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.
Oct 29, 2020
Lauren Journot & DEI Committee
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Update for Rotary Club of La Crosse
As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
A top priority for Rotary is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve.
We're creating an organization that is more open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and benefits our communities. We want people with differing perspectives and ideas who will help Rotary take action to create lasting change in communities around the world.
Inclusion - Rotary is working to create experiences where all people feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
Diversity - Rotary welcomes people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities.
Equity - Rotary strives for the fair treatment, opportunity, and advancement of all Rotary participants.
Through Rotary, you'll find unique opportunities to get involved. Everyone is welcome in Rotary.
Invoices were sent out TODAY (for Oct - Dec)...check your inbox....if you did not receive, please let us know.
THANK YOU to all who have already made payment!!
We are billing you according to the option you selected on the form that was distributed last April 2020.
The following were the options…..
Option #1 was Pay Rotary Dues but suspend Foundation Pledges.
Option #2 was Pay Rotary Dues and continue Foundation Pledges.
Option #3 was Pay Rotary Dues, Foundation Pledges and continue playing the meal charges which goes towards our club operation funds.
Option #4 was I need assistance for this quarter for my dues of $76.
If you have a need to change your option, please contact Lyn.
Your immediate payment would be appreciated.
We DO NOT use the ClubRunner invoicing system so your account balance on ClubRunner will always show $0 balance. Your invoice comes from our online QuickBooks account.
Thank you to our dedicated Rotarians that have been doing Rotarians in the News for us every week. It is always interesting and fun to hear about what our Rotarians are doing out in the community. Reminder that when you are mentioned that is a $1.00 fine!!! Color photo $5.00!
We also celebrate Birthday and Anniversaries (Rotary and wedding) each week....if you are mentioned that is also a "fine." At least a dollar or maybe $1.00 per year!
Braggers and Squealers at the end of the meeting is a time for you to brag, squeal, or promote a NON Rotarian event. We ask that you donate $2.00 for your "brag or squeal." Some weeks we do not have time so don't plan on promoting an event. You can also promote your event on our web site by being a web site sponsor. Link to information on a web site sponsor.
No Lyn does not keep track of your fines, braggers or squeals...this is on the honor system.
We have received a few checks in the mail from members for their "fines." Fines help us balance our budget! Last year we had collected $1,490 to date....this year only $308. Since we are not meeting we are also losing our income from our Raffle and Scooters!! Thanks to those that have sent in checks!!
Fruit Basket Fundraiser.....will now be a Fruit BOX Fundraiser! Yes we will be having our fundraiser despite COVID-19! We are replacing the baskets with a box - same amount of fruit (8 apples, 4 oranges, 4 pears and a bag of peanuts). Boxes will cost less than the baskets, are recyclable and you will be able to personally send them to family and friends out of town.
David Amborn and Steve O'Malley have met with the La Crosse County Health Department to review what we will need to do to make this a safe and healthy event for our members and customers. Things may be a little different this year....we will be wearing masks and gloves, distant ourselves and work in shifts.
Boxes will be $23 each and every Rotarian must buy or sell 5 baskets OR if you wish you can do a buy out at $100. This is our major fundraiser of the year and we hope you will start promoting our fundraiser to your friends, family and co-workers. Do you know of a business that might want to purchase them as a gift for their employees? All proceeds go to our club and are used to support a wide variety of activities and initiatives (Youth Exchange, Interact, Wheels of Hope, Kids Coulee..lots of things.)
We will be assembling the boxes the weekend of December 12th....with deliveries on December 12th and 14th. So save the dates.
We are seeking nominations for Club Board Directors. The term would be a three-year term starting July 1, 2021. The Board meets every second Monday of the month by Zoom. We hope to get back meeting at the Radisson Hotel once the restrictions are lifted and we feel it is safe. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, please contact Tami Woods.
Benefits of sponsoring an ad on the Rotary Club of La Crosse web site: Enhance your business' public relations and image. Advertise an upcoming event. Opportunity to sponsor and support the Rotary Club of La Crosse and your community. Sharing with fellow Rotarians in our club and other local clubs who would like to know what you do.
Why advertise on the Rotary Club of La Crosse web site?The majority of visitors to our website are members and friends of our club. This makes our site's web sponsorship an ideal opportunity for small and large businesses to promote their products, services or an upcoming event in our community. Moreover 100% of the advertising revenue goes back to our club; this in turn supports the local community.
Cost is $20 per month up to $120 per year . . . . click here for form and more information. We will include your logo/link on our web site, send one email blast to all Rotarians and include an initial mention in our newsletter and on our Facebook page.
Click on the logos under Web Site Sponsors...located on right side of our home page and in each newsletter.
NEW SPONSORS THIS MONTH
We build more than just great websites WE BUILD MARKETING PROGRAMS THAT WORK.
FOX2548 & WIProud is excited to announce an original production, a spooky special – Rivertown. In this 30-minute special program, we uncover the historic underbelly of early small-town life in the La Crosse area. Explore the gritty history of our Rivertown with interviews with local historians and dramatic reenactments of the shocking events in our small town’s history. Rivertown will air twice this Halloween season, Saturday October 25th and Saturday October 31st after First News at Nine on FOX2548.
