Wisconsin Shooter of the Year three times and National Shooter of the Year twice. He plans to graduate from high school at the end of this semester and work in the family business while continuing to shoot archery locally and nationally. He will then attend the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky in the fall of 2025, which is currently ranked #1 in collegiate archery. 

The Rotary award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools, to students who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and the Club makes a $50 donation to a charity of the student’s choice.
 
Frohmader chose the Kniestedt Foundation to receive his donation. The Foundation is a program that supports veterans and empowers them to have a connection to nature through hunting and shooting.
 
The above photo shows Owen Frohmader after receiving the Rotary Student of the Month Award from Rotary President-Elect Dave Stern, left. Also in the photo is C.H.S. Principal Casey Bowe, right.
Photo Credit: Gail Ostermann
 
imageRotarians, with their spouse/significant other, gathered under a star-lit night for dinner & ice cream to celebrate Mike Herbrand, Past President 2023-2024. Reigning President, Minal Hahm, did a great job this evening. She started by sharing a moving reflection then stepped it up and toasted President Mike Herbrand for a bit. Minal concluded by revealing that under our outgoing President's term, the following was accomplished:
 
The Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton raised $124,394! We are very grateful to our sponsors who invest in our community through our club.
We awarded:
     $46,000 in technical school scholarships
     Two international grants totaling $5,000
     Eleven local grants totaling $19,050
 
Mike shared a few words of wisdom and thanked the board and people who helped him during the year.
 
Pictured are the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton's President - (2024/25) Minal Hahm and Michael Herbrand, Past President (2023/24)
Picture credit: Cindy Petted
 
On August 8th, 2024, members of the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton along with District Governer Peter Bosch and Area Governer Terry Schacht came together to stuff backpack with needed supplies for students attending the Milwaukee Public Schools.  This is the 3rd year the Club has supported these deserving students.
  
 
The new board of directors for the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton officially began its duties in July for the 2024-2025 year. They include (right of sign counterclockwise): Minal Hahm, president; Dave Stern, president-elect; and Mike Herbrand, past president. (Left of sign counterclockwise): Maggie Dobson, vice president; Patricia Thome, grants chair; Carol Alexander Coutts, executive secretary; Layton Olsen, fundraising chair; Paul Radtke, youth exchange chair; Dan Bodart, treasurer; Gail Ostermann, marketing & public relations chair, and Cindy Petted, secretary. Not pictured: Ron Knaus, finance chair; Mark Ziebell, operations chair, and Steve Cain, membership chair. 
 
The Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton is a service organization with 61 members. Its two major fund-raising events — the Rotary Music Festival in July and the Milwaukee Symphony Holiday Concert in December — raise nearly $100,000 annually to support community projects, local non-profit organizations, and student scholarships. 
Photo by Mark Justesen, Ozaukee County News Graphic
Here are a few fun pictures from the 4th. We had beautiful weather for the parade, and the picnic in the park. We were blessed the weather cleared just in time for the fireworks.
 
          
Parade Pictures are courtesy of Gail Ostermann, the picnic picture is courtesy of Cindy Petted, and the fireworks picture is courtesy of The Washington House.
 
Jim DeLillo, a Rotary member of the Mequon-Thiensville Sunrise Rotary Club, has this to say about the 24th Annual Rotary Music Festival. 
 
 
This image is courtesy of Cindy Petted, Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton.
Participants in this year’s World Affairs Seminar were treated to a visit to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fabric Arts on June 25, 2024, to see the exhibit “25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee,” a global art activism project which seeks to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis. The World Affairs Seminar is an international youth initiative of Rotary International District 6270 whose motto is "Peace Through Understanding.” Keynote speaker Jennifer Kim Sohn, curator of “25 Million Stitches,” addressed the teen delegates before they visited the exhibit in Cedarburg, where they also engaged in an art-making activity that helped them explore the challenges faced by refugees.
 
Annually, the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton sponsors 2 students at the World Affairs Seminar; one from the Cedarburg School District and the second from the Grafton School District. The 2024 World Affairs Seminar theme is Democracy and Governance: Evolving Global Perspectives and was held Saturday, June 22 – Friday, June 28, 2024 at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. Annually, roughly 300 students from over 30 countries participate.
 
This year's program gave delegates the opportunity to survey how these important matters are playing out around the world. Attention is be paid to theoretical models of governance, along with the ways that political systems work – and perhaps don’t work – on a day-to-day basis. It is no longer a given that democracy is the final destination for global political development. Such a conclusion will come to have a profound impact on how all global citizens think about such things as elections, political parties, rights, and responsibilities. The question of democracy, in other words, has yet to be fully answered. Click on the link above to learn more.
 
