At our regular Monday meeting, fellow Rotarian and Development Director Taylor Walsh introduced our guest speakers from the Roehl Family YMCA: Executive Branch Director John Hummitzsch and incoming CEO Jessica Mieling. Celebrating 100 years of the YMCA serving the Oconomowoc community, the team shared an inside look at both their current local impact and what lies ahead.

John kicked things off by emphasizing a simple truth: "It’s all about the people." He walked the room through the sheer volume of lives the Y touches across Lake Country, noting that in 2025 alone, the branch served 21,346 members and logged over 41,000 visits this past August—a 17% increase in scans over the prior year. More importantly, John highlighted the deeper community outreach: teaching water safety to nearly 1,000 youth, delivering 1,104 respite hours for families with disabilities, and granting $228,105 in direct financial assistance to ensure access for all.

Jessica then took the floor to outline how the YMCA plans to meet our community's future. With Oconomowoc’s population up nearly 20% over the last decade, the demand for community space continues to surge. She walked us through their current capital campaign, built on four critical priorities:

• Expanding Their Footprint: Constructing an outdoor airnasium, a picnic shelter with restrooms, a dedicated kids gym, expanded group exercise studios, and a large free-weight center.

• Renovating the Existing Facility: Updating member locker rooms, upgrading rest and recovery areas, enhancing common spaces, and modernizing administrative offices for efficiency.

• Eliminating Debt: Retiring an annual $600,000 debt-service expense so those operational dollars can be redirected straight into youth and family programming.

• Northside Groundwork: Beginning field preparation on their 12-acre parcel at Hwy Z and Hwy 67 near Nature Hill Intermediate School to lay the groundwork for future expansion.

Saturday marked another incredible chapter for the annual Oconomowoc Rotary Bike Tour. With ideal riding conditions, great energy across every route, and an overwhelming turnout from riders and volunteers alike, the day was an unqualified success.

Best of all, our community came together to make a tangible, lasting impact. Thanks to our riders, sponsors, and supporters, this year's tour raised approximately $9,000 to benefit Variety – the Children's Charity of Wisconsin.

Every dollar raised goes directly toward Variety’s Freedom Program, providing life-changing adaptive bikes and specialized mobility equipment to local children. For these kids, adaptive bikes mean far more than just recreation—they deliver independence, freedom, and the chance to ride alongside friends and family.

Thank you to everyone who registered, rode, volunteered, and cheered from the sidelines. Your support turned every pedal stroke into direct support for kids right here in our community. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the trail next year!

(v) Monday, September 21: Rotary Bingo at Shorehaven (5:30 p.m.) 🎯

(v) Saturday, September 26: Highway Pickup (8:00 a.m.) 🦺

(r) Monday, December 14: Holiday Dinner Celebration 🎄

(r) = RSVP Needed  |  (v) = Volunteer Opportunity  |  ($) = Fundraiser