District 6250       Club 2690 
June 1, 1919
 
_________________________________________________________________________
Club Information

Welcome to our Club!

LaCrosse

Rotary Opens Opportunities

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 AM
Temporary ONLINE - ZOOM MEETINGS
200 Jay Street
Parking Radisson Hotel
LaCrosse, WI
United States of America
We will have ZOOM Meetings every Thursday at Noon until further notice.
District Site
Bulletins
Rotary International
Venue Map
MUSKY CHALLENGE PHOTOS
Home Page Stories
ROTARY ZOOM MEETING THIS WEEK
Our club will have a ZOOM meeting again this week.  We will be sending you a browser link via email Thursday morning.  We will open at 11:30 and our meeting will start at Noon.  If you have an announcement you would like to make...please contact Andy Bakkum.    If you would like to have a guest attend, please let Andy know and YOU can forward your email link to them. 
 
Thanks to Sarah Arendt-Beyer you can now view past Zoom Rotary Meetings - she will post each week on our web site......LINK.
 
 
This Week at Rotary: September 24th
Classification Talk
Katie Berkedal
 
 
This week Katie Berkedal will give her classification talk. 
Katie joined our club on June 2, 2016.
She is the Program Director
at the
La Crosse Community Foundation
 
Classification talks are a chance to know the people you meet with on Thursdays and serve with throughout the year, a little better.  Several meetings a year, we take time to learn more about members, their life stories and ambitions, and what brings us all together via Rotary.
 
If you would like to give your classification talk, contact our Program Chair, Rob Palmberg to set it up!
 
 
 
 
UPDATE!!!  WHEELS OF HOPE FUNDRAISER NEEDS YOUR DONATIONS
YOUR Rotary Board has agreed to donate $10,000 to the Wheels of Hope Project!!!  Thank you to all who donate through fines, raffles, scooters, dues.....YOU made this possible!!!
 
We have $2,000 left to raise to meet our goal. Your donation no matter how large or small makes a difference....what matters is the outcome your giving produces...transporting young girls and women safely to school.
 
Our deepest gratitude to our members who have already generously supported this project.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Your donation to our Wheels of Hope International Project will help us purchase a bus to get these girls safely to school. One Rotarian said..."Can you imagine having your life threatened over school attendance?"
 
We have two promotions going to get us to our goal!!!
 
Rotarians....we will match your donation with Paul Harris Points for all donations of $100 or more. Donate $500 we will donate 500 points and you will be come a Paul Harris Fellow AND help these girls get to school safely.
 
Thomas Behrenbeck is also doing a "Walking for Wheels Challenge" $500 match.....he will match the first $500 we receive starting September 1st.....see below this article on updates of his "Walking for Wheels."  Join him in this walking challenge...send him photos, miles you walked, etc.  to bermusat@gmail.com.
 
 
 
We had the inspiring Razia Jan presenting at our club telling us about the tremendous impact of the school for girls she started in Afghanistan. Her presentation came on the heels of the Zabuli Education Center re-opening after it's closure due to COVID-19. And it was the perfect launch to the final phase of our project, Wheels of Hope, which is raising money to purchase a bus and a van so that girls and young women are safely transported to school.
 
MUSKY CHALLENGE - WDIO NEWS CLIP
 
WDIO ABC
Interviewed Al Louis last week on our Rotary Musky Challenge
 
$ 31,130 FUNDS PLEDGED  OF THE $40,000 GOAL
$1,050 HAS BEEN RAISED “UP NORTH HERE”FOR THE IRON RANGE ROTARY 
 
 
WELL WE HAVE PUT 8 MUSKY’S IN THE NET SO FAR
Al has 6 FISH  50” 49.5” 46.5” 42.75 ”  41” 37”  
A.J. has 2 FISH  39.5” 34.75
AL LOUIS  and ANDREW JUDNICK
 
 
ROTARY MUSKY CHALLENGE FUNDRAISER
 
2020 Rotary Al’s Musky Challenge
The End Game, Day #9 & Day #10
“Thanks a Boatload”
Tuesday 08/25 & Thursday 08/27
Hello Rotarian's, this is Al Louis. Stand by for news!
 
