Wake Up! Waukesha

This blog recently provided a look at the early morning life at the Wisconsin Athletic Club – Waukesha. The rich diversity of personalities present in the wee hours of the mornings often makes this club feel like a friendly, convivial frat house.

But, ominously, there are others…

Conspicuously absent from my tale was a specific section in the front of the club; a glassed-in, partitioned area bearing striking similarity to exhibits at the Milwaukee County Zoo. An area so “removed” from the haunts of normal humanity that they must bring out their own “tools of pleasure” from a secret storage room. An enclave so weirdly private that the area has been soundproofed (almost) against prying ears. It’s an assembly of jacked-up, caffeinated, screeching, sweating, bouncing, twisting, turning, dedicated individuals challenging those “outside the walls” to join them in some weird, trancelike mayhem.

Meet the WAC Precision Dance Team!

The Team is led/threatened by Deb. Obviously possessing a militaristic background, Deb emits primitive sounds of “encouragement” (threats?) that are so guttural and primordial that her minions are compelled to follow lest they suffer her wrath. Her bright smile masks a very sick sadistic approach to modern “dance”. And speaking of Dance Team minions, it would be prudent to start with the "minionisty” of the bunch – Steve. Blessed with a natural, structurally-built frame perfect for rugby, Steve keeps this oxygen-deprived room giggling with light humor during their "performances". He also acts as the enforcer for this “clan” against the occasional outside heckler who dares to question “What the heck is going on in there?!” In addition, it’s crucial to mention the Aaron/Todd team. Steadfast in their devotion to the trendiest of music including Wham! and Culture Club, Aaron/Todd are almost interchangeable. In fact, the culture within this fortress-like area allows for the Aaron/Todd Team to have their own tribe (think Jim Jones) of idolizers including Jackie, Arlene, Kari, Lynn, and Kim.

Usually ignored/avoided by the balance of the early morning group at the Club because we tend to ignore that which we don’t understand, these “dance-steppers” flaunt their superior sense of rhythm and style. In addition, this merry band of Kool-Aid drinkers has a mean sense of humor…For (their own) amusement, a Team member will sometimes sneak in early and wax/polish the wood floor in an irregular pattern! Wow! Or…We’ve witnessed John Stemper (a tribal elder) distract Deb with his own cries of anguish which throws the entire class’s cadence off. Heady stuff!! And then there’s Bill…”One-hop” Bill…”Poor Choice” Bill… Bill who tries to bridge the social gap between “The Team” and the rest of the club…This is “Bill who was goaded into complete acts of selfless sacrifice by his Team compadres for their own humor”. Yep, there’s Bill who, by his own admission, would dance-step to Neil Diamond for hours on end
…Sad – so very, very sad…

In conclusion, the WAC Club obviously has a “diversity” to broaden its appeal. From the warm, engaging, stimulating humor and banter of the “regulars” to the sick, jaded, glassy-eyed stares of Deb’s Dancers, there is something for (almost) everyone. Feel free to stop in early – very early, some weekday morning and find out for yourself.

Trust me!!

That’s right – Trust me!

Call, go online, or visit the Waukesha Civic Theatre immediately and purchase some of the few remaining tickets for their current show: "The Taffetas”! Running through September 30’th, this show appeals to all looking for music that is both nostalgic yet refreshing. Light lyrics with wonderful accompaniment, The Taffetas is a reason to call friends and relax while enjoying the fastest 90 minutes of entertainment in Southeastern Wisconsin.

The showbill states:
”It's the fabulous 50's and four singing sisters from Muncie, Indiana are making their national television debut. Delightful, fun, lighthearted, and featuring some of the greatest hits of the era, this tribute to girl groups like the Maguire Sisters and the Chordettes will keep you smiling long after you leave the theatre…”

Observing the audience, one had to notice the number of tilting and swaying heads and the number of theatre-goers tapping their hands and/or feet to this fast-paced romp down memory lane. Was life ever really this innocent? Were the early days of television really this basic? And…”Wow – I didn’t remember the music back then being this good!”

The singing Taffeta sisters – Perfect! Amy Barootian, Anne Gore, Denise Meagher, and Roberta Prospeck will have you believing they really are sisiters and have been together their whole lives. They hit every note, every nuance, every dance step, every gesture, every eye contact with the skilled grace and talent of Broadway actresses. The musicians – Brian Running, Rich Labinski (isn’t he ever home?), and Paul Barnes are obviously enjoying themselves and the show. Edward Carroll and Eric Eggers are the perfect stage accents for this John Cramer-directed showcase of a kinder, gentler time.

My wife left the show and was already working the phones this morning to “spread the word” and invite others to the show next week. At $18/ticket, this show is a must-see!

Need a smile? Looking for escapism from the pace of everyday “busy-ness”?

“Trust me” – The Taffetas is your ticket to fun!

Ooops!

That’s right – Ooops!

There are times in both our personal and professional lives where we have had to suck it up and say “Ooops - I blew it!”

