The leaves are changing colors, and for me that means it’s time for bird hunting. As a kid, I grew up on 80 acres of mostly wooded land that bordered farm fields – a prime property for ruffed neck grouse. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of walking the land and flushing grouse.

2020. No one has to say more than that. We all have our own thoughts on what it’s been and where it’s going, and I’m pretty sure there are a lot of negative ones. For me, I am choosing to look at the positives.

I just returned from a five-day sailing trip around Door County and part of the Big Bay de Noc area in the Upper Peninsula. My father Dan (the Skipper), his brother Mike and myself (the crew) set off in a 1968 Pearson 300 sloop – a sailboat purchased by my grandfather around 1971.

It has been a very interesting year. That is the comment I hear frequently from the clients as we stare at each other through a plexiglass divider or talk to each other wearing masks. The year 2020 is sort of like Wisconsin saying… “if you don’t like the weather just wait”.

I just completed my second week seeing clients face-to-face and it’s refreshing! I was getting tired of doing Zoom meetings. Although it is a nice technology that ensures no spread of sickness or saves on travel time, seeing my clients face-to-face is far more meaningful.

One of the things Rich has repeated in his communications is that during our “safer at home” time, we should stay positive and find something that we enjoy in order keep our minds happy and healthy. So, I thought I would share some of the things I’ve been doing for the past “however many weeks it’s been”.

Happy Easter to all of you. By now, most of us are in our third week of constantly staying home and adjusting to this temporary lifestyle.  I am lucky to have experienced relative confinement before while in the navy; whether in a Baghdad embassy compound for months-on-end, or a small ship with no shore liberty for weeks because the crew was being “disciplined”.

I am now one year into my volunteer position as Unit Commissioner for the Voyaguer District, Bay Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) organization. It has been a long road and I will share it with you.

Last Wednesday, February 5th, was National Signing Day. National signing day is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for a collegiate sport with a school that is a member of the NCAA.

I grew up in a home just five blocks from Lambeau Field. My parents still live there, and I can’t imagine ever growing up in another city or in another home. I consider myself lucky to have grown up in a football city and also to be an “owner” of arguably “America’s Team”: The Green Bay Packers!

I have been a member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Poland Post 186 since 2002. Back then, I was invited to an awards dinner by one of their members. Half way through the ceremony the Post Commander asked for all veterans to stand, so I stood along with everyone else. Then the Post Commander asked all the members to sit, leaving me as the only one standing. He pointed to me and said: “Get this veteran in our organization!”

This past year we had a few social events, and unlike most years we asked for donations for various local charities. For our summer parking lot picnic we asked our clients to donate school supplies for underprivileged students in the area. Thanks to your generosity we delivered 5 backpacks, 2 laundry baskets, a case of notebooks and a tote bag filled with school supply goodies to the 3^rd graders at Howe Elementary. They were so grateful for the donations

On behalf of Woodmen Financial Resources I would like to congratulate our fellow colleague, Heather Lindsley, on receiving the A. Jack Nussbaum Distinguished Service Award presented by NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors). This award is the highest honor presented by NAIFA-Wisconsin.

No day is ever the same when I come into the office. But, as with most jobs, there are specific tasks that have to be done on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. Some are easier than others, some take longer, and some of them rely on you – our fantastic clients!

Two years ago I wrote a short article about my involvement with the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree, where I helped instruct scouts how to do basic scuba diving in a pool. I enjoyed that so much I decided to do it again, but on a more global level for the 24th World Scout Jamboree in 2019.

I am very proud to share that my daughter, the older of my 2 children, has graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy. My wife and I are very proud of her accomplishments. This is the moment we’ve dreamt about since she was a little girl.

You can ask my co-workers if I like to travel and they will say – yes, absolutely! I am thankful to have the number of vacation days I have, but always feel like it’s never enough as I want to do EVERYTHING and go EVERYWHERE!

It has been 10 years, since I returned from my one year reserve assignment where I was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq. I have told many of you the story, but for some who have become clients afterwards I will share it again.

I recently had the opportunity to speak about my career at my high school alma mater. My wife Katie is a business teacher at Seymour high school and she asked if I would give a presentation on all of the career opportunities available within the field of financial planning.

I hate to make any of you jealous but I’m writing this newsletter while sitting on a sandy beach at St. Pete Beach Florida. The temperature is 76 degrees and I’m finding it hard to concentrate with the sounds of the waves crashing in and seagulls squawking, but I will tough it out and hopefully deliver a message you can relate to.

