Governor Evers and Serve Wisconsin encourage service across the state and participate in volunteer projects on 9/11 Day of Service

Each year on September 11, Americans across the nation participate in service projects in an effort to turn the anniversary of 9/11 into a day of doing good.  The 9/11 Day of Service was designated as a federal day of service and volunteerism by Congress in 2009 with the creation of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. On this day, Americans across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the attacks, first responders, and the many who have risen in service to defend freedom.

Here in Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #274 ordering flags to be flown at half-staff on September 11 and declaring a state Day of Service and Remembrance. When releasing the executive order, Governor Evers stated that “as we reflect on that fateful day and how our nation was forever changed, we are also called upon to remember the spirit of unity and service that guided us in the days following to come together and help support each other during a time of great need. I encourage Wisconsinites to join in honoring this solemn day through acts of kindness to their neighbors and acts service in our local communities. We will never forget.”

On September 11, Governor Evers and members of his administration participated in a Day of Service at Lake Kegonsa State Park. During the project, they spread prairie seeds, cleaned up trails, planted trees, and reflected on that fateful day and the unity and resilience our nation showed in the face of darkness.

As part of our mission to promote service in Wisconsin, members of the Serve Wisconsin staff joined with other volunteers to serve on 9/11 Day of Service at The River Food Pantry. Throughout the afternoon, we spent several hours helping to pack food items and distribute them to individuals and families in need.

Thank you to everyone here in Wisconsin and across the country that served on September 11 or participated in service projects in the surrounding days to honor the victims and those who served on 9/11. If you are interested in finding additional ways to volunteer in your community, visit the Volunteer Wisconsin website to find service opportunities to help make a difference across Wisconsin.

Easterseals Wisconsin Veterans Family Camp

Easterseals Wisconsin was thrilled to host their fall Veterans Family Camp this year on September 19-21. Easterseals Wisconsin typically hosts Veteran Family Camps twice a year to help military veterans and their families reconnect with each other and network with other veterans.

This fall, seven veterans and their families, 50 people in total, attended the Family Camp. The veterans and their families participated in numerous activities, including a visit to Casa Camp Alpaca Ranch, enjoying arts and crafts provided by Home Depot, doing tie dye, riding tractors, and enjoying nature. To help all participants explore the outdoors, Access Ability Wisconsin supplied campers with track chairs that enable everyone to be able to access all the trails across the 400 acres at camp. In a touching ceremony during the weekend, three veterans received a Quilt of Valor.

“Veterans camp was filled with so much fun! Our families took the time to connect with one another and enjoyed the peace of nature and camp,” described Carlee Fosco, Camp Wawbeek Director with Easterseals Wisconsin. “Many families are looking forward to our next session in April and telling their friends about our Veterans Camp!”

Thank you Brooks Gallman and Kate Perleberg

Serve Wisconsin would like to thank Brooks Gallman and Kate Perleberg for their work as fiscal officers and for their dedication to Serve Wisconsin and our state’s AmeriCorps programs. Both will be continuing to use their expertise with grants, budgets, and financial oversight in their new roles.

Kate joined Serve Wisconsin last September, bringing expertise in accounting that helped revise and strengthen our fiscal procedures. She will be expanding on these skills as the new Financial Manager with Russell Labs at UW Madison in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences. Reflecting on her time at Serve Wisconsin, Kate described that “what stands out most is the collaborative spirit and the deep connection to the Wisconsin Idea. Whether it was a helpful form, an updated policy, an OnCorps tip or trick, or a well-designed Excel spreadsheet, program and commission staff were always willing to share resources and make someone else’s job a little easier. It was the work of one benefitting many – a true embodiment of service.” 

Brooks joined Serve Wisconsin in May 2023, having previously served two AmeriCorps terms in Texas before moving to Wisconsin and bringing financial and budget experience from his previous work as a Budget and Policy Analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. On September 22, Brooks transferred to a new role as a Budget and Policy Analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. In his new position he’ll be responsible for preparing and implementing the agency’s biennial and annual operational budgets, analyzing proposed legislation for fiscal impact, and researching and developing departmental policy to help support Wisconsin’s 300,000+ veterans. “As a proud AmeriCorps alum, the last 2 and a half years working at Serve Wisconsin was a career dream come true,” Brooks reflected. “Having a front row seat to see the incredible impact that our AmeriCorps programs have on our state reinforced my belief that National Service is a worthwhile endeavor that demonstrates time and time again the power that happens when people come together to get things done for their community”.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank Kate and Brooks for their service and wish them the best of luck on this next step in their journey.

Service story about AmeriCorps member service with

Marshfield Clinic - Community Corps

September episode of The S-Files podcast

This month on The S-Files, we explored the service story of Callie Grones, who is currently serving her second term as an AmeriCorps member with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve in Superior. Check out this month's episode below. You can access all of the episodes on The S-Files podcast series website.

Supporting the Stewardship of the Lake Superior Reserve and the St. Louis River Estuary with MCHS Community Corps

In this episode of The S-Files, we are exploring the service done by AmeriCorps member Callie Grones, who is serving her second term with Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) Community Corps at Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve in Superior. Callie discusses several different service activities she has done with people who are stewarding and protecting the St. Louis River estuary, which is where the river that serves as the border between northwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Minnesota empties into Lake Superior and creates a place filled with biodiversity. She describes events to educate and mobilize the public that she has helped coordinate or participated in during her service, including school field trips to the estuary, their birding series, tree planting, and beach cleanups. Callie also describes learning how to take water quality samples and helping to collect them by taking a boat to their sampling sites, with the data being used to track the quality of the water on a day-to-day and long-term basis. Listen to learn how Callie came to her service position at the Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve looking for an opportunity after graduating college to expand her skills and make a difference in the outdoors and how everything she has been learning is opening up different pathways for continuing her education following her service. (listen to the episode here)

Serve Wisconsin | servewisconsin.wi.gov | AmeriCorps

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