Events

Shannon Kummerow, Executive Director of The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection, will shine a light on the vital work of our LGBTQ+ Center, focusing on exploring the programs and services we offer—from youth support and mental health resources to inclusive events, education, and advocacy. Learn how our center supports LGBTQ+ individuals and families, strengthens community connections, and fosters a culture of acceptance and equality. Whether you're looking to get involved, learn more, or simply show your support, this is a chance to better understand the challenges and triumphs of our local LGBTQ+ community—and how we can grow together.

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration founded the Franciscan Spirituality Center four decades ago as a place for spiritual development, offering opportunities for prayer experiences, retreats, spiritual direction and open discussion. We’ve grown and evolved over the years to meet changing needs, but our core mission has remained the same: We are dedicated to ALL who seek God, meaning and wholeness and we create spaces for community, connection and compassionate listening.  Come and learn more about what the FSC offers to individuals, the community, and beyond!

Jean has been a part of the FSC team since 2017. Her first role was as the program and retreat coordinator. She earned her Master of Divinity from Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and her Bachelor of Arts in social work from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She has extensive training in crisis response, community-based organizing and effective communication, as well as significant fundraising and grant-writing experience. Jean serves on the boards of YWCA and Scouts BSA and is also on the Advisory Committee for Great Rivers 2-1-1. She lives in Onalaska with her husband, Matt; their children, Logan and Lydia; and Labrador Retriever, Scout.

Join Karen and Duane on their adventure to the Serengeti, the School of St. Jude, and Mount Kilimanjaro.  Their careers in academia led them to journeys throughout Europe, China, India, and Russia, all of them dwarfed by their travel to Tanzania, Africa in the Spring of 2022.  In the Serengeti they witnessed lions, elephants, giraffes and zebras by the hundreds, colorful birds, monkeys of all varieties, and thousands of wildebeests crossing the countryside during annual migration.  At the School of St. Jude they were entertained by incredibly talented children, learned how to weave and drum, dined on beans and rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and fell in love with bright, young, enthusiastic children eager to learn and challenged to lead their people out of poverty.  At Kilimanjaro they slept with native people, ate goat and rice prepared on three stone firepits, and witnessed how to make the most of life in the village with smiles, laughter, and joyous conversation.  Karen and Duane are now enthusiastic supporters of St. Jude and enjoy bringing other Rotarians to Africa to share these same life changing experiences.

Karen and Duane were born in the Midwest.  Their careers led them to appointments in Michigan, Washington, D.C., Arizona, and South Dakota.  Living in the Black Hills, Duane joined Rotary in Rapid City.  After retiring from academia, Duane and Karen moved to Sparta, Wisconsin, almost exactly between grandchildren in Milwaukee and the Twin Cities.  Karen and Duane joined the Thursday Luncheon Rotary Club shortly after moving to the LaCrosse area in 2023.  “We’ve had an exciting life and want to share these experiences with others through contributions to Rotary.” Karen is retired from two careers.  She was geologist/geophysist, employed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. She was also a secondary school teacher (7^th grade!) in Houghton, Flagstaff and Rapid City.  Duane is retired from a 45 year career as a tenured full professor in mechanical engineering, physics and chemistry with research in high pressure combustion.  He served as Dean of Engineering at three institutions. 

Hello! I'm Henry from Holmen WI. When I was a sophomore, I approached my parents about going abroad. Shortly after I turned 16, I was on an international flight to Sweden, sponsored by the Downtown Rotary Club. I've returned for my senior year of high school. I had a fantastic experience and my families survived without me, even though there were doubts. I picked up new hobbies, made some amazing friends, and I can't wait to tell you about it in more detail on my 17th birthday!  

Highlights from the Rotary International Convention in Calgary 2025- shared from several perspectives from Bud Hammes, Todd, Eva Marie, and Joel Restel, Dean and Nancy McHugh, and Regina Siegel.

Meet PBS Wisconsin Director of Television Jon Miskowski and learn how public media was invented in Wisconsin. Jon will discuss how immersive media is reinventing PBS Wisconsin’s work and will share previews of new programs, including THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

Around the world, millions of adolescent girls want to stay in school, but face complex barriers that go far beyond access. From the lack of menstrual supplies and stigma around periods, to the threat of early marriage, sexual violence, and deep-rooted gender norms, these challenges can interrupt education and limit opportunity. In this presentation, Virginia Terry, VP of External Relations at Girl Rising, will share what keeps girls out of the classroom, and what it takes to change that.

