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....click here for online bulletins.
For my year as President, I plan to include two video links in each week’s Club Runner newsletter. The first link will be a video on Rotary International (“RI”). Likely topics will be videos of the RI president, members of the RI Board of Directors and other relevant Rotary related people and events. My goal in having this link is for our club to develop a more broad understanding of RI beyond our local club’s boundaries.
The second link will be a video of something fun that can be watched within a short period of time. When Bill Pritchard was our club president a few years ago, he spoke to us every month about a book. My observation was that most people were not taking the time to read those books. My idea is identical to Bill’s, but I am replacing his concept of a club sharing a book with video that will take 20 minutes or less to watch.
The first RI video that I have selected is a speech given by our RI president Barry Rassin for the 2018-19 Rotary year. He gave this speech in early 2018 to the RI District Governors.
The other video that I have selected is a TED talk. If you haven’t heard of TED talks before, their motto is “Ideas worth spreading”. They have put together over 2,800 talks designed “to stir your curiosity”. Beyond hoping to peak your curiosity, I have a few reasons for selecting a video for you to watch each week.
First, if you don’t know the people that you are sitting with, but you have all watched the video, then the table will have a common experience with which someone can utilize to start a conversation. Second, these videos can be interesting, educational, funny, and/or address many topics and issues that are relevant to our lives.
So why did I pick this particular TED talk? I have two main reasons. First, this video is inherently about design. With our Club designing a Centennial Coin, this video is immediately topical. Second, I really like flags. (Yes, this is a video about flags.) I actually believe that the right flag has the ability to spur world peace. Ask me about it sometime.
As a final note, if you have recommendations for future links in our newsletter, please email those to me. I love discovering new areas of interest from other people that I respect.
We will welcome our 2018-19 President Todd Restel. We have an exciting year ahead of us and Todd will give us an overview of what his goals and hopes are for the upcoming year. We will celebrate 100 years as a club on June 1, 2019!
We will have a Cameroon theme so come enjoy the fellowship, festivities and learn about our plans to make this a memorable year.
We also would like to have you turn in your pledge card at this meeting if you have not done so yet. Please see the message below from the Centennial Fundraising Committee.
Centennial Project Fundraiser - Growing Hearts Across the World.
Message from the Fundraising Committee: Lee Rasch, Kerstin Boudreau, Kenna Christians, Sue Durtsche, Mary Ann Gschwind, Chuck Hanson, Kathryn Sexauer, Mike Swenson, Jodi Widuch, Todd Restel, Katie Berkedal and Catherine Kolkmeier.
As you know, we are celebrating 100 years of Rotary service to our region with the Growing Hearts Across the World campaign. The campaign will culminate with the completion of the Cameroon Garden in Riverside Park in the summer of 2019. The Garden will honor the rich cultural traditions of Cameroon and provide a wonderful gathering place overlooking the area where the the “Three Rivers” meet. Most importantly, it will serve as a model for community and international service for the upcoming generations of Rotarians.
To date, we have received excellent support from Rotarians. But we have not yet heard from all of you. The next phase of the Growing Hearts Across the World campaign will be to the Seven Rivers Region community. It is very important to be able to state to the community at large that Rotarians are fully committed to Growing Hearts Across the World. Indeed, there is no better message than to state...every Rotarian in our Club contributed. We have asked members to consider a $100 contribution pledge for up to two years. However, your contribution at any level will count. Please turn in your pledge cards and contributions to Earlamae Dahlby at the July 12th meeting. If you are not able to attend, please send your pledge card and contribution to Lyn Sheffer at P.O. Box 1914, La Crosse, WI 54602-1914.
One hundred years of service by Rotary has had a profound impact on the lives of many in our region and throughout the world. Come join us in celebrating this service...and help set the stage for generations of Rotarians in the years to come.
We have dedicated a page on our web site for our Centennial year to keep members updated on our project. Click here to view.
If you would like more information, please contact Lee Rasch.
Our next STAR Meeting will be Thursday, July 12th We will meet at the Radisson Hotel in the Wisconsin Room 3 - 1st floor at 7:00 a.m. Please RSVP if you will be attending to Lyn at rotarylax@charter.net
ALL NEW members become a member of this committee for one year. This breakfast is hosted (no cost to the new members). The breakfast and presentation will last no longer than one hour and the meeting will count as a make-up. The STAR Committee, in addition to meeting other new members and some of the present membership will learn more about various aspects of the Club.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery: the exploitation of persons for commercial sex or forced labor without victims’ ability to leave the situation. Human trafficking is a growing problem in Wisconsin and has been discovered in more than half of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. There have already been 91 human trafficking cases reported this year in Wisconsin, and 261 calls that reference WI to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. (source: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/wisconsin)
Investigator Crystal Sedevie spoke to our club about human trafficking in our area. She has worked in law enforcement for 25 years, 19 of which have been with the Holmen Police Department. In 2006 Investigator Sedevie helped co-found the Coulee Region Children’s Internet Protection Task Force which is a county-wide, multi-disciplinary team dealing with the online victimization of children. She has investigated and assisted with numerous ICAC cases in WI as well as nationally and internationally.
