Hodag Schools Foundation (HSF) is especially pleased to announce a donation of
$50,000 from Ripco Credit Union. Designated for improvements to the Hodag athletic multi-
purpose complex, the donation comes in the form of a pledge over several years.

“The Ripco Board of Directors and I truly see this as a game changer for our
community,” notes Liza Edinger, President and CEO of Rhinelander’s Ripco Credit Union. “The
attraction this complex will have for not only those in our community, but also visitors from
outside of our area will result in positive outcomes, bringing an encouraging economic benefit
to our area. Moreover, we wanted to provide support to the largest commitment our school
district has made since 1958. The time, attention, and resources already provided by numerous
individuals and companies have been truly impressive and heartwarming to see. In addition,
we have a long-standing relationship with the Rhinelander School District, and have maintained
a student branch at Rhinelander High School for well over 10 years.”

Ripco Credit Union has long-time, strong roots in the Rhinelander community, operating
since 1932. Membership was available initially to employees of the Rhinelander Industrial
Paper Company, the credit union, and their immediate families. In 1972, Ripco became a
community credit union and the charter was expanded to include the city of Rhinelander.
Today, with over 12,000 members Ripco’s charter encompasses seven counties (Oneida, Forest,
Florence, Vilas, Langlade, Lincoln and Price) and membership is open to those who live, work, or own
real estate in those seven counties.

Edinger believes the Dome will attract many from outside of our community to different
events. This will provide an economic benefit to the area as visitors utilize hotels, restaurants,
gas stations, and other businesses that they choose to frequent. Edinger says, “We feel the
Dome will offer the opportunity for various sporting and other types of events year-round. The
possibilities are endless for use of the space. With the late springs we tend to have, it will no
doubt provide an opportunity for the community to come together more often. We live in an
area that is known for higher depression and seasonal affective disorder. We have long, cold
winters. Having an indoor facility of this magnitude could very well provide a reason for many
who do not venture outside to participate more in community events and improve their overall
mental well-being.”

She continues, “Some studies have shown that there appears to be a correlation
between participation in sports and academic achievement. This being the case, the Dome may
very well begin to not only draw in students but also improve students’ academics. We feel that
the Dome will only enhance what the Rhinelander School District has to offer which in turn will
attract more families to live in our area. Our credit union continues to grow in size and in
number of employees. It is not uncommon for us to have to look for prospective employees
outside of our community. Having such a facility in our town may very well become a draw to
families with children as they survey the District and what it has to offer. This could provide us
with a larger pool of qualified applicants for staff.”

Edinger wants to again remind the community that Ripco sees the Dome as a game
changer and an attraction to our community that will give those living here a strong sense of
pride. “The more we learned about the facility, the more enthused we got about the endless
opportunities that will come to our community.” She concludes, “We are thrilled not only to
support this endeavor, but also be an active part of this community and a business that will
benefit and experience what the Dome will accomplish over time.”

HSF board member Steve Jensen notes, “As a former coach of a spring sport and a physical
education teacher, I know the challenges weather can cause. That’s why donations like this from Ripco
are so important. HSF sincerely thanks Ripco Credit Union. Their generosity helps give Rhinelander the
opportunity to become a destination city.” Merlin VanBuren, SDR Board member, echoes that
gratitude, “The District thanks Ripco Credit Union for this generous donation. We are fortunate to have
their continued support.”

Another business has stepped up to support improvements to the Hodag Sports Complex. The
Hodag Schools Foundation (HSF) is again pleased to announce the donation of $25,000 from Nicolet
National Bank. The donation comes in the form of a pledge, designated for improvements to the Hodag
multi-purpose complex.

Amy Vanney, Branch Manager at Nicolet National Bank since 2017, explains, “I am not an RHS
graduate, but I am married to one, and I am raising three Hodags. The staff at Nicolet Bank has many
RHS alumni, and most of them grew up in the surrounding area. To support the dome means a lot to
the entire staff at Nicolet National Bank, and we are so honored to be part of the project. We hire locally
so most of our employees are committed to living in Rhinelander or the surrounding area. Having the
dome in Rhinelander will be another great reason to make Rhinelander where we all live, work and
play.”

Vanney believes that the Hodag Sports Complex will help the entire Rhinelander community.
“Bringing various teams into our town will boost the town’s economy,” she continues. “The teams will
need hotels, food, gas, and shopping which benefits all of our customers as well as benefiting our
community. Having the dome in Rhinelander will make us a go-to destination for traveling athletic
events and sports clinics. Moreover, I think the dome being open to the public will be a great place for
teens and seniors to meet and get some exercise, benefiting their physical and mental health. I think
there is so much opportunity to expand the services and capabilities of the dome, and I am excited to
see all the ideas the community comes up with to utilize this new, beautiful facility. The sky is the limit!”

At Nicolet National Bank, local professionals are driven by a vision of shared success. Nicolet
National Bank is founded on the belief that their job is to create shared success between the 3 Circles:
Customers, Shareholders and Employees. “Because each circle can be divergent and has their own
interests,” says Vanney, “our job is to create balance and grow the space of shared success where the 3
Circles overlap. This is Nicolet National Bank’s vision.”

All employees are expected to model Nicolet’s Core Values, behaviors that put action behind
their vision, creating a culture that has a bias toward action. Those Core Values include Be Real, Be
Responsive, Be Personal, Be Memorable, and Be Entrepreneurial. Vanney explains, “We expect to
create connections with customers, whether internal or external, and work together to create a
successful outcome. We give people the opportunity to learn, grow and make a difference. We choose
to work here because we make a real difference to our customers and the community. The Hodag Dome
will be a great addition to our community. Nicolet National Bank only has branches in the communities
around the state where we can matter to that community. As a community bank we support a lot of
various organizations in the place where we live and work. The request to sponsor the Dome was an
easy request to get behind.”

HSF Board Member Casey Gretzinger notes, “HSF sincerely thanks Nicolet National Bank. This
donation will impact the year-round activities the new dome will provide our students and community in
our cold Northern Wisconsin temperatures. We appreciate Nicolet National Bank’s donation and
willingness to share in the success of the Hodag Sports Complex.”
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Rhinelander School Board Member Ron Luenburg echoes that gratitude, “The District is grateful
to accept this gift from Nicolet National Bank. The improvements in these facilities will benefit students
and the community, differentiating Rhinelander from its neighbors.”