Joe Poehling was our guest speaker ....Gerhards celebrating their 75th anniversary. Gerhards - The Kitchen and Bath store has been family owned and operated since 1940. It all started in 1897 when three tradesmen, Reinie Wesson, Henry Poehling and Ed Roesler pooled their resources together to create La Crosse Plumbing Supply Company. Over the years the La Crosse Plumbing Supply Company grew, opening several new locations throughout the Midwest. In 1997 La Crosse Plumbing Supply Company became First Supply Group. In 1940, Henry Poehling’s son Gary, who had worked both as a truck driver and warehouseman, took over the business. Gary “Gerhard” Poehling was an innovative and visionary leader. During his first year running the business, Gary opened what was likely the first kitchen and bath store in the country for contractors and homeowners to view kitchen and bath product displays. In 1987, a decision was made to give the showrooms their own, separate identity. To honor Gary's innovative concept, the kitchen and bath stores were renamed "Gerhards".
Today the fifth generation of the Poehling family continues Gary's legacy by operating 27 First Supply locations, 13 Gerhards showrooms, and a Kohler Signature Store in Edina, MN. These showrooms provide an effective and essential sales tool for contractors by providing building and remodeling customers the opportunity to personally see and select the products they want for their home. Gary's ability to provide quality products and deliver unparalleled customer service made him legendary in the industry. In 2015, Gerhards celebrates 75 years of serving trade professionals and consumers by providing inspirational design, quality products, relevant resources and exceptional service.
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.
Jodi Widuch, Executive Director of The Parenting Place sent the photo below with the label stating they were provided by our Rotary Club. This is just one way our club is making a difference in our community.
iFeed is a one-day event where over 50,000 dried meals are packed and boxed, ready for shipment to a country where children are hungry. It's also a one-day all-Coulee Region food drive to fill area food pantries. iFeed is a joint service project of the five area Interact Clubs and the La Crosse Area Rotary Clubs as an extension of Rotary Lights Food collections. This event will be November 7th at Logan High School. Click here to view flyer. We will be getting at team together to help pack the food and will be having a food drive in October...watch for more information.
100% ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2014-15 YEAR....Congratulations to the members who achieved 100% attendance for the 2014-15 Rotary year...click here to view those that will be in the gift card drawing on Thursday, September 24th - four $25 gift cards will be given away . If you believe your name should be on this list ...please email rotarylax@charter.net and we will check your attendance record.
Lucas Herro, son of Rotarian Mike Herro is looking for drivers to take him to therapy in Rochester....if you would be willing to help you can email Lucas at lherro18@gmail.com and/or Mike at michael.j.herro@xcelenergy.com.
The dates they need someone in September are the 4th, 9th, 16th, and 18th.....leave Onalaska around 10:30 and return 5:30.
Lucas was injured in a diving accident and is on his way to recovery but he needs our help! It is amazing to see him standing in the photo below....his hard work and determination is incredible....please email them if you can help.
Rotary Youth Committee is looking for volunteers to donate their time and expertise in educating our youth. The Junior Career Conference is scheduled for October 6, 2015 for the surrounding area high schools. There will be two sessions, morning and afternoon, and we are looking for two Rotarians for each. Below is the excerpt that will be used in the 2015 Junior Career Expo booklet describing our booth. Please check your schedules and availability. More information will follow.
Downtown Rotary: Networking and community involvement will have important roles in your educational and career development. Rotary unites them, promoting service above self. Rotarians are community members, leaders of organizations, anyone who seeks camaraderie in creating lasting change at home and throughout the world. Come and speak with business representatives that are part of Downtown Rotary in La Crosse and hear the impact networking and community involvement has had on their careers.
GET WELL wishes go out to Hal Keitel. Hal is home but still making trips to Rochester. He still can't walk so he won't be able to join us for awhile...He hopes to get back on his feet soon. Hal is taking visitors, even for 15 minutes...however call first. He has twice weekly therapy in Rochester, so if you are able to drive him Wednesday morning or Thursday afternoon...give him a call.
Sharon Imes ... I received the following email from Roger Imes last Saturday....
The valve replacement surgery was Wednesday am. The valve is in place and working well.The reason for the delay in sending this message is that there are complications that only became clear yesterday—Sharon has had a significant stroke[s]. Her memory and speech are fine but there is some vision blurriness. Most troubling is substantial right arm and left leg weakness.
She was transferred late yesterday afternoon to the inpatient rehab ward and starts rehab this morning—too soon to predict ultimate outcome. She is in room 3755 and visitors are welcome. There are two 45 minute rehab sessions in the a m and two in the p m, so I think the best time to visit is late afternoon-early evening. I’m sure she would appreciate seeing someone besides me!. Roger Imes.
We wish Sharon and Hal a speedy recovery and we hope they will back at Rotary soon.
CONDOLENCES...We send our condolences to Anne Snow and her family. Anne lost her father, Phil Nolan, 81 on September 4th. Anne said her father and Phil Quillin were cut from the same cloth...Irish, smiley and kind. Click here to view his obituary. Please remember Anne and her family at this difficult time.
COME FOR SUPPER....The Humanitarian Committee will be helping again with the "Come for Supper Meal Program" at Our Savior's Lutheran Church - 612 Division Street on Tuesday, September 29th from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Click here to volunteer.We need three more volunteers.
Rotary Youth Exchange A Step Toward WorldUnderstanding. The La Crosse area Rotary Clubs are looking for students who are interested in a unique experience of attending high school while living in another Rotary International country. Rotary International has a program which annually involves over 10,000 high school students living nearly a year in another country. Candidates must be sophomores to seniors in high school at the time of application and 16-18 1/2 years old when they leave for their assigned country. Applicants must rank in the upper half of their class.
How to apply. If you know of someone that is interested in this program for the 2016-17 school year, simply have them complete and return the application. Click here for application and more information. An informational meeting will be September 14, 2015, 6:30 pm at the Children's Museum, 207 5th Avenue, La Crosse. Preliminary application due, September 14, 2015. Local interviews will be September 21, 2015 and final application due October 12, 2015. District interviews will be held on November 1, 2015 in Baraboo.
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.
September 6th: Raffle: $60; Fines $38; Scooters $6; Scrip $10
MEMBERSHIP 2015-16 Active Membership
June 30, 2015 - 167 Aug 20, 2015 - 165
Sept 8, 2015 - 167
Honorary Members
Aug 20, 2015: 23
Aug 31, 2015: 22
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.
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.
ROTARY ATTENDANCE August 6th- 55% August 13th - 60%
August 27th - 64%
Sept 3rd - 55%
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.
100% Attendance Winners
$10 gift card July - Kenna Christians
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.
It's also a one-day all-Coulee Region food drive to fill area food pantries. iFeed is a joint service project of the five area Interact Clubs and the La Crosse Area Rotary Clubs as an extension of Rotary Lights Food collections. This event will be November 7th at Logan High School. .JPG)
GET WELL wishes go out to Hal Keitel. Hal is home but still making trips to Rochester. He still can't walk so he won't be able to join us for awhile...He hopes to get back on his feet soon. Hal is taking visitors, even for 15 minutes...however call first. 
tanding. The La Crosse area Rotary Clubs are looking for students who are interested in a unique experience of attending high school while living in another Rotary International country. Rotary International has a program which annually involves over 10,000 high school students living nearly a year in another country. Candidates must be sophomores to seniors in high school at the time of application and 16-18 1/2 years old when they leave for their assigned country. Applicants must rank in the upper half of their class..jpg)