OUR HUMANITARIAN COMMITTEE IS ASKING FOR DONATIONS TO HELP BRING A LITTLE COMFORT TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS BY DONATING PERSONAL CARE AND OTHER ITEMS AT OUR JULY 12TH AND JULY 19TH ROTARY MEETINGS. DONATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED TO NEW HORIZONS AND BREAKING FREE FOR DISTRIBUTION. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ITEMS.
Changing of the Guard
We would like to thank Jodi Widuch for her leadership this past year. She turned the gavel over to our 2018-19 President Todd Restel. Thanks to our Club Board of Directors and Rotary Works Board members for representing us this year.
Club Board Members were: Jodi Widuch, Todd Restel, Tami Woods, Rob Palmberg, Bruce Swanwick, David Amborn, Carol Abrahamzon, Sarah Arendt-Beyer, Andy Bakkum, Patt Boge, Matt Boschka, Greg Curti, Sue Durtsche, Jim Lewis, Steve Lindeman, Nick Passe, Pat Ruda.
Rotary Works Board Members were: Pat Ruda, Sue Durtsche, Craig Ubbelohde and Kelly Krieg-Sigman.
Our Rotarians of the Year were also recognized: Steve Lindeman and Steve O'Malley.
You are invited to the Open House Elmer Grassman's 92nd Birthday. Please click on the link below to attend or decline. You can also book family and friends.
Event:
Open House Elmer Grassman Birthday
Date:
Jul 17, 2018 4:30 PM - Jul 17, 2018 6:00 PM
Fee:
Location:
Bethany St. Joseph Care Center 2501 Shelby Road La Crosse, WI United States 54601
INA PINKNEY—AUTHOR, SPEAKER, RESTAURTEUR, FILM PRODUCER, AND MUCH MORE
INA PINKNEY WHO SURVIVED POLIO AS AN UNFANT, NOW SUFFERS THE EFFECTS OF POST-POLIO SYNDROME, HAS HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CAREER EMBODYING THE HUMAN SPIRIT IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.
INA WAS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE ROTARY TRICON IN THE WISCONSIN DELLS, MAY 5, 2018. SHE SPOKE ABOUT HER LIFE AS A POLIO SURVIVOR WHO NOT ONLY SURVIVED BUT THRIVED. HER MESSAGE IS AWE-INSPIRING!
Congrats to Rotarian Bill Hoel our new 2018-19 District Governor. Click here to view his bio on the District 6250 web site. Our District Web Site has a lot of information to keep you in the loop of what is happening in our District.
District 6250 2018-19
Assistant Governor Patt Boge
Rotarian Patt Boge is one of the District 6250 Assistant Governors. She will oversee Group 3 in our District that includes the following Rotary Clubs: La Crosse Valley View, Holmen, Onalaska, Onalaska Hilltoppers and Sparta.
Rotary International 2018-19
President Barry Rassin
Rotary International President Barry Rassin's theme this year is BE THE INSPIRATION. "We need to focus on larger projects that have a more lasting impact, taking the time to research and plan work that spans Rotary years and terms of office. Most important of all, we need to BE THE INSPIRATION for positive change, inspiring our clubs, and communities, and our organization to face today's challenges head on, with courage, optimism, and creativity.
Rotary Friendship Exchange...The Rotary Friendship Exchange program gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to host and visit Rotarians around the world. In addition to experiencing other cultures and making lasting friendships, an exchange provides a strong foundation for carrying out other international activities and service projects. The primary goal of a Friendship Exchange is to build greater international understanding and goodwill among Rotarians and their families. In addition, exchange participants can learn how their vocations are practiced in other parts of the world, observe new customs and cultures, and promote an appreciation of cultural diversity worldwide.
We are happy to inform you and members of your club and district the formal opening of our project GG1759519 at Pattamadai village on 17/06/18.
The district governor of our rotary district 3212 will be the chief guest. As informed to you we have started construction early in order to complete the project before this term ends. We have completed construction of 10 toilets and for the balance 26, construction is progressing. We plan to complete the whole project by end of July 18. We would love to have you amidst us when we open the facility in part to the beneficiaries. I’ll update you when the project complete in full shape.
A formal invitation is attached. Please inform all concerned in your club and district. Our special thanks to all Rotarians of lacrosse Valley view and downtown clubs and district officials of 6250.
