Wake Up! Waukesha

The Waukesha Education Foundation proudly congratulates the 2006 “Partners in Education”. These Partners will be honored at the WEF “Celebration of Excellence” which will be held at Waukesha South HS on Sunday November 5th from 3:30 - 8:00pm. Limited quantities of tickets are still available @ www.waukeshaeducationfoundation.org

WEF "Community Partner in Education” - Mr. Jim Doepke

Whether competing or just performing, the Waukesha H.S. Marching Bands possess an almost legendary aura and swagger when they take to the field. Jim Doepke is the person largely responsible for bringing this Wisconsin “secret” to the National stage.
Since his arrival at Waukesha North, his bands have entertained literally millions with performances at the 1989 Festival of States, the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, the Macy’s Parade (1999, 2004), the Milwaukee Circus Parades, the Tournament of Roses Parades (1995, 2002, 2007!), and many, many more. Countless regional appearances include the Grand Opening of Miller Park; Chicago; Madison; and the State Capitol, all of which have added to our Waukesha students’ educational experiences.
On a personal level (and always crediting others!), Jim has been recognized with a prestigious Northwestern University Summer Fellowship Program Award; the Herb Kohl Fellowship winner for outstanding teaching; as well as being the recipient of the 2006 National John Philip Sousa Bandworld Legion of Honor. The “Bugles Across America” program was brought to WI by Jim. The “Bugles” program matches high school students willing to perform “Taps” for the families of deceased veterans at Military Funerals and Services. And, quite possibly his favorite - look for Jim in the Miller Park left-field “Bucket-Head” section leading the crowds with his trumpet, enthusiasm, and usual fanfare.
Jim Doepke stands tall for his drive, vision, and proven ability to lead and inspire others. His students and this Community are better for it. He truly embodies the spirit of the WEF 2006 “Community Partner in Education” recognition.


WEF "Corporate Partner in Education” - Waukesha State Bank

Waukesha is a Community where a solid relationship between business and education “pays dividends” for both. Today we recognize Waukesha State Bank (WSB) for their partnership and continuing investments in our School Community.
Founded in 1944, the WSB has developed an outstanding legacy. Their associates pride themselves on their personal approach to business banking while maintaining an active interest in the community. This model has served them well. Today, Waukesha State Bank remains independently-owned and has now grown to (9) Waukesha County locations.
Surveys returned from the District to obtain examples of WSB giving flooded the WEF! The offering of Marketing Co-op positions; supplying resources to the schools’ Personal Financial Planning classes; establishing over 30 Business Occupations co-op opportunities; sponsoring WSB volunteers for Junior Achievement at the middle schools; providing pocket athletic schedules, personalized water bottles, school year calendars, tickets for and advertisements in school programs; sponsoring field house and stadium scoreboards - the list was almost endless. The President, Ty Taylor (Waukesha North grad), was still remembered and thanked for his presentation to Financial Planning Classes in 1997 and 1998. Truly their participation and largesse is legendary within the school walls.
These contributions have also impacted the careers and futures of numerous Waukesha students. As evidenced above, WSB investments in job-training, financial education, and employee participation for our youth far exceed the face-value of money in our Community.
Waukesha State Bank serves as a premier business model to all for their continued commitment to our school community. We applaud and recognize them today with the WEF 2006 “Corporate Partner in Education” honorarium.

Tickets are $50/person and can be ordered on-line @www.waukeshaeducationfoundation.org

Waukesha West Marching Cadets - 1’st Place AAAA State Champs!

Waukesha North Northstars - 2’nd Place AAAA

Waukesha South Blackshirts – 4’th Place AAAA

What a great weekend to be in Whitewater for the WSMA Marching Band Competition! And what a great weekend to be a “Waukesha” marching band fan! It was absolutely inspiring to see these kids adjust to a makeshift venue in the UW Fieldhouse and perform flawlessly. The kids played great and “hats off” to all for their dedication and hard work. The band directors are deserving of a bow for bringing that many musicians to their maximum potential.

FOOTBALL! Waukesha North overcomes a challenging season start to play West Bend in the WIAA playoffs. These athletes were on no one’s list this year, but they came together as a team to finish incredibly strong. A “Nice Job” to Coach Behrendt, his assistants, the faithful fans, and to all the kids who never lost faith.

WAUKESHA NORTH DEFEATS WEST BEND!...On to Brookfield

There is much more going on in many other venues…Save for another day…

“An incredible week in the French Countryside”

“A year of Time Warner DIGIPIC 4000”

“Waukesha Mayor for a Day”

“Bob Uecker autographed County Stadium Seat for 2”

“Miller Park Roof Tour for 8 with Brewer Tickets Included”

“Ken Reichert Original Painting - South High School”

These items and many more await you at the Waukesha Education Foundation (WEF)“Celebration of Excellence” on Sunday November 5’th. This year is shaping up to be a “doozy” with the fastest-pace, most gratifying evening planned for our guests.

