Rotary Club of Lake Mills Board meeting
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Members present: Anita Martin, Beth Naughton, Dan Sanft, Barb Cramer, Tom Vinz, Todd Larson, Brian Benisch, Amy Litscher and Will Gruber (zoom)
Guests: Mary Ann Jackson
Meeting called to order at 7:01am.
Quorum. Agenda approved
Guest: Mary Ann Jackson
Presented information about supporting lonely and isolated people in our community.
Next steps are to approve project as a volunteer organization as part of Rotary.
Mary Ann will give presentation at noon meeting.
Budget is $500 including planning and start up.
Mary Ann and Beth met with Club 55 to coordinate.
Financial Update: thru April 2026
RYLA expense: $1,500
Post prom expense: $500
Teacher recognition
TOTAL assets $75,421.02
Community service budget was $10,000 for 2025-2026. Remaining budget is $722. Received $605 in donations (food drive and dug out screens)
Membership:
Steve Cramer will be inducted at noon meeting.
Tom V. made a challenge to the night meeting Rotarians that if they recruited a member, he would give the sponsor $50. Anita will mirror for noon meeting new members.
Dues:
Dues reminder will go out today.
Credit card machine is working but has fraudulent activity. Dan S. will check with provider.
Anita M. will reach out to past due Rotarians.
Discussion:
Invoice for storage unit. Lease expires at the end of June. Anita will check with chamber to see if they are still willing to pay half.
Brian B. presented info about the Child Sex Trafficking. This year there will be 2 speakers from the UP who had children who were trafficked. Expenses including gas and hotel. Program wants to prevent trafficking in the future. Event will take place at St. Paul’s in September 2026. Cell phone companies will show parents how to monitor children’s phones. Brian will contact Jenny M. to discuss speaker dates so as not to repeat info.
Motion made by Amy L. to give $300 from next year’s budget for speaker expenses. Second by Beth N. Motion carried.
Brian B. will check on date and report back.
Concession stand requests:
$200 panini press
$200 digital door lock
$50 safe
$100 new signage
Committee decided to get rid of the grill and use panini press to make grill marks. Three brats/hotdogs can be cooked at one time. Will have more condiments available. Use brats buns for the brats.
The lock on door and safe go hand in hand. Each member can have a passcode. Bolt safe to the ground.
Will test safe and door lock concept.
Dan S. has a sandwich board that Rotary will use for new signage promoting combo meals.
Sign on wall will Velcro on and off.
Concession stand needs a new menu board. City could make mounting for new menu board.
Amy L. mentioned that the Foundation has funds for the concession stand improvements. Foundation does not meet again until July so may need to do an email vote.
Motion made by Brian B. to move funding for concession stand improvements to Foundation. Second by Beth N. Motion carried. Discussion: panini press heats the meat then meat goes on roller. This will create better inventory control. Roller grill “overcooks” meat. Front rollers are cooler than back rollers. Committee will figure out pass codes. Possibly use part of member ID’s. Todd L. will work on specifics. Dan S. mentioned that Foundation needs to pay directly to vendors.
Zach W. is completing the food management course and will take test soon. Certification needs to be completed by a Rotarian.
Concession stand is fully stocked except for buns.
The Concession Stand Committee has proposed bolting the safe to the floor of the Rotary Concession Stand. Anita will contact city/Brian Peterson for confirmation regarding whether the proposed lock system and the bolting to the concession stand floor of the safe is approved by city staff.
The Mill: Currently, the Mill has $17,000. Spent $5,000 for the backpack program. Yearly cost to run The Mill is $10,000-$15,000. The Mill is asking for sponsorship for the upcoming year. Motion made by Barb C. to sponsor The Mill for $500. Second by Beth N. Brian B. discussed $1,000 sponsorship and to spend money in another account so as not go over on community projects budget. Need is great at this time. Motion made by Tom V. to sponsor The Mill for $1,000. Second by Brian B. Motion carried.
LMHS global service project by 4 students to raise funds for 6 computers for students in Guatemala through non-profit Prochapina. Estimate is $1,239. Prochapina worked with UW-Whitewater in the past. The Interact Club is not planning on co-sponsoring or funding this event. Beth N. suggested that if the project becomes an Interact initiative, then Board will discuss. Also possible is to apply for grants. Members can also donate personally.
Pyramid 5K Run: Will G. mentioned that they have an additional sponsor for $500 (Kikkoman Co.) Need to have visibility by passing out bookmarks, posters etc. Possibly hand out bookmarks at Town and Country Days Parade.
Volunteer lists are archived on Club Runner.
Digger check has been delivered to city. Timeline is not available.
Memorial bench: more info available this week. Todd L. suggested we look at current condition of the memorial benches which honor past Rotarians.
No update on pickleball class.
Blood Drive is set for June 10 at fire station.
Town and Country Days Parade:
Set for June 27th
Chariot is at Brian’s house but needs to be moved as soon as possible.
Will mention to Club to see if anyone has a storage shed. Can be pulled by UTV. Brian B. will check with Jennifer J.
Parade participation depends on a volunteer coordinator.
Paul Harris honorary award winners will be announced June 23rd.
Next Board meeting is June 30th at 7:00am at Farmers & Merchants Bank. Current and new Board members should plan to attend. Budget meeting dates have been set. Possible email voting for Shark Tank ideas.
