Speakers

Like communities across the country, the lack of child care has been such a challenge for both parents who want to work and employers who want to hire them. The La Crosse area is unique because local thought-leaders have implemented creative solutions that are increasing child care availability. A panel of representatives from The Parenting Place, VARC and La Crosse County Human Services will share their innovative approaches that are addressing the need for accessible child care in La Crosse County.

 

Learn about the progress being made by the Pathways Home team and community partners to build the systems required to end our homelessness crisis.

Area youth will warm the chilly winter air by sharing their gifts of merriment and song during the Rotary Club of La Crosse's annual talent showcase.

Special thanks to Katie Berkedal and Alex Attardo for organizing our program again this year.

THE PURPOSE OF ROTARY LIGHTS, INC. IS TO FEED THE HUNGRY OF THE COULEE REGION 

https://www.rotarylights.org/

The annual Rotary Lights display began in 1995 and has grown tremendously since then due to the fantastic support from the greater La Crosse community.

Pat Stephens has partnered with incredible volunteers and volunteer organizations since then and now, nearly 130,000 visitors per year enjoy this holiday tradition while driving, walking or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park.

At our meeting, the past year's illumination of the downtown waterfront and some of the people who helped make it a success will be celebrated with checks to multiple organizations.

Pat Stephens retired in 2013 from UW-L after many years in leadership with its Foundation.  He is the "Irish Man of the Year", an Iverson-Freking Ecumenical award recipient, long-time leader of Freedom Fest, recipient of Viterbo University's Pope John XXIII award and the driving force behind many community fund raisers and community events.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, you’ll hear what it was like to be a kid in a small village while the war raged in the nearby countryside.  Tan Pham will talk about the stroke of luck that allowed him (at age 12) and his immediate family to escape shortly before the fall of Saigon.

You’ll be moved by Tan’s experience of joy when he was finally able to return to Vietnam and to see his grandparents for the first time in 20 years; and you’ll gain an understanding of how the country has grown since the war ended and the military presence left.

Tan is the owner of Cuisine Adventure Tours and at least twice a year takes inspired visitors to see his homeland.