Michael was born at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming while his father was in the service. Their family would spend several years in the service, including serving overseas on a airbase outside of Casablanca, Morocco, before moving to Wisconsin where Michael would spend much of his childhood growing-up between Eau Claire, La Crosse, and the Green Bay area. Eventually Michael and his family would move to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Michael would finish high school and go on to receive a degree in Marketing at Indiana University.
Michael would also meet his future wife and best friend, Leisa, while in Indiana. They have been married since 1984 and have three children as well as a granddaughter who is in her senior year in high school. Michael and his family have long been active members of their communities and with the Boy Scouts of America. Michael himself has been involved with Scouting for over 40 years, including 12 years as a Scoutmaster and has had the honor of awarding 12 scouters with their Eagle Scout awards. In his time in Scouting he was also the recipient of the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, and Order of Arrow Vigil Honor. He also served as a Wood Badge Course Director and is currently in his eleventh year as VP of Program for the Chippewa Valley Council.
Beyond Scouting, Michael has also been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 1999, and is currently a member of the 4th degree with the Altoona council. While working with the Knights he has served as council Grand Knight for 5 years, the state District Deputy for two terms, and one term as Diocesan Program Coordinator. Professionally, he has been in Sales and Management for over 40 years. Currently he works for Airgas in Eau Claire as an Account Manager for large industrial manufacturers. He and his wife Leisa enjoy the outdoors, community events and causes, travel whenever possible and quiet time with their two dogs. Michael was invited to join the Eau Claire Morning Rotary Club in 2014. He quickly became passionate for community service to both local and international communities and greatly enjoys the sense of self-fulfillment that he receives from helping others. During his time, he has been Club President for two terms, is currently active as their Foundation Chair, and has been the Assistant Governor for Group 1 for the past four years.
Last Week: Alex Lueck, Xcel Energy - Energizing the Future
Alex Lueck serves as the Community Service Manager for Xcel Energy in the La Crosse region. In this role, he fosters strong relationships with local communities, counties, and key organizations, promoting Xcel Energy’s core values of commitment, connection, trustworthiness, and safety. Alex works collaboratively to support economic development, community vitality, and the company’s leadership in the clean energy transition across Wisconsin.
Previously, Alex spent 10 years as a Key Account Manager at Xcel Energy in La Crosse, where he led numerous large-scale projects and built lasting customer relationships. His focus on enhancing the customer experience and introducing innovative products and services helped strengthen community ties.
Lunch this week: Traditional German meal catered by La Crosse Festivals.
Soda and water available.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnl if know you are bringing guests but last minute invites are also welcome!
Join the Fellowship Committee!
We try to offer a Club Social every 4-6 weeks and are looking to add a few members to our Fellowship Committee. Do you like planning socials? Do you have ideas for a Club Social? Reach out to Niki to get connected by emailing rotary@rotarycluboflacrosse.org!
Interact Leaders Needed
Wouldn't it be FUN and REWARDING working with high school students on a monthly basis, guiding them through projects they are passionate about to better our communit? If so, YOU ARE NEEDED! Reach out to Niki to get connected by emailing rotary@rotarycluboflacrosse.org or speak to Andy Bakkum, Michelle Skemp, or Candice Tlustosch for more information.
Al's Musky Challenge Update: A Few Weeks Left to Donating to Three Great Causes
Right now, youth in our community need us more than ever. That’s why the Downtown Rotary Club’s Al’s Musky Challenge is raising funds to benefit three local organizations dedicated to helping kids grow, learn, and thrive:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the 7 Rivers Region – providing one-to-one mentoring to strengthen youth mental health and wellbeing.
La Crosse Community Theatre – inspiring creativity, confidence, and self-expression through the arts.
Grow – connecting youth to healthy food and nature through hands-on garden-based experiences to nourish growing minds and bodies.
Please join us today in meeting this challenge and helping youth across our region.
Please consider attending the RYE Outbound Information Session on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at 6 pm, Onalaska Library. CLICK HERE to print the Youth Exchange brochure to share with friends and family.
Welcome to Week FOUR of RI’s Month of Basic Education & Literacy. The report this week is directly from the message of TRF’s Trustee Chair, Rotarian Holger Knaack, culled from Rotary Magazine (Sept, 2025).
Education is the most powerful tool we have for changing the world, and during Basic Education and Literacy Month, I want to remind everyone why our work matters. Education breaks the cycle of poverty, opens doors to opportunity, and empowers individuals to transform their communities. But education doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We must also address peace, health, clean water, economic opportunity, maternal and child health, and the environment. …When we collaborate across these areas through The Rotary Foundation, we raise up communities sustainably and with dignity.
Today, I have asked Lynne Paradis from the Rotary Club of Red Deer, Alberta, to share her passion for literacy: “I believe that literacy is a human right. When I joined forces with the Rotary Club of San Ignacio, Belize, over a decade ago, we set out to improve reading instruction, but we had no idea how far this journey would take us. Literacy Alive! has been supported by eight Rotary Foundation global grants since 2011. Using a straightforward approach based on phonics and science, we updated how teachers teach and focused on how students really learn. We collected data on reading skills improvement over six months. After demonstrating that teachers had integrated new practices into daily instruction, the project snowballed. The Belize Ministry of Education took notice. Today, over 1,300 teachers have been trained and more than 20,000 students have benefited. We’ve achieved over 90 percent success rates, with many students making more than a year’s worth of improvement in just five months.”
Lynne’s story exemplifies the power of Foundation grants. Through partnerships spanning six Rotary clubs and three countries, Literacy Alive! reminds us how good Rotary is at creating systemic change. When our members’ passion meets Foundation support, we don’t just improve individual lives, we change entire communities. By supporting the Foundation, you can put your passion to work this month and every month.
