District 6250       Club 2690 
June 1, 1919
 
_________________________________________________________________________
 
Club Information

Welcome to our Club!

LaCrosse

Be The Inspiration

Thursday - 11:30 Buffet - 12:00 Meeting
at the Radisson Center
200 Jay Street
Parking Radisson Hotel
LaCrosse, WI  54601
United States
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
 
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:  16 August 2018
 
I hope to see you at the Avenue of Service dinner on Tuesday, August 14th.  This meeting will include all nine of our local area clubs and will be a special evening.  Since this meeting is being held in lieu of our regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, I will keep the president’s message brief.
 
First, please invite a potential new member to next Thursday’s meeting.  With this being our Club’s 100th anniversary, we should have plenty of exciting reasons for a guest to want to join us.
 
Second, Eva Marie and I have begun the process of sharing a meal with every member of our club.  For now, we are scheduling these meals in a low tech way on a piece of paper.  We hope you will sign up.  Please find either myself or Eva Marie to set up a time and date. 
 
 
 
 SHELTERBOX FUNDRAISER FELLOWSHIP
Mississippi Expedition for ShelterBox
 
 
Erik Elsea, President of Cape Coral, Florida Rotary Club and ShelterBox volunteer is canoeing the length of the Mississippi River to raise money for ShelterBox USA and raise awareness of the great work of Rotary along the route.  ShelterBox is a huge international partner of Rotary, speeding pre-positioned supplies to disaster scenes around the world.  It is without doubt a worthy cause.  Charity Navigator ranks them almost as high as the Rotary Foundation, with an overall rating of 95.8 and transparency rating of 100.  They get the highest rating of fours stars.
 
More information is on the following sites:
 
 
 
Our club and Valley View Rotary club hosted a ShelterBox Fundraiser Sunday at Pettibone Boat Club to welcome Erik to La Crosse.  Last week we had a donor give us a $500 match donation - we collected $315 in our baskets so we had raised $815.  After the fundraiser on Sunday we have collected over $1384.   Thank you to all who were there to welcome Erik and who donated to this worthy cause. Special thanks to the Radisson Hotel for giving Erik a comfortable nights rest on Sunday night!   See photos.
 
 
You can see Erik's progress on his Garmin tracker: 
 
You can also donate online - please note it is for the Mississippi Expedition
 
THANK YOU FROM ERIK
Good Morning! First I want to thank everyone for your hospitality. You sure know how to make someone feel welcome. I appreciate all your efforts for raising money for ShelterBox and helping provide shelter, warmth and dignity to families on their worst day ever. Staying at the Radisson was pure luxury as well as having a hot shower and a real bed. I had the opportunity to explore a little of Lacrosse and meet some locals. I wish I could stay longer because this seems like a really fun town. I will definitely be back someday. Thanks again for everything and you can continue to follow along the journey at www.mississippiexpedition.com and our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MississippiExpedition/
 
Regards,
Erik
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2019
The Rotary International Convention is scheduled for June 1-5, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany.  Travel Leaders is exploring five day pre and post-convention tours of the north of German and of the south to include Munich and Bavaria.
 
A program will be presented by Dannette Jacob from Travel Leaders on Germany in September.
 
Registration and convention housing materials are available from Lyn or at Rotary.org.
 
If you are considering attending it is recommended that you get registered and book your accommodations while in Hamburg.  The tour elements will be inclusive of travel and hotels while on those tours.  Club members who attended the Toronto convention, the Restels, Hoels, Dickinsons, Tami Woods and Roz Schnick would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFRICA - LA CROSSE CONNECTION
Erin Bagniewski is from La Crosse and in the past 18 months when working in Africa she became a Rotarian there.  Jodi Widuch gave a banner to her father (Jim Bagniewski in La Crosse) who gave it to Erin when they visited her. Erin visited as a Visiting Rotarian at our club and presented her club's banner. Cool!
 