That time is right now for the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum Board. Between cryptic phrases and “restrained” compliments, it is woefully obvious to even the most casual observer that there was a clash between factions of the Board and it’s former Executive Director – Sue Baker. As often happens, stilted comments with tinges of hollow praise from Board members followed her exit.

Today, a full page was purchased and paid for, privately, in a local Waukesha newspaper. The content of this page was a letter of gratitude and thanks to Sue Baker for all she has done for Waukesha County. It was signed by over 180 of the most giving and influential people in the Waukesha area! It contains an all-too-brief-bio of Sue’s contributions and accomplishments. More importantly – It clearly and definitively states: “…Sue Baker is the heart of the Waukesha County Museum.”

And I agree! I have had the good fortune to know Sue through various interactions over the past 8 years. She is personable, professional, responsible, diligent, and she would “bleed Waukesha” if cut. The Museum grew because of her untiring efforts to build support and awareness at every level. She grew at every level and the Waukesha Community is a far better place as a result of her efforts.

Following is a possible simple summary for the series of complex events leading to her departure:

Everyone, Board and Director alike, agree the potential for a coveted Les Paul Exhibit is great. Ideas, concepts, and budgets are refined and Les Paul himself endorses it. Full-Speed ahead! …Except for the fatal flaw in the plan – Who was going to raise the millions of dollars needed to produce the exhibit? Did the Board recognize the crucial need to maintain the status quo with its director while adding a proven, experienced fund-raiser and a budget for this accordingly? The answers are self-evident – no!

Sue was now adding the Herculean task of raising $4,000,000.00 to her already full-time director duties. After a couple years and only $1,000,000.00 pledged, everyone was nervous. Now the Board hires a paid consultant to assess Museum operations, and Sue Baker is gone… Interestingly, the Board has still not recognized the fine line they are walking: If the Museum needed a full-time director “pre Les Paul”, how did they rationalize adding fund-raising responsibilities of millions of dollars to an already full-time job? Better to move on than say “Ooops – we blew it?”

Let’s now add another very critical caveat to this discussion – This is Waukesha! And the giving, generous nature of Waukesha has stepped to the plate for numerous worthwhile past causes. Today’s full-page ad of support shows a sizable group of these notable locals still support Sue Baker. Will they continue their wholesale financial support of the Museum and its Board moving forward? Time will tell… (Refrain: “Ooops – we blew it!”)

Maybe the time has come for a heady dose of reality and common sense decision-making. First – The Board must look inward and ask themselves if they are happy with their recent decisions (hindsight is 20/20). They must then look at each other with a critical eye, and a Board of forward-thinking individuals must emerge form this review. Second: Re-think “the plan”. You raised a million, but where are the next three million coming from? The signers of the ad? I think not…How about the Museum Board taking a deep breath and finally saying “Ooops – we blew it?”

It’s now time to reduce the Les Paul Exhibit in scope and dollars; hire a temporary fund-development director to raise this money; re-hire Sue Baker as the Museum Director; and finally come back to the Community with the simple “Ooops – we blew it…but we are working to fix it!”

So how does a place, an event, an organization, a person, A Dummy get into these blogs?

This (Jay’s Blog) incredibly valuable space on WaukeshaNow.com must maximize its’ appeal to reach the broadest audience in an attention-grabbing manner. Careful consideration is given; options reviewed; and topics tested to guard against offending (most) people. …Or… send something/anything in and I will probably act on it. Having said that, I received the following email from a very talented local entertainer/ entrepreneur – Mr. Dale Brown:

”A few weeks ago I received a letter from my second grade teacher who now lives in KY. (I went to grade school in Whitewater) She saw me on the Today Show and somehow, after many calls to friends in WI she managed to track me down. She wrote to tell me that she will be 90 in November and wanted to know if I’d consider doing a show for her birthday in a historic refurbished theatre where she lives in Marion, KY.

I wrote back and said if the theatre could cover expenses, I’d be happy to do a special show for her birthday. I got a call from her and she was so excited I thought she was going to have a heart attack while we were on the phone. So I talked with the president of the board of directors of Fohs Hall and the board met to discuss my offer. I got a call today to tell me that they’ve found an underwriter for my expenses and that they want to hire me for Nov. 10th. The show will be open to the public but we’ll give special recognition to my second grade teacher who will be there with her family to celebrate her 90th birthday. What a fun story!

If we only had a local newspaper that saw any value in human interest stories.”

Dale - while this isn’t quite “the Front Page”, it is the “opening Page” of the Waukesha area of the Journal/Sentinel’s online info vehicle. …”Hmmmm, I wonder if they read their own pages…”

For everyone else: Dale is talented, witty, a local business owner (and employer), really good looking(oops – sorry Dale…) and a Nationally-recognized ventriloquism talent. In addition, Dale is a tremendous asset to, and Board Member on the Waukesha Education Foundation.

Aren’t you wondering what Dale did to this poor teacher over 50 years ago that she would remember him now?

A Fr. Leonard Barbian ”bobblehead” doll?

St. William’s Parish in Waukesha is a warm, caring Catholic congregation. For several years now, Fr. Leonard Barbian has served as Pastor and a steadying, guiding influence to over 2,500 Waukesha families.