Erin Bagniewski is from La Crosse and in the past 18 months when working in Africa she became a Rotarian there. Jodi Widuch gave a banner to her father (Jim Bagniewski in La Crosse) who gave it to Erin when they visited her. Erin visited as a Visiting Rotarian at our club and presented her club's banner. Cool!
We are teaming up with the Riverfest Commodores with a fundraiser. They are selling raffle tickets to benefit their Riverfest Commodore Foundation, Inc....each ticket is $10 or 3 for $25....every ticket we sell we will get $5.......1st Place is Four Club Seats to the Packers/Buffalo game on September 30th...includes a 6 passenger limo service to and from the game.....2nd - 5th price click here to view.Each ticket comes with a FREE Exterior Basic Wash at Ship Shape or Quick N'Clean coupon worth $8. We hope you will not only buy a ticket but take a pack of tickets to sell to your friends, co-workers, etc. We will use the money through-out the year for our projects. Please help us make this fundraiser a success. Pick up your tickets this week at Rotary.
PICK UP A PACK AND SELL THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS! Drawing will be Monday, September 10th at 7 pm at Shenanigan's. If you are not a member of our club and would like to purchase a ticket..email rotarylax@charter.net and we will connect with you.
GREETING CARDS BY ANITA - QUARTERLY REPORT...Anita Froegel sent a check for $250 to Rotary Works from the second quarter card sales. Thank you to all who support this fundraiser....special thanks to Anita for her creative talent and time in making each card. Reminder if you would like to have a personal card made you can contact Anita at..anitafroegel@centurytel.net
The Avenues of Service Dinner will be Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at WTC - Lunda Center. The social and basket raffle will begin at 5:30 and the dinner and program at 6:30. Cost will be $2o for Downtown Rotarians and $35 for guests. FLYER
We will recognize the hard work of our area clubs and honor the area's outstanding Rotarians. Our club will recognize our Rotarians of the Year - Steve Lindeman and Steve O'Malley.
Please register at our upcoming meetings or online....PLEASE NOTE your meal choice. Lemon Herb Chicken, Burgundy Petite Tender of Beef or Aspargus Gnocchi. If you do not indicate meal choice we will select chicken for you.
Every year the nine area Rotary Clubs gather for a celebration of club projects and honor members that have lived the Service Above Self motto. Clubs will also honor their Rotarians of the Year. This year our Avenues of Service Banquet will be Tuesday, August 14 at the Lunda Center at WTC. The celebration will begin at 5:30 with a social. This is a fundraiser for our Rotary Works Foundation. We hope you will save the date. It is a great night of fellowship and celebration. More information will come closer to the date.
We are now looking for nominations. Please click on the forms below for more information.
Happy Birthday Pete Eversole (honorary) July 1 Jamie O'Neill - July 3 Candice Tlustosch - July 5 Mark Jolivette - July 6 Mike Swenson - July 6 Tim Durtsche - July 7 Dan Howes - July 9 Patt Boge - July 10 John Honadel - July 10 Roger Sanford - July 11
Happy Wedding Anniversary Wendell (Jamie) Snodgrass - July 1 Herb (Barbara) Heili (honorary) - July 2 Glena (Stephen) Temple - July 7 Tom (Jean) Thompson - July 9 Katie (Sam) Berekedal - July 10 Tara (Tim) Johnson - July 12 Mike (Karen) Desmond - July 14 Ileme (Tom) Kernozek - July 14
Happy Rotary Anniversary Thad Anderson - July 3 - 4 years Todd Wilson - July 3 - 15 years Marv Davis - July 7 - 35 years
ROTARY ATTENDANCE June 7 - 52% June 14 - 58% June 21 - 65% June 28 - 60%
Rotary Attendance policy is to attend or makeup at least 50% of the club meetings during the first six months and the second six months. They can be done by: • Attending regular club meetings • Making up meetings at other Rotary Clubs ( which includes E-Clubs) • Engaging in club projects/events/fellowship/board meetings.
100% Attendance Winners July - Miranda TerBeest August - Sue Durtsche September - Tim Durtsche October - Jamie Capuzzi November - Wendell Snodgrass December - Al Louis January - David Amborn February - Lyn Sheffer March- Petra Roter April - Lee Rasch
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 Membership is 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. 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 of $76 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.
Please note: Raffle, Fines, Birthday, Anniversaries and Scooters are all donations that will go to the club If you are making a donation and would like it to go to the Rotary Works Foundation or Rotary International Foundation, we ask that you write a check to the Foundation of your choice.
June 28th: Raffle $39: Fines $15: Scooters $10: Scrip $60
If you would like to volunteer for Rotarians in the News, be a greeter, a hospitality greeter, raffle ticket seller, scrip seller or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Duty Roster Coordinator that are listed above....just click on their name. If you would like to give your classification talk please contact Program Committee Chair Andy Bakkum.