Jodi and Erin
 
 
 
ROTARY 2018-19
 
District 6250 2018-19
District Governor Bill Hoel
 
Congrats to Rotarian Bill Hoel our new 2018-19 District Governor.  Click here to view his bio on the District 6250 web site.  Our District Web Site has a lot of information to keep you in the loop of what is happening in our District. 
 
District 6250 2018-19
Assistant Governor Patt Boge
 
Rotarian Patt Boge is one of the District 6250 Assistant Governors. She will oversee Group 3 in our District that includes the following Rotary Clubs: La Crosse Valley View, Holmen, Onalaska, Onalaska Hilltoppers and Sparta.
 
Home Page | Rotary Club of Thiensville-Mequon
Rotary International 2018-19
President Barry Rassin
 
Rotary International President Barry Rassin's theme this year is BE THE INSPIRATION.  "We need to focus on larger projects that have a more lasting impact, taking the time to research and plan work that spans Rotary years and terms of office.  Most important of all, we need to BE THE INSPIRATION for positive change, inspiring our clubs, and communities, and our organization to face today's challenges head on, with courage, optimism, and creativity.
 
 
 
 
 
TREE PLANTING AND SOCIAL
 
Thank you to all the volunteers that helped plant 300 trees at Camp Decorah last Saturday morning. Tree Planting,  lunch and social were enjoyed by all.  We had archery, paint ball, zipline, climbing tower, kayaking, canoeing and fishing.  A special thanks to Sean and Maudra Henneman and COMPANY.  They catered our meal and organized the activities for the day.
 
 
More photos will be added next week.  If you personally planted trees, please send us your photos...with you, your family and the trees.
 
Thanks to Sean Henneman!
 
 
 
 
UPDATE ON OUR INDIA PROJECT
 
 
 
Dear Sondra,
We are happy to inform you and members of your club and district the formal opening of our project GG1759519 at Pattamadai village on 17/06/18. 
The district governor of our rotary district 3212 will be the chief guest. As informed to you we have started construction early in order to complete the project before this term ends. We have completed construction of 10 toilets and for the balance 26, construction is progressing. We plan to complete the whole project by end of July 18.  We would love to have you amidst us when we open the facility in part to the beneficiaries. I’ll update you when the project complete in full shape.
A formal invitation is attached. Please inform all concerned in your club and district.   Our special thanks to all Rotarians of lacrosse Valley view and downtown clubs and district officials of 6250.
 
Best regards 
P. Satheesh kumar
 
 
 
YOUTH COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Inspiring Aquinas senior receives Youth Committee Community Service Award
 
Elissa Nott, a senior at Aquinas High School, was honored at our meeting April 12 as this year's winner of the Rotary Club of La Crosse Youth Committee Community Service Award.
 
Elissa, the daughter of Steve and Charlotte Nott of Onalaska, was a Rotary Student of the Month in February 2017. She has been an extremely active participant in the Aquinas Interact Club, including serving this year as club president. Among many duties in that role, Elissa provided extraordinary leadership of the 2018 iFeed event as Aquinas was responsible for organizing the international food packing stations on the day of the event. Interact is just one of Elissa's many community service activities. She has been active in the Aquinas IMPACT organization, which encourages students to donate time for church and local charitable events, and has taken leadership roles with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Army Teen Panel, the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and the Fort McCoy Teen No-More Task Force, which provided first-of-its-kind education for youth on domestic abuse and sexual assault prevention.
 
"Growing up in a military family has motivated me to give back to others," Elissa wrote in her application essay. "My family, faith, and the many community service organizations I have observed and worked with, including Rotary, have guided and inspired me to give back to our nation and my community." Elissa plans to major in political science in college, with an interest in international relations, while also serving in the United States Marine Corps.
 
Club Member Rob Palmberg, who is one of Elissa's advisors for Rotary Interact at Aquinas, describes her as "efficient, detail-oriented, and extremely competent. ... She is a person of high character and integrity, as evidenced by her recently being named Chief Petty Officer for the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps, the highest rank a cadet can reach. She serves and impacts community in many profound ways!"
 
