Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
September 17 - La Crosse Center, Zielke Room
September 24 - Oktoberfest Grounds
This Week: Dr. Larry Skendzel, Transforming Hope: How Community Hospice Serves
Dr. Larry Skendzel graduated with honors from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1990. He has worked in hospice medical care for over 30 years! First in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and for the last 8 years here in La Crosse as hospice medical director. He loves working with a team of caring providers to put together a care plan for people with serious illnesses that incorporates their values and has a good chance of success! For him, he sees healing evolve every day and new hope grow in the people he serves!
He and his wife, Missy, have 3 children who are all out in the world doing good things for their communities. He loves to cook and time around the table with friends and family is such a great time to connect! He loves Cajun and Creole cooking! He loves going to music festivals and biking in the area. Polka, New Orleans and French-Canadian music are favorites.
His personal perspective: ”I feel so lucky to serve this generous community here in the Driftless! I am a member of Rotary After Hours and a Youth Exchange Coordinator.”
Next Week: Rotary Committee Update
An annual report from a few of our club committies. We will learn who they are, what their purpose is, what they are working on, and how members might become more involved.
We will hear from the Humanitarian Committte, Youth Exchange Committee, Fruit Box Committee, and Interact Committee, and Service Committee this week.
Meal for This Week
Lunch this week: Lemon Pepper Fish(GF), season rice pilaf (GF), chef's choice vegetable(GF), dinner roll. Vegetarian option is seasoned grilled cauliflower w/sauce, season rice pilaf, and vegetables.
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.
September Social - September 12th, 4pm
Join us for a delightful Saturday afternoon at Winghaven Pizza Farm set in picturesque Galesville, WI! Winghaven Pizza Farm, owned by Rotarian Rob Grover. Come for fresh to order stone fired pizza and regional craft beers and wine along with a few treats for the kids. And of course...great conversation!
We encourage your to bring the whole family for this gathering on what should be a perfect late summer afternoon!
Our area Rotary Clubs will be participating by holding a 1.17 mile walk beginning at Myrick Park on Saturday, October 24th. Registration begins at 9am, line up at 9:30am, and walk at 10am.We hope to see a big gathering of La Crosse Area Rotarians walking in style in the purple polio shirt!
Register to walk ($20), donate, or sponsor ($100)!
Sponsorships are available at $100. We will need your logo logo and it will be on our walk signage along the trails.
Bring some cash for raffle tickets! There will be a raffle basket drawings immediately after the walk at the gun shelter.
We have secured an after-party spot at the Rookery located at 1914 Campbell Road right by Myrick and UWL. This spot has graciously said we are welcome to come after to have drinks, food and fun. It is an easy drive to head over after the walk and gather and socialized with fellow Rotarians. More info: https://www.therookerylax.com/
Please let Mark Jolivette know if you have any questions or concerns! DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH.
Please considering traveling to the Guatemala Highlands in 2027 with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. There are two trips planned, and they would love to have you join us. Sheila Riley and Cindy Erickson are already signed up!
Trip #1: January 9th - 17th, 2027
Trip #2: January 30th - February 7th, 2027
On a typical trip we will:
Experience the beauty of the people and the country of Guatemala
Stop at 4 to 6 other project sites and meet community members
Celebrate the start of a recent project with our community partners
Build new friendships with local Rotarians
Explore new project opportunities
Enjoy a meal with one or more local elected officials
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: September 6, 2026
Welcome to Week ONE of RI’s Month of Basic Education & Literacy.
Jennifer Jones, chair of The Rotary Foundation, is on an official visit to South Korea from Monday through Sunday — a six-night, seven-day trip. Jones made history as the first female chair in Rotary International's 117-year history and currently oversees the organization's global humanitarian fund. In a report by Son In-Kyou, the visitaims to advance global fundraising for The Rotary Foundation, which leads international efforts to support marginalized communities, eradicate disease and build peace. During her visit, Jones is touring major cities and regions — Seoul, Hwaseong, Suwon, Gwangju, Jeju and Incheon — with a schedule that includes meetings with global corporate CEOs and current and former senior government officials, a recognition dinner for Arch Klumph Society (AKS) members — donors of $250,000 or more — and major contributors from Rotary International Districts 3640 and 3650, keynote addresses at Rotary Foundation seminars in Region 13 (Suwon SINTEX) and Region 12 (Gwangju GIST), and on-site inspections of global grant service projects in Anyang and Gwangju. Jones spoke highly of South Korea's achievements and standing within the global Rotary community. Among more than 200 countries, Rotary Korea consistently ranks among the top three contributors to the foundation, trailing only the United States and a handful of others. “The spirit of “Service Above Self” and the culture of dedicated giving that Korean Rotarians embody are a powerful source of inspiration for our 1.4 million members worldwide,” Jones said.
