Lee Rasch and Mike Swenson will discuss another amazing International project for our club!  Sister Eileen MCKenzie, President of FSPA, will also join the presentaiton.  She lived in Cameroon for a number of years and she has been actively involved wit the Common Venture...the FSPA collaboration to support community efforts in Cameroon.

Great to have another classification scheduled wtih Jamie Capuzzi.  Jamie's classification is "restaurant owner" and she has been a member of our club since November of 2016.  Her club sponsor is Angela Czerwindski!

Robert Abraham started his career in law enforcement in 1990 as a Police Cadet for the City of La Crosse, WI Police Department.  In 1993, he was appointed as a police officer with the Onalaska, WI Police Department, where he spent 13 months before returning to the La Crosse Police Department as a police officer.

During his time as a La Crosse police officer, Asst. Chief Abraham served two years as a full-time School Resource Officer.  Additionally, he worked assignments as a patrol officer on the midnight shift, where he functioned as a Field Training Officer, Defensive and Arrest Tactics Instructor, and Firearms Instructor.

In 1997, Asst. Chief Abraham was appointed as a Community Policing Specialist dedicated to problem-solving community issues. He also served on the La Crosse Police Department’s Emergency Response Team for eight years.

Asst. Chief Abraham rose quickly through the ranks, being promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 1998, Patrol Lieutenant in 2002, and Police Captain in 2005.

In 2011, he was promoted to the rank of Asst. Chief, serving under Chief Edward Kondracki.

Asst. Chief Abraham holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and an Associate Degree in Police Science.  Asst. Chief Abraham is a graduate of the 267^th Session of the FBI National Academy. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command Class # 251 and the Wisconsin Certified Public Managers program.  He has served as an instructor for the Wisconsin State Patrol Police Corps and as an adjunct instructor for Western Technical College.  Asst. Chief Abraham is a certified assessor for the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group.  Asst. Chief Abraham is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and a former member of this club.

President Andy as been talking to Creston Valley Rotary Club, British Columbia, Canada about a "club meeting exchange" after Dave Handy (their Club President) took a liking to Andy's published Rotary Moment videos.  Rotary Club of La Crosse will be the program at one of their meetings (all will get an invite) and on this day we will learn about their Club, customs, community and important work.  Should be fun!

https://portal.clubrunner.ca/928

More details to come but it's always fun to recognize our commited club members!

Jamie Korn from the Family & Children's Center (FCC) will share information about their earliy intervention and prevention work being done regarding child abuse in our community!   Every April is dedicated to creating awareness about child abuse.

Each year, many children have their lives altered by the devedstating effects of child abuse.  Stepping Stones and Matty's Place, FCC program sites, are a safe and comfortable place where children are interviewed about possible abuse and neglect.  The experienced staff will work to put the children at ease and make them feel comfortable, all while singificantly reducing the trauma and stress experienced by the children and their families during the investigative phase.

Our CAC's mission is to serve children who are reported to be victims of maltreatment.  As part of a regional, multidisciplinary collaborative team that investigates these reports, Stepping Stones will strive to preserve the dignity and spirit of the child by assisting, supporting and educating families and the community.

Jamie Korn joined Family & Children’s Center in February of 2017, bringing significant experience from the nonprofit sector in development, marketing and campaign management. She has over 10 years experience from the private sector in sales and operational management. Jamie oversees all functions of the development office at Family & Children’s Center including but not limited to public relations, marketing support, events, grants, donor cultivation and major gifts. Her leadership in the department drives FCC’s mission forward by strengthening community connections and promoting programming. Korn holds a bachelor of science in organizational management from Viterbo University.   

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have had a big impact on healthcare and education in the Coulee Region. One of their gifts to the community was the Franciscan Spirituality Center, a nonprofit organization which opened 37 years ago in a wing of St. Rose Convent. The Center welcomes people of all faiths and no faith in its mission to promote peace and goodness. In this presentation Audrey will explain how the Center's programs and services impact the health and well-being of people living in La Crosse and in over 20 states and Canada. She'll also update us on the Center's transition to becoming a part of the FSPA's legacy and the exciting renovations to their facility.

Audrey Lucier is the director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse and a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. She has advanced degrees in public health (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse) and theology (St. John's University, Collegeville, MN) and occasionally leads programs at the Center.

This is expected to be a third in a series of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) updates brought to us by the DEI Committee.

More information to come but Vicki Markussen is expected to be at the club to discuss "Engage Greater La Crosse."

Conservation. Education. Community.

The WisCorps mission is to develop leadership, self-confidence, and a strong work ethic in youth and young adults through the active stewardship of Wisconsin’s communities and natural resources. WisCorps, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) conservation corps headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin that engages youth and young adults in two areas: conservation projects and nature education.

Matthew Brantner is the Executive Director of WisCorps and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  He got his start in conservation corps programs as a Crew Leader and eventual Program Manager for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps in 2005. In 2009, after four years with the corps in Vermont, he worked with a small group of dedicated individuals to bring a conservation corps back to Wisconsin by founding WisCorps.

In addition to loving his role at WisCorps, Matthew is an avid outdoorsperson who loves camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, and cycling.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters on their small farm where they garden and care for the land.