Happy Valentine’s Day (soon)… Are you keeping warm? What a crazy winter! If you’re a snow bird and haven’t been keeping on eye on temps here, one day it is 18 below with a minus 50 windchill and a couple days later it is 39 degrees and everything is melting.

My husband and I are about to take our first of two vacations this year and “Bert” is on our packing checklist. Bert was gifted to us by a long-time friend because of our last name, Siebert (and my husband’s college nickname – Bert).

It’s my turn to write an article and it falls again during the Christmas period. Time flies when you are having fun because it seems like just yesterday I wrote my article for last year’s December newsletter. The team at Woodmen Financial Resources wishes you and your families a very Blessed and Joyous Christmas Season and all other special Holidays as well that fall during this period.

Fall is my favorite time of the year, and for me it stirs up the thoughts that change is coming.  The leaves are changing color, the sunsets seem more intense, and the harvest moon appears over Heritage Hill as I drive home east bound over the Hwy 172 bridge.

I recently overheard someone complaining that she can’t get volunteers for one of her organizations, and was very upset that no one can dedicate their time for her cause. I could empathize with her, but I also wanted to share that most people spend their time and energy on causes that mean something to them.

After 37 years, I finally accomplished a goal – riding a bicycle across Iowa. When I was young, my uncle mentioned an annual bike ride across Iowa called RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). The week long ride starts by dipping your rear bike tire in the Missouri River and ends dipping your front wheel in the Mississippi River. When I heard about the bike ride I remembered thinking “I want to do that someday”. Years later (as I realize I am no longer a spring chicken), I decided to get it done. So this past May I began making Fridays and Sundays my training days, biking approximately sixty miles each time.

Do you have a bucket list? You know – the list of things you want to see or do before you die? Swim in the ocean, take a family trip, have a vacation home may be some you have heard. Sometimes the items on the list require saving money, but sometimes they simply mean taking the time and doing them. Either way the team at Woodmen Financial would love to help you achieve your goals.

In the third grade, I joined Cub Scout Pack 4130 while enrolled at St Matthews Elementary School in Allouez. I really enjoyed it and was excited to work on my advancement booklet – earning Bobcat, Wolf, the gold arrow point and the subsequent silver arrow point badges. I was always eager to complete requirements in the book.

I laugh at a picture I received from my Navy days when I completed my 3-year sea tour onboard USS KLAKRING. My colleagues signed around the frame and the Disbursing Officer (the money person) wrote: “Thanks for your great financial advice Rich!” A foretelling that 10 years later I’d be joining my father in the financial business. I have a quick sea story to share with you from my Navy days…

Hello! My name is Todd Gerbig, and while new to Woodmen Financial Resources, I’m not new to the financial services industry. I have over 12 years of experience in the insurance and investment business, and currently hold a series 7,6,65 investment licenses as well as licenses for life and health insurance. I enjoy all aspects of being a financial advisor and especially the client relationships I’ve built over the years. Relationships are built on trust so if you can give continued sound financial advice to your clients and help them achieve their financial goals you have built a long lasting relationship.

Did you make any resolutions for 2018? Have you kept them? What were they? Eat better? Exercise more? Spend more time with family & friends? Year after year, I set goals for the “new year” and have trouble keeping them. I chose things I thought were attainable and not stressful (reading 1 book a month, sending a “real” birthday card to family/friends, etc). Turns out, I failed at those too. This year, my decision was to take a moment of every day to be DELIBERATELY kind.

Did you make any resolutions for 2018? Have you kept them? What were they? Eat better? Exercise more? Spend more time with family & friends? Year after year, I set goals for the “new year” and have trouble keeping them. I chose things I thought were attainable and not stressful (reading 1 book a month, sending a “real” birthday card to family/friends, etc). Turns out, I failed at those too. This year, my decision was to take a moment of every day to be DELIBERATELY kind.

You have made it very special for our team at Woodmen Financial Resources as we progress another year working together. Now we conclude another year with the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. I realize the season can be stressful as we rush around to set up Christmas lighting decorations and tree, bake treats, attend parties, shop for presents, and visit with friends and families. Please take time and enjoy the special period and create some lasting memories.

When November (Thanksgiving) approaches, I try to show how grateful I am for the people, experiences and things in my life. Each year, I make a valiant attempt to do a Facebook/Instagram photo challenge and take a photo or mention at least one thing I’m thankful for during November. Some people might consider it bragging. But it reminds me that there will always be one thing, each day that I am grateful for – no matter how tough the day has been.