Happy Birthday Marj Gillespie Oct 28 Justin Boge - Oct 30 Jerry Hanoski - Oct 31
Happy Wedding Anniversary Peter (Amy) Grabow - Oct 25 Jim (Lisa) Salmo - Oct 25 Carl (Caralee) Miller (H) - Oct 28 Thomas (Julia) Behrenbeck - Oct 29 Craig (Pam) Ubbelohde - Oct 30 Kerstin (Zach) Boudreau - Oct 31
Honorary Rotarian Pat Smith. Pat sent an email thanking us for our remembrance of his mom passing away. Pat is back on chemo. His treatment is going just so, so. If it doesn't achieve some better results in the next couple of months he will be facing another stem cell transplant or the new CAR-T cell treatment which was approved over the summer for Multiple Myeloma. He has appreciated our support over the years of battling this cancer. If you would like to send him a note his address is: 3303 Nathan Lane, Holmen WI 54636.
Honorary Rotarian Herb Heili had surgery at Gundersen this past Tuesday. He hopes to return home this coming Tuesday. Herb's address is 430 E. Larkspur Lane, Onalaska, WI 54650.
We continue to send well wishes to Rotarian Diana Carey, Rotarian Tim Ehler and Barb Hammes (Rotarian Bud Hammes' wife) all dealing with health issues.
Mary Kay Wolf family. Mary Kay's father, Russell Holman, 87, passed away this week. OBIT Mary Kay's address is 1118 Cliffwood Lane, La Crosse, WI 54601.
Stephen Porter family: Stephen's mother-in-law, Marjorie Teresa Balzer, 90, passed away this week. OBIT NOTE UPDATED ADDRESS: 3502 Alexander Ave., Holmen, WI 54636.
Rotary Club of La Crosse welcomes our District 6250 Governor and previous club member.
Thank you Bill Pritchard for an inspiring message!
If you could not attend last week....here is the LINK to the meeting.
For Bill Pritchard, his awareness of Rotary did not truly begin until after he had already been a Rotarian for several years. A district governor-elect asked for a cup of coffee meeting. During the meeting Bill was asked how many District Conferences he had been to? Bill’s answer was none, which prompted this follow-up question: Why would you join an organization that you obviously care enough about to attend meetings with your busy schedule, but not care enough to give even one days-worth of investigation into the ways they serve and give back to their local communities?
Bill did not have a good answer. So, he attended his first District Conference in 2010. And he became AWARE… 😊
That awareness quickly grew to involvement. Since 2010, Bill has held numerous club and district posts and responsibilities – starting with becoming a Youth Exchange Counselor in his club in 2010 (still active) and the first Ethics Committee chair for District 6250 in 2011. He has served as the District 6250 Membership Chair, the District 6250 Youth Exchange Inbound Coordinator, and was President of the Rotary Club of La Crosse in 2014-2015. His worth at the district level expanded to the Zone and Multi-Zone levels – serving as Curriculum Director for the 19 districts of Central States Rotary Youth Exchange as well as the Assistant Rotary Zone Coordinator for Zone 28.
It is well known that Rotarians do not get involved for accolades (or the pay 😊), but Bill has been honored as Rotarian of the Year by both his Rotary Club (2012-2013) and District 6250 (2011-2012). He has been recognized for his efforts in the area of Membership (2016) and in assisting with the local area Interact Clubs (2016), and most recently was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rotary Works Foundation (2015-2016).
When not involved in a Rotary project, Bill is the Branch and Portfolio Manager for Stifel Financial. When he can, he enjoys finding moments to chase small white golf balls around a golf club near his home in Holmen, Wisconsin when not on his boat on the Mississippi River. Bill is blessed with two wonderful daughters, hundreds of Youth Exchange Sons and Daughters around the world, and a wife who he adores.
Each week President Andy will interview one of our Rotary Family. We will post the video each week in our newsletter. We will also post on Facebook and our website: PAGE LINK. You can share this site with prospective members.
Last year Dean had announced he would no longer organize our Christmas Program. He has agreed to co-chair with Katie Berkedahl this year and help her plan the program. The show will go on!! Thank you to Dean and Katie for agreeing to co-chair this event.
Note from Katie.....the weather is starting to cool, so we've started preparations to warm your with the annual Rotary Holiday Program! Dean and I are working together this year to turn this virtual reality into the best show yet, but we need your help.
If you have children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, neighbors or whomever willing to share their holiday spirit through their musical gifts, please sign up. Because we're doing this thing virtually, think beyond local! Performers can join from anywhere in the world this time!
The program is December 17th at noon and we're looking for at least 10 families of performers.
Associate Membershipis a program to recruit younger members, millennials, to membership. Associate Membership is available to anyone who is proposed for membership who is 35 years of age or less. Associate membership will end when that member reaches the age of 38. They would pay for dues and $100 for meals per quarter no matter how many meetings they attend that quarter.
Corporate Membership is a program to allow multiple employees of a business Rotary participation under one primary membership. Each corporate membership is limited to a three-year term. After the three-year corporate membership term, the individuals are required to become individual members. View Corporate Membership Policy.
Family Membershipis a program to allow a second individual Rotary participation under one primary membership. View Family Membership Policy.
Honorary Membership is offered to members who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.Unlike other membership categories that can be requested by the member, Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a member by election from the Board of Directors. View Honorary Membership Policy.
Excused Membership is 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 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.