The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to participate.
The reversal came after the club announced on June 10 that it was going to focus on a non-political event and sent back the parade participation fee of at least one Republican state representative who wished to walk in it, Barb Dittrich. Instead, politicians of all parties were invited to appear at a “unity” event at the Village Green.
The initial board’s decision was met by swift community backlash and a Dan O’Donnell talk radio segment; the Rotary Club initially responded by limiting comments on its Facebook posts.
However, now the Rotary has switched course.
“We want to clearly state that all political parties and representatives are welcome and encouraged to participate fully in the parade, as has been our longstanding tradition,” the board of directors wrote in its reversal statement, which was emailed to WRN.
“We’re reaching out today to offer a sincere apology and clarification regarding recent communications about political participation in our upcoming 4th of July parade, as we celebrate Oconomowoc’s momentous 150th Anniversary. As the Rotary Club of Oconomowoc, we are fundamentally a non-political organization, dedicated to ‘Service Above Self’ and to fostering unity in our community,” the statement reads.
“Our commitment to this year’s celebration has been to host a non-political parade—a true community celebration. It was never our intention to exclude or restrict any individuals or groups from being part of this important event,” the board wrote.
Although the new statement says that was never the intention, the initial decision affected Republican politicians who wanted to walk in the parade, such as Dittrich, state Sen. Chris Kapenga, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald, and the Waukesha County Republican Party’s float. The decision was also opposed by neighboring state Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, who is a contributor to this site and its co-founder, as a matter of disclosure. He represents other parts of Waukesha County and called the initial decision “outrageous.”
Dittrich wrote a heartfelt statement stressing her family’s historic ties to Oconomowoc, where she lives, and revealing the Rotary Club had initially refused her parade participation fee (before the reversal).
“Sadly, you will not be seeing me in this year’s 4th of July parade, and it is not by choice. The Oconomowoc Rotary Club, which my dear father-in-law was once a faithful member of, has made a deliberate decision to exclude me and other elected state and federal officials from the parade,” she wrote.
“I have always had a wonderful relationship with the Rotary and was shocked when they refunded my entry fee and told me that I was not welcome. My husband, who has lived and worked in this city for nearly all of his life was even sent on a business exchange to Germany by the Rotary, so you can imagine how taken aback and offensive I found this exclusion,” she added.
“We wish to clarify that our parade’s non-political nature for this anniversary year was intentionally chosen to foster maximum inclusivity and joy for all participants and attendees,” the Rotary wrote initially. The Rotary wrote then that it was trying to “create a universally enjoyable atmosphere where Oconomowoc’s legacy and community unity can shine brightly, unimpeded by partisan elements.”
This led to the sharply divided community discussion, with some area liberals applauding the exclusion of state and federal politicians (they are all Republican in this area), and many conservatives expressing upset, especially as the Oconomowoc aldermen and the mayor (who is not known to be conservative) were still being allowed to walk.
“Our initial goal for this milestone year was to explore ways to make the parade experience even more special and unique. We had envisioned offering political representatives a distinct opportunity for more direct engagement with community members at the conclusion of the parade, timed with the exciting performance by the University of Wisconsin Marching Band,” the board wrote in its reversal.
“Our vision was for the parade itself to flow as a seamless celebration of community spirit, free from partisan messaging. Even within this original concept, political figures were encouraged to participate in three clear ways: by walking with the City of
Oconomowoc’s official float in a show of civic collaboration, by joining any existing community organization they are already involved with, or by creating their own non-political float as citizens celebrating our city’s milestone with friends and family,” the board said.
“Unfortunately, our intentions were widely misunderstood, and the proposed approach caused considerable frustration and concern within the community. We deeply regret that our message was not clear and led to any confusion or disappointment. It was a sincere effort to foster an atmosphere of celebration and joy for Oconomowoc’s historic 150th Sesquicentennial milestone,” the Rotary added.
“We have listened intently to your feedback, and we fully recognize the importance of traditional parade participation to many of our local politicians and constituents alike. The Oconomowoc 4th of July parade has always been a place where all facets of our community can come together,” they said. “Therefore, we want to clearly state that all political parties and representatives are welcome and encouraged to participate fully in the parade, as has been our longstanding tradition. We are also excited to confirm that the University of Wisconsin Marching Band remains scheduled to perform near the start of the parade, ensuring their timely arrival at their subsequent engagement at Village Green.”
The Rotary added, “We deeply appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this, and we thank you for your passionate engagement with our community events. Your continued support and unity are deeply valued as we celebrate this historic milestone together.”
The statement was signed, “With gratitude, The Rotary Club of Oconomowoc Board of Directors.”