Elissa receives a $1,000 award to be used toward college expenses. This is the second year for the Club's Community Service Award, which is designed to recognize and encourage academic excellence, good citizenship and career development in youth.
 
ROTARIANS OF THE YEAR 2017-18

Rotarians of the Year

We had a number of great nominations for Rotarian of the Year this year.  The Board selected Steve Lindeman and Steve O'Malley for this honor.

 

Steve Lindeman
 

Nominations stated....Steve has worked to improve the experience of our military members as they process through the La Crosse airport. He has worked with the USO to determine needs, helped raise funds including a Rotary Works and District Grants.  He is establishing a group of volunteers who undergo training to staff the USO. Because of Steve's work, the members of our military will have a more enjoyable experience as they process through La Crosse via the airport.  He he is currently a member of our Board of Directors, chaired our Rotary Lights Float Committee and is an active member of the Kids Coulee crew and chef for Kids Coulee.  He is a great asset to Rotary.

 

Steve O'Malley
 

Nominations stated...Steve spearheaded our Rotary Habitat Project.  Rotarians worked together to complete one of three units in a new triplex. He applied for a grant through Rotary Works and District 6250 and raised $60,000 for the project.  He organized Rotary work days and visited other clubs to promote the fundraiser. He is a leader in Rotary and our community. He embodies the Four Way Test in his professional and personal life.  This year he exceeded the $400,000 mark riding in his 20th annual Habitat 500 (500 mile, 7 day ride).    He helped lead the Humanitarian Committee Comfort Drive collecting 400 sweatshirts and 700 pairs of socks for the Catholic Charities Warming Center.  As the La Crosse County Administrator, Steve leads by example a work force of over 1,300 public servants providing outstanding services to the residents of our county.

 
Our Rotarians of the Year will be recognized at our "changing of the guard" meeting on Thursday, June 28th and the Avenues of Service Dinner on Tuesday, August 14th.
 
 
 
ROTARY HABITAT for HUMANITY PROJECT COMPLETED
We would like to thank Steve O'Malley for taking the lead on our Rotary Habitat for Humanity Project and to all the workers that showed up on behalf of our club to help build the home.  We received a District Grant because of YOUR donations to the Rotary International Foundation and Rotary Works.  Everyone did their part in making this project a success.  The following is the report sent to District.     Click here to view photos.
 
 
Habitat for Humanity Home dedicated February 3, 2018
 
La Crosse Area Rotary clubs helped dedicate the 43rd Home built by La Crosse Area Habitat for Humanity at 5th and Mississippi in the City of La Crosse.  In cooperation with many other volunteers, area Rotarians helped to complete one of three Habitat homes on one site. 
 
Over six build days three area clubs (Downtown, Holmen and After Hours) at least 50 Rotarians volunteered their time to help paint, caulk, landscape, install trim and doors to help complete the home last fall.  Volunteers from several other clubs joined in as well.
 
The project was funded in part with a $5,000 District 6250 matching grant along with $5,000 from the local Rotary Works Foundation.  These two grants funded a specific project for the cost of the Drywall, Paint and Doors within the house. 
 
This home is part of a much larger development addressing the need for affordable quality owner occupied housing in the City of La Crosse.  This home is part of redeveloping a challenged corner in the Washburn Neighborhood and convert it into a well-designed, mixed-income development. The overall project will replace three blighted rental properties that have a combined tax base of $150,000 and replace them with eight, high-quality owner-occupied homes with a tax base of more than $1.1 million.
 
 
 
NOMINATIONS NEEDED FOR AVENUES OF SERVICE BANQUET
Every year the nine area Rotary Clubs gather for a celebration of club projects and honor members that have lived the Service Above Self motto.  Clubs will also honor their Rotarians of the Year.  This year our Avenues of Service Banquet will be Tuesday, August 14 at the Lunda Center at WTC.  The celebration will begin at 5:30 with a social.  This is a fundraiser for our Rotary Works Foundation.  We hope you will save the date.  It is a great night of fellowship and celebration.  More information will come closer to the date.
 
