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:
Jeff Springer
Electric Vehicles and Efficient Electrification
Jeffrey W. Springer, CEM Manager, Energy Efficiency and Technical Services Dairyland Power Cooperative – La Crosse, Wisconsin
Jeff Springer is a Certified Energy Manager with over 30 years of experience in the commercial and industrial energy sector. His responsibilities include power quality, energy auditing, and recent work on Dairyland’s fleet electrification and small solar projects.
"Electrification” initially pointed to the extension of electrical service to people who lacked it. In the United States, the federal government established the Rural Electrification Administration to bring electricity to rural residents and farms through the creation of rural electricity cooperative companies and the construction of power generation and distribution systems.
In the 1930s, only 10% of rural dwellers had electric service, and 9 of 10 farms likewise were power-less. By 1945, that had been reversed with an estimated 9 out of 10 farms electrified.
In moving electrification beyond the basic (and binary) question of haves and have-nots, Efficient Electrification looks to an Integrated Energy Network to help achieve the most efficient use of energy, the cleanest production, delivery and use of that energy, and measureable benefits to consumers, workers, drivers (electric vehicles), and others.
Rebecca Schwarz is the Mission Impact Coordinator for YWCA La Crosse where she works to ensure that the mission is embodied in the programing at YWCA La Crosse and advocates for social justice in the community. Rebecca is passionate about community education and collaboration. Prior to joining the YWCA La Crosse, Rebecca worked in Social Services for nearly 20 years, working with foster families, homeless youth, youth in the criminal justice system and teen parents. Working in social services taught her that for real change to happen, we need to work for system change but we also need people who are lifelong learners and who are willing to confront all forms of oppression.
Each week President Andy will interview one of our Rotary Family. We will post the video each week in our newsletter. We we will also post on Facebook and our web site - PAGE LINK. You can share this site with prospective members.
This week Andy interviewed Rotarian Al Louis - click on his photo to view.
Special thanks to each of you for helping make our "Christmas in July" dairy give-away such a success. We distributed just under 2,000 containers of fresh dairy products by 2:30 pm. What great work crews. Temperatures in the 90's and everyone hung in there to get the job done. We also collected $2,800 for the Hunger Task Force.. Dollars they will certainly put to good use.
We live in a special community that always seems to answer the call because of good people like you. Who knows----we might do this again.
With deep appreciation,
Pat Stephens
P.S. There were a few people that I was not able to reach by phone to let them know their 3-6 pm shift would not be needed. I apologize for that and sincerely hope it didn't cause a real inconvenience.
The Humanitarian Committee has some exciting news to share! Sheila Wieser and Sarah Arendt-Beyer, co-chairs of the Humanitarian Committee have asked Mary Beth Hensel to take over as the Chair of the Humanitarian Committee, and she has enthusiastically agreed!
Mary Beth joined Rotary in November 2018, and has since been an active member of the Humanitarian Committee, the Razia's Bus committee, the newly-formed Environmental committee, and also recently began her term as a board member.
Professionally, Mary Beth serves as Director of the Resolve Through Sharing program with the Gundersen Medical Foundation, providing bereavement education; she is also a talented oboist with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
Mary Beth is a kind-hearted person and exemplary Rotarian, and I know she'll do a terrific job of leading the committee. Look for some communication from her soon.
If you have questions or ideas to share, We encourage you to reach out to her; Mary Beth's email address is: mnhensel@gundersenhealth.org.
Avenues of Service Dinner has been cancelled for 2020. Another casualty of COVID-19. Rotary International requested that all of its clubs around the world limit their respective social gatherings and events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank the Avenues of Service Committee for making this hard decision in order to keep all of us safe.
If you submitted a nomination for this year, they will hold them and review them in 2021. We all will miss gathering with local Rotarians and celebrating our Service Above Self in the community and world.
Everyone keep up the great work and we will celebrate in 2021!!
Our club is forming a Zoom Committee to help members with issues/questions they may have using Zoom. We will have our own "Geek Squad." They will help you through your concerns on how to login, share screens, use backgrounds, audio and video issues, etc. Just contact Tami Woods and she will set up a time and someone will connect with you on Zoom.
