Welcome! Our Rotary Club serves the Cedarburg and Grafton communities, located in central Ozaukee County.

We meet on Thursdays at 12:00 noon
June - August 
Summer Schedule - Meeting locations rotate weekly.
September through May
American Legion - Peter Wollner Post 288
W57N481 Hilbert Ave, Cedarburg, WI 53012
 
Please check our Club Calendar to verify meeting locations and times.
Visiting Rotarians are welcome to join in at our meetings. If you have the chance, email our Secretary, Maggie Dobson with the day you plan to attend.
Click here for more Club information
 
 

24th Annual Rotary Music Festival (RMF)

Wednesday, July 3, 2024 @ 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. 

Click Here to Secure Your Tickets

 
 
Amazing talent! Annually, drum and bugle corps make the journey across the state, and the country, to perform here in our community. What a privilege to experience their showmanship.
 
Tickets for the 24th annual Rotary Music Festival are now on sale. The drum and bugle corps show will be held Wednesday, July 3, at the Cedarburg High School Athletic Field starting at 7 p.m. The event will feature performances by four world-class drum and bugle corps including the Madison Scouts of Madison, WI, Cavaliers of Rosemont, IL, Blue Stars of La Crosse, WI, and the Colts of Dubuque, IA. They will also be joined by the Colt Cadets of Dubuque, IA.
 
Please Mark you're going, Like, and Share the Rotary Music Festival's facebook page.
 
All seats are reserved so advanced tickets are encouraged to get the best seats in the stadium.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $45 and can be ordered at dcitickets.showare.com.
All proceeds are used for student scholarships and grants to non-profit organizations.
 
 

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
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  
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Rotary Peace Fellowships.
The application process will be open until 15 May 2024, and interested candidates can apply through the application webpage.

This year, The Rotary Foundation will award up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 fellowships for professional development certificates at premier universities throughout the world — including the newest Rotary Peace Center in Istanbul.
 
As a humanitarian organization, promoting peace is a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission. By carrying out service projects, supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, and partnering with others, Rotary members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. We believe that supporting peace and development leaders in their education and
careers is key to creating a more peaceful world.

The fully funded Rotary Peace Fellowship, which covers tuition and living expenses, increases
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.
Gail gave a shout out to Cindy for hosting a “Women in Rotary” social event at her home on Wednesday evening. Gail said, "During our discussion last night, I couldn’t help thinking what a strong group of women we are and how passionate we are about our community. What’s more, we can have a civil conversation while expressing differing opinions."
 
The purpose of our Women In Rotary Social is to provide a gathering place for women in our Club to build and deepen relationships. Relationship with each other personally and as service-minded female leaders in our community. Eight members of the club attended and enjoyed great food and lively conversation! Coincidentally, the gathering was held on the 35th anniversary of women being allowed to join Rotary! As our beloved Chimmy would say, “Thank God for women in Rotary.”
 
Photo Caption: l-r Cindy Petted, Minal Hahm, Maggie Dobson, Julie Hoover (back), Gail Ostermann, Melissa Wraalstad (back), Pat Thome, and Patty Hansen.
 
Grafton High School seniors Brogan Ringgold and Juhi Jha were recognized as the Students of the Month by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Graton at its weekly lunch meeting on Dec. 14 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post. “Both of these students were integral to the success of our “Every 15 Minutes” program conducted in October,” said Scott Mantei, Grafton High School principal. “This was a huge undertaking by these students demonstrating their strong leadership skills and commitment to the community.” “Every 15 Minutes” is a nationwide program designed to dramatically challenge students to think about the consequences of driving impaired or distracted. It involves the creation of a video and mock accident demonstration presented to students and the community at large. “We felt this was a natural connection to Rotary since they generously donated $3,000 to this project,” said Mantei. The video, available on youtube.com, has already received 14,000 views.
Ringgold is the senior class president and co-president of the student council. He is a student ambassador for the Grafton Education Foundation, participates in choir competitions, and is involved in Grassroots North Shore, a political action committee dedicated to voter education. He is also employed at Coco Tree Confectionery.
 
