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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Mark Rohloff, City Manager
DATE: August 19, 2022
RE: Weekly Newsletter
1. THANKS A MILLION OSHKOSH: Join Oshkosh Public Library to celebrate surpassing our
community reading goal of one million minutes in the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge! Enjoy a
tasty treat, take a One in a Million selfie, pick up an “I Read” sticker, and add a leaf to our “Why
I Read” tree. All are invited to help us mark this amazing community accomplishment! Join us
for light refreshments, Saturday August 20, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Oshkosh Public Library.
This event is free and open to all.
2. MUSEUM FIELD TRIP NOW A PART OF OASD THIRD GRADE: Beginning this fall for the
2022-23 academic year, all Oshkosh Area School District third grade classrooms will visit the
Oshkosh Public Museum! Currently, third grade enrollment for the District is at 623 students, or
33 classrooms. Preparation is underway to welcome these students on their now required field
trips.
One of the Museum’s long-term exhibitions, People of the Waters, aligns with third-grade social
studies curriculum and standards. People of the Waters and other galleries at OPM bring social
studies curriculum to life by inviting students to interact with history. Students on field trips will
touch, hear, see and even smell as they explore exhibitions at the Museum.
Formalizing field trip requirements ensures these Museum and City resources will reach all
OASD third graders. Tanya Schmidt, Oshkosh Area School District Social Studies Curriculum
Coordinator and Oshkosh Public Museum Education Assistant, paved the way for this new
requirement. “Visiting the Museum makes learning about local and Wisconsin history come
alive,” says Tanya, “I’m excited to see these resources incorporated into all third grade classroom
learning.” OPM looks forward to welcoming these students and teachers this fall!
3. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: The annual National Night Out took place on Tuesday, August 2,
2022. Organizers from 12 neighborhoods hosted block parties with activities, food and friendship
in celebration of National Night Out. National Night Out brings neighbors together with law
enforcement to promote positive police/community partnerships in an effort to make our
neighborhoods safer places to live. Several members of the Oshkosh Police Department and
Oshkosh Auxiliary Police visited with neighbors throughout the evening. Our specialty teams –
SWAT, K9 Unit, Motorcycle Unit and our Command and Community Outreach Vehicle (CCOV)
provided demonstrations for participants. PA/Crime Prevention Officer Kate Mann handed out
“swag” bags filled with items and also handed out stuffed animals donated from Pet Smart!
4. YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP: School Resource Officers from the Oshkosh Police Department
introduced the first Youth Leadership Camp from August 15-19, 2022. The Leadership Camp was
offered to area youth ages 14-16 years old. The purpose of this camp is to provide life enhancing
skills that have a strong emphasis on family and community. Nineteen youth participated in team
building activities/challenges, physical challenges, community service, and listened to guest
speakers from within the Oshkosh community. The first day of camp was hosted by Oshkosh
Corporation where the students listened to leadership words of advice given by John Bryant,
Executive Vice President, Oshkosh Corporation and President, Oshkosh Defense, as well as Chief
Dean Smith, followed by a tour of the Oshkosh Defense plant and test track where they even got
to ride in military vehicles on the track! Throughout the week, students could be seen
volunteering at places such as a daycare, Menominee Park, the Seniors Center and the Oshkosh
Area Community Pantry. Guest speakers included District Attorney Eric Sparr, Rodney Frasier,
retired Oshkosh Police Officer Mike Wissink, and Sydney Supple. Students engaged in physical
fitness activities that included a ropes course at FVTC, JET Fitness Workout, the Amazing Race,
and tested their skills at the Escape Room. Overall, it was a week filled with opportunities for our
youth to expand their knowledge, skills and sense of community.
Than you to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation for sponsoring this initiative, as well as
to all of our community partners who hosted and participated in our first ever Youth Leadership
Camp. It is our hope that this program continues to grow and enrich the lives of our youth – the
future – of the Oshkosh community.
5. DO YOU KNOW A ROCK STAR: Did a staff member make a lasting impression on you? Did
they do something that deserves a little extra recognition? If so, consider nominating them for an
employee appreciation award. The employee appreciation program recognizes employees for
their service to the organization and community as well as individual and group contributions to
the City’s mission and vision. Employees can be nominated by peers, citizens, supervisors,
division and department heads. Follow the link below for an Award Nomination Form and more
information about the program:
Employee Recognition Program:
https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/HumanResources/EmployeeRecognitionProgram.aspx
Award Nomination Form:
https://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/HumanResources/OutstandingServiceAwardForm.aspx
6. COVID-19 RESOURCE LINKS AND INFORMATION:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/
Wisconsin Department of Health Services:
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/
Winnebago County Public Health Department:
https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/health
7. LOOKING AHEAD: As a reminder, I will be out of the office on Monday August 22, returning
August 23. Among the meetings I have scheduled for the week include: On Tuesday at 10:30 AM
I will be meeting with Assistant City Manager, John Fitzpatrick to discuss Tuesday’s agenda. At
7:30 AM on Wednesday I will be attending the Oshkosh Area United Way Leadership Council
meeting. If you have any questions about my schedule, please contact me.