Things to Do Around Monroe

Wednesday means time to look ahead at what to do this weekend.

~ Future Forward! has a gathering tomorrow, Thursday, at Toffler's in New Glarus. They will reveal the results of the surveys, discuss the direction of the organization, how people can get invovled and the status of the creating of the non-profit group.

~ Monroe Theatre Guild has their annual meeting and party on Saturday. The events starts at 6 with time for socializing and membership renewals, followed by a potluck dinner at 6:30. There will be entertainment at 7, and the annual meeting begins at 7:15. The board will update members on how last year's season went, what is on tap for 2010's shows and workshops, the state of the capital campaign, and future plans for the building. This event is open to the public.

~ The Jimmy's will play at Tofflers on Saturday evening. The music starts about 8 pm.

~ Head over to SLICE for open skate times this weekend. Bring your ice skates or rent there. The open skate times are Friday from 5 to 6:45pm, Saturday 4:30 to 8, Sunday 4:30 to 6:45. It is always good to get out and move in the depths of winter!

~ Come support some of our local youth athletes this weekend. Many of the high school basketball and wrestling teams have games or matches in the area, and the YMCA has a wresting tournament too.

~ Remember the locally owned restaurants when making your plans for the weekend. We have some fabulous dining establishments locally, so visit one for a meal or two. Visit our Community Information page for a summary of area restaurants.

~ Plan ahead for your tickets to the Community Showcase of Talent at Monroe Arts Center on January 29 and 30.

Future Forward reveals survey results

For months now, we have been mentioning the surveys that Future Forward! conducted throughout 2009. We hope that you took the time to fill out one, two or all seven!

The surveys are now finished, and the results are being tabulated. Filled out by current and former residents of Green County, these surveys give a nice snapshot of the strengths and weaknesses of our area.

Come to the Future Forward! meeting on January 21 to learn what the surveys show. What are the area strengths, and how can we capitalize on them? What are the weaknesses, and what can we do to improve them? Future Forward! will be discussing all of this, and looking for both member and community input on what should the role of Future Forward be in working with this information.

Everyone is welcome. This meeting is a must for all local business owners, human resources directors and government officials. The survey information can help show how we market the area to potential employees and residents. Local business can use the information to help determine wants and needs in the area.

Don't miss this meeting! Anyone who is interested in learning more can come to the free meeting at Toffler's in New Glarus on January 21. The event beings at 5 with nibbles and social time, sponsored by Dave Mosher and Associates. The informational part of the evening starts at 5:30.

We'll be there, and we hope to see there too!

Take the Survey

Future Forward! is working through a series of surveys on life in the Green County area this year. Future Forward! is a local non-profit that is looking to retain and attract younger professionals in our area to keep Green County vital and competitive in the coming years.

In order to improve the life here for current residents and make our area more attractive for new residents, Future Forward! is assessing our assets and areas for improvement in seven key areas. They are doing a series of seven surveys over the year, one in each area. Two surveys are already complete, and a third is going on right now. Each survey ends with a drawing for a prize, and at the end, all survey participants will be entered into a drawing for an iPod Touch.

The current survey is about learning opportunities in the area. It is a quick survey, so please take a moment to fill it out.

Things to Do Around Monroe

Have you had a chance to look at your calendar for the upcoming week yet? Here are some things that you might want to add in:

~ The Monroe Farmer's Market is starting up again! The first market of the season is today from 2 until 5 pm. The markets will run every Wednesday afternoon and every Saturday morning through fall. The Freeport Farmers Market starts on Saturday.

~ Future Forward Green County is having their large joint meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at Flanagan's in Monroe.

~ Come to the Monroe Public Library on Saturday from noon until 3 for the third meeting of the Monroe Lego Club. This is the last meeting until fall.


~ Raise money for Habitat for Humanity. There is still time to get in on the Bike 4 Habitat ride taking place this Saturday. There are 15, 30 and 50 mile routes available. The starting point is Veteran's Memorial Park in Brodhead. Check-in starts at 7:30, and the ride goes from 8 until 5 pm, with dinner lasting until 5.

~ The Belleville Fire Department is having their annual Fish Boil event on Saturday evening from 5 until 8 pm. Adults are $10, kids under 12 are $5 and kids under 5 are free.

~ Come to the Brodhead Airport on Sundy for their EAA Fly-In pancake breakfast. If you don't have a plane, don't worry. You can drive there too. They serve from 7 am until noon. Be prepared to catch your pancakes - it is tradition for them to just flip the pancakes through the air towards your plate. Plane rides are available if the weather permits.

~ There is still time to register for the upcoming Monroe Theatre Guild events. MTG Uncorked is a live comedy skit event schedules for May 22. There are also new children's workshops coming up: Advanced Scene Study for older kids, puppetry workshops for younger ones.

Be sure to take a look these area calendars for additional events: Green County Spotlight, Green County Tourism, Stephenson County CVB.

Future Forward!

Have you heard of Future Forward!? Do you want to know more?

Future Forward! is a group dedicated to improving the quality of life in Green County to help attract and retain young professionals to our area.

If you are curious about their mission or would like to help in any way, consider coming to the next meeting. Future Forward! will be meeting on Thursday, January 8 from 5:30 until 7:30 pm at Minhas Brewery. There will be a social time from 5 until 5:30 that will include a sampling of Minhas products and a light supper.

The meeting will include a workshop to list Green County's many assets for young professionals. They will also be brainstorming the gaps, things the area lacks that could help us better attract and retain local talent. First hand prospective is really appreciated, so any young professionals in the area are welcome to come and help with the thought process.

Do you have ideas of projects, programs, learning opportunities, business ideas or social events that could help improve the quality of life in the Green County area? Please consider attending.

I will be there, and I hope that you can attend too!