Jha is the president of HOSA, an organization for future health professionals, and is co-president of the student council. She is currently the lead volunteer trainer at Aurora Health Care as an Ozaukee Youth Apprentice.
 
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 a $50 donation is made in their name to a charity of their choice. Ringgold designated his donation go to “When We All Vote,” an organization that encourages citizens to vote. Jha chose the American Heart Association for her donation.
 
 
Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Students of the Month Juhi Jha and Brogan Ringgold, Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei, and Grafton School District Superintendent and club member Jeff Nelson. Photo and video credit, Cindy Petted.
 
 

Hat & Mitten Drive Up 250% from Last Year!! 

Jack and Rob are pleased to report that, according to their tally, the hat and mitten drive collected over 600 hats, gloves, socks, and scarves this year compared to 240 last year. Thank you to all of the MSO attendees and Club members who contributed. Your act of kindness makes the MSO concert not only the entertainment event of the season but also a successful clothing drive for Mr. Bob's Under the Bridge. (Jack & Rob are the grandsons of Rotarian & Past-President Mark Ziebell. Oh, and pup Murphy is also pictured. Aren't they adorable?!?!)
 
Casey Bowe introduced Cedarburg High School senior Madison Engebose as our November Rotary Student of the Month.
 
Madison has completed over 100 hours of community service while excelling academically with a 4.5 GPA. She has taken 16 college-level and 11 Advanced Placement courses. She has actively participated in many extra-curricular activities including Math Team, Coding Club, FBLA/DECA, and Golf, where she was recently recognized as First Team All Northshore Conference, Academic All-State, and MVP of the CHS golf team. Casey said that Madison’s golf coach describes her leadership as “unparalleled.” “She has been involved in every aspect of the team, from organizing locker tags to organizing team dinners,” Casey said.

In accepting her award, a $50 chamber gift card and a $50 donation to a charity of her choice, Madison said she plans to play golf in college and major in computer science. Her dream job would be working for the PGA someday.
 
Her charitable donation will go to Baskets of Hope, which provides toys for patients at Children’s Hospital.
 
Pictured are Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton president Mike Herbrand, left, with Student of the Month Madison Engebose, and Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe. Photo credit, Cindy Petted.
Farm Pond Dock @ Riveredge Nature Center
Earlier this year the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton donated funds to Riveredge Nature Center for the installation of a new dock. The dock is designed for people of all abilities to access Farm Pond from beyond its shoreline.
 
On Saturday Oct 28, 2023, we had 14 volunteers performing the following tasks.
- assembling planking for the dock floor
- cutting back invasive species at the pond's shore
- maintenance of the boardwalk on the opposite side of the pond - pulling out boards and replacing them
- trail work at the pond shore - laying gravel on paths
 
Here our volunteers are pictured standing on the new dock.
Grafton Superintendent and fellow Rotarian Jeff Nelson introduced our Student of the Month, Grace Viesselmann, a senior from Grafton High School.
Grace’s impressive resume includes: Class treasurer, VP of Student Council, President of National Honor Society, Black Hawk Crew Member, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) member, and is an active athlete, playing volleyball, basketball, and track & field. Grace is currently enrolled in AP Calculus, AP Biology, and AP Economics and is planning on a major in biology/pre-pharmacy at either UW-Eau Claire or UW-Madison.

Grace has coordinated events supporting Family Sharing of Ozaukee County through her work at school and will donate her $50 to them. Congratulations Grace!
 
