Rotary International

District 6270

E-Club

The 4 Way Test

  1. Is it the truth?
  2. Is it fair to all concerned?
  3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Walleye Weekend

Fond du Lac Morning Rotary has had an ice cream stand at Walleye Weekend since 1998. It took us many years to finally receive approval to sell at the festival! We began to lobby the festival board almost immediately after our club was chartered in 1990. In 1998, the incumbent Walleye Weekend vendors actually decided to accept our booth proposal.

Our original co-chairmen were Bruce Muthig, Tom Meiklejohn and Jim Neumann. Pete Roehrig (Westra Construction) made and donated the serving tables we utilize. Bruce Muthig also has provided the storage area for our equipment the other 361 days of the year at his company, Muthig Industries. Tom Will (Hansen Refrigeration Service) provides the large cooler we use for keeping strawberries refrigerated and Jim Neumann (RB Royal Industries) provides the freezer trailer for the ice cream. Other individuals who were a great help in the successful development of our stand were Paul "Torch" Keifenheim, Allan Wall and Bob Sippel. Luke Martin (The Print Shop) provides the use of his truck during the weekend for the locked storage of food products and materials.

The Morning Rotary offered a unique product to Walleye Weekend - Root Beer Floats made from rich, hand dipped ice cream. Amazingly, there was previously no product like it at the Festival (imagine that...and in the Dairy State!). Therefore, we were no one's direct competitor. Our tent sits near "Family Land" and the soccer fields making it an ideal location for ice cream products. There were also very few vendors in that area when we started. Our success there has led to other vendors joining us on that end of the park.

In subsequent years, with the inclusion of fresh frozen strawberries, we offered Strawberry Sundaes. We utilized the same size cups for both products which kept our costs of materials low. Strawberry Sundaes became an immediate hit. Today, we sell about the same amount of sundaes as floats. Some local companies tried to convince us to change to machine dispensed soft-serve ice cream but we have kept with the old fashioned, hand dipped variety. It makes a much more attractive float or sundae and...it tastes better! In 2002, someone suggested we make the Strawberry Sundaes even more sinful by introducing chocolate sauce as an option. A Festival Favorite was born!

We've experienced many wonderful outcomes of the Morning Rotary having this stand. First, we have a great product that complements a summer festival - and we can make reasonable money selling it. Second, working side by side builds stronger relationships within the club membership. Third, by having a non-alcoholic product, as well as one that is safe to handle, we can invite our children to participate. Through their participation they can have fun interacting with responsible adults while experiencing the satisfaction volunteering brings. Fourth, it is great exposure for the Morning Rotary in our community.

Come out to Walleye Weekend. Look us up! May we suggest chocolate sauce on that sundae?