Wisconsin Union: Summer by the Lake at the Terrace Kicks Off With Return of Chairs, Party on April 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Wisconsin Union Public Relations and Communications Officer
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/terrace-2024

SUMMER BY THE LAKE AT THE TERRACE KICKS OFF WITH RETURN OF CHAIRS, PARTY ON APRIL 17

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union’s historic outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace will reopen for the 2024 Terrace season on April 17 with the return of 2,000 green, yellow and orange sunburst chairs and a Wisconsin Union-hosted Opening of the Terrace Party.

The chairs will start to return the early morning of April 17 and will continue to return through the early afternoon followed by the Opening of the Terrace Party from 4-6 p.m. at the Terrace. The free party that kicks off a season of summer by the lake will feature an appearance by Bucky, free brats provided by Johnsonville while supplies last, a DJ performance, a performance by the University of Wisconsin Spirit Squad, free Terrace Lemonade and Terrace Strawberry Lemonade tasting, and free mocktail tasting.

Available on-site dining options include pub food destination der Rathskeller, pizza and pasta restaurant Strada, salad and sandwich shop Carte, dessert café the Daily Scoop, grab-n-go and snacks shop the Badger Market, beverages and snacks restaurant der Stiftskeller, and seasonal lakefront destination Lakeview Lounge.

At 7 p.m. on April 17, guests can attend an Open Mic Night hosted by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Music Committee and Moda Magazine, which marks the start of WUD Music’s nine-event music series WUDstock.

The Wisconsin Union team hosts Terrace season from late spring to early fall each year, including free film showings on Monday nights June-August, free concerts Wednesday-Saturday usually beginning in late May, free and low-cost art activities, and low-cost outdoor recreation experiences. The Union team will announce its film and music lineup in May at TerraceSummer.com.

The Wisconsin Union will soon make a Terrace Festival Package available for purchase, which will include a limited-edition t-shirt, a limited-edition button, a coupon card redeemable for monthly free food items, and more.

“Terrace season is really a three-month-long festival of free music, free movies, free and low-cost art, and so much more. It’s the perfect way to spend summer by the lake,” Wisconsin Union Deputy Director Susan Dibbell said. “There’s nothing else like Terrace season in the country, and no Wisconsin summer is complete without a Terrace visit, whether someone lives here or is visiting.”

The Wisconsin Union team is planning its programming and overall Terrace experience with the theme “Summer by the Lake” in mind.

“With music, great food, lakefront relaxation, and unique opportunities to make lasting memories with friends, family or colleagues, visits to the Terrace deliver the essential Wisconsin lakeside summer,” Public Relations and Communications Officer Shauna Breneman said.

The Wisconsin Union team anticipates opening seasonal dining options the Brat Stand on April 19 and the BBQ Stand on May 3, weather permitting. Coffee and tea café Peet’s Coffee is anticipated to reopen in late April with double its previous beverage-making capacity.

The Wisconsin Union held its first full Terrace season in 1929. Today, the space welcomes almost 1 million people each year, and its Wisconsin-crafted, metal sunburst chairs are trademarked and widely regarded as beloved symbols of Madison and summer in Wisconsin.

Most Terrace season events and most other events held by the Wisconsin Union are created by student leaders in WUD, who gain hands-on professional experiences through their Wisconsin Union leadership roles. Some WUD students receive up to 80% of their in-state tuition paid through Wisconsin Union academic stipends in recognition of their responsibilities contributing to student life and culture.

The Wisconsin Union is a non-profit organization that does not receive any taxpayer dollars to support its Terrace operations, Terrace season events, or year-round patron services, such as its open arts studio and outdoor recreation. Purchases at Memorial Union and Union South as well as its outlying markets and cafes, tax-deductible donations, and membership purchases help make Terrace season and other Union experiences and spaces possible.

Most of the events that occur at the Terrace during Terrace season also occur inside the Union’s spaces from late fall to early spring, including free film showings at the Marquee at Union South; free and low-cost art events at Memorial Union; and free, live music at both Union South and Memorial Union. Guests can continue to enjoy events indoors at Memorial Union and Union South while awaiting Terrace summer programming and can do so again when Terrace season ends. 

Patrons can visit TerraceSummer.com for Terrace season details.

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About the Wisconsin Union

The Wisconsin Union enhances the lives of members and visitors through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities. Formed in 1907, the Wisconsin Union is a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Concerts on the Square Volunteer Affiliate Program Applications Open

Apply for your business to be a Volunteer Affiliate for Concerts on the Square!

Annually, the WCO selects six local small businesses to feature as Concerts on the Square Volunteer Affiliates. Each business will be given marketing opportunities in exchange for volunteer time at the event their business is assigned to. You can learn more and apply at https://wcoconcerts.org/concerts-tickets/concerts-on-the-square/volunteer-affiliate-program.

Improving mental health is focus of new WPS report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Corporate Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

Improving mental health is focus of new WPS report

MADISON, Wis.—April 8, 2024—The 2023 WPS Health Solutions^® Corporate Social Responsibility Report, “Mental Health is Health,” is now available on wpshealthsolutions.com. The report details the company’s commitment to good mental health along with an overview of how various lines of business at WPS Health Solutions supported mental health initiatives in 2023.

During the year, WPS worked to bring awareness, fund programming, reduce stigmas, and advance availability of mental health care. A highlight of the efforts was adding 20% more mental health care providers to its networks, reducing wait time from weeks to hours.

“Addressing the mental health needs of beneficiaries, our insured, and our employees has been a focus of mine since becoming President and CEO last April. I’m proud of how company leaders have stepped up and brought real solutions to the table,” said WPS President and CEO Wendy Perkins. “This report highlights our continued focus and progress and reaffirms our belief that mental health care is essential health care.”