We are now looking for nominations.  Please click on the forms below for more information.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ROTARIAN STEVE DOLL'S MISSION TRIP TO MEXICO
 

 
 
Steve Doll went on a mission trip to Mexico helping the Onalaska Hilltoppers Rotary Club.   See more  photos.
 
"We spent the day distributing water filters donated by the Onalaska Hilltoppers Rotary Club to the families in Mayto, Mexico. Mayto is 2 hours from Puerto Vallarta. The $60 filters will provide clean water for decades, a much needed necessity. We dispensed the 50 filters at a 1st -6th grade one room school and had an opportunity to visit the class. What a fabulous project."

 
ROTARY and OUR USO - VETERAN'S LOUNGE PROJECT
We welcomed Elizabeth Hazlett from the USO.  Her program was on the USO and how we can as a group or individual volunteer our time.   View her PowerPoint Presentation.
 
Our club is collaborating with the USO to purchase items for the Veteran's Lounge at the La Crosse Regional Airport and volunteering our time at the lounge. (You will be hearing more about this volunteering opportunity in the coming weeks.)
 
Steve Lindeman who brought this project to our board last year,  presented Elizabeth on behalf of our club a check for $13,200.  Thanks to all that supported our Spring Social, Rotary Works Foundation and Rotary International Foundation. Our Spring Social brought in $2,500 for the project, Rotary Works matched our $2,500 and our District 6250 also matched $3,200.  We then received $5,000 from the Brown Stuff Foundation.  We exceeded our goal of $8,200 and will be able to purchase more needed items for the lounge.  Your donations to the Foundations do make a difference in our community.
 
 
 
Read more...
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

Rotary Fellowships are independent, social groups
that share a common passion.
Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to
make friends around the world.

How do I join a fellowship?

Fellowships are open to Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the information listed in the Rotary Fellowships directory. Or search our discussion groups to find Rotary and Rotaract members with similar interests.

Rotary Fellowships empower their members to pursue their passions and connect with new friends in Rotary from all over the world. They unite members who share a particular vocation or have mutual interests in the same field.

 

Rotarian Jack Haase is a member of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Scuba Divers....see their Facebook Page.  Photo below is a gathering they had at Little Cayman Island.

Image may contain: 13 people, people smiling, people sitting


 

THE BRAIN GAME BOOK
Posted on Jul 03, 2017
The Brain Game Board of Directors has exciting news!  They are launching an eBook version of The Brain Game at our Rotary International Booth in Atlanta!  They are also very close to having Amazon publish, store and distribute the hard hardcover English version and BuildFire to host the mobile app.  Kuddos to all involved in creating these exciting changes to The Brain Game.
 
The Brain Game is a book enhancing children's brain development, written and recommended by early childhood professionals. This resource was developed through the leadership of the Rotary Club of La Crosse and as part of this Rotary project given to parents of newborns at both local hospitals.  The books are also available in Spanish.
 
Reminder if you are traveling and visiting other Rotary Clubs....please make sure and pick up a banner and Brain Game Book to present. Great way to promote the Brain Game Project.
 
If you have any questions on the Brain Game Project, you can contact Jeanne Meyer, Administrator at 608-304-2971 or visit their web site.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CLUB RUNNER MOBILE APP
ClubRunner Mobile App is now available for download!  The ClubRunner Mobile App is your key to connect to your ClubRunner website on the go! Completely, free to download and use, this app will let you access the key info you need while you're on the go. Password protected just like your website, the ClubRunner Mobile app is comprised of 3 main modules.You now will have the ability to view your member directory, view the articles posted to your website and locate the nearest club right from your iPhone or iPod, bringing you even closer to being able to connect, collaborate and communicate! 
 
To download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play, simply type in 'ClubRunner' in the search bar. Our mobile app is compatible with all versions of the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sets that have iOS 3.1 or later and with versions of Anrdoids that are 2.3.3 or better.
 
Click here for more information. Note the app is the one that has a blue background and has CR on it. It will give you easy access to all our member's contact information.
 