Photos courtesy of Melissa Wraalstad, Director of Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fabric Arts
Beaming students and their proud families filled the house at Galiota’s Twelve21 on the evening of Wednesday 5/15/2024 for a reception honoring recipients of more than $40,000 in Rotary scholarships. Melissa Wraalstad, on behalf of the scholarship committee, called it a night we can all be proud of.
 
The committee reviewed a record number of applicants this year and selected the following:
The Lowell K. Levy Hard Work Scholarship in the amount of $6,000 was awarded to Braden Meyer of Grafton. He will be pursuing a degree in biology/conservation and hopes to eventually attain a master’s degree in ornithology. This scholarship recognizes a student who has put in an exceptional amount of hard work, service, and determination. As a Boy Scout, Braden earned 75 merit badges and attained the status of Eagle Scout. He was also the first from the Bay Lakes Council to be awarded the Scouting Distinguished Conservation Service Award.
Six (6) Technical Scholarships of $6,000 each were awarded to:
Jack Bannenberg of Cedarburg, who will be studying TV and field film production at Milwaukee Area Technical College;
Natalie Ernst of Grafton, who will be pursuing a career as a veterinary technician at Madison Area Technical College;
Brison Libka and Shawn Steltenpohl of Grafton, who will both be studying Automotive Service Technology at Fox Valley Technical College;
Chase Mueller of Grafton, who will be training to become an electrical line worker at the Southeast Lineman Training Center in Trenton, GA, and
Valkyrie Wolfgram of Cedarburg, who is planning to study Cosmetology at Paul Mitchell in Denver, CO.
 
Snap-On Tool toolset: Shawn was pleasantly surprised when President Mike Herbrand called him back up to the front and awarded him a toolset valued at $4,855 courtesy of the Wisconsin Automobile Dealer’s Association and Snap-On Tools.
 
Criteria considered for the above scholarships include effort and determination, promise and potential, and financial need.
 
Four (4) Technical Renewal Scholarships, in the amount of $1,000 each, were awarded to last year’s recipients William Courtright, Nadia Frohmader, Marleigh Knight and Aaron Bulgrim. A fifth renewal, Jordan Guerra, declined the scholarship after taking a pause from school to accept a dream job with Gymshark while pursuing a career as an athletic trainer.
“But I am so grateful for the education and opportunity that your other scholarship offered me,” Jordan wrote to the committee. “I wouldn’t be in such a great situation without your help.”
In addition to Melissa, the other members of the scholarship committee include Carol Alexander Coutts, John Hanson, Julie Hoover, and Chad Koehler. Well done!
 
Photo 1: Receiving Rotary scholarships were (front l-r) Valkyrie Wolfgram, Natalie Ernst and Jack Bannenberg; (back l-r) Brison Libka, Shawn Steltenpohl, Chase Mueller and Braden Meyer.  
Photo 2: Receiving Rotary renewal scholarships were Nadia Frohmader and William Courtright. Two other recipients, Aaron Bulgrim and Marleigh Knier, were unable to attend.
 
Cedarburg High School senior Anna Levy was recognized as the May Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton at its weekly lunch meeting on May 9 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post.
In addition to being an excellent student, C.H.S. Principal Casey Bowe noted that Levy has logged 425 hours of documented community service during her high school career. “Anna’s compassion and care for others is evident in how she serves,” he said.
 
It’s not surprising that Levy embraces community service and volunteerism. It was her grandmother, Janet Levy, who started the community service program at C.H.S. back in the ‘90s and is her inspiration. “Thanks to her, community service is a huge part of the student culture at Cedarburg and it’s really cool to see so much excitement still around today,” Levy said in accepting her Rotary award.
 
Levy has volunteered at Riveredge Nature Center as a camp counselor, at the elementary and middle schools as part of the coding club to teach younger students about computer science and most recently as a reading tutor at Westlawn Elementary School. She also has volunteered many nights at Ozaukee Family Services during their free counseling sessions for struggling families.
 
This past year, she served as a board member on the community service leadership team which hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens, organized a holiday card drive which donated 800 handmade cards to local nursing homes and coordinated the Mel’s Magic Moment dinner dance for individuals with disabilities. She also has worked as a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home as part of the Ozaukee Youth Apprenticeship program. Next year, she will attend Villanova University to pursue a degree in nursing.
 
The Rotary award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools, to students who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and the Club makes a $50 donation to a charity of the student’s choice. Levy chose to donate her charitable award to Ozaukee Family Services.
 