Pictured are GHS Principal Scott Mathei, Grace Viesselmann, and Grafton School District Superintendent & fellow Rotarian Jeff Nelson. Photo credit, Maggie Dobson
As our April 2023 Student of the Month, Henry Cain was introduced by CHS Principal Casey Bowe:
 
It is my honor to introduce you all to Mr. Henry Cain. Henry is currently a senior at Cedarburg High School. He has given back to the community through various service engagements with more than 120 documented hours. He is a leader amongst his peers, serving as a captain of his swimming and soccer teams. Henry was recognized for excellence in swimming as an All-American Honorable Mention and for his excellence in Service, Character, Scholarships, and Citizenship by the National Honor Society.

Henry Cain has sought a rigorous course load during his tenure at CHS, taking seven Advanced Placement courses and earning a remarkable 4.10 cumulative GPA in the process. Henry has deep ties to the community, and to our club as the son of fellow Rotarian Steve Cain and with three years of employment with the Olsen’s at the Piggly Wiggly in Cedarburg.

Henry consistently exemplifies what it means to be a Bulldog. Please welcome the Cedarburg High School Rotary Student of the Month, Mr. Henry Cain.
 
Pictured here are CHS Principal and fellow Rotarian Casey Bowe, Rotary Club President-Elect Mike Herbrand, Henry Cain, and Henry's proud Papa and fellow Rotarian, Steve Cain.  Photo credit, Gail Ostermann
Mark Z. reported that we have 15 bowlers signed up for the red pin bowling event to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ozaukee County for tomorrow, March 17. Our Club raised a total of $2915.00... Well Done!
As for teams... Drum roll … Mike Herbrand’s team donated the most!
 
<<< In our club, this is what winning looks like! Congratulations to Mike's team for raising the most funds.
Jeff Nelson, Rotarian and GSD Superintendent, introduced Kayla Dembiec as our March Student of the Month from Grafton High School. Kayla is the captain of the varsity dance team, vice president of the National Honor Society, coach of the middle school dance team, and a lifeguard. She is a student in AP Research and was the third-place state finisher of the American Legion Oratorical Contest. She said she had to write an eight to 10-minute speech on the United States Constitution, and then give that speech in front of an audience and panel of judges, completely memorized. Amazing! She plans to major in broadcast journalism. Kayla designated her $50 charitable donation from our club to Franciscan Peacemakers, which connects women survivors of sex trafficking to safe housing, meaningful work, and a healing network of support.
 
Pictured are L-R: Grafton School Superintendent Jeff Nelson, Student of the Month Katie Dembiec, and Grafton High School Principal Scott Mantei.
Photo credit: Gail Ostermann.
 
Rotary International District 6270 is pleased to announce that Nicole McNevin of Neenah, Wisc., has received a prized Rotary Peace Fellowship (RPF) for 2023-2025. She has been accepted into the Master’s Course in Peace Studies, Public Policy and Public Research Program, at International Christian University (ICU), Tokyo, Japan.
 
The daughter of Mary & Richard McNevin of Neenah, Wisc., Nicole is a graduate of Neenah High School and Wheaton College, Ill. (2017) She speaks Japanese and is currently in the 4th year of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program where she teaches English and culture to students in low-income areas.  Read the full story here.
 
 
Unitarian Church North's Social Justice Committee invites you to learn more about this historic event that is not found in many history books or taught in most schools. This "free" in-person-only event is open to the public. Please consider this opportunity to watch "Descended From the Promised Land" The Legacy of Black Wall Street.
 
The short 22-minute film will be followed by a talkback discussion with two panelists, LaToya Bates (UCN's DRE) and Jeannie Carr. Please consider registering with this Eventbrite link.
Saturday, February 25, 2023
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Unitarian Church North 
   13800 North Port Washington Road Mequon, WI 53097
Free and open to the public
 
For more information or questions please feel free to contact Brian Monroe, past RID6270 Dist Governer; 414-881-6901 or monroe.earthbound@gmail.com

In 1921, North Tulsa’s Greenwood District, the most prosperous Black community in America, was set ablaze, bombed, and looted during a racially motivated violent attack against the thriving Black community. Businesses, homes, and lives were lost, and Black Wall Street, as it was known, has never reclaimed its former glory. The Tulsa Race Massacre was only the first in a line of repeated targeted attacks on the progress of the Greenwood District and its residents.
 