 
 
 
 
 
PROGRAM CHAIRS
Posted on May 16, 2016

PROGRAM CHAIRS FOR THE UPCOMING ROTARY YEAR....  Our monthly program chairs will work with the Program Committee and be a host to our speakers each week.  You will be responsible for recruiting all the volunteer helpers for the meetings during your month.

If you would like to volunteer to do Rotarians in the News, be a greeter or raffle ticket seller, or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Program Chair. Link to Program Chairs.

 


 

 
Contact Info

 

Rotary Club of La Crosse
P.O. Box 1914, La Crosse, WI  54602-1914
608-526-4491 (Phone and Fax)
rotarylax@charter.net
Lyn Sheffer, Administrator

 

The La Crosse Brain Game
P.O. Box 384
La Crosse, WI 54602-0384
608-799-7974
info@rotarybraingame.org
Jeanne Meyer, Administrator
 

Rotary Works Foundation
P.O. Box 1571, La Crosse, WI  54602-1571
608-886-9793
rotaryworksfoundation@gmail.com
www.rotaryworksfoundation.org
Scott Herdeman,  Administrator

 
Rotary Club of La Crosse-After Hours
P.O. Box 1622
La Crosse, WI  54602-1622 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
TREE PLANTING PROJECT
 
LOGGERS FELLOWSHIP 2018
 
iFeed
 
District Governor Bill Hoel's Welcoming Party
 
Speakers
Shaundel Spivey
Aug 23, 2018
BLACK
Bob Masewicz
Aug 30, 2018
Classification Talk
Adam Jacobi
Sep 06, 2018
Public Speaking - WHSFA
Dean Dickinson & Dannette Jacob
Sep 20, 2018
Travel to Germany for the RI Convention 2019
OFFISITE OKTOBERFEST
Sep 27, 2018
ROYAL FAMILY & OKTOBERFEST
District Governor Bill Hoel
Oct 04, 2018
Rotary District 6250
Grant Withrow
Oct 18, 2018
Classification Talk
Jamie Bakkum
Oct 25, 2018
Gamez
NO MEETING
Nov 22, 2018
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dean Dickinson
Dec 20, 2018
Christmas Program
NO MEETING
Dec 27, 2018
MERRY CHIRSTMAS
View entire list...
 
Upcoming Events
 
Site Pages
 
Club Links - Local
 
Rotary Links
 
 

  

 
Member's Link
Rotary News Wheel
link
 
Website Sponsors
 
Meeting Responsibilities
Duty Roster
Secretary
Passe, Nick
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
Amborn, David
 
Registration Assistant
Dahlby, Earlamae
 
Program Chair
Roter, Petra
 
Piano
Haase, Ann
 
Greeter
Mickelson, Mary
 
Hospitality Greeter
Boge, Patt
 
Introduce Guests and Visitors
Roter, Petra
 
Rotarians in the News
Christians, Roger
 
Introduce Program
Berkedal, Katie
 
Raffle Ticket Seller
Lucier, Audrey
 
Scrip Seller
Curti, Greg
 
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Todd Restel
President Elect
Tami Woods
President Elect Nominee
Andy Bakkum
Past President
Jodi Widuch
Treasurer
Rob Palmberg
Secretary
Nick Passe
Rotary Works Foundation Liaison
Pat Ruda
Sergeant-at-Arms
David Amborn
Board Member
Carol Abrahamzon
Board Member
Sarah Arendt-Beyer
Board Member
Greg Curti
Board Member
Mark Jolivette
Board Member
Catherine Kolkmeier
Board Member
Al Louis
Board Member
Alex Lueck
Board Member
Ashley Skoczynski
Board Member
Miranda TerBeest
Club Administrator
Lyn Sheffer
Membership
Greg Curti
Program Chair
Andy Bakkum
Public Relations/Social Media
Jamie Capuzzi
Youth Exchange Officer
Jack Haase
Youth Protection Officer
Scott Horne
Youth Exchange Counselor
Maria Norberg
The Rotary Foundation
Dean Dickinson
Youth Exchange Counselor
Eva Marie Restel
 
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