On to the festivities!

AN ABSOLUTE FEAST partially sponsored courtesy of Ellen Zilli’s Catering. Incomparable food, impeccable china/silverware table settings, and that special “Zilli Magic” are awaiting all in attendance. Lori from Zilli’s has promised her Waukesha fans dining at it’s finest. Additionally, choral groups and table-roving Madrigal singers will lend just the right touch to this culinary delight!

MUSIC? You want music?? This will be your only chance to witness and experience the combined talents of all (3) of our award-winning High School Marching Bands as they encircle the seating area and “blow the roof off” of South High. And you don’t have to go to China (South HS - Spring ‘07) or the “Tournament of Roses Parade” (North - New year’s ’07) to hear them join West in a brilliant, stirring presentation.

HONORS! The WEF proudly salutes Waukesha North’s own Mr. Jim Doepke as the WEF Community Partner in Education. Jim has personally put the Waukesha Bands on the National map with Marching Band performances at the finest, highest profile venues in the land.
Waukesha State Bank, the 2006 Corporate Partner in Education, has generously touched thousands of Waukesha student’s lives with their donations of time and money. They truly embody the spirit of giving!

YOU COULD LEARN SOMETHING! The student-driven “Hall of Excellence” will showcase programs and accomplishments of kids of all ages. “Learn” from these exemplary children as many “work” their first trade show ever!

All this and more for $50/person!
WAIT! The $50/person isn’t really that much…Not when you realize your ticket price includes a $25 tax-deductible gift to the WEF. That, folks, is as good as it gets!

An evening of dining and entertainment, and a lifetime of memories await you. Call the WEF office at (262) 513-1861 or conveniently register on-line now. Contributions are always welcomed.

Time is slipping by - Act quickly - Act with compassion - All monies raised are used for grants and endowments for the Waukesha School District students.

The recent Journal/Sentinel Editorial pertaining to the DNR vs. Menard’s doesn’t go far enough in it’s call for a thorough public discussion” in this case.

A thorough public discussion?!

The facts: Menard’s wants to build a distribution center adding approximately 800 jobs in Wisconsin. The DNR wants to protect “ a one acre migratory wildfowl landing spot”.

The process: 3 years of attempted negotiation between Menard’s and the DNR. The Governor even attends a meeting!

The end result: Neither party flinches and the migratory wildfowl’s one acre landing spot is “saved”, and the Menard’s Distribution Centers (and jobs) go to Iowa and Ohio.

Tell me what “a thorough public discussion” will accomplish now? Maybe the posturing elected and State officials can defend their decision while heart-warming overhead slides of “migratory wildfowl” sequence in the background? Heck - maybe a candidate for office can “glam-on” to the issue to bolster their campaign.

STOP!! I can’t take another “discussion!” Where’s the accountability for what’s happened here? I and many others want/demand a plan of action! Positive stories of DNR cooperation and problem-solving are far out-numbered by legendary showings of obstinacy and single-mindedness. And anyone who has or is working with the DNR on an issue knows they have every excuse, usually starting with “we are understaffed”, for being non-responsive and tardy. Why do those excuses work in Government but not in the private sector?

It’s time a different method of arbitration is attempted. A mediator (obviously he/she cannot be politically appointed…) willing to protect the public interests of the natural resources of this great State while respecting the taxpayers as well?…An enforced mandate for timely review and resolution?…How about plain, old-fashioned common sense?

How does this relate to Waukesha? Follow Mayor Larry Nelson’s follow-through on his campaign pledge to gain water rights to sustain our area. His reasonable, common sense, respectful approach has gotten the entire Midwest’s attention. The Mayor has positively framed the issue where other communities are now sitting-up and realizing they too could be in need in the near future. Meetings now focus on solving this all too real, immediate problem. There are many challenges remaining, but the Mayor has set the tone with his earnest discourse.

A thorough public discussion?! Get past that - Find an immediate, non-partisan (that would be refreshing!), responsive solution before Wisconsin is embarrassed again and again.

It’s been a tough few weeks to be a student.

It’s been a troublesome, emotional week for students in and from Waukesha and Brookfield.

And it’s been a week of concern and questioning for the parent of (2) current UW LaCrosse students and a Waukesha North High School senior. And that parent is…me!

Eight young men have died since 1997 under suspicious circumstances, and, tragically, we all “hope” (not really) they were so drunk they fell in the Mississippi…Why? …Because we consider a “drunk death” preferable to the possibility of a psychopathic killer preying on young people?