Supporting Ukraine
 
Dear Friends,
We are writing with another update on our collective efforts to provide generators, power, and warmth to Ukrainian humanitarian facilities. Generous Rotarians, individuals, and Rotary Clubs across Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and beyond have raised over $130,000, surpassing our initial goal of $75,000.  Our partner, Friends of Be an Angel, has arranged to purchase more generators than originally planned.  1,700 generators have been acquired and two shipments containing 1,192 generators have arrived in Ukraine, with the remaining generators arriving within the next week. The total cost of the generators is $1,013,760 and, to date, commitments have been received for just under $828,630.  Donations are still being accepted, so please feel free to share our efforts with friends and neighbors.
 
The generators that have already arrived in Ukraine are being gratefully received, as shown in this video from a grateful teacher.
 
To stay up to date on this project and view more videos, please visit our webpage
 
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in supporting Ukraine.
Melissa Marschka
 
Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Donates $20,000 for CHS Turf Project
The Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton, represented by Grants Committee Chair Pat Thome, right,  presented a $20,000 check to the Cedarburg High School Athletics Department as part of a fundraising campaign to install turf at the high school baseball and softball fields. Accepting the donation were (from left) Superintendent Jeridon Clark, High School Principal Casey Bowe, and Athletics Director Jon Hannam. The turf project, which is expected to be completed in time for the 2024 spring season, will allow high school and youth programs additional access to practice time and greater assurance of completing a full season. According to Hannam, the current infield surface is susceptible to unpredictable climate conditions, which limits play time. The project is being privately funded.
Cedarburg High School Principal, Casey Bowe, introduced this month’s Student of the Month Zakira Masslich. 
 
Zakira Masslich is a senior and one of Cedarburg High School’s most accomplished students. She is an active member of our Tennis Team, Math Team, AFS Club, Spanish Club, and FCA.  She is currently at the very top of her class per GPA despite nearly exhausting our most difficult offerings.  Her current schedule of six AP courses is arguably the most challenging course load we can offer a student at our school.  Her teachers report that her drive to learn and understand all aspects of each class challenges them to be even better teachers.  Not only does she seek out challenges, but she is persistently committed to overcoming them.  Zakira represents the best of what it means to be a Cedarburg Bulldog and I am honored to introduce Zakira Masslich as the CHS Rotary Student of the month. 
 
Zakira picked Family Sharing for her $50 donation and she also receives $50 in Cedarburg Chamber Bucks for herself.  Congrats!
 
 
Pictured are Rotary Club President Melissa Wraalstad, Zakira Masslich, Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe, and CSD Superintendent Jeridon Clark. Photo and video credit, Cindy Petted.
Jeff Nelson introduced the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton's January Student of the Month, Amanda Hoenecke, a Senior from Grafton High School.

Amanda’s passion and preparation were on display as she had her acceptance speech ready. Here are some of her 
involvements and accomplishments:
  • Student Council President
  • Graftonics
  • Winter Play
  • Band and Choir Student
  • Pep Band
  • Military History Book Club
  • Does the morning announcements on a daily basis
  • Spoke to incoming 9th-grade students at GHS experience last week
 
For being selected, our Club awarded Amanda $50 in Grafton Chamber Bucks and another $50 will be given to the charity of her choice, Avocates of Ozaukee County.
 
Pictured l-r, Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton's President-Elect Mike Herbrand, January 2023 Student of the Month Amanda Hoenecke, and Grafton School Superintendent Jeff Nelson. Photo & video credit, Cindy Petted.
 
 
Concert enthusiasts from near and far joined together for another sold-out holiday concert on December 15, 2022 at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center. This year, the program included a sing-along!
 
Annually, the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton is proud to present the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) performing a classic holiday concert right here in our community. The MSO is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin.
 
