For club assembly at the Dec. 28 meeting, Waunakee Rotary Club committee members reported on the projects they’re working on. 

Ray Statz said the international committee will refurbish a bench built by Russian visitors and presented as a gift. After the Berlin wall came down, the club received a few groups from Russia through the Rotary Friendship Exchange. One group were furniture professionals, and as a thank you, they had a bench made. It has been installed at the Rotary Walk around Village Center Pond, but now two decades later, It needs some shaping up, Ray said. 

The meetings committee is working to get a UW professor who is an expert on artificial intelligence to lead a program. There are openings for speakers at meetings starting in February. If you have ideas for programs, let Kylie West or other members know. 

The service projects committee is looking at putting some landscaping in around the solar lights at the dog park. Also, on Jan. 19, Chet’s Car Care will need help loading medical supplies into a shipping container bound for Honduras. You can volunteer to help with the loading starting at 9 a.m. at Chet’s on Aberg Avenue in Madison. 

The youth and vocational committee is planning for the high school scholarship program. Bob Arntz reported that Brisa is now with her second family in Waunakee, and they’re all vacationing in Las Vegas during winter break. The committee will also recruit students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy and World Affairs Seminar in 2024. 

The club’s holiday party has been set for Feb. 1 at Buck & Honey’s in Waunakee, with heavy appetizers for the menu. That committee is also planning family friendly indoor events, like bowling. 

The membership committee is forming a process for new members to learn the steps toward getting their blue badge. Mentors are needed to be sure they know what the steps are and complete them. They also want to be sure all members are serving on a committee. 

The fundraising committee will need help taking down the Rotary lights next week and begin packing them away the following Saturday morning, starting at about 9 a.m. Bring tools and gloves. Also, that committee is working on creating a form for groups requesting grants to fill out.