For the past 71 years, MARC – Madison Area Rehabilitation Center – has provided services for children and adults with Autism, Down’s Syndrome and other disabilities. 

Suzanne Hanson and Melissa Foreman presented a history of MARC, which since 1970 has helped to find and support employment for individuals with disabilities, as well. Suzanne has been with MARC for the past 27 years, and provided a history of all of the new buildings the agency has added throughout the area. 

MARC serves about 325 individuals in five programs across the community and at 150 job sites. 

There are also day services for those with memory loss and dementia. 

MARC also helps individuals pursue self-employment, such as one person who raises chickens and another who creates lavender products, like sachets. 

Pre-vocational training is also provided.

MARC also helps individuals be included in the community and develop relationships. 

Currently, MARC is facing a few challenges. Since the onset of COVID, finding and retaining staff has been difficult, just as it’s been in other industries. 

MARC has outgrown its Mt. Horeb building, which is also outdated. The agency is now working toward building a new space to double capacity.

Finally, new Medicaid and Medicare mandates requiring individuals with disabilities to spend time out in the community demand more staff and resources, such as transportation. Suzanne calls them unfunded mandates, but notes that ideally, these individuals should be part of the greater community.

Suzanne said MARC hopes to partner with other individuals, businesses and community organizations who feel passionate about serving the most vulnerable citizens. 

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Other News: 

-The board of directors has approved a donation of $2,000 for Food for Kidz, President Jennifer Tasker announced. Other board actions include: 

-raising the lunch fee to $15 for members and to $17 for corporate and senior active members starting with the 4th quarter. 

-approving up to $8,000 for high school scholarships. 

-approving $10,000 for new lights at the Village Center Park and Shelter along the rooflines. The lights can be used for Rotary Lights or other events. 

-On Saturday, at 3 p.m., Rotarians can volunteer with Books for the World packing books to send to Guatemala. The event is at 1849 Wright St., on the MATC campus. 

-Jeanette Erickson provided a $500 donation in memory of Bill Erickson, a longtime Rotarian. 

-The club has been named in an endowment fund. 

-The club is collecting staple items of peanut butter and cereal for the Waunakee Food Pantry Just bring donations of 16-ounce jars of peanut butter and healthy, not-too-sugary cereals to meetings for Lori Derauf to drop off at the pantry. Also, the club is still collecting lightly used games for a library in Guatemala. The games should be in English and Spanish or not language oriented, like puzzles, chess, checkers, or jump ropes. 

Upcoming Events

-Sept. 14-17 - Wauktoberfest

-Sept. 19 - Bishops Bay fellowship event. 

-Oct. 8 - Food for Kidz

Guests: Suzanne Hanson and Melissa Foreman.

Visiting Rotarians: None

Birthdays: Sept. 21, David Kennedy; Sept. 23, Chris Kenney; Sept. 25, Allan Dassow; Sept. 25, Paul Cardarella’

Anniversaries: Sept. 25, Bob and Karen Klostermann.

Greeters: Sept. 21, Allan Dassow and Lori Derauf; Sept, 28, Patrick Durden and Fritz Durst .