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MEETING ETIQUETTE... Each week we are fortunate to have a guest speaker take time out of their busy schedule to make a presentation to our club. Let's be a little more aware of our actions....table talk, cell phones - texting, checking emails, etc. This is not only disrespectful to whoever is speaking but to the people around you at your table and other tables who are trying to listen to the speaker. (Just a reminder if your cell phone goes off during our meeting it is a $5.00 fine.)
We will have a "Quiet Please" sign on each table to remind members to be respectful of the speaker and Rotarians around you...please feel free to pick up and show to someone if you feel they are disrupting your table and meeting.
This week at Rotary we will have one of our favorite programs, a classification talk. This is one of the fun opportunities to get to know our members better. In Rotary, members' classifications refer to their occupations, professional expertise and training. Rotary Clubs aim to include members from a number of classifications because bringing together professionals from different fields and industries increases a club's capacity to serve its community as well as giving its members an opportunity to learn more about others in the community. During the classification talks, members get to learn about the type of work they do, family life and background stories that brought them to join the fellowship and service in our club.
This week Rotarian Catherine Kolkmeier, a member of our club since May 2008, will share her life journey with us.
Last week we had a full house at our meeting at Rotary Lights. We thank Rotarian Mary Ann Gschwind for her candid talk on "Life as a Nun." Mary Ann is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who were founded on May 28, 1849. Click here to view their history. The FSPA's mission: We are a community of vowed Franciscan women centered in Eucharist, committed to be loving presence through prayer, witness and service. They have truly made an significant impact in our community and we are blessed that back in 1871 they moved their motherhouse to St. Rose of Viterbo Convent. Web Site.
We also had a number of the Rotary Lights crew as our guests. It was nice to give them a thanks for all their hard work during the whole year to make Rotary Lights what it is today.
Fruit Basket orders were turned in and we will be assembling 2100 baskets this Saturday! Thanks to everyone that sold and bought. Our numbers increased by 130 baskets this year.
ROTARY FRUIT BASKET FUNDRAISER... Our Fruit Basket Fundraiser is to generate financial resources for our club activities and service projects. The fundraiser also provides an opportunity for all club members to participate in an annual activity through the assembly distribution, purchase and sale of fruit baskets during the holiday season.
We will need help with setup, assembly of the fruit baskets, and delivery on Saturday, December 10th and delivery on Monday, December 12th. We will have sign-up sheets at our upcoming meetings or you can sign-up online byclicking here.STILL COULD USE SOME DRIVERS FOR MONDAY DELIVERY.
We will be assembling 2100 baskets this year! Up 130 from last year. Thanks to all who bought and sold. Special thanks to Jodi Widuch for data entering all the orders and Anna Prinsen who was in training to do it next year!
Rotary Lights update from Pat Stephens:We are still "a little" ahead of last year's record pace in both food and cash. Please remember that 2015 was a remarkable year and to be anywhere close to those numbers is a real accomplishment. With five days of rain already this year the numbers are remarkable. As expected, the new train, singing light bulbs and walk through tunnel are tremendous hits. I keep hearing people say, "Boy, you sure have come a long way through the years". Couldn't agree more.
The Ice Rink is still the real buzz. Tribune called again today, TV stations over the weekend and about 25 calls per day wanting information. Based on our best predictions with the weather, we plan on flooding Sunday night and again on Monday and Tuesday with hopes of having skaters by Wednesday Dec. 14th. I believe the Rec Group from UW-L will be raking and cleaning up the rink area later this week The Onalaska KC's will lay the liner on Saturday. This Saturday, Dec. 10th is a busy day. The Onalaska Rotary has their traditional Santa Breakfast from 8-11 am, followed by the Ugly Sweater Run/Walk, and even a wedding in the igloo to round out the afternoon. (Six engagements--that we know of so far this year) The carriage rides are so successful that poor Lynn is not sure what to do. She's running three carriages non-stop from 5-10 pm and still not able to keep up with the demand. Nice problem to have. Hopefully, next week at this time we'll be able to report even more successes. Get in the spirit.
Email I received this week: I am a member of the New Ulm, Minnesota, Rotary Club. Yesterday, my wife and I traveled to LaCrosse for the Kenny Rogers concert. Not only did we enjoy the concert, but were treated to a beautiful drive by your light display. While we didn't have the time to really take it in, I must commend you on the wonderful work you've done. Keep it up!
GET WELL wishes go out to a former member of our club. John Smalley who is home recovering from a heart attack. He is doing well and anxious to get back to work. John's address is: 100 Holiday Court, Verona, WI 53593.
Herb Heili one of our honorary members wants everyone to know he will have a kidney transplant in Madison on Wednesday, December 7th. Donor is a daughter. For newer members, Herb was a long-time member of our club and had a heart transplant quite a few years ago. He asks for prayers, please. Herb's home address is 430 E. Larkspur Lane, Onalaska, WI 54650.
Please note: Raffle, Fines, Birthday, Anniversaries and Scooters are all donations that will go to the club If you are making a donation and would like it to go to the Rotary Works Foundation or Rotary International Foundation, we ask that you write a check to the Foundation of your choice.
