MISSION STATEMENT
To provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
VISION STATEMENT
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
The Rotary motto is "Service Above Self." For almost 100 years, our local Rotary Clubs have served Mequon and Thiensville and made substantial contributions to the greater Milwaukee area, the State of Wisconsin, and Rotary's global mission. In addition to the original construction of Mequon Rotary Park and its subsequent improvements, our Rotary Clubs have completed many major local projects, including the Rotary Riverwalk along the Milwaukee River and the Mequon-Thiensville Town Center Gateway. The Rotary Clubs further support many non-profit organizations, including veterans' groups, the Boy Scouts, the Homestead Honors Program, the Weyenberg Library, and local poverty, literacy, and abuse groups. They contribute time and money to missions in Guatemala and Guam, as well as to Rotary International’s fight against polio. The Rotary All-User Playground is another proud example of the Rotary mission of service and its legacy of leadership
ABOUT ROTARY PARK
One of the major projects of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club has been the City of Mequon Rotary Park, which was officially launched September 17, 1987 marking the fiftieth anniversary of the club's existence.
The site encompasses approximately 95 acres and is located on Highland Road near the Milwaukee Area Technical College's north campus. The Thiensville-Mequon Rotary club donated the site to the City of Mequon in 1991 and has remained actively involved in its development as a recreational resource for residents across the Thiensville-Mequon community.
In 1992, the T-M Rotary was awarded a "Significant Achievement Award" by the President of Rotary International, Rajendra K. Saboo, as a result of 5 years of effort in turning the club's vision for an active use park in the City of Mequon into a reality. District Governor Rick Luedke was so impressed by T-M Rotary's success with City of Mequon Rotary Park that he petitioned Rotary International to present this highest honor. Our club, and District 6270 is deeply honored by this award, as it is rarely awarded. Since the award was presented to our club, many additional improvements have been added to the park, including 2 pavilions and the gazebo, three baseball fields and two playgrounds.
Meet Our Co-Chairs
Jenne Hohn
Co-Chair, Mequon Rotary Park Playground Committee
Jenne is a dedicated chiropractor based in Thiensville, WI, and an active member of the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce. A passionate community leader, Jenne chairs the Mequon Rotary Park Playground Committee and is a past president of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club. She also serves on the Mequon Festivals Committee and the Ozaukee County Special Olympics Leadership Team, where she coaches basketball and leads wellness initiatives through the SOfit program.
A tireless advocate for inclusive recreation, Jenne volunteers as an adaptive sailing instructor with the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. Her commitment to service has earned her recognition as the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber’s 2023 Citizen of the Year and a 2024 nominee for the Ozaukee County Nonprofit Center’s Volunteer of the Year Award.
Lynn Streeter
Co-Chair, Mequon Rotary Park Playground Committee
Lynn retired from Froedtert Health in December of 2020, having served as the Executive Director of Strategic Planning & Business Development. Lynn worked in health care for over forty years, starting her career as an Occupational Therapist. Lynn is an active community volunteer and a member of the Mequon Thiensville Rotary Club for over 20 years. She is also the Vice President of Strategy for the Mequon Thiensville Community Foundation. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Ozaukee Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department Board of Directors. In 2012 Lynn was named Citizen of the Year by the Mequon-Thiensville Chamber of Commerce.
Lynn and her husband Scot have lived in Mequon for over thirty-five years. They appreciate the sense of community, friends and neighbors, and can often be seen enjoying the parks and outdoor spaces of Mequon and Thiensville.
Sandy Custer
Co-Chair, Mequon Rotary Park Playground Committee
Sandy’s life of service began when he joined the Air Force, enlisting for six years of active duty, flying cargo planes and training Vietnamese pilots during the war. After his return, Sandy graduated from Marquette’s School of Dentistry with honors and established his dental practice in Mequon’s Jonathan Clark House, where he worked for 30 years.
There’s nary a demographic in this community that Sandy hasn’t touched: serving early on as President of Homestead High School’s Booster Club and Orchestra Parents; sitting on the MTSD School Board and Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation; serving on the Board of the Mequon Nature Preserve and Gathering on the Green; serving on the Mequon Park Board and being appointed first Chairman of the Mequon Landmarks Commission; serving as President of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Club and multiple times as President of the Thiensville-Mequon Rotary Foundation.
Sandy lives in Mequon with his wife, Jean, of 57 years. Together, they have four children and 11 grandchildren.
Pictured Above, left to right:
Lynn Streeter, Jenne Hohn, and Sandy Custer
COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jeanette Angermeier
Eve Bicker
Sara Boeck-Cunningham
Megan Borland
Peter Buening
Sandy Custer
Kari Downey Dyer
Jenne Hohn
Ellen MacFarlane
Rachael Muchin Young
Caroline Oberneder
Lily Parrish
Mimi Rosing
Steve Schmitt
Lynn Streeter
Betsy Stern
Elizabeth Suran
Barbara Thompson
Nancy Urbani
Megan Wahl
Jane Winans
Lydia Winans
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Sandy Custer, Co-Chair
Stan Smith, Co-Chair
Don Sommer, Co-Chair
Peter Buening
Tim Carr
Dan Gannon
Karl Hertz
Jenne Hohn
Andy Nerbun
Steve Peterman
John Rosing
Steve Schmitt
Kathleen Schneider
Cindy Shaffer
Lynn Streeter
A LETTER FROM OUR LEADERS
Dear Friends,
Parks have the power to bring people together. They positively impact a community by promoting economic development, a higher quality of life, and improved mental and physical health. Parks that accommodate all users—not just children, but people of all abilities and ages—are more important than ever.
With a motto of "Service Above Self," the two Rotary Clubs that serve Mequon and Thiensville have improved our local communities for over 100 years. Construction of an All-User Playground is a critical addition to Mequon Rotary Park. With the community's support, Rotary is committed to making it their signature project for all to enjoy.
The decision to pursue an All-User Playground was not made lightly. It was initially identified as a need in the City of Mequon's 2019 master planning efforts. COVID put the project on hold. Since July 2022, a significant amount of time has been spent discussing, studying, planning, and determining that it is sorely needed.
Most of the playground equipment in Mequon parks is over 30 years old. Some of it had already been used when donated. When speaking with other communities about their all-inclusive playgrounds, they overwhelmingly indicated that those playgrounds are their most popular, not just for children with special needs but for all users.
We are excited about this new, state-of-the-art, accessible, fun playground that will enrich the lives of our residents and be a place that Mequon and Thiensville residents can use and be proud of. When asked to contribute, we hope you reply with a resounding "yes" and a generous gift to address this unmet need.
Thank you.
Sandy Custer, Stan Smith, Don Sommer
Sandy Custer
Stan Smith
Don Sommer