Waunakee Rotarians are getting ready for a Wauktoberfest, with a full night of festivities on Thursday, Sept. 11. 

As part of Club Assembly during the July 31 meeting, Ken Pesik reminded the club about Wauktoberfest coming up Sept. 11-14, and listed all of the German beers that will be on tap. This year, while the wine tasting is underway on Thursday night, the beer tent will open, as well. Rotarians and Chamber members will get a special invitation to what can be a nice mixer that evening, Ken said. 

As part of Wauktoberfest, the bacon and bourbon taste is Wednesday, Sept. 3, and will be on the Lone Girl Brewing Co. rooftop. 

Ken said Wauktoberfest is the club’s second biggest fundraiser, and it involves five different nonprofits. He thanked Ken Ballweg for hosting the event at the Endres Manufacturing Company’s campus. 

Kylie West said the club has speakers lined up for the meetings. But some changes will soon take place for club assemblies. Every few months, to break up the business club assemblies where committee chairs give reports, Five-by-Five talks will be scheduled. These will be like classification talks but shorter, with five longtime members giving a reclassification so newer members can learn about them. 

The international committee announced that Rotary International had formally approved the SOAR Kenya Academy grant. 

Fellowship times will continue Wednesday afternoons at the Waunakee Farmers Market behind the depot on Main Street, or in case of rainy weather, at the Lone Girl. The Chamber Golf Outing is Sept. 17, and Rotary foursomes are wanted. 

Other fellowship events coming up will be the early October outing at Bishops Bay, the Christmas party and possibly a fall hayride. 

Phil Willems said the WaunaFest committee is doing some “soul searching.” He described this year’s event as a “total bust,” and said other service clubs were unhappy. A new date might be found for the event. 

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Other News: 

-The 50th anniversary celebration of Gov. Nelson State park is Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. with history and prairie walk and other events. 

-Jim Elvekrog said the club has two cell phones with contracts that were obtained for the two exchange students who returned to their countries. He’s looking for someone to take over the contracts. 

-President Tony Burns thanked the members who volunteered at the Senior Citizens picnic, WaunaFest and Peace Pole Dedication. 

Guests:

Bernie Kennedy, guest of Bill Kennedy. 

Events:

-Aug. 6, National Night Out at Village Park. 

-Sept. 11-14, Wauktoberfest.

Greeters:

Aug. 7, Phil Willems and ???; Aug. 14, Kylie West and Shelley Moffatt; Aug. 21, David Rupp and John Cullen; Aug. 28, Phil Willems and ???

To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/