About Oshkosh Rotary Southwest' Satellite Club
History in the making
On July 1, 2023, The Rotary Club of Oshkosh Southwest welcomed new members from a smaller local Rotary club into their ranks. The smaller club formed a "satellite club," which means we are members of Oshkosh Southwest Rotary and Rotary International, but we maintain our own club goals, leadership, bylaws, finances, and meeting times.
- Members are Rotarians.
- The Club is sponsored by the Oshkosh Souhwest Rotary Club, which supports the smaller group.
- It's a great option for those who want to be involved in Rotary and don't have the opportunity to join weekly in-person meetings.
Prior to 2023
The Oshkosh Rotary Morning Club was chartered June 28, 1991. Two founding members, Dr. Ryan Ames and Andy DeWitt, are currently active in the club.
The “Morning Club” later became one of the first Rotary “eClubs” in the United States, embracing the flexibility of online meetings, and designed for busy business, professional, and community leaders with varying schedules or who travel frequently or are unable to attend in-person weekly meetings.
As an eClub, meeting primarily online and open to members worldwide, the club participated in local fundraisers and environmental activities, and we debuted “new” technologies such as Zoom meetings and webinars. In 2020, club members were able to support traditional Rotary clubs with their transitions to the online world as the COVID-19 pandemic shut the doors on large, in-person meetings. Members assisted with setting up websites for successful online fundraisers and training other clubs on how to successfully hold online meetings.
Over the years, the club developed a natural tendency towards projects along the Fox River, since our club meets at a local restaurant (Beckets) on the Oshkosh Riverwalk. In 2020, the club officially changed its name to the Rotary Club of Oshkosh on the Water, with a renewed and written focus on the environment and a nod to our proud city. The Rotary Club of Oshkosh on the Water’s Area of Focus was protecting the environment, although the club participated in several other service projects each year.
We invite you to learn more about our club by browsing this Web site, visiting our Facebook page or better yet, visit us or join us!