Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
September 3 & 10 - Radisson Ballroom
This Week: Jed Olson, Classification Talk
When Rotary was established by Paul Harris and three others, each person came from a different walk of life. This diversity is a cornerstone of Rotary. The intent is to have a cross-section of business and professional experiences in your community.
For decades Rotary International listed a range of professional “classifications” and restricted how many representatives of each could be in a club. This ensures that each club reflects the community in which it serves. It also reminds us to not have one profession as a dominant voice in our club. Over time, these restrictions have pretty much given way, but your classification continues to be of great interest to your fellow club members. That’s why your Rotary badge carries your name and your classification.
Classification talks help us learn about the life experiences and professional backgrounds of new members.
Next Week: Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary, Puerto Vallarta Water Project
The Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary Club will share the story of our recent Puerto Vallarta Water Filter Project and the incredible impact Rotary can make when clubs work together.
With support from the Sparta Rotary Club and a District 6250 Grant, we raised $13,500 and helped provide 245 long-term water filtration systems to families in rural communities outside Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. These filters provide safe drinking water for more than 10 years, helping families improve their health while reducing the cost of bottled water.
Several Hilltopper Rotarians traveled to Mexico in February to assist with distribution and witness the impact firsthand. Join us to hear how a local Pork Q fundraiser turned into a life-changing international service project and what it was like to see Rotary's work in action. Type caption here
Meal for This Week
Lunch this week: Pizza and salad buffet. Assorted pizza (2 GF) and garden greens with toppings. Vegetarian option: Marinara sauce, bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions topped with fresh basil and tried aregano on a thin crust.
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.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Only a couple weeks left to drop off your lithium batteries to be recycles. Drop off at Moontunes.
How interesting would it be to tour the Rotary Lights warehouse and see what happens behind the scenes. Schedule a group to tour with Bill Hoel.
Local Interact Clubs are looking for a lead to assist with coordinating this annual meal packing event. Contact Andy Bakkum for more information.
We have waited for literally years to be able to make this announcement. As of August 1st, the Wisconsin DOT has approved and made available Rotary license plates you can proudly display on your automobile. You can even personalize your own custom plates, offering a great opportunity to display who we are and what we stand for… “Service Above Self.” Best of all, $25 of your fee goes to the End Polio Now campaign,
Order your plates today by going to the Wisconsin DOT website at:
Rotary After Hours (RAH) is holding its annual Mini-Masters golfing event to raise funds for youth exchange programs. This year's event will take place on Saturday, September 19, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Riverside Amusement Park (1304 Interchange Place, La Crosse). Valley View Rotary Club will put a team together to participate, so please see Amy Bettis to sign up for a fun afternoon!
RAH is also seeking event sponsors and raffle donations. Please see Nancy Schmidt for additional information.
Valley View Rotary will be sponsoring a Rotary Fellowship Danube River Cruise April 10-17, 2027. This will be a Viking 8-day cruise from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary, with stops in Linz, Krems and Vienna, Austria, as well as Bratislava, Slovakia.
All Rotarians in District 6250, including their friends & family (18 years and older), are invited to join in, and we hope to connect with at least one Rotary club along the way for a meet-up, service project or to make plans for joint projects or RFEs in the future. Some of the best parts of Rotary happen outside our meetings—the conversations, friendships, shared experiences, and people we meet along the way. So why not take that fellowship all the way to Europe?
Viking's intimate river ships carry up to 190 guests with meals onboard, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, guided excursions, and cultural enrichment included. You unpack once and stay in the same comfy cabin each night but get to enjoy the beauty and history of amazing scenery and destinations throughout the journey.
PRICES START AT $2,474 PER PERSON based on double occupancy (a discounted price from what is on their website). Additional discounts may apply and deposit is only $25 if you book with Matt before 8/31/26. Matt Boshcka, Valley View Rotarian and owner of Dream Vacations, has generously offered to do all the legwork to make this Fellowship Cruise happen. Contact Matt at 608-397-1855 or mboshcka@dreamvacations.com with any questions or to reserve your cabin. Come join us! Click here for more information on Danube Waltz - 2027 Itinerary - Passau to Budapest | Viking®
FOUNDATION MINUTE FOR August 24, 2026 Welcome to Week THREE of RI’s Month of Membership & New Club Development.