All proceeds are used locally for student scholarships and grants to non-profit organizations​​​​​.
As a service project, the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton held a hat & mitten drive at its annual holiday concert by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 15, 2022. The club collected 100 hats, 40 sets of gloves,100 pairs of warm socks, a blanket, and some scarves to make the season a bit warmer for friends of Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge, a local charity that supports the homeless community in Milwaukee.
 
Rotarians Carol Alexander Coutts, left, and Cindy Petted helped gather items that were deposited into festive containers in the lobby of the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center. Photo credit, Mark Ziebell.
 
Casey Bowe, C-G Rotarian and CHS Principal, introduced Cedarburg High School’s Student of the Month for December 2022, senior Evan Weber.

Evan has been involved with many different service clubs and sports teams, including the National Honor Society, three years on the Student Council, being a key member of 
the Business Capstone class, Best Buddies, and leads the scheduling and working at concession stands for school events. He’s also had high levels of performance in the most challenging classes. In the classroom, on the field, and in the community, Evan is the consummate Bulldog. 
 
Evan chose Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge as his charitable donation. 
 
Pictured are President-elect Mike Herbrand with Evan. Photo credit, Cindy Petted.

Get your tickets today for this sell-out event!

 
Tickets for the 23rd annual Rotary Music Festival are now on sale. The drum and bugle corps show will be held Monday, July 3, 2023, at the Cedarburg High School Alumni Field starting at 7 p.m. The event is hosted by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton. 

The event will feature performances by six drum and bugle corps including the
- Madison Scouts of Madison, WI
- Phantom Regiment of Rockford, IL
- Cavaliers of Rosemont, IL
- Blue Stars of La Crosse, WI
- Troopers of Casper, WY
- Colt Cadets of Dubuque, IA
     Four of the corps were ranked among the top 12 in the world competition last year.    
    
All seats are reserved so advanced tickets are encouraged to get the best seats in the stadium.
 
 
Photo >>> The Madison Scouts will be one of the drum and bugle corps that will perform in the 23rd annual Rotary Music Festival Drum and Bugle Corps Show on July 3. Tickets can be purchased at dcitickets.showare.com .

 Click here for more details 

Jordan Guerra, a senior at Grafton High School, is the first Grafton recipient of the Student of the Month program recently launched by the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary. He was honored during today club luncheon meeting at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post in Cedarburg.
 
The program recognizes students from Cedarburg and Grafton High School who demonstrate hard work through school, employment, or other activities. They must show a strong dedication to community service or have made a meaningful or lasting contribution to their community.
 
In selecting Guerra, Grafton School Superintendent Jeff Nelson said he is actively involved in many school activities including varsity soccer, Leo’s, Military History Book Club, and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). “He is a strong student enrolled in Advanced Placement classes while also being a Youth Apprentice at Controlled Dynamics,” Nelson said. “You will often see Jordan volunteering at high school events with a video camera and microphone recording students and performers/athletes in action and then editing the clips for social media. He worked with me last year on creating our annual staff retiree videos and did a great job capturing our staff and their memories of working in our district.” Nelson said Guerra is a “giving person who will do great things” after leaving GHS. 
 
The award is given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and a $50 donation is made in their name to a charity of their choice. Guerra selected the Susan G. Komen Foundation as his designated charity.
 
Pictured: Club President Melissa Wraalstad, Student of the Month Jordan Guerra, and Grafton School District Superintendent Jeff Nelson. Photo credit, Cindy Petted.
 
Katie O’Connor, a senior at Cedarburg High School, is the first recipient of the Student of the Month program recently launched by the Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton. She was honored at the club’s weekly lunch meeting on Nov. 3 at the Peter Wollner American Legion Post in Cedarburg. 
 
The program recognizes students from Cedarburg and Grafton High School who demonstrate hard work through school, employment or other activities, according to Melissa Wraalstad, club president. They must show a strong dedication to community service or have made a meaningful or lasting contribution to their community.
 
