VIEWING YOUR NEWSLETTER...You will notice at the top of the newsletter a statement... "Having trouble viewing this email? Please click here." This format will allow you to see any embedded videos and animated ads within the newsletter. Email newsletter will allow you to see your commitments at the end of your personal newsletter...online newsletters will not show this, the bulletin on the web site may have a more readable format...you can also view bulletins online.....www.rotarycluboflacrosse.org
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.
This Week at Rotary:
Beth Piggush
Bin-It-Fits Recycling
Beth is the integral ecology director for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She has an evolving purpose that includes serving as a resource and promoting environmental and sustainability best practices that support care for all of God's creation. Beth has worked as a sustainability consultant with experience in developing and managing renewable energy workforce development programs. She served as the education and workforce development manager at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and managed K–12 and museum-based curriculum initiatives on behalf of the fund. She was a registered LEED Accredited Professional, focused on green schools for place-based learning and is an Interstate Renewable Energy Council registered auditor.
Prior to her work for FSPA, Beth was a stay at home mom and a school garden coordinator in La Crosse.
Beth grew up in southern Minnesota on a hobby farm, where her family lived with her grandparents. It was an intergenerational effort to carefully cultivate the land. This connection sparked her love and interest for nature. Now, Beth and her husband are running after their three daughters and they try to avoid rain and black flies with family outdoor adventures. She practices permaculture at her La Crosse home and loves to cook and preserve anything she can grow or forage.
We had the inspiring Razia Jan presenting our program last week telling us about the tremendous impact of the school for girls she started in Afghanistan. Her presentation came on the heels of the Zabuli Education Center re-opening after it's closure due to COVID-19. And it was the perfect launch to the final phase of our project, Wheels of Hope, which is raising money to purchase a bus and a van so that girls and young women are safely transported to school.
We have $15,000 left to raise to meet our goal. President Andy announced a matching walking challenge by Thomas Behrenbeck that will help us make our goal. Thomas is planning to do a walking challenge for the next 4 weeks during our Rotary meetings. He is planning on walking 20 miles during the next 4 weeks which would be 5 miles per week and he has committed to matching $500 towards the first $500 donated. You can help by making a pledge for each mile walked by Thomas, ($1 per mile donation is $20, a $2 donation per mile is $40.) Thomas encourages us all to do some walking with him....take photos and send to Thomas.
And, we are now able to offer a match of Paul Harris Recognition points for all new donations, at a one to one match. A donation of $100 will be matched with points toward a Paul Harris Award. $500 donated will garner 500 points and effectively earn an initial Paul Harris Award. (A minimum donation of $100 will be needed to get a match.)
You can help Razia in her mission to change the lives of girls in Afghanistan by helping them get to school. Pick one!
1. Want to join Thomas' Walking Challenge? Email jodiwiduch@theparentingplace.
2. Want to just donate? You have two options:
-Here is the link to our Go Fund Me Page. This is the easiest way to used a credit or debit card. There is a small processing fee that you can choose to pay for. charity.gofundme.com/razias-wheels-of-hope
- Or you can send a check, payable to Rotary Works Foundation, Wheels of Hope in the memo, and mail to Jodi Widuch, 2555 Edgewood Pl., La Crosse, WI 54601
Note from Razia Jan......I am so happy to share that our school reopened today for the first time in 8 months! It is so special to see our girls back in the classroom and I am so grateful to our incredible teachers and staff for working so hard to make this possible. With new thermal thermometers, new hand washing stations and mandatory masks - we are making sure everyone stays safe. To all of our donors - thank you from the bottom of our hearts. None of this would be possible without your ongoing support. @raziasrayofhope
PLEASE SUPPORT THE WHEELS OF HOPE PROJECT!
HELP US GET TO THE FINISH LINE ON OUR INTERNATIONAL PROJECT!!
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.
Sarah Ellingson Executive Director Women's Fund of La Crosse
Proposed by Casey Green
Help Build Rotary's Future
Share Rotary with a Friend
Every Rotarian is Responsible for Membership Growth
If no written objection to the proposal stating reasons is received by the Board of Directors from any member of the club within seven days following publication of the name of the prospective member, the prospective member shall be considered to be elected to membership.
By check: made out to Pi Phi Chapter, Hearts in the Park noted in the memo and dropped off at the event. Pi Phi is a local nursing association chapter in town that is using their bank account to house all monetary donations.
All donated funds that exceed the goal/need will go toward winter housing for the homeless.
Happy Wedding Anniversary Roger and Keanna Christians - Aug 30 Trish (Bob) Grathen - Aug 30 Chuck and Cheryl Hanson - Aug 30 Stephen (Tamara) Porter - Aug 31 Andy (Angela) Parrish - Sep 1 Lynn (Elizabeth) Bruns - Sept 2 Tim and Sue Durtsche - Sept 2 Kaycie (Ted) Green - Sept 2 Sharon (Roger) Imes (H) - Sept 4
Rotary Anniversary Tom Berkedal - Sept 1 - 34 years Tom Brock - Sept 2 - 16 years Bud Hammes - Sept 2 - 21 years Mark Solyst - Sept 2 - 17 years Joyce Wichelt - Sept 5 - 18 years
Marcie Wycoff-Horn family. Marcie lost her dad, Steven Ray Wycoff on May 11th. Obit Info. Marcie's brother is also dealing with a serious medical issue. Please remember Marcie and her family at this difficult time. 2118 Krause Road, Onalaska, WI 54650.