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.

Outside of work, Alex is an active volunteer with organizations including Oktoberfest USA, LADCO, Rotary Club of La Crosse Downtown, Mobile Meals, La Crosse Community Theater Advisory Board, Clearwater Farm, and his family’s farm in Tomah.

A native of Tomah, Wisconsin, Alex holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and an MBA from Viterbo University.

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.

Bill Soper has been part of the YMCA movement for over 40 years, beginning as a day camp counselor and youth sports coach at the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties in Fargo, North Dakota. After graduating from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree, he accepted his first full-time role with the YMCA of Delaware. He later returned to North Dakota to serve as CEO of the James River Family YMCA in Jamestown.

Since 1995, Bill has served as CEO of the La Crosse Area Family YMCA, working with a mission-driven team focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. During this time, the La Crosse Y has grown from 4,400 to 24,000 members, expanded to two full-facility branches, and developed strong partnerships across the community—including a strong and robust relationship with Emplify Health.

Bill has also served in volunteer leadership roles with the YMCA of the USA and the Upper Midwest Alliance of Ys. He and his wife, Ellen, are parents of four children and grandparents to five—all living in the La Crosse community.

The Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam and Laos are exceptionally rich both culturally and biologically. The lush forests, productive farmlands, and other natural resources of this area attracted French colonialists, played important roles in the Vietnam and Secret Wars of the 1950s to 1970s, and are currently the subject of international investment and global commodity trading. Interactions with the United States and other countries have left an indelible mark on the politics, environment, and people of Vietnam and Laos, and the impacts of war have affected individuals and shaped populations in the U.S., including La Crosse. In May, 2025, I joined two Hmong-American colleagues on a research trip to Vietnam and Laos, in preparation for a UW-La Crosse faculty-sponsored study program (open to both UWL students and outside participants) that will begin in summer, 2026. In this presentation, I will describe how our intersecting histories and research areas, as well as a deep network of partnerships with non-governmental organizations and academic researchers doing critical humanitarian and environmental work in Vietnam and Laos, led to life-changing insights in ourselves and a unique study and service program that promises to positively change the lives of its participants.

Dr. Todd Osmundson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. A geneticist, mycologist (fungal biologist), and conservation biologist by training, Dr. Osmundson studied at Carleton College, the University of Montana, Montana State University, Columbia University, and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley before coming to UWL in 2013. He has conducted international field research in Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Mexico, Svalbard, Thailand, and the United States, in tropical, temperate, arctic, and alpine habitats, in an attempt to better understand the global distributions, evolutionary and migrational histories, and ecology of fungi. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2020-2021 Statewide Waste Characterization Study found that wasted food and food scraps made up 20% of trash going to Wisconsin landfills. This amounts to approximately 854,000 tons annually, or 294 pounds per person, in Wisconsin during the study period. The study estimated that more than three-quarters of this food could have been consumed.  A 2025 study from the EPA found that the cost of food waste to each U.S. consumer is $728 per year. When food goes in the trash, so do resources, time, and money.

In this presentation, Ruth aims to raise awareness on the scale of food waste and how it impacts the climate. Ruth will provide zero cost solutions so that consumers can manage food more effectively and prevent good food from going bad. We’ll save some money and reduce our environmental footprint. 

Ruth O’Donnell has been working in the environmental protection field for over 30 years working in both the private and public sectors. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy with an emphasis on waste management from UW-Green Bay.  Ruth most recently worked at the Wisconsin DNR as an Organic Waste Management Specialist working on a project funded by an EPA grant to reduce per-capita food waste disposed of in Wisconsin landfills by 50% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.  Recently retired, Ruth is reconnecting with her love of gardening, riding bikes with her husband and tending to her two compost bins!

Join Sam Scinta, the new CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, along with the Chamber's Workforce Strategies Director Lauren Harris, for a conversation about the La Crosse Chamber, where it has been, and importantly, where it is going in 2026 and beyond. We will discuss the mission of the Chamber and why the Chamber is so excited about the future of the La Crosse region, with a sneak preview of some upcoming programs.     

