Rotary Club of Milwaukee Tuesday Speaker Series

In partnership with the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com and WisconsinEye, Rotarians and guests heard from Republican Eric Hovde in Memorial Hall Tuesday.  Hovde, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the November 5 election, took questions from a panel of journalists that  included Charles Benson – TMJ4 News, Emilee Fannon – CBS 58 News, and Matt Smith  – WISN 12 News. An i...

On Tuesday, we launched a campaign to raise $250,000 to invest in the B-Line Park, a world-class, one-mile linear park, that runs from Richards St. to Keefe Ave. on the Beerline Trail. Rotarians from our B-Line Park Cabinet shared how this community space will unite the economically divergent Harambee and Riverwest neighborhoods, connect eight neighborhoods along the Beerline Trail, open economic...

This week at Rotary, Peter Jest, longtime Milwaukee concert promoter and operator of Shank Hall, and author Amy Waldman discussed their new book, We Had Fun and Nobody Died: Adventures of a Milwaukee Music Promoter with Jim Nelson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  They shared stories of Peter's friendships with artists that have come through Shank Hall, how their book came together, and how Pete...

Milwaukee Film Executive Director Anne Reed shared with Rotarians on Tuesday the impact the organization has had both on Milwaukee's film lovers and on Milwaukee itself. In addition to highlighting the importance of preserving the magic of the shared cinematic experience, Anne explored the vital role theaters play in fostering community and supporting the local art scene.

District Governor Pete Bosch discussed Rotary's structure and appeal while sharing his vision for growth, emphasizing how it can be driven by engaged and satisfied Rotarians. Pete will also reviewed ongoing initiatives and introduce new projects planned for this year, encouraging members to participate in these efforts.

Social capital— the networks of relationships people have— is the foundation to create and maintain functioning communities and societies. Research shows that it has been declining for decades and contributes to many worsening societal outcomes. This week at Rotary, Miranda Spindt and Will Flanders from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) discussed their recent work raising awarenes...

Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) matter to all of us; we live, work and play alongside the district's students, families, staff and alumni. On Tuesday, we were joined for a deep-dive into "The Business of Education," by MPS Interim Superintendent Eduardo Galvan and Board of Directors VP Jilly Gokalgandhi. The two will discuss recent district developments with Jason Stein, President of the Wisconsin...

In its 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Department of State states that an estimated 27 million people around the globe are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex. Yesterday at Rotary, Tim Baack, the President and CEO of Pathfinders and Alicia Kort, Assistant District Attorney with the Sensitive Crimes Unit for Milwaukee County engaged in a moderated conversation with Rotari...

This past Tuesday, Rotarians heard from Nancy Hernandez, President of the Hispanic Collaborative, originators of the Well-Being Index, and Angela Adams, Interim President of the African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee on the most recent data related to the health, wealth, education, employment and quality of life of our Latino and Black communities as compared to their counterparts in th...

The  E=Way Regional Commuter Rail System , developed by Transit Innovations, proposes 30 stations spanning across Milwaukee and Waukesha counties along 55 miles of existing Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail infrastructure.  On Tuesday, Jaqulynn  Honl , C.O.O. of Transit Innovations, will share details of the visionary economic development project that will deeply impact job cente...

Rotarians returned to Memorial Hall on Tuesday to hear from fellow club member and new CEO of Ascension Wisconsin, Daniel Jackson.  As the leader of one of Wisconsin's largest healthcare organizations, Daniel shared his vision and plans for Ascension, and the importance of addressing social determinants of health through community impact programs in today's challenging and evolving environment.

With our partners from the Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust, WisPolitics, Milwaukee Press Club, and the Wisconsin Eye, we held a program focused on election integrity and security that filled Memorial Hall to the brim on Tuesday. Patrick Marley, Reporter for the Washington Post moderated the discussion with a panel comprised of Meagan Wolfe from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Paulina Gutier...

There was much to celebrate yesterday in Memorial Hall as we recapped a wonderful year under President Leslie, and welcomed in our new club President Saj Thachenkary for 2024-25. We also introduced new members, shared selfies, learned about the future of our new big project, and so much more all to close another chapter of our vibrant club.