Photo Caption: C.H.S. Principal Casey Bowe and Anna Levy as our May 2024 Student of the Month.
Our April student of the month Trevor Nauta, a senior at Grafton High School, was described by Superintendent Jeff Nelson as a great student and a leader in academics, athletics, and service at GHS and across the state. Trevor has an impressive list of high school accomplishments, most notably his involvement in the school’s LEO Club, which is the youth version of The Lions and focuses on service in the school and community. He has been the club president for 2 years and is currently serving as district Leo liaison. He was also instrumental in bringing the LEO program to the middle school and growing its membership from 20 to 75 students. 

Trevor also helped to collect around 500 toys in the Kids2Kids Toy Drive this past year as part of the Kapco Enterprises Student Leadership Team. Fueling his interest in government, he has participated in programs like Badgers Boys State, Ozaukee County Youth Government Day, and the Wisconsin State Senate Scholar program. 

Trevor said he plans to pursue a degree in Finance and Political Science at a 4-year university, yet to be decided.  “My goal,” he said, “is to remain actively engaged in my community and eventually serve in an elected office to give back to the place that has given me so much.” 

Trevor chose to donate his $50 Rotary award to the Grafton Education Foundation in support of the many teachers who have supported him. Click here to watch Trevor's presentation. 

Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Trevor Nauta, Grafton School District Superintendent and club member Jeff Nelson, and Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei.  Photo Credit: Gail Ostermann.
Smart, talented, dedicated and driven. That’s how Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe described our March Student of the Month Mary Stroebel. “Her academic prowess is undeniable,” Casey said noting that she will graduate as the Salutatorian of her class with a grade point average of 4.61.  Wow!  Most of us didn’t know that grade points went that high. Plus, she has completed 100 hours of formal volunteer work.
 
Mary is an accomplished student-athlete soccer player and has been recognized as an All-State soccer player by the WIAA several times. She will continue playing soccer after graduation at Northwestern University, where she will be pursuing a degree in economics.
 
In accepting the Rotary award, Mary said that Cedarburg holds a very close place in her heart and one day she hopes to return here to raise a family just like her parents did 30 years earlier. “I consider myself to be a Bulldog through and through, and I know that this community is something that is not easy to replicate. I am extremely grateful to call it home,” Mary said.
 
Mary designated her $50 Rotary award go to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Ozaukee County. As the youngest of eight siblings, Mary said she hopes that this contribution can help give more area kids the kind of support that she received from her older siblings.
 
Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Mary Stroebel, and Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe. Photo credit Gail Ostermann & Zoom video credit, Cindy Petted.
Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Michael McNabb and Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei.Grafton High School senior Michael McNabb was recognized as the Student of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton at its weekly lunch meeting on Feb. 15 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post.
 
Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei recognized McNabb for his significant accomplishments as a basketball player noting that he is the all-time leading scorer in Grafton High School history and has exceeded 2,000 career points. “In addition to basketball, Michael is an outstanding student leader at GHS, has challenged himself by taking rigorous coursework, and understands the importance of being a role model to future Black Hawks,” Mantei said.

The Rotary award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools, to students who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities. The Club makes a $50 donation to a charity of the student‘s choice. 

In accepting his award, McNabb said his ultimate goal is to inspire the next generation of young athletes to pursue their dreams and become the best version of themselves as athletes and people just as he was inspired by those before him. He credited his family, coaches and teammates for his success. Click here to watch Michael's acceptance speech. 

McNabb will be attending Northern Michigan University to play basketball. He designated his Rotary donation go to Mel’s Charities.

Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Michael McNabb and Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei.
Photo Credit: Gail Ostermann  
Our students of the month continue to amaze us! Casey introduced Cedarburg High School Senior Miles Trompeter as our January Student of the Month, calling him “an outstanding scholar with multiple talents, interests and a deep commitment to service above self.”
 
Miles has a remarkable 4.3 GPA while taking 10 college-level courses. He is a leader in the Robotics team (which will be presenting to our club on Feb. 8) and the Coding Club, where he has contributed to the CyberPatriot and Aerospace Jam teams (who presented their drone at a meeting last year.) He volunteers at local elementary schools teaching 5th graders how to code and complete fun tasks using small programmable robots. He is the trumpet section leader in the marching band, is lead trumpet in the Jazz Band, and No. 1 trumpet in the Symphonic Band. He earned his Eagle Scout status by building eight benches for the walking path behind Faith Lutheran Church.
 
While volunteering through Boy Scouts, he grew a deep connection with Family Sharing so Miles is donating his $50 Rotary award to them.
 
 
Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Miles Trompeter, and Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe. Photo credit Gail Ostermann & Zoom video credit, Cindy Petted.