In selecting O’Connor, Cedarburg High School Principal Casey Bowe said she is one of the “most involved students” at CHS. She is a member of the AFS Club, Best Buddies Club, Drama Club, FCA, French Club, REDgen and the tennis team. She is also a gifted singer and was one of only 16 from across the state to be accepted into the All-State Vocal Jazz Choir this year. She performs with the Acapella and Bella Voce Choirs at CHS and has been cast as a principal role in the CHS musical for the past two years.
 
“Katie is a leader in our school. She holds herself to extremely high standards, supports her peers, works incredibly hard, and is respectful, kind, and humble,” Bowe said.
 
The award will be given monthly, alternating between Cedarburg and Grafton High Schools. The students receive a $50 chamber gift check for their own use, and a $50 donation is made in their name to a charity of their choice.  O’Connor selected Family Sharing of Ozaukee County as her designated charity.
 
 
Pictured are Rotary Club President Melissa Wraalstad and Katie O'Connor. Photo credit, Cindy Petted.
 
The Rotary Club of Cedarburg-Grafton presented a check for $1,000 to Julie Hoover, Executive Directory at Family Sharing of Ozaukee County, during their Empty Bowls event on Friday October 28, 2022. 
 
Founded in 1978, Family Sharing is the longest-standing Food Pantry in Ozaukee County. They provide food, at no cost, to Ozaukee County residents in need. The proceeds from their upscale resale store sale and events go directly to supporting the Food Pantry.
As its first service project of the year, club members formed an assembly line at its Aug. 18 meeting to fill backpacks with school supplies for the “No Empty Backpacks” program. The backpacks were delivered to the Milwaukee Public School System in time for the start of the new school year.  Past President Mark Ziebell (3rd from left) and his wife Judy shopped for the supplies and made sure that each backpack was filled to the brim with notebooks, pencils, rulers and much more.
The new board of directors for the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club officially began its duties in July for the 2022-2023 year. They include (seated l-r): Mark Ziebell, past president; Minal Hahm, vice president; Melissa Wraalstad, president; Mike Herbrand, president-elect; Dave Stern, secretary; and Dick Dieffenbach, treasurer; (standing l-r): Pat Thome, Rotary International and grants chair; Layton Olsen, fundraising chair; Cindy Petted, operations & technology chair; Carol Alexander Coutts, executive secretary; Gail Ostermann, marketing & public relations chair, and Ron Knaus, finance chair. Not pictured: Brian Collins, membership chair, and Paul Radtke, youth exchange chair.
 
The Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club is a service organization with nearly 60 members. Its three major fund-raising events — the Rotary Bike Ride in May, 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, News Graphic
John Hanson introduced three of this year’s scholarship recipients:  Connor Sobczak, who will be attending MATC to pursue a career as an electrician, Lauren Rathke, who will be attending MATC to pursue a degree in photography, and Ella Day, who received the Lowell K. Levy Hard Work Scholarship and will be attending Creighton University with a double major in biology & Spanish. John noted that this year the club awarded five technical scholarships for $6,000 each, five renewal scholarships for $1,000 each, and the annual Lowell K. Levy Hard Work Scholarship for $6,000.
 
Pictured, left to right, are Ella Day, Lauren Rathke, and Connor Sobczak. Not pictured are Clayton Kleckner, Nathan Skebba, and Shane Wissing.

The 22st annual Rotary Music Festival returns to Cedarburg this summer on Sunday, July 3rd.  Four (4) amazing Midwestern drum and bugle corps will perform at the Cedarburg High School Alumni Field that evening. Performances by Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, River City Rhythm, and the Colt Cadets. Pre-show appearances by Wisconsin SoundSport Teams including the Green Beret and Sound of Sun Prairie. The event is hosted by the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club. All seats are reserved so advanced tickets are encouraged to get the best seats in the stadium.