This week in Memorial Hall, Rotarians heard from Dick Knapinski, the Communications Director of the Experimental Aircraft Association.  Dick shared the EAA's story from its humble Milwaukee beginnings, to now a 300,000-member organization that  hosts the world's largest fly-in at Oshkosh every July.

This week at Rotary, Ari Brown of the Wisconsin Policy Forum shared their findings on the community listening sessions hosted by the Milwaukee Police Department to inform the creation of a citywide Community Oriented Policing Plan. Ari summarized key themes from these meetings, explored how peer cities have implemented Community Oriented Policing, and suggested ways that MPD can enhance its own co...

Michael Gosman has a passion for improving our community, which drew him to Acts Housing, an organization dedicated to breaking down the barriers for homeownership. Under Mike's leadership, the organization has grown from seven employees in 2012 to over forty employees in 2023, while also increasing their revenue 13 fold to $9,000,000. Mike's inventive ideas, products and services have resulted in...

Sarah Pancheri, who became Milwaukee World Festival's President & CEO in January 2024, will share how Summerfest and Henry Maier Festival Park contribute millions to the region's economy while remaining dedicated to its nonprofit mission to provide the cultural and entertainment impact that has earned Milwaukee the title, "The City of Festivals".

At this year's Armed Forces Week program, Rotarians heard from Col. Charles Merkel, commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing at the General Mitchell Air National Guard Base. The Colonel addressed the current state of the Refueling Wing, their mission, plans for modernization, and efforts to compete for the KC-46 tanker. He also discussed changes coming to the Air National Guard's role in the Indo...

Vision Zero is an international movement to end traffic deaths with a public health and safe system approach that the City of Milwaukee has adopted.  This past Tuesday, Rotarians heard from Milwaukee's Vision Zero Policy Director, Jessica Wineberg, as she shared an overview of key crash trends that are informing a data driven response with the goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and serious...

Milwaukeans quickly recognize the name A. O. Smith but not all know that this historic Milwaukee brand is one of the world's leading providers of water heating and water treatment solutions for 150 years. This week in Memorial Hall,, Chairman and CEO of A.O. Smith, Kevin Wheeler, provided a snapshot of their 150 year history, and shared how they are continually developing state-of-the-art solution...

Elysabeth Alfano is the CEO of VegTech(TM) Invest and an expert on food systems transformation. She runs an ETF on the New York Stock Exchange that invests in innovative companies that are focused on a sustainable food system shift. Learn how companies like Anheuser-Busch are using their fermentation processes to grow protein for human consumption and the associated health and ecological benefits...

Located 60 miles north of Milwaukee, Road America, also known as The National Park of Speed, opened in 1955 and welcomes over 800,000 motor sport fans each year to enjoy over 600 acres in the Kettle Moraine. This week at Rotary Mike Kertscher, President of Road America, discussed the history of the track and its economic impact on Sheboygan County and the state of Wisconsin.

VISIT Milwaukee's CEO, Peggy Williams-Smith, gave an energized presentation to Rotarians on Tuesday and introduced VISIT's new and improved fresh brand while addressing the driving forces behind tourism in 2024 and beyond. Check out the presentation for an insightful glimpse into Milwaukee's vibrant tourism scene and its promising future.

Every summer crowds flock to our city, but this time, in addition to a large number of high-profile visitors, Milwaukee is poised to get about as much attention as it can handle on July 15-18, when the eyes of almost every nation on the planet, and every state of the union will be upon us.   At a packed Memorial Hall yesterday, Rotarian Andy Bochman, senior grid strategist for Idaho National Labor...

On Tuesday, Rotarians heard from Dr. Megan Schultz from Children's Hospital on gun violence in children. Guns are now the number one cause of death for American children - more than cancer, more than car accidents. Pediatric emergency physician Dr. Megan Schultz shared her perspective from working on the frontlines of America's gun violence epidemic, and what we can do to make our community safer...