More than 75 years since its founding, WPS continues its work to protect the health and financial well-being of its customers.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, has more than 2,600 employees. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

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Oak Bank Celebrates the Power of Community

For Immediate Release

Contact: Karen Virnoche, 608.441.6000
kvirnoche@oak.bank

Oak Bank Celebrates the Power of Community
7th Annual Wisconsin Bankers Association Power of Community Week April 15 – 20, 2024

Fitchburg, WI – Oak Bank, Fitchburg’s community bank since 2000, is recognizing the Power of Community Week April 15-20, 2024, during National Community Banking Month.

“Dane County is special. We’re proud to have deep roots in this community and we’re using this opportunity to celebrate the strong connections that we have developed with local businesses, charitable and civic organizations, and Dane County residents,” said Terry Taylor, President of Oak Bank. “To celebrate the Power of Community Week, Oak Bank associates are volunteering their time to support several very worthy projects here in Dane County. “

The purpose of Power of Community Week is to highlight the longstanding tradition of local hometown community banking. We urge consumers, small business owners, and community leaders to learn more about the relationship community banks have with the communities that are not home only to our bank, but to our families and our livelihoods. Oak Bank is proud of the role we play in building a strong community, by providing quality products and personal and business services that give our clients the support they need to succeed.

Oak Bank serves our community year-round, but this year we will celebrate the Power of Community Week by having a team of Oak Bank associates engaging in the following activities:

• Monday, April 15: Helping to clean up and mulch the “Playground for All” Adaptive Playground and Splash Pad Area at McKee Farms Park.
• Tuesday, April 16: Making tie blankets for foster children and children that have been helped by the police.
• Wednesday, April 17: Helping at the Dane County Humane Society.
• Thursday, April 18: Assisting the City of Fitchburg with waterway cleanup.
• Friday, April 19: Cooking food for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Madison.

In addition to this week-long celebration, Oak Bank is hosting a Sock & Sneaker drive throughout the entire month of April for the 2-5 year old children receiving support from Reach Dane.

“The Power of Community Week highlights the collective impact of Wisconsin’s banking industry,” said Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. “Bank employees tailor their efforts to the individual needs of their areas – from giving financial literacy presentations in local schools to running food drives to volunteering in nursing homes – it shows how passionate they are.”

For more information on the Power of Community Week and to see an interactive map of service initiatives around the state, please visit www.wisbank.com/BanksPowerWI.

About Oak Bank
Oak Bank has been deeply rooted in the Fitchburg community and Madison area for over 23 years, meeting the financial needs of homeowners and businesses by offering top-notch service, quick answers, and creative solutions, all while supporting over 125 local nonprofits each year. Visit oak.bank to learn more.

About Wisconsin Bankers Association
Founded in 1892, WBA is the state’s largest financial industry trade association, representing more than 200 commercial banks and savings institutions, their branches, and over 30,000 employees. The Association represents banks of all sizes in Wisconsin, and nearly 98 percent of banks in the state are WBA members. To learn more, please visit wisbank.com.

About the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation
The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) is a Wisconsin non-profit organization dedicated to promoting financial literacy and capability to the public. WBF works to empower consumers’ financial decisions through education, scholarships, and research. (IRS Public Charity Employer Identification Number 46-3791061)

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Naviant, Inc. Acquires Business Process Automation Provider in Michigan

Media contact:
Jen Hein | jhein@naviant.com

Naviant, Inc. Acquires Business Process Automation Provider in Michigan.

Naviant, a leading provider of intelligent automation solutions by Hyland and ABBYY, announced today that it signed an agreement to acquire User Friendly Consulting. User Friendly Consulting (UFC) is a business process automation provider based in Michigan.  

Michael Carr, President & CEO at Naviant, says, “UFC is a top ABBYY partner and has an incredible reputation in the Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) market, and you can expect that same great service to continue with Naviant. UFC’s talent partnered with Naviant’s talent and thriving and happy client base will help elevate our client experience and accelerate intelligent automation journeys for clients.” 

Travis Spangler, General Manager and Director of Sales & Operations of UFC, says, “Our superior client experience will continue with Naviant’s strong reputation and core commitment to client success. Naviant brings experienced resources with expanded offerings to help our clients achieve even more success.” 

“We’ve worked closely with Naviant and UFC, two of ABBYY’s leading partners, for many years to deliver impactful ROI using our purpose-built AI for understanding documents,” comment Neil Murphy, Chief Sales Officer at ABBYY. “We look forward to their continued investment in the Intelligent Process Automation market.” 

Michael Carr added, “We are committed to providing the same outstanding support and delivery of services our clients have grown to expect, and we look forward to personally welcoming User Friendly Consulting clients and staff into the Naviant community.” 

About Naviant 

Naviant is a nationally recognized intelligent automation solutions integrator and business process consulting organization with over 30 years of experience. We help our clients do more with less by using technology to streamline processes and gain visibility into the data they need to make better decisions.  

Our “process-first” approach emphasizes the importance of process improvement before implementing technology solutions such as OnBase, Brainware, the ABBYY intelligent capture platform, Hyland RPA and Jadu content portal technology.  

We are proud to be a top-tier partner for Hyland’s OnBase, a single enterprise information platform for managing content, processes, and cases. OnBase combines ECM, case management, business process management (BPM), records management, compliance, and capture functionality on a single platform. In addition, we’re a top partner for ABBYY intelligent document processing platform. To learn more about Naviant, please visit naviant.com. Process focus. Excellence.

About Hyland

Hyland is a leading content services provider that enables thousands of organizations to deliver better experiences to the people they serve. Find us at Hyland.com.