Sam Scinta was recently named CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce. He has been a Lecturer in the Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a Lecturer in the History Department at Viterbo University. He is the creator, in partnership with Viterbo's Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership, of Rebuilding American Civics, a program providing civics education and a space for civil discourse for community members, and Civics and Cinema, in partnership with the Rivoli Theater. For over 25 years, he served as editor and publisher for an independent book publisher, and was the founder of a nonprofit focusing on critical thinking and civil discourse within regional high schools. He received his JD from the University of Denver, and has served on several boards in the Western Wisconsin region.

Lauren Harris is Workforce Strategies Director at the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the First Friend Newcomer Connection Program as part of the region's talent attraction and retention efforts. Partnering with more than 30 area employers, she welcomes job candidates and new hires through providing personalized community tours and building connections to area residents and organizations. 

In this powerful keynote, Heidi Siefkas, resilience expert and TEDx speaker, reveals five transformative habits every business leader needs —not only survive change— but thrive through it. Sharing her personal restarts and leadership lessons, Heidi equips entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives with practical tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and courage.

Key takeaways include:

• How to tap into the power of perspective and Look Up under pressure.
• Why building a culture of reinvention fosters innovation and growth.
• How to use transparency to build trust in your organization.
• How to lead through change by bouncing forward, embracing the new normal.
• How curiosity and risk-taking (aka “adventure”) fuels creative problem-solving.

As a special treat, several local contributors to her latest book will be joining at the end for a Q&A: Tom Thibodeau, Amy Becker and Mariah Forster Olson.

Heidi Siefkas is an author, speaker, and adventurer. Originally from the La Crosse, Wisconsin area, she now calls Nashville, Tennessee, home. She has authored four books: When All Balls Drop, With New Eyes, Cubicle to Cuba and Look Up. Heidi has delivered TEDx Talks, including “Overcoming Obstacles and Evolving to Life 2.0” and “The Life Hack the Gurus Don’t Tell You About.” Resilience is a vital component for effective leadership. You won’t want to miss this opportunity!

Pedro Mascaró Merino is our 2025/26 youth exchange student from Argentina. He is from the province of Tucumán which is in the far northwest corner of Argentina where weather is always warm, year-round. He has embraced his year in La Crosse already traveling to Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago with his host family and taking a full load of classes at Logan High School with band and American football. 

Like many of the 8,000 – 10,000 rotary youth exchange students each year, world-wide, Pedro is an ambassador for his country to not only us as Rotarians, but everyone he meets with his host families and at school. And, like wise, we get to share our culture and daily lives with Pedro. It is truly a chance to build international relationships at a personal level. 

Now that Pedro has been here about 3 months, we will have a chance to get to know him better. We will learn about his family and living in Argentina as well as some of his first impressions and experiences in La Crosse. It is a pleasure to welcome Pedro to our Rotary family. 

November is Foundation month throughout the Rotary world.  Today we will be handing out our pledge forms, asking our members to involve themselves in the work that Rotarians do around the world and in our own community.  The three places we invite your giving will include the Rotary International Annual Fund, often called the RI Foundation for short; the Polio Plus campaign that is the work of Rotarians worldwide; and our own area Rotary Works Foundation.  With special guest Erin Luken, our District 6250 Foundation chairperson, we will hear more about the work of RI that is supported by our gifts.  We will cap this presentation off with the awarding of Paul Harris Fellows, honoring significant contributions to our joint endeavors through the Annual Fund and Polio Plus.

At a time when our nation is facing an epidemic of loneliness, when communities are suffering from loss of trust, low levels of engagement, despair, and political polarization, what if the answer to many of our problems lies in a simple idea? What if we just need to pay attention to the places where we find ourselves?

Rick Kyte is a Professor of Ethics and Director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He writes a regular column appearing in over 70 newspapers nationwide and appears weekly on “The Ethical Life” podcast hosted by Scott Rada. He is a long-time member of the Rotary Club of La Crosse and serves on the boards of Coulee Region Trout Unlimited, LeaderEthics, and the La Crosse Area Community Foundation. His latest book, Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way), was published in 2024.