Friends tell me that I’m one of the luckiest people they know. I’m blessed to still have all of my parents. I’m proud of my kids and grandkids. My businesses continue to be successful. And, I have my wife, Brenda. She is my rock.
No matter the obstacle, Brenda’s by my side. She tells me, “Things will work out. Just keep doing what you do. You’ve got this.” Luck has little to do with it. She continues to steer the ship, putting everyone ahead of herself. She is the true reason it all works. So, I am dedicating the 2020 Musky Challenge to her, Brenda Louis, my true companion.
 
And now, the rest of the story....
 
A.J. and I weren’t alone those last two days of the Challenge. No less than 85 bass boats and 170+ contestants were on Vermilion for a huge bass tournament. During the days prior the tournament, competitors pre-fished for a solid week. Morning, noon and night they pounded every spot on the lake that held water. A.J. reminded me, “The last time there was a large bass tournament on the lake, we got skunked for the next two weeks.” Well, he knows Vermilion and he was right. We fished Tuesday night and had one musky follow my lure. Nothing else. Thursday, we saw zero muskies. Sure, I was disappointed. I was one musky short, an eighth, from my personal season’s best. Albeit, together with A.J., we had landed a total of nine muskies. But, as that last night ended, I thought about just how fortunate I was. Who gets the opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones, fishing and relaxing up North, especially during these strange times of Covid-19? “Thanks a Boatload” The 2020 Musky Challenge has generated more than $41,500 in contributions! Thanks a “boatload” to all the Rotarians, family, friends, sponsors and donors (many whom I’ve never met) that supported the Challenge. A special thank you goes out to the “home team” in La Crosse. Without these dedicated Rotarians promoting, recording and reporting, this event would never have been as successful.
Stay tuned… donations are still coming in and there’s still time to make a gift. Pledge or donate here: https://rotarycluboflacrosse.org/page/al-s-musky-challenge/
 
Al's Musky Challenge, benefiting New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Mobile Meals of La Crosse, Gateway Area Council Boy Scouts of America, La Crosse Public Education Foundation and Family & Children's Center.
 
INVOICES WERE SENT OUT LAST WEEK TO THOSE THAT HAVE PLEDGED
Prompt payment will be appreciated!
Thanks to those that have already made payment.
 
 
Al's Musky Challenge is benefiting local nonprofits, with Mobile Meals - Guardian Angel Fund; Gateway Area Council, BSA - Fall Cub Camp; La Crosse Public Education Foundation - Random Acts of Kindness; and Family and Children's Center - Chrome Book Project each receiving $1,000; and New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers receiving the remaining amount.   Check presentation will take place within the next few weeks.
 
 
 
 
 
DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP GRANTS
Membership Grants - Rotary District 6250
 
Rotary District 6250 allocates $1,000 grants to five district clubs.  The first 5 clubs to recruit four or more new members between July 1 and April 30 were eligible for a $1000 grant for these new members to use for a project of their own.  These members must remain for 4 months for the club to be eligible.   Our club was the recipient of this grant in 2018-19 and 2019-20.  The new members were invited to a Zoom meeting to discuss the dispersement of the $2,000.
 
The guideline for the Membership Grant Program is for the new members to use the funds for a project(s) of their choosing.   
 
Recipients of the funds were:
 
 
New Horizon's Dart Program 
 

New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc. - Rita Carranz, Dart Victim Service Coordinator accepted a $500 check from Rotary President Tami Woods.

This was made possible through the Rotary District 6250 Membership Grant Program. New members of the Rotary Club of La Crosse were given $2,000 to be used for projects of their choosing.

