WISCONSIN RAPIDS SUNRISE SCRIPT Volume 20, Issue 33 Website: wisconsinrapidsrotary.org April 2, 2015

District 6250 Wisconsin Rapids Rotary – Sunrise – Club No. 31198 OFFICERS 2014/2015 Box 1181, Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495 District Governor – David Warren

President – Nancy Mischnick 715-421-9533 [email protected]

President Elect – Lisa Mayne [email protected] Dean Veneman; “Shelter Box Update” Treasurer – Elaine Semrow [email protected] April 9 Josh Pajac; “Simply Incredible Foods” Secretary April 16 Avenues of Service Lorna Holewinski for RI reporting Rob Wefel; “Boys & Girls Club Update” [email protected] April 23 April 30 Craig Carpenter; “Toast Masters” Dennis McCarville for meetings [email protected]

May 7 Thomas Matuszak Sergeant at Arms – Chris Inda [email protected] May 14 Avenues of Service Script Editor- Rick Merdan May 21 Gus Mancuso [email protected]

May 28 Lisa Mayne Past President – Kristopher Gasch Paul Harris Fellows

Fred Stich (2) Bob Plucker Dates to Remember: Ellen Dahl Pat Schuetz

 March 30, Rotary Board Meeting, Hotel Mead Ed Heuer Dean Ryerson Kurt Heuer Tom Schneider Sunrise Rotary News Jere Johnson Larry Schmick

Joe Lane Larry Koopman Welcome Guests and Fellow Rotarians : Lynda Almonte Josh Mason

Jason Wiernik – Student Rotar Sue Siewert Dave Mueller Joey Marshall (2) Ida Lee Siewert (2) Thomas Matuszak – Exchange Student Steve Sternitzky Wayne Johnson News: Elaine Semrow Ken Hanson Kim Auman Rosie Anderson  Barry Jens was presented Paul Harris points for his outstanding service to Sally Young George Hathaway Rotary and our club. Ralph Lau Dan McCarville Mary Jo Green Dean Veneman  Here is the link for Shoulder to Shoulder water filtration units. Dennis McCarville John Moffat (2) http://shouldertoshoulder.org/donations Make sure to put Wisconsin Rapids Lorraine Schmutzer Tim Krueger Kristopher Gasch Barry Jens Sunrise Water Filter Project in comment area. We now have a total of 22 units including those from the Packer Pool. Club Chairpersons Vocational Service  The fund raising committee gave an update recommending a fall Gus Mancuso, co-chair Bill Lindroth, co-chair entertainment fundraiser to raise a total of $10,000. It is also recommended Community Service that leadership for fundraising rotate between the committees. Carla Lenk, co-chair  Bauernfeind is providing informative sessions for schools on 3D printing Lisa Mayne, co-chair

options. International Service Nancy Mischnick, co-chair  We received a thank you from Helping Hands Gospel Mission for the $150 Tom Schneider, co-chair donation from the Happy Pig. Club Service / Membership

Rick Merdan, chair  The Miss Wisconsin Rapids Area pageant is requesting payment for the $500 “Miss Congeniality” award. The club will need to decide if we want to keep R.I. Foundation Liaison Karen Kienert

supporting this, if not the pageant needs plenty of time to fill the sponsorship. Polio Plus Chairperson

 John Fanta from the Rafters is looking for people interested in playing the Tom Schneider Youth Exchange Officer organ during games. Steve Sternitzky

 Youth Exchange Counselor If someone needs a program contact Mike Keiser for an update on the Rome Tom Schneider Sand Valley golf complex at [email protected] or 773-988-0742 Youth Protection Officer Dave Mueller

Program: John Fanta; "WR Rafters Baseball Updates" Happy Pig:

About $14 was donated from happy John Fanta is the general manager of the Rafters. He had to work people; “C’mon let’s get happy!” to get into the University of Wisconsin –Lacrosse Sports management program but has made the most of it. The Rafters are part of the four team “Big Top Baseball”

organi zation which also includes the , the , and the Green Bay Bullfrogs. They play 72 games in 76 days. The Northwoods league has produced 118 players that played for major league organizations. 2010 was the inaugural and

they have a lease on Witter field through 2020. Attendance has been in the top half in the league with a total of 47,631 last year averaging 1,323 per game.

Many of their popular promotions include the “dizzy bat spin”, “T- ball challenge, “beer batter”, and many more. They have a 60 person game day staff which includes their full-time employees as well as interns and volunteers.

There have been a lot of improvements at the park;

 2010 Inaugural season included addition of the Founder Seats from Milwaukee County Stadium  2011 Included the addition of the home plate club  2012 The picnic tent was added to provide shade and protection from the elements  2013 The Rat Trap was added  2014 Accessible seating with connectivity via iPads

 2015 Has a yet to be announced improvement and the team will host the All-Star game on July 21st. They are upgrading the tent tables with picnic tables and are replacing the

backstop netting and chain link fence.

2014 Season Recap

The team finished the season with an overall record of 27-45. A

highlight of the second half came in a game started by Domenic Mazza (UC Santa Barbara) against the . On July 15th Mazza threw the first no-hitter in Rafters franchise history, completely baffling the opposing lineup in route to 10 strikeouts through his eight innings. An offensive thrill came in the Rafters’ day game on July 30th against the . Trailing 7-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, Wisconsin Rapids scored five runs to win the game on a walk-off wild pitch by the score of 8 to 7.

Rotary 4-Way Test. Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build good will and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The latest edition of the District news can now be seen in its online format at this link – http://www.rotary6250.org