From Our Last Meeting - July 28th, 2025
Making a Global Impact: Education, Empathy, and Opportunity
Our recent meeting was packed with updates on our diverse club activities. We received reports on local service projects like Blessings in a Backpack and Family Promise, and discussed upcoming volunteer opportunities for the Artist Shuttle, plus important details on our next meeting speaker and exciting events like the Rotary Bike Tour and a pontoon outing. We also celebrated a successful turnout for Shorehaven Bingo, thanks to our mighty Rotarians.
At the heart of our last meeting was an inspiring presentation by Brett Weiss of the Weiss Scholarship Foundation. Discover how his family’s unique, holistic approach is empowering Kenyan children and breaking the cycle of poverty through education, building bridges of opportunity...
Retired high school social studies teacher Brett Weiss shared the transformative work in Kenya, detailing how the Weiss family's model goes beyond just paying school fees. They have trained staff on the ground who are totally engaged in the lives of children, ensuring they are there to praise them on what they do well and help them to overcome the enormous challenges they face every day. Education is the only long-term, sustainable solution to poverty, and Brett described their efforts to create gender equality, fight hunger, reduce poverty, provide opportunities and educational pursuits. "We invest in the children’s bright minds,” said Weiss, "And create bridges of opportunity…We want to create a world where every child gets a great education.”
Brett further explained how the Weiss family visits the Kenyan children, reviews their report cards, and raises up “the poorest of the poor.” Their families know little about farming, often live with AIDS, have short life spans, often lose a parent and fight the daily fight of poverty’s oppression.
Once in school, the children learn three languages, may become university grads and defy the odds against them.
Other Important Club Updates:
Next Meeting Details - August 4th: Join us to hear from Waukesha County Recycling's Jenna Biermann. Important Parking/Access Notice for August 4th Meeting: Rotarians will have to park in front of Door No. 1, near the flag pole, in front of Rockwell’s Restaurant. Enter through Learning in Retirement learning center area, ramped entrance, door No. 5A. Proceed to clubhouse through side corridor. After the meeting, exit this way also. Thank you.
Blessings in a Backpack: Only $600 remains to purchase food supplies to pack student backpacks. Donations to Oconomowoc Rotary Foundation, attn: Blessings, to Leslie Olson.
Family Promise: The Golf Outing raised more than $147,000! Several Rotarians assisted with loaning tents and tables. Rotarians Mike H., Helen and Susan provided Wednesday’s meal. Thank you to all.
Artist Shuttle: Volunteers needed to shuttle artists to and from the Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts Aug. 16 and 17.
Coming Up - Save the Dates!
Aug. 4: Noon meeting at Shorehaven, Waukesha County Recycling (*note parking change above!)
Aug. 11: Rotary pontoon outing, launching from Shorehaven. We need a driver for the Shorehaven boat. Must have boater’s safety certification.
Sept. 13: Rotary Bike Tour. Pick up your yard signs, sign up to ride or volunteer on Clubrunner, sponsor a level or run the concession area.