If you are willing to be a member of the Zoom Committee, please also contact Tami.
Wearing a Cub's Jersey one pledge went from $250 to $500!!
Today - July 28th.....starts the 2020 Rotary Al Louis Musky Challenge to benefit five local charities (official start time: 4:30 PM)! Al's wife Brenda (pictured) has been given a new nickname: she will be referred to during the rest of the trip as "The Masked Walleye Slayer" and will be rooting Al and Al's Musky fishing partner Andrew "A.J" Judnick on—and, of course, serenading them with Oktoberfest cheer—Prost!
Catch from 2019
Local Rotarian Launches Unique Fundraiser Benefiting Local Nonprofits: Al’s Musky Challenge
La Crosse, WI – For one local Rotarian, landing a monster musky isn’t just about the thrill of the chase, it’s about giving back to our community. From July 26 through August 28th, for every musky Al Louis catches during a fishing trip at Lake Vermilion in Minnesota, he will be donating $100 to the Al’s Musky Challenge fundraiser. He is challenging fellow Rotarians and community members to pledge—or contribute a set amount—as well.
The fundraiser is benefiting local nonprofits, with Mobile Meals - Guardian Angel Fund; Gateway Area Council, BSA - Fall Cub Camp; La Crosse Public Education Foundation - Random Acts of Kindness; and Family and Children's Center - Chrome Book Project each receiving $1,000; and the New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers’ Stewards of Children Training program receiving the remaining amount. “One in 10 children are sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. That’s a horrifying statistic! The Stewards of Children program that New Horizons offers the community teaches people how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse,” says Patty Nuttleman, Development Director at New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc.
To date, over $21,000 has already been pledged, and the Lake Havasu Rotary Club (of which Al is also a member) has agreed to match up to $1,000. Anyone donating $50 or more will receive a bronze Rotary Centennial coin. Louis's goal was to raise $20,000.....he has now changed his goal to $40,000!!! He has received $21,000 to date in checks and pledges.....and he hasn't even wet his line yet!!!
“COVID-19 has forced many of these groups to either cancel or delay their annual fundraising events. Help us exceed our goal of raising $20,000 to help support these five important non-profits that play a vital role in serving the Coulee Region,” says Al Louis, owner of Designing Jewelers in downtown La Crosse and a four-year member of the Downtown Rotary Club of La Crosse.
Last year Al’s Musky Challenge raised $4,000 which benefitted the 2019 Diaper Drive for The Parenting Place.
Our "Wheels of Hope" project has been awarded a Rotary District Grant of $14,500. Thanks to committee member Teresa Pierce who wrote and submitted the grant. The Committee will be updating us soon on the final phase of this project.
Thank you to Rotarians Jodi Widuch and Mary Beth Hensel for presenting our "Wheels of Hope" project. This is an international project that our club in cooperation with other Rotary Clubs has set a goal to raise money to fund a bus and a van to safely transport girls to their schools in Afghanistan. LINK to PowerPoint Presentation.
Only 12% of women in Afghanistan are considered literate. The Zabuli Education Center is one of the few successful schools for girls that is working to change that sad statistic. The Wheels of Hope Project is an important support to expanding educational opportunities for girls and creating safety. This work is inspired by Razia Jan, last year’s District Conference keynote speaker and founder of the school.
Follow-up from Jodi Widuch...….
Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk with you about the Wheels of Hope Project.
As follow up here details of how to donate:
1. 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
2. You can also donate by check, payable to Rotary Works Foundation, Wheels of Hope in the memo, and mail to Jodi Widuch, 2555 Edgewood Pl., La Crosse, WI 54601
Happy Birthday Jerry Arndt - July 29 Joyce Wichelt - July 31 Brian Serle - Aug 1
Happy Wedding Anniversary Cheryl (Victor) Hancock - July 27 Kyle (Jodie) Visker - July 28 Bill (Karen) Hoel - July 29 Thomas and Julia Behrenbeck - July 31 Dillon (Megan) McArdle - July 31 Ted (Denise) Knutson - Aug 1
Rotary Anniversary Pat Smith (H) - July 27 - 25 years Fred Ross (H) - July 30 - 56 years
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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