Their Victims Service Coordinator with the Domestic Abuse Reduction Team (DART) provides intense case work and follow up to individuals and families who have experienced repeated domestic violence incidents. The DART program pairs an advocate with an officer of the La Crosse City Police Department.

 

 

Gateway Council Boy Scouts

Gateway Area Council, Boy Scouts of America - Rotarian Joe Carlson presents a check for $500 to Kevin Corkin, Development & Community Engagement Director.These funds will go towards kids that need a subsidy for camp this summer.  They are planning on moving forward with limited camps this summer in line with state and federal guidelines. 

 

New Horizon's Food Pantry

New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc. - Rotarian Patty Nuttleman presents a $500 check to Ann Kappauf, Executive Director of New Horizon's for their food pantry.  Their annual Postal Service Food Drive that usually contributed 6,000 pounds of food for their food pantry was cancelled due to the pandemic.

 

YMCA

La Crosse Area Family YMCA - President Tami Woods presented Bill Soper, CEO of the La Crosse Area YMCA with a $500 check.  They suspended all membership dues through August, these funds will be used to pay for youth activities this summer. 

 

COVID-19 RESOURCES - UPDATED
Covid-19
Community Information
Opportunities to Help
 
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship around the world and in our community, we as Rotarians have many opportunities to help others. 
 
Rotarians are people of action.   This is your opportunity to look over the following links to see how you best can help.  Every small gesture will be appreciated,  whether it is a monetary donation, a letter to a resident in a healthcare facility, a thank you to our essentials in the area, etc.
 
 
 
 
 
We have one Rotarian that we know of in a healthcare facility.  Rotarian Elmer and his wife Lil are at Bethany St. Joseph, 2501 Shelby Road, La Crosse, WI  54601.  Check your ClubRunner Membership App…. see if there is someone you might want to connect with and drop a note to.
 
 
          LINKS
(if you have another link you would like to share,
please sent it to rotarylax@charter.net)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED WAY UGETCONNECTED
 
 
 
THE BRAIN GAME 
The Brain Game
 

"The Brain Game" is a user-friendly educational guide which explains to parents why and how their child is learning and developing. Additionally, the book includes specific activities, songs, and suggested behaviors that parents can engage in to help foster their child's intellectual and social development. 

The Brain Game was born when the Director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families spoke to the Rotary Club of La Crosse, WI. She was excited to spread the word of new, cutting-edge research into early child brain development. More than ever before, scientists discovered that proper stimulation of children in the first three years could play a huge role in growing a healthy brain.

During this meeting we'll learn more about The Brain Game, along with some exciting new developments around it.  

BRAIN GAME NEWS LINK

Web Site Link

 
 
 
 
iFEED 2019
ANOTHER SUCCESFFUL iFEED
Thanks to all who supported iFeed 2019!
 

 FaceBook

PHOTOS iFEED 2019

 

The iFeed day consists of two parts: Part 1) Teams will pack over 100,000 highly nutritious, vitamin-fortified soy-rice meals that will be shipped to Nicaragua to be feed malnourished children in schools and churches. Part 2) Food items collected from the hundreds of food drives held from September-November at many local businesses, churches, schools, etc will be brought to Logan High School where we’ll sort, count and then give to the La Crosse Hunger Task Force for distribution to all local food pantries. Items will also be flown to Puerto Rico to help Hurricane victims. Cash and food donations will be collected the day of the event!   iFeed Web Site

 

 

CHRISTMAS THANK YOU

We would like to thank everyone who helped make our Holiday Program such a heart-warming and delightful event.  

 

Special thanks to our performers who shared their talent with us:  Miya and Leo Servais, Tessa, Annabelle and Roman Parrish, Maya Chilcote, Allie Schlicht and Nola Dienger Hanson, Madeline, Isabella and Sophia Masewicz, Inga Rottmann (our exchange student), Riley Horn and the Central High School Choir directed by Mike Esser.

