Are you looking for an organization where you can meet friends, grow your professional network, and do some good for the community and the world?
We’re looking for you, too!
Want to help?
The Rotary Club of Waupaca
Over 90 members strong, we are committed to acting locally and globally to address the biggest challenges of our time. Together, we work to:
- Support education
- Protect the environment
- Grow local economies
- Promote Peace
- Support mothers & children
- Provide Clean water, sanitation & hygiene
- Fight disease
In addition to hands-on projects focused on the environment, housing, hunger and other needs, we raise funds through community events to support a range of programs and service projects that improve lives locally and around the world.
Ready to attend a meeting?
Thanks to Our Ambassadors
The Good Things We’re Doing!
International Day at Waupaca High School was a great success!
4 Inbound guests from the District joined Iria and Ronin and our 3 Rebounds (Ruthy, Alexandra, and Kate) to share their presentations about their countries with 19 classes and 2 lunch groups!
Some feedback from teachers:
A note from our new Spanish teacher, Ms Erickson
And a note from Mrs Kroseberg, from the Family and Consumer Science Department
I'm excited to continue this partnership! Alex will be joining our class soon to share her perspective as well, and I know our students will benefit tremendously from hearing directly from another Waupaca student who has lived the exchange experience firsthand.
Thank you for everything Rotary does to foster global understanding and support our students' growth. We look forward to welcoming your speakers again next year!"
Special thanks to the RYE Committee for hosting, feeding, entertaining, transporting and moderating discussions at school all day!!!
Venue Change for our June 3rd Meeting
The Environment Committee will be hosting our Wednesday, June 3 meeting.
Location: Riverview Park Shelter (on the eastside near the Courthouse)
Breakfast will be provided
The Speaker for the meeting will be our very own Glen Bullick, as he talks about the flora and fauna in east central Wisconsin.
Following the meeting, Glen will lead a hike on the River Ridge Trail segment which is adjacent to Riverview Park. The trail traverses city land as well as the school forest.
Maximum number for hike is around 15 people.
A sign-up sheet will be sent around in the coming weeks for club members to sign up.
The Beat Goes On Brings the Community Together
On Saturday, April 25, Waupaca Rotary, Gold Cross Ambulance Service, and ThedaCare pulled together a unique community event called The Beat Goes On. The event was a community-wide health fair supported by the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh School of Nursing.
There was great participation from the Sheriff s Department, Waupaca Fire Department, and ThedaStar Helicopter. Educational booths demonstrated hands-only CPR with practice mannequins, and another booth highlighted the locations of the newly installed automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Many families with young children attended. Kids got to experience fire trucks, police cars, and dive boats firsthand and even climb into the helicopter. More than half a dozen nursing students from UW Oshkosh commented on what a unique community we live in.
Thank you to all the sponsors and participants who helped make The Beat Goes On such a success.
Community Impact Grant Thank You Letter
The School District of Waupaca recently sent over their appreciation for the Community Impact Grant they had received.
You can read that "Thank You" letter here.
Paul Harris Recognition - Dawn Biba
At our meeting on 4/22 Dawn Biba was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. This award goes to people who give $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation, or on whose behalf is given $1,000. Dawn exemplifies Rotary in her kindness, commitment, and service. Congratulations, Dawn, your honor is well-deserved.
Volunteer Waupaca Day of Service on May 16th
Let’s work together to do some good.
Over 75 opportunities to serve. We've heard back from organizations around the area about the service opportunities they'll have available for our Volunteer Waupaca Day of Service on May 16th. There will be something for everyone, from outdoor clean-up and beautification, to a range of indoor tasks at the library, to visiting with residents at the veterans' home.
Sign up here to join the effort.
Volunteer Opportunity – Iola Car Show Courtesy Driver
For the past four years, the Rotary Club of Waupaca has fulfilled a crucial (and very fun) volunteer function for The Iola Car Show - driving courtesy golf carts. And since the car show provides stipends for its volunteers, it's helped us raise about $2,500 each year to support the good things we're doing for our community and around the world.
The volunteer sign-up sheet is now ready. All you need to do to secure a volunteer spot is:
- Click this link: https://www.waupacarotary.org/volunteer-sign-up/?sheet_id=15
- Review the times available
- Sign up, and put the date and time on your calendar
Click the link, and sign up today!
