Fort humorist Sandra Bernhardt to pen guest column

Fort Atkinson Online is pleased to announce the addition of Sandi (Sandra) Bernhardt as a contributing columnist.

For more than 30 years, the Fort Atkinson resident has enjoyed humorous public speaking in Wisconsin and beyond.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than making people laugh and forget their troubles for a while,” she says.

The first installment of her column, titled “Behind My Door,” may be read here. 

Sandi has spoken to many area organizations, including Fort Atkinson High School’s graduating seniors. For fun, she also enjoys singing and songwriting. At the Fort Atkinson sesquicentennial celebration marking the city’s 150^th year in 1986, Sandi performed her “Ballad of the Fighting Finches.”

During her career, she served as a human resources director, as well as a customer service consultant for a healthcare company.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Sandi is the mother of three grown sons … “and “they all have careers!” she shouts joyfully.

“Steve, Mark and Lee even buy me stuff!  Do you remember when the kids got all the presents?” she asks. “My turn!”

Her advice to other parents: “If you find your kids very busy lounging on the sofa eating chips, and the word ‘job’ is an alien concept to them, you will never ever get the presents you so richly deserve! Threaten to make them clean the toilet. That should do it.”

Sandi has volunteered at the Dwight Foster Public Library and Hoard Historical Museum. She is a member of the Wisconsin-Nicaragua Partners of the America group linking Fort Atkinson with Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, as well as of the Fort Atkinson Branch of the American Association for University Women.

A past recipient of AAUW’s “Jane Shaw Knox Adopt a Student” scholarship, Sandi encourages local individuals to apply for one. 

AAUW offers scholarships in Jefferson, as well. 

“Pardon commercial,” she adds.