 

Thank you to Dean Dickinson for organizing our Christmas Program, to Al Louis for the Hanukkah Reflection and Linda Zoerb for donating the poinsettias.
 
 
 
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! A great tool to stay connected with your club and fellow Rotarians.
 
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.
 
On the membership module you will need to make sure and sync to update the membership directory with our new members.
 
In the upper right hand corner you will see the circle/arrow sync icon  Arrow, arrows, backup, circle, sync icon
 
 
 
 
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
info@rotarybraingame.org
Kelly Krieg-Sigman, 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 
 
 
 
 
 

 

FRUIT BASKETS 2019
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2019
Centennial Celebration Photos June 2019
 
Rotary's Got Talent
 
PHOTOS OF PROGRESS OF OUR CENTENNIAL CAMEROON GARDEN PROJECT
 
Speakers
Katie Berkedal
Sep 24, 2020
Classification Talk
Classification Talk
Alyson Haugen
Oct 01, 2020
All of Us Research Program
Ed Futa
Oct 08, 2020
Rotary Update with Ed Futa
Jim Kohli
Oct 15, 2020
Toastmasters and Rotary Partnership
Bill Pritchard - Governor, District 6250
Oct 22, 2020
COVID Opens Opportunties
Lauren Journot
Oct 29, 2020
Rotary Club of La Crosse - Diversity and Inclusion Update
Jack Haase - Moderator
Nov 05, 2020
Youth Exchange - How did the exchange impact the lives of 4 past students?
Dean Dickenson
Nov 12, 2020
Rotary Foundation Presentaiton
Shawn Kudron
Nov 19, 2020
La Crosse Police Department
No Speaker
Nov 26, 2020
No Meeting - Happy Thanksgiving
Secretary-designee Randy Romanski
Dec 10, 2020
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
No Speaker
Dec 24, 2020
No Meeting - Happy Holidays
No Speaker
Dec 31, 2020
No Meeting - Happy New Year!
Steve O'Malley
Jan 07, 2021
Classification Talk
View entire list...
Upcoming Events
Site Pages
Club Links - Local
 
Rotary Links
 

  

Website Sponsors
Meeting Responsibilities
Duty Roster
Sergeant at Arms
Christians, Kenna
 
Secretary
Passe, Nick
 
Treasurer
Carey, Diana
 
Registration Assistant
Dahlby, Earlamae
 
Piano
Haase, Ann
 
Program Chair
Palmberg, Rob
 
Duty Roster Coordinator
 
Rotarians in the News
Christians, Kenna
 
Club Executives & Directors
President
Andy Bakkum
President Elect
Sarah Arendt-Beyer
President Elect Nominee
Rob Palmberg
Past President
Tami Woods
Treasurer
Diana Carey
Secretary
Nick Passe
Rotary Works Foundation Liaison
Pat Ruda
Sergeant-at-Arms
Kenna Christians
Board Member
Tim Durtsche
Board Member
Mary Beth Hensel
Board Member
Mark Jolivette
Board Member
Catherine Kolkmeier
Board Member
Al Louis
Board Member
Alex Lueck
Board Member
Steve O'Malley
Board Member
Eva Marie Restel
Board Member
Michelle Skemp
Club Administrator
Lyn Sheffer
Rotary Works Board Member
Sue Durtsche
Rotary Works Board Member
Andy Parrish
Rotary Works Board Member
Bob Masewicz
Rotary Works Board Member
Pat Ruda
Membership
Greg Curti
Program Chair
Sarah Arendt-Beyer
Public Relations/Social Media
Jamie Capuzzi
The Rotary Foundation
Dean Dickinson
Youth Exchange Officer
Jack Haase
Youth Protection Officer
Scott Horne
Youth Exchange Counselor
Jim Salmo
Youth Exchange Counselor
Patty Nuttleman
Youth Exchange Counselor
Eva Marie Restel
Club Administrator / Executive
Lyn Sheffer
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