2025-2026 Global Grant Approval - Guatemala Literacy Project
The Rotary Clubs of Vista Hermosa and Fruita are thrilled to announce that the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) Global Grant for the 2025-2026 Rotary year has been approved by The Rotary Foundation! Global Grant #2578323 amounts to a total of $484,370 USD in support!
A total of 128 clubs and 26 districts contributed to this Global Grant, which aims to bring literacy, education, and training opportunities to over 5,400 children and teachers in rural Guatemala.
The Waupaca Rotary Club has assisted with funding this group for the last 4 years!!!
Service Projects Committee Update
The Waupaca Rotary Service Projects Committee has recently developed a new charter. We’re excited to announce that we’re partnering with Volunteer Waupaca to make an even stronger impact in our community through service initiatives.
If anyone has questions, wants to get involved, or has service project needs, please encourage them to reach out to me directly. Thanks so much for your support in helping us spread the word and strengthen our community efforts.
Collaborative Math Thinking Education Grant
Jill Bielfuss, a math teacher at Waupaca High School who used one of our Teacher Grants to purchase new Wipebooks to hang up in my room, a whiteboard surface table to use during small group work, and a generous supply of markers for students to use in this collaborative learning environment
"The students are more actively wanting to write down the work and are having impressive conversations helping each other through the problems. I had a student tell me “I have been waiting for this moment“ when I finally let him work and write at the back table."
New Member Spotlight: Angela Boelter and and Mariah Singer-Brown
Angela Boelter was born and raised in Waupaca and is a 1994 graduate of Waupaca High School. After high school, Angela attended the University of Wisconsin—Platteville and then law school at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Angela returned to Wisconsin after law school. She has been an attorney for 23 years, practicing in many different areas of the law over the course of her career. She started her career as a prosecutor serving the citizens of Outagamie County for two years. Once entering private practice, Angela served as guardian ad litem, representing the interests of children in cases of neglect or abuse and family court matters. Angela is currently employed as the Interim Corporation Counsel for Waupaca County.
Angela resides in Waupaca and enjoys spending time with family and friends. The role she delights in most is being an aunt to her nieces and nephews and is looking forward to becoming a great aunt in August. In her free time, Angela likes to travel, fish, golf, and play softball.
Angela has served in other service organizations, such as the Weyauwega-Fremont Lions Club and the Waupaca Lioness Club. She joined Rotary to be part of an organization that serves others and gives back to the community she calls home.
My name is Mariah Singer-Brown. I grew up in Iola and now live in Amherst with my husband and two daughters, who are both in high school. I also have two adult stepdaughters who live in Dubuque, Iowa and Washington, DC.
I’m a Realtor with The Legacy Group in Plover. I earned my degree in Public Communications from UW-Eau Claire. My professional background includes project and account management at an advertising agency in Minneapolis and later at a design and interactive firm in Madison. More recently, I served as the Director of Camp HOPE for Kids and Associate Director of the Jensen Community Center in Amherst.
I currently volunteer on the Tomorrow River Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors and the UW–Stevens Point Women’s Trailblazer Conference Committee. At this stage in life, I spend a lot of time following my kids to their many events, but I also enjoy hiking, pickleball, traveling, and trying new experiences.
I’m drawn to genuine, positive energy, and for that reason I believe my participation in the Rotary Club of Waupaca will be a great fit. I look forward to making the most of my membership. Thank you!
Spring Rummage Sale
All proceeds go towards scholarships for our Waupaca students traveling abroad.
As you do your spring-cleaning, please save us a box or two of your best treasures.
Rummage sales are an amazing way to repurpose, reuse, and pass on the things you no longer need.
Information about drop off times will be coming in late April.
RYE Birthday Celebrations
In March, we celebrated the birthdays of Iria, our exchange student from Spain, and Ronan, our exchange student from Thailand.
Niel Wenberg donned a few of his many costumes to make the celebration all the more fun! Happy birthday!
Paul Harris Recognition: Dennis Everson
Congratulations to Dennis Everson (left), who at Wednesday's meeting was on the receiving end of an award he typically gives out - the Paul Harris award. Club President Wes Klages gave Dennis the award, which recognizes donations of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation - one of the world's most trusted charities.
Learn more about The Rotary Foundation here: https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/rotary-foundation
What’s Coming Up?