OCF Community Outreach & Education

The Oakfield Community Foundation, an affiliate fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, and the Oakfield Police Department have been working together to promote the safety of Oakfield youth with two summer 2007 projects, a bike rodeo and a personal safety workshop.

The Bike Rodeo, organized by Police Chief Renee Schuster, was held on June 2nd at the Oakfield Middle School. Participants rode through an obstacle course which modeled real-life situations such as an approaching car at an intersection. Rodeo bicyclists were fitted with a new helmet prior to riding the course and received bike reflectors, a juice drink and a certificate of accomplishment after completing the course. High School students from Oakfield’s National Honor Society and volunteers from the Oakfield Fire Department helped to provide guidance and encouragement to each of the riders. The Oakfield Police Department plans to make the bike rodeo an annual event.

The “Strategies to Empower Personal Safety” workshop co-sponsored by the Oakfield Police Department and the Oakfield Community Foundation was held on July 25th. The workshop was well attended and taught by Renee Schuster, Gerry Kane, and Paul Rotscholl.

Police Chief Schuster began the workshop with an overview of crime statistics. She related the statistics to the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings, scanning a parking lot for danger, and using safe driving techniques. Oakfield Officer Gerry Kane shared stories from his professional experience to provide evidence that we need to be vigilant, even in our local communities.

Paul Rottscholl, a personal safety and defensive tactics instructor, taught the second part of the workshop. He demonstrated the power of our bodies as a weapon when he broke a board held by Oakfield Officer Gerry Kane. Instructor Rottscholl integrated both the physical and psychological aspects of defense throughout his presentation. Participants learned about their inner strength called Ki, a Japanese term for the energy that provides power for the physical body. Instructor Rottscholl reiterated Chief Schuster’s message of the importance of not putting oneself in harm’s way and of confidence in one’s actions. The physical aspects of defense were presented as he worked individually with each of the participants to show them proper form and how to maximize power. Instructor Rottscholl taught where to target punches and kicks, how to rotate the hips when throwing a punch, and the importance of a wide stance. Each participant learned to deliver at least six different defensive maneuvers.

The participants of the workshop commented that the workshop was “fun” and a “unique experience” and many felt that the “lessons learned will be ones that they will keep.” The financial cost of the workshop was supported by a $200 grant to the Village of Oakfield from the Oakfield Community Foundation, an affiliate fund of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, and from a $50 donation given by an anonymous donor the Oakfield Police Department. Plans are in the works for another workshop to be held next year.

Fond du Lac Area Foundation

Phone: (920) 921-2215
Fax: (920) 921-1036
384 N. Main Street - Suite 4
Fond du Lac, WI 54935