Rob Palmberg family. Rob's dad passed away on Sunday. We will send you more info when we receive. Please remember Rob and his family at this difficult time. W7777 Windmill Street, Holmen, WI 54636
While anyone can access the Rotary International website, members of Rotary are able to learn more detailed information including their contributions to the Rotary Foundation, information on La Crosse Rotary, and information on our Rotary District. To do this a member needs to register, or create an account on the website. Here is how you do it:
To gain maximum use of the Rotary International website, each Rotarian must create an account with Rotary. With this account you will be able to view your Rotary profile, as well as check your contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Here are the steps to do this.
If you are a first time user, click on Register For An Account.
Fill in the Account registration information and click on Continue. (If club number is requested we are club #2690. Our District is #6250 your ID# can be found on the label of your Rotarian Magazine)
You will be informed that an e-mail has been sent to you.
Check your email for the address you provided in step 5. You will receive a message which will ask you to click on the blue link to finalize the process.
Fill in all the mandatory information and click on Create account.
Click on Continue and you will be take to your MyRotary!
On August 10th, widespread, destructive, straight-line winds blew across central Iowa. The most extreme winds, estimated to be at 110-140 miles-per-hour, destroyed or damaged numerous outbuildings, barns, grain bins, homes, mobile homes, apartment buildings, trees and power poles in parts of Benton, Linn, Jones, Cedar and Clinton Counties. The Cedar Rapids area was particularly hard hit. As #PeopleOfAction, we would like to do what we can to help our neighbors to the west & south.
The Rotary Club of Linn County has set up a donation site for monetary contributions to donate to help Cedar Rapids area disaster relief efforts. If you personally or your club collectively would like to donate, please visit https://rotarylc.square.site/. There is a 2020 Derecho Relief section.
The Rotary Club of Linn County is also collecting several items that are needed in the community, everything from toiletries to chain saw oil. For a delivery address, please contact Michelle Bell, at (319) 431-2755. Needed items are:
Drinking water,
Chain saw oil,
Two-cycle oil,
Chainsaw chains,
Diapers,
Baby wipes,
Formula,
Peanut butter,
Shelf stable food,
Tarps,
Coolers,
Flashlights,
Extension cords,
Toiletries,
Large trash bags,
Paper towels,
Batteries and
Feminine products.
There is a specific interest in roofers and tree removal experts that are willing to travel to the area. There is both volunteer and paid work available. Currently, tree removal companies are quoting 90-120 days for removals. If you have connections to any roofing companies or tree removal companies, your help would be greatly needed!
Any help is appreciated. Our Rotary family in Iowa needs support.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have added a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
Our club formed an environment committee last year. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Roz Schnick. They are planning a Mississippi River Clean-up on September 26th from 12-3. More information will be coming.
Rotary and its GPEI partners celebrate a monumental achievement, say global eradication of wild polio is possible with the continued dedication and persistence of Rotarians.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on 25 August announced that transmission of the wild poliovirus has officially been stopped in all 47 countries of its African region. This is a historic and vital step toward global eradication of polio, which is Rotary’s top priority.
After decades of hard won gains in the region, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance — are proclaiming the milestone an achievement in public health. They offer it as proof that strong commitment, coordination, and perseverance can rid the world of polio.
The certification that the African region is free of wild poliovirus comes after the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) conducted thorough field verifications that confirmed no new cases and analyzed documentation of polio surveillance, immunization, and laboratory capacity by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, and South Sudan. The commission had already accepted the documentation of the other 43 countries in the region.
The last cases of polio caused by the wild virus in the African region were recorded in Nigeria’s northern state of Borno in August 2016, after two years with no cases. Conflict, along with challenges in reaching mobile populations, had hampered efforts to immunize children there.
Now that the African region is free of wild poliovirus, five of WHO’s six regions, representing more than 90 percent of the world’s population, are now free of the disease. Polio caused by the wild virus is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region.
Note from Eric Schmelling, Chief Philanthropy Officer, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.....
Thank you for your donations to Rotary International Foundation Polio Plus.
For more than three decades, Rotary has been working toward the global eradication of polio. Today, with your help, we're on the verge of achieving our goal.
We've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent, and now only two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan - continue to report cases of wild polio. But our work isn't over. As long as one child is at risk, we'll continue our fight for a polio-free world.
Because of the worldwide solidarity required to keep our community safe and protect against COVID-19, the polio eradication infrastructure that we helped build is now being used to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. This truly represents the "plus" in PolioPlus.
While we address the new challenges of today, your gift to Rotary's polio eradication efforts ensures that our progress won't erode. Thank you for your generous support at this critical time, and for building a better world with The Rotary Foundation.
Invoices were sent out on August 3rd and 4th (for July-September)...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. Thank you to all who have already made payment!!
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.
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 Sponsor this Month
Catholic Charities
Coulee Region 2020 Back2school Event Help area families get ready to go back to school! Donations will be used to buy school supplies to help students start the year off on the right foot.
Anyone donating $50 or more will receive a bronze Rotary Centennial coin.
To date, over $30,000 has already been pledged! We're simply amazed as the private and corporate support keeps rolling in. Al set a pretty big goal for this event and shared with a few people privately that if we could exceed $40,000 he would be speechless. Let's see if we can make it happen and provide even more support for the important work New Horizons is doing in our community.
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.
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For more than three decades, Rotary has been working toward the global eradication of polio. Today, with your help, we're on the verge of achieving our goal.
Invoices were sent out on August 3rd and 4th (for July-September)...check your inbox....if you did not receive, please let us know. 
