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This week our program will be CASA for kids...the presenter will be Jessie Fortuna, CASA for Kids Program Director. The YWCA Court Appointed Special Advocates or "CASA for Kids" program provides professional training and supervision for volunteer advocates who support children involved in the courts as a result of abuse and neglect. CASA was created in 1977 by a judge who needed more information about the lives of abused and neglected children before he could make important decisions regarding their futures. His solution was to use trained volunteers to track the progress of children in the court system and report back regularly to the judge. Today CASA Programs are in all 50 states of the United States and in the Virgin Islands. The program was established locally in 1999 in La Crosse County and has since grown to also serve children in Vernon and Monroe counties. . CASA Web Site.
We will also welcome the Students of the Month.....
Central High School Students: Gao Chee Vang (January), Spencer Bloss (February), Isaiah Dahman (March)
Aquinas High School Students: Shayna Nickelatti (January), Courtney Conway (February), Mary Paulino (March)
Logan High School Students:Theodore Carr (January), February Michael Felix (February), Nancy Lee (March)
Last week was the Rotary Lights Presentation. Pat Stephens reported that thanks to great weather from Mother Nature, low gas prices and a real boost from the television show Discover Wisconsin, 2015 broke all our records in terms of traffic count, foot traffic, contributions and food donations. We finished with just under 300,000 food items which allowed us to pass over the 3 million mark collected since Rotary Lights began in 1995. Interact Students contributed with over 32,000 food items. Rotary Lights 21 Years and Counting.
We also welcomed a number of Rotary Lights guests. We recognized the crew of Rotary Lights for their dedication and hard work. We also had members of the following non-profits that received their checks for their help in Rotary Lights 2015: Aquinas; Campus Autism; La Crosse Central FBLA; La Crosse Central Dance; La Crosse Citizen Advocacy; Coulee Council on Addiction; Girl Scouts of Badgerland; UWL Health Science Academy; La Crosse Astronomical Society; La Crosse Suicide Prevention; Riverfront; UWL Student Council on Exceptional Children and Great Rivers United Way.
Kids Coulee Work Day - Thank you to all who helped with Kids Coulee Work Day....Kurt Schroeder, Steve Lindeman, Patt Boge, Roger Christians, Dave Clements, Jerry Hanoski, Gavin McCormick, Catherine Kolkmeier, Bud and Barb Hammes, Andy Bakkum & son, Nick Passe, Candice Tlustosch & daughters and Brad Reinhart. If we missed someone, please let me know so you get credit for a makeup. Click here to view more photos of the day.
Cards will be for sale before and after our Rotary Meetings.
Mother's Day, Graduation, 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!
We would like to thank Anita Froegel and all Rotarians that have purchased greeting cards from her....first quarter sales were $240. Anita donates all sales to the Rotary Works Foundation!!
Save the date for our Spring Social, Tuesday, June 21st at Valley High Golf Club, Houston. Golfing will start around Noon and Social around 5:30....more details coming. We are looking for items for our raffle baskets. Click here to view list of some suggested items. We will take whatever you donate...if we don't use it for the Spring Social we will use if for the Avenues of Service Dinner in August. You can drop your donated items off at the registration table. Thank you for your donations.
We are looking for nominations for "Rotarian of the Year" from our club....please submit you nominations to rotarylax@charter.net by May 5th...click here to find all nomination forms. The board will review the nominations at the May board meeting and make a selection. The Rotarian of the Year will be recognized at our Spring Social and the Avenues of Service Dinner on Tuesday, August 16th. Lifetime Achievement, Rising Star and Avenues of Service forms are also located on our web site with the link above...deadline for those nominations will be July but can be submitted now.
Come enjoy yourself at your Rotary District Conference.
Mix and mingle with your Rotary friends and make new ones. Savor fine food and fun in one of Wisconsin's premier locations. Expand your Rotary superpowers through insightful presentations and dynamic speakers.
Join the Celebration! This is one District Conference you DON'T want to miss!!
We are trying to find out if there would be enough interest to have a bus take local Rotarians to the District Conference just for Saturday, May 21st. We will have sign-up sheets available on Thursday or email Lyn at rotarylax@charter.net. Cost would be probably $25 or less depending on how many we have going. We have invited the other clubs to join us....so sign-up early if you plan on joining us.
THE 2016 ROTARY DISTRICT 6250
DISTRICT CONFERENCE SERVICE PROJECT
GIVE YOUR PERSONAL CARE
Please find room in your heart to purchase and donate new, in-the-package
MEMBERSHIP 2015-16
Active Membership
June 30, 2015 - 167 April 18 - 171
Honorary Members Jan 22, 2016 - 23
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 whose age and number of years in Rotary total 85 years. Excused Members will pay the quarterly dues of $67 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.
OUR ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENT IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY
I’m Cameron Neader, an 18 year old who’s lucky enough to have a “once in a life experience” two times. I went on exchange to Fyn, Denmark in 2013-2014 through Rotary and now on a second Rotary Youth exchange to Istanbul, Turkey for 2015-2016. My first day in Turkey was September 1st.
Pat Smith....Pat had a stem cell transplant at the University Hospital in Madison. He should be home mid April for about another three months of recovery. Please keep Pat in your thoughts and prayers.... his home address is 1251 Bentgrass Court, Onalaska, WI 54650. He will post updates on his Facebook page.
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.
April 14th: Raffle $49; Fines $74; Scooters $7; Scrip $110
ROTARY ATTENDANCE March 31 - 64%
April 7th - 55%
April 14th - 60%
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.
If you would like to volunteer to give your Classification Talk, do Rotarians in the News be a greeter or raffle ticket seller, or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Program Chairs that are listed above....just click on their name.
is week our program will be CASA for kids...the presenter will be Jessie Fortuna, CASA for Kids Program Director. The YWCA Court Appointed Special Advocates or "CASA for Kids" program provides professional training and supervision for volunteer advocates who support children involved in the courts as a result of abuse and neglect. CASA was created in 1977 by a judge who needed more information about the lives of abused and neglected children before he could make important decisions regarding their futures. His solution was to use trained volunteers to track the progress of children in the court system and report back regularly to the judge. Today CASA Programs are in all 50 states of the United States and in the Virgin Islands. The program was established locally in 1999 in La Crosse County and has since grown to also serve children in Vernon and Monroe counties. . 
k was the Rotary Lights Presentation. Pat Stephens reported that thanks to great weather from Mother Nature, low gas prices and a real boost from the television show Discover Wisconsin, 2015 broke all our records in terms of traffic count, foot traffic, contributions and food donations. We finished with just under 300,000 food items which allowed us to pass over the 3 million mark collected since Rotary Lights began in 1995. Interact Students contributed with over 32,000 food items. 
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