Annual Friends of The Highground Dinner
Friday, March 11th, 2016 -- 9:33 AM
-Over 100 donors were honored at the annual “Friends of The Highground” dinner that was held in February at Fannies Supper Club, near Neillsville. This dinner is a way of thanking those generous donors who support The Highground Veterans Park through cumulative annual donations in excess of $1000. After a warm welcome by Kirk Rodman, Volunteer General Manager and an invocation by Gary Weirauch, Board Member, a delicious dinner was enjoyed by those in attendance. Eight of the thirteen Board Members were in attendance to thank the donors as each donor was presented with a beautiful plaque. This is the twelfth year The Highground has presented plaques to those meeting the $1000 minimum donation. Each year a new picture plaque is created to present to the donors.Only two have acquired all twelve plaques??"Thank you WCCN and Dr. John Scaletta! You have not missed one year of support to The Highground Veterans Memorial Park since implementation of this recognition. WCCN generously announces many Highground events, bringing more and more visitors to the park and area each year. While Scaletta has contributed to many different needs over the years, his 2015 contribution supported the PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) program. Over 900 books have been distributed free to those needing this valuable information thanks to Scaletta’s generous donation. Seeing a larger and larger need for the PTSD information, the Wausau and La Crosse Vet Centers have partnered with The Highground Veterans Park to provide FREE counselling services to veterans and their families on a weekly basis at the Park. We encourage anyone who is having an issue, or think someone else is having problems adjusting, to look into this service. Bring them to the Learning Center for a confidential session, or pick up information.
In 2015 the following received recognition for their continued support of The Highground Veterans Memorial Park:
12th Year Recognition
WCCN--Neillsville
Dr. John Scaletta--Neillsville
11th Year Recognition
Joan Jungwirth??"Tucson, AZ
10th Year Recognition
Leon Meidam--Appleton
Randy Meyer??"New Richmond
Jerry Simon??"New Richmond
Jerry & Alice Smith--Neillsville
9th Year Recognition
Joan Cervenka??"Oak Lawn, IL
John Lynch??"Buggs’ Place??"Cottage Grove, MN
Marjorie Short--Neillsville
Verne Vollrath--Janesville
8th Year Recognition
Marguerite Listeman Foundation--Neillsville
Walter Tollefson??"Fond du Lac
Tom & Anita Werthman--Marshfield
7th Year Recognition
City of Neillsville
James & Susan Fox??"Elk Mound
Jakel Plumbing, Heating & Electrical--Abbotsford
Gary Karczewski??"Leroy, IL
6th Year Recognition
Jim Braatz??"Fond du Lac
Hardee’s of Neillsville, Colby & Medford
Michael & Joyce Huebsch--Marathon
Andy Rueth--Neillsville
VVA Chapter 639??"Cottage Grove, MN
Wes Waterman--Marshfield
Lucinda Zimmer??"Merced, CA
5th Year Recognition
Adler-Clark Electric Com. Foundation--Greenwood
Dennis & Sharon Herzberg??"Wisconsin Rapids
Joyce & Thomas Hoffman--Abbotsford
Independent Hardee’s Franchisee Assoc
Mark & Celeste Kaufman--Colby
Dave Sharretts??"New Richmond
Robert & Caryl Solberg--Neillsville
Gary & Kay Weirauch--Neillsville
4th Year Recognition
Citizens State Bank of Loyal
Doris Dux--Neillsville
Mike & Kathy Gleisner--Chili
Maggie Mae & Roger Hilliard--Oxford
David Kemp??"Eau Claire
Skip & Deb Klabon--Colby
Amy Melvin--Neillsville
Donald & Noreen Schmidt??"De Forest
Steve Swanson??"Star Prairie
3rd Year Recognition
Robert & Gloria Beyer--Shawano
Randy Blackorbay??"New Hope, MN
Curt Braatz??"Fond du Lac
Robert Brandt??"Sarona
Chilson Subaru??"Eau Claire
Bill & Kathy Flemal--Waupaca
Leroy & Taylor Johnson--Appleton
The L E Phillips Family Foundation, Inc.??"Eau Claire
Dick & Verla Lysy--Appleton
