Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
April 9 - Radisson Ballroom
This Week: ReNew the Block,
Habitat for Humanity
We will be sharing updates on the ReNew project located on Avon Street and Logan Middle School. We’ll share what’s been completed, what’s coming next, and how this project has benefited students, homeowners, and the Northside community. We’ll also give a quick look at our next project in the Washburn Gardens neighborhood. We will also discuss a Rotary team volunteer day on Saturday, April 11, and encourage Rotary Club of La Crosse members to sign up as part of an all-area Rotary volunteer effort.
Speakers: Amy Smith, Sustainability Director; Stefanie Kline, Sustainability Coordinator, Habit for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region
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.
Lunch this week: Sandwich Buffet with coleslaw, and kettle chips
Vegetarian meals are plated and available through Sue with a ticket when you check in.
The buffet is Gluten Free except where indicated.
Coffee, ice tea, and water available at a beverage station inside the room.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Rotary Visioning Event
On Saturday morning, May 9, we’ll be holding a Visioning event in order to develop a new strategic plan to replace the current 2021-2026 strategic plan. The goal is for approximately 25-30 members to attend a 3.5-4 hour session in order to put together a vision with goals for the next three years. This is a great opportunity for new and long-standing members, members who are happy/satisfied and those who see shortcomings and remedies, and for anyone who would like to play an active role in making our club even stronger, better, more fun, and more welcoming. Please reach out Niki Pohnl or Richard Strauss if this is of interest to you. We are look at an approximate 9am-12:30pm time frame. The site is still to be determined; lunch will be served. Thanks very much.
“Our meetings are dull, dull, dull! Our club never does anything interesting! And why are you and I the only two members left?”
These are common complaints. Okay, they’re not exactly common. But your Rotary Club is probably looking for ways to grow, or ways to make your meetings more engaging, or ways to make your club more active and more visible.
What better way is there than to share ideas and learn from other clubs? And what better time and place than TriCon 2026? The heart of TriCon is ideas, ideas, ideas!
Past attendees have called TriCon “inspiring,” “energizing,” "transforming," and “simply amazing.” And that is no exaggeration.
Built around Rotary’s 2026 theme, Unite for Good, this year’s conference will show you how to increase Rotary’s impact at your club, in your community, and worldwide. TriCon 2026 will offer practical learning and a celebration of all that Rotary and Rotarians can do and can be to build a better world. And as a bonus, it offers a chance bring the family and enjoy the Kalahari’s waterpark.
NOW is the time to register and book your room at Kalahari. Click the link on the bottom of this email to register.
FOUNDATION MINUTE: MARCH 30, 2026
Welcome to Week FIVE of RI’s Month of W.A.S.H
The report this week is in recognition of the Rotary Club of West Chester (D7450) (southeastern PA) for achieving the $1,000,000 Rotary Foundation milestone.
The story is from The Daily News: Janice Biros, Governor of Rotary District 7450, stopped in at a recent Thursday noon meeting of the Rotary Club of West Chester to present a special award from the Rotary International Foundation to club members. “The West Chester Rotary Club is amazing! They have been working hard for over 100 years doing great work for their neighbors. Not only that, they have donated over $1million to the Rotary International Foundation. What an impressive legacy and a great model for us all to emulate!” she said as she presented the RI Foundation special award to club president Kyle Rheiner. Club President Rheiner, explained, “When we gathered for our Board Member Retreat in May 2025, we mapped out our new three-year strategic plan. Reaching the $1,000,000 RI Foundation milestone was a top priority. We identified exactly how much we needed each month, and per Rotarian, to achieve our goal within the designated timeframe…What gets scheduled gets done. We are incredibly proud to have reached the $1,000,000 mark!” he added.
The West Chester club and the Rotary Club of Ardmore are the two clubs among the 51 in Rotary District 7450 to receive this prestigious RI Foundation award for 2025. Among the projects that the International Service Committee (ISC) of the West Chester Rotary Club, has arranged is for construction of a roofed pavilion for a school in Las Brisas, Costa Rica, and full electrification of six island schools, located in destitute locations in Tigre, Argentina, which included providing education equipment, water purification, copiers, a Braille typewriter and printer, refrigerator and freezers. They also provided hospital equipment, a first-aid collapsible pavilion, neonatal jaundice beds, a respirator and COVID supplies.