Our family moved to this Parish in 2000. The youth program had an energy and commitment which brought our family in. Early on, it was refreshing to experience the “banter” between Fr. Leonard and his then-young protégé – Father Mark Payne.

Let’s take a step back…Fr. Leonard was raised in West Allis and brings a candor and light sense of humor which is enjoyed by all ages. His good nature often belies the experience he has gained through a lifetime of service to our local Archdiocese. He relates to all, and has that very rare ability in conversation to make you feel that you are, at that time, the most important person in his life.

Back in 2000, Fr. Mark was a young, earnest, almost naïve (in a good way!) priest commissioned to St. William’s to work with and learn from Father Leonard. Leonard’s years…OK…decades of experience would serve him well as he tutored Fr. Mark in his development. This partnership at the helm of the Parish was serendipitous!

Mutually bound and dedicated to the good of the Parish, both nurtured a wonderful youth ministry program while engendering a loyal, devout following. During this time, Fr. Leonard’s education of Mark could best be described as “mentoring with a grimace and a sigh”. His feigned exasperation at Mark’s verbal miscues would be followed by a warmly humorous “parent to child” type of guiding comment which every parent in the audience could relate to. And…inevitably Mark would take these good-natured ribs and try (and I do mean “try”) to “tweak” Leonard at the next Mass. Again, as parents we could relate to what Mark was attempting – all the while our experience told us the young child rarely, if ever, gets the better of a verbal exchange with their senior. Particularly if that “senior” was someone as sage as Fr. Leonard…

This went on for several years and the Parish was much better for it. In retrospect, the “youth ministry” was occurring at (2) levels: the kids were getting their underpinnings in the Catholic faith while Mark was gaining invaluable experience under the watchful eye of Leonard. A subtle transition also occurred during this time – Mark’s enthusiasm and exuberance were actually keeping Leonard younger and sharper: He could not let his guard down for even an instant for fear that Mark would actually gain traction in his attempts to “win” even a modest victory in their verbal repartee. Interestingly, the genuine sincerity behind their interplay served as a lesson to us all about the values of respect and interest towards each other.


Well…time inexorably carries on; Leonard’s mentoring resulted in Mark eventually ministering to his own Parish, St. Veronica’s in Milwaukee, and Fr. Leonard’s homilies and Masses at St. William’s are still punctuated by his trademark “OkeeDokee…” The Christian spirit and Faith Community continues to be well-served by both of these exemplary, caring, inspirational individuals.

Recently, we parishioners were offered the opportunity to buy a rare, much-coveted, limited production Fr. Leonard “bobblehead” doll. As I look at (and admire!) ours while writing this article, a small part of me can’t help but wonder if Fr. Mark is waiting for one of these to hit Ebay so he can get one for himself. And then, at last, he could get the last word in on Leonard…

The United Way in Waukesha plays an important role in helping with funds and advice to an almost countless number of area agencies within our Community. These agencies often can and do make a “life or death” difference for many “in-need” people every year.

…Last Summer, my oldest, Kelly, served marketing internships at the Potawatomi Area Council Boy Scouts of America and at the United Way. Her experiences were positive and her “mentors” worked to offer her a broader Community perspective beyond basic marketing skills. Michelle DuBord worked with Kelly on United Way’s ”Days of Caring” which this year is taking place September 17 – 21’st. This year’s focus is to increase awareness of an invaluable asset, potentially for many of us, 2-1-1.

Michelle offered:”What is 2-1-1? 2-1-1 is a 24-hour confidential helpline that offers supportive services and connections to the social services you need. 2-1-1 is an easy to remember three-digit phone number that makes critical, immediate connections to community resources for individuals and families.”

Their information states; ”At different points in our lives, we can all use a little help, whether it is caring for aging parents, talking to our children, putting food on the table or simply making ends meet. Do you sometimes feel like you can’t cope? Looking for community resources? Need someone to talk to? Wondering where you can turn for help? Call 2-1-1 and you will be directed to one of the area’s social agencies.” (Calls are anonymous…)

OK…Other than using this blog as a simplistic, informational vehicle for 2-1-1 and United Way, where is the “Hey – that really resonates with me… part?

The “hook” for me was recognizing, again, how much good occurs here in the Waukesha area “under the radar…” Kelly helped in the planning for the 2006 Days of Caring, and yet I had only a faint awareness of a smoke detector and/or battery replacement program to a targeted area. Having now read and re-read all about the 2-1-1 program, I was initially quite casual to it. Upon reflection, this is a program which could help thousands of people in our own Waukesha Community! Obviously we are very fortunate to have the Michelle DuBords, the “United Ways”, the Potawatomi Boy Scouts (and Connie Bielinski), and the dozens of other active Community organizations working for all of us daily. Just because “I” don’t always notice doesn’t mean the needs and the corresponding benefits are not out there…

“Click” on one the preceding links above (and below) and consider if you could or would like to help. If not this particular program, ponder one of the myriad of other support agencies at work right here. Every one of us has something to offer another…

2-1-1 and ”Days of Caring” - Great examples of why our Waukesha remains one of the “Greatest places to live!”