Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
July 23 - Radisson Center
July 30 - Radisson Ballroom
This Week: The Rotary Brain Game
The Rotary Brain Game (often called simply "The Brain Game") is an 84-page educational resource guide developed by the Rotary Club of La Crosse in collaboration with early childhood experts and pediatrians. It translates complex brain development research into practical, everyday activities that parents can do with children during the crucial first three years of life.
We will hear from some Brain Game Board members on the future of the book and the partnerships being built.Type caption here
Next Week: Tony Ayala;
Bubba's Fund One Year In
In just one year, Bubba’s Fund has grown from an idea born out of unimaginable loss into a community-driven effort focused on improving the lives of children across La Crosse.
Founded in late spring 2025 through the La Crosse Area Community Foundation, Bubba’s Fund officially launched in August 2025 with the 1st Annual Benefit for Bubba’s Fund: An Evening with the Weber Brothers, raising more than $60,000 to support its first initiative. The initiative to put AEDs in state-licensed childcare centers in La Crosse was fulfilled in December 2025, when Bubba’s Fund partnered with 7 Rivers Cardiac Arrest Preparedness Education, The Parenting Place, and the La Crosse Fire Department to equip every state-licensed childcare center in La Crosse with an AED. This made La Crosse the first city in the country to ensure each state-licensed childcare center is equipped with these life-saving devices.
This presentation shares the story behind that impact, beginning with the life of Charlie Lonning Weber (June 21, 2024 - September 16, 2024), whose brief but meaningful life continues to inspire this work. It explores how a community came together in the face of tragedy to create something lasting, and how partnerships, trust, and a willingness to think differently made that possible.
Attendees will also hear how Bubba’s Fund continues to expand its reach through initiatives like Charlie’s Kids Fest and Bubba’s Youth Day (Jan 10, 2026), which brought together nearly 400 youth participants and more than 1,100 community members in a single day through a collaboration with UWL Athletics and UWL Women’s Basketball. The presentation will also highlight the 2nd Annual Benefit for Bubba’s Fund on July 18, 2026 at Copeland Park, in partnership with La Crosse Steam Northwoods Softball.
As a donor-advised fund, Bubba’s Fund operates through partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as 7 Rivers CAPE and Rising Athletes. This structure ensures that every initiative is rooted in collaboration and long-term community benefit.
Looking ahead, the presentation will outline what’s next for Bubba’s Fund, including the advancement of Bubba’s Law (WI SB437), which, if passed, will create funding opportunities for AEDs and related components for state-licensed childcare centers across Wisconsin. It will also cover continued investment in youth-focused initiatives, expanded community partnerships, and future event planning.
At its core, this is a story about turning grief into purpose, building a lasting legacy through action, and discovering what is possible when a community commits to doing good together.
Meal for This Week
Lunch this week: Grilled Brats (GF) w/Kraut, Veggie pasta salad, chips. Vegetarian option is Stuffed Bell Peppers w/rice, garlic mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, onion, and spinish w/balsamic glaze.
Gluten Free Members - Please ask for a GF bun.
Vegetarian Members - Please get a vegetarian meal tag from Sue upon check-in to give to the serving staff who will provide a meal for you.
Coffee, ice tea, and water available at a beverage station.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Youth Exchange Drivers
Our 2026-2027 youth exchange student will be attending Onalaska High School. If you are travling to weekly meetings from that direction and would consider being a driver, please reach out to Karen Abata.
July Club Social - Trolley/Dark La Crosse
What a great response to our July social! At this time the trolley is fully booked. Please reach out to Niki Pohnl if you want to be put on our waiting list.
New Member Proposals
The following community member has been proposed to become a member of our club:
Polly Fortune, proposed by Sue Durtsche
Benjamin Hein, Executive Director of Star Center, proposed by Mike Desmond
Shannon Raney, Executive Director of The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection, proposed by Lauren Journot
According to club procedure, applicant names are to be published in our weekly email bulletin for two weeks. If there are no objections from the current membership, these applications will be approved. Please contact the Club Administrator if you object to these proposals by July 28th.
The Rotary Club of La Crosse raised over $1,200 and delivered more than 150 children's books to St. Clare Health Mission. Pictured are Jason Larson, Executive Director, along with Rotarians Sheila Riley, Cindy Erickson, and Julie Keitel. These books will be distributed to children during free health visits at St. Clare and the Mobile Clinic.
The Avenues of Service Event (also known as the Rotary Four Way Test Award Banquet) is a chance for ALL area Rotarians to gather together to recognize and celebrate what the eight area clubs and interact clubs are involved in. The event includes a formal dinner and program recognizing nominated achievements in the last year.
Bring cash or reserve your raffle tickets for the many different raffle baskets provided by each club, with proceeds benefitting Rotary Works Foundation. We will also have a 50/50 raffle!
Tickets are $55.00 and include three-course meal (including a garden salad, dinner roll, dessert) with complimentary coffee, ice tea, and water. Type caption here
FOUNDATION MINUTE FOR July 13, 2026 Welcome to Week TWO of RI’s Month of Maternal & Child Health.
After graduating from Carleton, Arthur Koenig ’25 moved to Bologna, Italy, to pursue a two-year master’s in international affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies. For the second year of his degree, he had the choice to finish his studies at a different European university. Supported by the Rotary Global Grant Fellowship, Koenig seized the opportunity and will transfer to the Global Development program at SOAS University of London. “I’m excited to go to SOAS because they teach about the international development system in a really historical, critical way,” Koenig said.
The Rotary Foundation Global Grant Fellowship gives recipients the freedom to choose what and where they want to study, as long as they align with one of the Rotary Foundation’s areas of focus: promoting peace; fighting disease; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; saving mothers and children; supporting education; growing local economies; and protecting the environment. Specifically, he plans to continue studying Arabic, a language he minored in at Carleton — along with a second minor in medieval and Renaissance studies — and really loved. Looking to the future, Koenig hopes to apply his academic work to the field right away after finishing his graduate studies. “Any kind of intergovernmental organization or non-governmental organization that’s working with migrants in a resettlement context is where I want to immediately go,” he said.
Koenig offered several pieces of advice to potential Carleton applicants. “Start as early as you can,” he said. “Be thinking about what you want to do. Rotary has a real emphasis on on-the-ground, practical work, which I think is great and aligns with what I want to do. Look into what your home Rotary club may be offering and get to know them.”
