Allow for time for parking and to go through buffet line!
Enter through the Pepsi Entrance (South Lobby). These doors are directly across from the La Crosse Center Parking Ramp. From here, go up the escalator to the South Ballroom
October 29 - Radisson Center
Next Week: Michelle Skemp, Everyone Is Public Image
We each have our own reasons for belonging to the Rotary Club of La Crosse, whether it’s service, friendships, fellowship, inspiring speakers, or the opportunity to make a difference. But while our individual stories may differ, we must work together to share a consistent story about who we are, what makes our club special, and why it matters. What keeps us coming back is part of the story our community needs to hear.
Public Image goes far beyond our website, Facebook page, or Public Image Committee. It’s every conversation, photo, invitation, and opportunity to show others what makes our club unique, welcoming, meaningful, and fun. Proper branding is important, but so is the story behind our brand. It’s up to every one of us to tell that story with purpose and consistency, helping our community see the value of being part of the Rotary Club of La Crosse and inspiring them to say, “I want to be part of that!”
Next Week: Sheila Riley; Rotary Visioning Goals
In May, 25 members of our club gathered on a Saturday morning to take on the question: What would our club look like if we implemented a new Vision in the next three years? Using the Rotary Action Plan as a foundation, our Rotarians offered more than 160 ideas on our priorities, accomplishments, impact, and identity. From the Visioning session, seven primary goals emerged. In this program, club members will provide a progress report on the seven Visioning goals and plans for moving forward. Implementing these goals will require the skills, creativity, passion, and energy of all club members. Get excited about building our club’s future together!
Lunch this week: Soup and Salad Bar w/Garden Vegetable Soup and Chicken and Steak Fajitas. Vegetarian Option: Vegetable Kabob
Coffee, ice tea, milk, and water available.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Zoom Option for Weekly Meetings
Thank you for your patience and our apologies for the Zoom connection when we meet at the Radisson Center. The connection is very unstable and the space has older equipment. Each space at the Radisson has a different tech set up and we are making adjustments as needed and doing the best we can. We really do appreciate your patience when on Zoom.
October Club Social - October 24th
All are welcome to join us for "The World's Greatest Polio Walk" at 10:00 a.m. this Saturday October 24th. We gather at the Gun Club cabin in Myrick Park, at the far north end, with a parking lot in front of it along the marsh. Come early! Around 9:30 a.m. we should have a 50/50 raffle, and some drinks for donations. And following the walk, a leisurely 1.17 miles, there is an after-party event at the Rookery, 1914 Campbell Rd, right in front of the UW-L campus. This is also a club fellowship event.
And if there is anyone else who wants to walk, by all means, please invite them. You didn't sign up in advance??? It doesn't matter! Unfortunately, T-shirts are no longer available, but bring spouses, partners, children, parents, grandparents, neighbors! We invite all! We also invite donations to support polio eradication efforts. We are funneling all our funds through the Rotary East club, so make checks out to them. (We also accept cash ). They will then get the money to the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary has a big dream, eradicating this disease. The world has a big need, to keep this crippling disease at bay forever. Again, thank you for your participation and support of this project shared
The following community member has been proposed to become a member of our club:
Lisa Lincoln, Lemonade Photos, proposed by Scott Horne
Mary Beth Hensel, CEO Resolve Through Sharing, proposed by Richard Strauss
Richard and Ellen Greer, proposed by Bridget Thomas
Lynda Crowley, Catholic Charities, proposed by Richard Strauss
JC Wagner-Romero, CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters, proposed by Bridget Thomas
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 Octpber 21st.
We invite you to sponsor of our sixth annual Youth Exchange Cultural Celebration planned for Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at The Dash Center, Onalaska, WI. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the cultures of our Coulee Region exchange students and to show them a warm welcome. The students have hand-picked recipes that represent their culture and are working with local chefs to give attendees the opportunity to taste “comfort food” from their country. There will also be hors d'oeuvres and 50/50 raffle.
Proceeds from the event go towards the exchange students’ end-of-year trip to the East or West Coast of the United States. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. We are grateful for any support that you can provide and we offer a variety of sponsorship levels to accommodate all levels of giving. We know that you have many choices regarding sponsorships. The Youth Exchange Cultural Celebration is valuable for our exchange students as well as our community and we hope that you will join us in sponsoring this event.
The Rotary Works Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. If you have questions, please contact me and I look forward to speaking with you.
Welcome to Week THREE of Economic & Community Development.
Rotary Foundation & Rotary International – World Polio Day Article Highlights: Rotary’s October 2026 magazine and End Polio Now resources provide a comprehensive overview of polio, the global eradication effort, and how Rotary members act on 24 October to make polio history.
What is polio and how is it spread? According to Rotary’s Polio Basics primer, polio (poliomyelitis) is caused by an intestinal virus transmitted mainly through contaminated water or persontoperson contact. It can attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. Infected individuals shed the virus for weeks, enabling rapid spread in areas with poor sanitation and low vaccination coverage. Vaccines and eradication progress Rotary and partners have immunized over 3 billion children worldwide since 1988 through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Two main vaccines are used:
IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) – developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, given by injection, prevents paralysis and spread
OPV (oral polio vaccine) – developed by Dr. Albert Sabin, liveweakened virus, induces gut immunity, easier to distribute, and effective in lowsanitation areas
As of midAugust 2026, only 22 wild poliovirus cases remain in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and 124 variant poliovirus cases have been reported.
Rotary’s role and World Polio Day Rotary has been a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988, contributing over US$2.9 billion in PolioPlus grants and countless volunteer hours World Polio Day is observed annually on 24 October to recognize progress and rally support The October 2026 Rotary magazine features club actions worldwide — from community fairs in Bolivia, themed dinners in Canada, to honoring polio survivors in Trinidad and Tobago Rotary’s Trustee Chair’s message encourages clubs to host events, share stories, and make gifts, noting that every dollar is matched 2:1 by the Gates Fo undation
How to get involved Rotary and End Polio Now invite individuals and clubs to:
Donate at endpolio.org (impact tripled by Gates Foundation match)
Host events such as concerts, walks, or educational activities
Share stories and register actions for feature on Rotary and End Polio Now platforms