Alan & Martha Palmer--Boscobel
Cole Peterson??"New Richmond
Andy & Nikki Smith--Watertown
Mary Jane Troudt??"Oshkosh
2nd Year Recognition
Lee & Kathleen Anderson??"DePere
David Backstrom??"Eau Claire
Bemis--Neenah
Michele Benson--Ripon
John Blank--Hayward
Jim Botts--Fitchburg
Julie Diesing??"Hastings, MN
Phil & Julie Henneman--Boscobel
Al & Janice Houts--Abbotsford
Kimberly Knudsen--Whitewater
Paul Kokosz--Italy
Nick & Janet Lesar--Whitewater
Nam Knights Tundra Chapter--Milwaukee
Nick Stuttgen Memorial Fund--Unity
Dave Reimer--Ashland
Lorraine Short??"Bayside, TX
Steve & Karen Swader--Whitewater
Thrivent Financial
1st Year Recognition
Curtis & Bonnie Ackley??"Jim Falls
American Leg Willis-Chapel Post 306??"Green Lake
Thomas & Sonja Backstrom--Augusta
Mary Boortz--Osseo
Lori Dawson--Neillsville
DAV Chapter 53??"Clintonville
Mark & Judie Doolittle, Jr.--LaCrosse
James Feneli--Marshfield
Roy & Ginny Franz--Madison
Bonnie Henchen--Neillsville
David & Nicole Kohn--Cecil
Mark Kramer??"Green Lake
Dominic Kuhn--Neillsville
Marshfield Mosanic Lodge 224--Marshfield
Juli McNeely--Spencer
Million Dollar Round Table Foundation??"Park Ridge, IL
Mills Fleet Farm--Appleton
Nice Ash, Inc.--Waukesha
Jim Osterman--Fairchild
Pam Powroznik??"Twin Lakes
Prestige Auto Corp??"Eau Claire
The Presto Foundation??"Eau Claire
Betty Schilhabel--Tomah
Richard & Becky Schleis
Sharp One Hour Photo??"Eau Claire
Tesmer Construction Corporation--Neillsville
VFW Lakeland #7898--Woodruff
Jim Walktendonk??"Richland Center
Dave Week--Vesper
Russ Wohlrabe--Manawa
A special award is also determined by the staff of The Highground. This is the “Spirit of The Highground” award. This award goes above and beyond monetary works but to someone who has the “Spirit” of The Highground in them. This year, the award was humbly accepted by Bonnie Henchen of Neillsville, WI and Julie Diesing of Hastings, MN.
The evening ended with Rodman introducing The Highground staff and their positions. He explained that the staff is all part-time (except maintenance). This is quite exceptional with over 50 events/activities planned each year.
June Berg, Learning Center Coordinator (brings exhibits and organizes the library); Theresa Hebert, Event and Volunteer Coordinator (keeps track of ALL events and finds volunteers to help);
Mike Purgett, Maintenance (taking care of 155 acres and buildings);
Kay Anason, Donation Coordinator (grants, project funding and stone dedications); Nancy Rodman, Volunteer Gift Shop Manager; and
Kirk Rodman, Volunteer General Manager.
There are three part-time gift shop ladies also: Deb Roedel, Julie Dallam and Mae Bautch.
A very small group that could not do what they do without the volunteers and contributors. To all of them??"the staff says THANK YOU!!
The Board of Directors’ goal list for 2016 continues to have, on the top of the list, the Endowment Fund growth that is needed to sustain the park in the future. Other goals include (but not limited to) bringing the Wisconsin Persian Gulf Tribute to fruition with a dedication being planned July 19-25 during “Operation Persian Gulf Welcome Home”. The Military Working Dog Tribute is well underway with the committee working hard for the final funding and landscape design. The completion of the lower restroom facility in the educational/picnic area that helped Dominic Kuhn, obtain the highest designation of Eagle Scout in 2015 is ready for final landscaping and sidewalks plus being hooked into the septic system.
Events expand and are added each year due to the increased interest in The Highground Veterans Memorial Park activities. Events and Learning Center Exhibits are open to the public free of charge because of Friends like YOU.
Watch the website and Facebook to keep up with all the changes.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.