A high school sophomore makes threats that are so relevant, so timely, and so concise that he is suspended. Within days, the student is reported to have repeated the same threats and now faces possible/probable expulsion and misdemeanor charges. Am I to be comforted by the fact the police searched his home and no guns were found?

My wife and I have listened to and felt all (3) of our kids very real fears and concerns over these last few weeks. Fears that can’t be washed away by a simple “Oh, these are just isolated cases – don’t worry about it (them)”. Concerns that bring their future; their vulnerability; even their mortality to the forefront of our conversations. And all of this then followed by rumors flying in the aftermath on both campuses.

Our kids are scared! There… it’s said. These soon-to-be “independent” (so they think) young adults are frightened. They have abandoned their veneers of self-sufficiency and unashamedly are talking about their heightened insecurities during these unsettling times.

And how helpless I feel… This isn’t about me having the “right’ answers – I don’t! My thoughts don’t turn away on to the next item when I finish my phone call with them. Their fear is my fear, and right now I am very concerned that short of being with them every minute of every day, they are vulnerable.

It’s not the schools’ fault nor do we really know how to prevent the next tragedy. Blame placed with the schools is truthfully and understandably misdirected frustration and pent-up anger. Making the schools “armed camps” is impractical and won’t protect against an off-campus episode.

This is a different world from the one I grew-up in. My typical “persona” is to assess issues; deal with them; and move on. That doesn’t hold water right now. My kids are experiencing very real fears… and I don’t know how to help them…

(Author's note: Sorry for shifting "across borders". Some things just demand comment...)

Having just digested the Journal/Sentinel Editorial of Sept. 28’th, I was struck by the writer’s statement “It's time for taxpayers to demand better.”

I agree wholeheartedly, but not with the direction or tone of the JS editorial of September 28’th! And while I would be the first to encourage regional cooperation for economies and efficiencies, “be careful what you ask for”.

There are many contentious issues between the City and Town of Brookfield. The latest erupted over the City’s dismissal of future talks with the Town over shared fire services. ”He said - she said” is the mantra for the City Mayor’s public posturing in this case, and his decision demands public examination…

First, the City is looking at (2) new stations , possibly on Calhoun Rd., at a total cost of $5,000,000. This after “trying “ to work something out with neighboring communities. Don’t be misled - The “trying” consisted of “working” with the City of Pewaukee for (2) years, and then walking away because Pewaukee decided against staffing with full-timers. Imagine, (2) years to discover this deal-killing fact with Pewaukee!

Now to the Town and City of Brookfield - Before going further, imagine a birds-eye view of the entire Brookfield area. Put a pin on the City’s existing stations and now put one at the corner of Janacek and Bluemound to represent the Town’s location. Unlike the City’s aging, outmoded Fire Stations (again, per the article referred to earlier), the Town’s is a relatively new, modern facility. Wouldn’t common sense dictate the Town’s location be an asset for shared coverage of the City’s western/southwestern area? NO!!

Mr. Marquardt, Mayor Speaker, and the Task Force’s latest proposal have moved on from discussion with the Town to (2) new stations of their own. What discussion?!? Mayor Speaker attended 1 out of 5 meetings between the Town and City. He alludes to the City having made offers but the Town has rightfully challenged the City to produce a single document reflecting a formal offer. From the same Sept. 26’th article “ However, Dean Marquardt, city director of administration, said city officials not only sat down to discuss the idea of sharing services, but also drew up figures on cost-savings for the town.”

Mr. Marquardt; produce these documents now! Let the public in on these cost-savings for those of us in the Town. If your proposal shows savings are available w/o compromise of service to the Town, let our Town officials now be accountable to make a good, common-sense decision. If, on the other hand, there are no formal figures or correspondence to support your statement as well as this from the same article, “"I think it was a fantastic opportunity for both communities," Marquardt said. "Both communities were going to benefit, and the town taxpayers were going to save a significant portion of money." maybe it’s time you were held accountable at a higher level. Spending the City’s money on new stations without full due-diligence and being somewhat disingenuous through the press to make your case is never good policy.

The Town of Brookfield, like the City, has excellent paramedic, EMT, fire and police services. Ask those of us who have used these services. Response times - great! Professionalism - top notch! And this quality has not suffered despite having had more then our share of turnover at the Town Chief’s position. And the Town does this in a responsible, cost-efficient manner.

The September 28’th JS editorial states“If town officials insist on hanging on to their fiefdom, the city should do what it can to pursue a full-fledged annexation of the remaining town land.”

Nice…Really nice…With any luck at all we Town minions will be allowed to “see the light and errors” of our free-spending ways. And then we too can help pay for the $5,000,000 cost of the new fire stations which will be built by then…

“It's time for taxpayers to demand better.”