Speaker: Marc E. Christopher, Attorney

Marc E. Christopher and his wife founded a law firm rooted in advocacy for non–U.S. citizens and underserved communities. Explore how immigration law works, what’s changed, and what it means for our communities. A balanced, legally grounded talk for citizens seeking insight into one of the nation’s most pressing and misunderstood issues. Attorney Christopher will draw on more than two decades as a practicing immigration attorney to discuss current immigration law, policy shifts, and their real-life impacts. The goal will be to demystify the immigration processes, clarify common misconceptions, and examine the evolving legal landscape​

This program is sponsored by Rich and Florence Dittle.

Speaker: John Sturm

John Sturm is the entrepreneur behind Red Sky Cider and Wine, an experimental apple orchard and vineyard that is developing premium hard ciders using domestic heirloom and specialty European cider apples. John’s presentation will include: a bit of his background and connection with the Chain O’ Lakes; his decision to brew cider from apples; the process of establishing an orchard, from choosing and testing a handful of trees to planting thousands; the current orchard and orchard operations; and the process of making cider. Come and enjoy a tour and a taste! 

This program is sponsored by Diane Forsythe.

Speaker: James Santelle, Attorney

James Santelle is an attorney and former prosecutor who served as US attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin from 2010 to2015. Invoking and evaluating some of the most significant news stories in the areas of government operation, delivery of justice, and application of rule of law principles, this program will offer practical information, legal insights, and foundational perspectives on the contemporary works and assigned missions of our judicial, legislative, and executive branches. We will be exposed (in an apolitical, nonpartisan manner) to recent court rulings, congressional enactments, and presidential actions that collectively reflect both the challenges facing America in the early 21st Century and the continuing aspirations for a nation of due process, equal protection, and fundamental fairness for all of its people.

This program is sponsored by Judy Christensen and Carol Elvery.

Speaker: Chris Hamerla

Chris Hamerla is the regional AIS coordinator at Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. The Regional Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program focuses on outreach and education surrounding AIS. It supports citizen activities, such as identifying AIS, monitoring for, and reporting new populations. They provide technical assistance with grant applications, reporting, and assist with the deliverables of grants. The program provides hands-on training for AIS removal work, biological control of purple loosestrife and Eurasian water milfoil, and lake monitoring techniques. They verify new populations of AIS, mapping populations and surveying areas of concern while partnering with county and state agencies. The information is used in management decisions and for developing a baseline for tracking changes.

This program is sponsored by Denny and Cindy Wandtke.

Speaker: Patty Loew, PhD

Patty Loew is professor emerita in the Medill School of Journalism and inaugural director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern University (retired). What can Icelandic Sagas, a supernova, and the introduction of European diseases tell us about the Ojibwe Migration Story and the journey back to the “Food That Grows on Water?” Professor Patty Loew (Mashkiiziibii Ojibwe) explores 10th century encounters that raise interesting questions about how to do respectful cross-cultural research.

This program is sponsored by Terry and Aniko Litasi-Gerlach
and Wilson and Sue Roane.

Speaker: Laura Waldvogel

Laura Waldvogel is President and CEO of Noble Community Clinics in Wautoma since 2015. She chairst he Wisconsin Department of Health Services Medicaid Advisory Committee, where she advocates for policies that support equitable access to care and sustainability for safety-net providers. Community Health in Action offers an overview of the Community Health Center model and its local impact through Noble Clinics. We will learn about the history, mission, and services of Noble, including our work to expand access to medical, dental, and behavioral health care in Central Wisconsin. Laura highlights how federally qualified health centers address barriers to care, respond to local needs, and promote community well-being through collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered values. 

This program is sponsored by Patricia Pfeifer & Leslie Youngstead.

Speaker: Anne Pryor
Anne Pryor is a former state folklorist of Wisconsin, having served at the Wisconsin Arts Board for 20 years. She is an avid curler based at the Madison Curling Club. She has written and presented on the culture of curling and is actively archiving historic curling materials.Wisconsin is the heart of curling in the United States. Here we have the oldest continuous club in the country (Milwaukee), the largest number of centennial clubs (13 –including Waupaca!), and the only county with five curling clubs (Columbia), among many other distinctions. Anne’s talk will explore that history as well as the culture of curling, in which camaraderie off the ice is just as important as the competition on the ice.

This program is sponsored by Rex and Linda Pope.

Speaker: Jordan Karsten, PhD

Jordan Karsten is professor of anthropology at UW-Oshkosh and is a consultant for the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories. Forensic anthropologists study the human skeleton in order to assist law enforcement personnel and medicolegal professionals in death investigations. By studying human bones, forensic anthropologists can help identify skeletonized remains, estimate how long an individual has been deceased, and interpret perimortem trauma. Anonymized case studies will be used to demonstrate how forensic anthropologists contribute to death investigations in Wisconsin.

This program is sponsored by Dr. Bob Wubben.

Speaker: Jeffrey Kersten
Jeffrey Kersten is an Outreach Specialist for the Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the United States. The more you learn about it, the less vulnerable you are. Kersten will explain the different types of identity theft, how to recognize it and how to prevent it –including information about Fraud Alerts and Security Freezes. Receive tips for safeguarding personal information and how to recover from Identity Theft. Helpful brochures will be available.

This program is sponsored by Barb and Terry Teske.