Dec 1st: Raffle $53; Fines $31; Scooters $4; Scrip $30
Arch Klumph’s idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world” planted the seed for The Rotary Foundation in 1917. Thanks to his vision and staunch advocacy, and the extraordinary generosity of Rotary members worldwide, that fund has become one of the world’s leading humanitarian foundations.
Learn about the people and events that have made our Foundation a powerful force for good. That one idea and an initial contribution of $26.50 set in motion a powerful force for good that has transformed millions of lives around the globe. View the timeline of the history of the development of what is now the Rotary Foundation.
It is that time of the year .....Dean Dickinson is planning our Christmas Program for Thursday, December 22nd IN THE RADISSON BALLROOM.
Please contactDean if you have children, grandchildren, friends etc that would be willing to entertain us on Thursday, December 22nd. They would need to be there between 12 and 1 that day. Contact Dean for more information.
Dean has an awesome program planned....Please Register Today to attend!!
We ask that you register yourself and guests. if you plan to attend our Christmas Program...it will be held in the Radisson Ballroom....please click here and register today.
Help make a lasting contribution to the La Crosse area by volunteering to ring bells and raise funds for the Salvation Army. Greet holiday shoppers and help spread Christmas cheer while accepting donations in the Famous Red Kettle.The money raised stays in our community, supporting the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Meal Program, Emergency Shelter, Families in Need, Sending Kids to Camp, and so much more.
Our club will be ringing bells on Saturday, December 17th at: Walgreens-Bridgeview; Festival Copeland; Woodman's; Shopko Shelby; and Gander Mountain.
Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. Your gift to the PolioPlus Fund is eligible for Paul Harris Society recognition. Our club will match your donation with "foundation points." You give $500 we will match your donation with 500 points...you will then receive a Paul Harris Fellow. Any donation $100 or above will be matched with foundation points. Write your checks out to Rotary Foundation - note Polio Plus and give to Lyn. We will accept donations for the match until Thursday, December 15th. We have raised $5,535.00 for Polio Plus.
2017 Polio Immunization Program ..Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, India..scheduled for March 24th - April 3, 2017. We have had Sharon Imes, Dean Dickinson and Todd Restel take this journey in the past. If you are interested in going and would like more information...I am sure Sharon, Dean and Todd would be happy to answer any questions. Click here for more information and application form.
Anita will be selling greeting cards at our meeting on December 15th. Christmas Cards will be available.
Birthday, Wedding, Sympathy, Get Well, Anniversary, Congratulations, Note Cards and other cards will be available. All cards are unique and hand-made. Thank you cards are only $1.00, as are the note cards, which are blank inside. The regular cards are $2.00 and $3.00 each. Some cards are three for $5.00 and some three for $10. Anita donates all sales to the Rotary Works Foundation! Last quarter she donated $150 for the 3rd quarter card sales. Y-T-D sales are $600.00. Thank you to all who supports Anita's fundraiser for the Rotary Works Foundation.
Honorary Membership is offered to members who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals. Honorary membership is the highest distinction that a club may bestow and should be conferred only in exceptional cases. Honorary members cannot propose new members to the club or hold office and are exempt from attendance requirements and club dues. Honorary members will continue to receive The Rotarian Magazine compliments of the club.
Excused Membershipis offered to members if the aggregate of the member’s years of age and years of membership in one or more clubs is 85 years or more, the member has been a member of one or more clubs for at least 20 years, and the member has notified the club's secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be excused from attendance and the board has approved. Excused Members will pay the quarterly dues of $70 and only for meals when they attend a meeting.
Membership Proposals....we will no longer ask for three references when you propose a new member. This was a criteria that our club had set not RI. This will help us process new members into our club more efficiently. You can access the membership proposal form online, under the Club Information site page.
Rotary Attendance policy is to attend or makeup at least 50% of the club meetings during the first six months and the second six months. They can be done by: • Attending regular club meetings • Making up meetings at other Rotary Clubs ( which includes E-Clubs) • Engaging in club projects/events/fellowship/board meetings.
100% Attendance Raffle
July - Sue Durtsche
August - John Wettstein
September - Mary Ann Gschwind
October - Tim Durtsche
If you would like to volunteer to do Rotarians in the News, be a greeter, raffle ticket seller, scrip seller or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Program Chairs that are listed above....just click on their name. If you would like to give your classification talk please contact Program Committee Chair Todd Restel.
to get to know our members better. In Rotary, members' classifications refer to their occupations, professional expertise and training. Rotary Clubs aim to include members from a number of classifications because bringing together professionals from different fields and industries increases a club's capacity to serve its community as well as giving its members an opportunity to learn more about others in the community. During the classification talks, members get to learn about the type of work they do, family life and background stories that brought them to join the fellowship and service in our club.
Rotary Lights update from Pat Stephens: We are still "a little" ahead of last year's record pace in both food and cash. Please remember that 2015 was a remarkable year and to be anywhere close to those numbers is a real accomplishment. With five days of rain already this year the numbers are remarkable. As expected, the new train, singing light bulbs and walk through tunnel are tremendous hits. I keep hearing people say, "Boy, you sure have come a long way through the years". Couldn't agree more.
GET WELL wishes go out to a former member of our club. John Smalley who is home recovering from a heart attack. He is doing well and anxious to get back to work. John's address is: 100 Holiday Court, Verona, WI 53593.
