The meeting portion of the program will be reviewing the 2025-2026 Club Goals.
The even MORE fun part of the meeting is presented to you by the Games Committee (Andy Bakkum, Michael Quam, Alex Attardo, Katie Berkedal, Niki Pohnl, Shy Jackson, Jeanne Meyer, Erin Kujak, Nell Saunders-Scott, Sarah Arendt-Beyer, and Lauren Journot).
BRING DOLLAR BILLS! You are going to want to “tip the best performers” as they perform.
Last Week: Shawn Giblin, DNR
Shawn Giblin is the Mississippi River Water Quality Specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A Brice Prairie native, he developed a deep connection to the Mississippi River through early years spent hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, camping, and canoeing on the river. Before joining the Wisconsin DNR in 2006, Shawn worked with the University of Wisconsin–Center for Limnology, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands. His research focuses on channel connectivity and its influence on water quality, drivers of water clarity, ecological thresholds affecting free-floating plants and algae, interactions among water quality, fish and wildlife populations, pesticides and emerging contaminants, and climate change adaptation.
Please keep Mark Solyst and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of their oldest child, Matthew/Chara, who currently resided in North Carolina. We have no further details on arrangements at this time. Feel free to reach out to Mark during this most challenging times.
Fantasy Football
Passe Repeats as Winner: Congratulations to Nick Passe as he repeats as champion of the Rotary Fantasy Football League, and is a three-time winner! Nick defeated Al Louis for bragging rights, and the right to direct where the scholarship funds go.
Scholarship Named in Memory of David Johnston: Nick has selected La Crosse Central High School to receive the $500 for a student scholarship. Last year’s recipient, Celeste Mrozek, is attending the University of Minnesota. The scholarship is funded by the twelve participants in the league. Rotarian David Johnston was a participant in this league, and David passed away in November. David had served as assistant superintendent of the La Crosse School District for twenty-two years, and, after un-retiring, served as superintendent of the Viroqua School District for five years. A suggestion was made to name the scholarship in memory of David, and therefore the scholarship will be given as the “Rotary Club of La Crosse Fantasy Football League’s David Johnston Memorial Scholarship”.
Want to participate? The Rotary Fantasy Football League has twelve participants. Vacancies are filled on first come, first served basis. With David’s passing there will be at least one spot open in the league for the 2026 season. League participants are given the option to continue from year to year. The cost is $42 per person, to fund the scholarship. We have a draft/happy hour before the season, and use the ESPN Fantasy Football website to manage the league. If you would like to participate for league bragging rights, and directing a scholarship, contact league commissioner, Craig Ubbelohde or catch him at a meeting.
New Member Proposal
The following community member has been proposed to become a member of our club:
Leah Tanke, School Counselor at La Crescent School District, proposed by Steve Tanke.
According to club procedure, applicant names are to be published in our weekly email bulletin for two weeks. If there are no objections from the current membership, these applications will be approved. Please contact the Club Administrator if you object to these applications by January 27th.
FM’s report this week, comes straight from the desk of Claudia Catherine, editor of The Boca Raton Tribune, who reveals that, Ravindra Chamaria, a Kolkata-based real estate developer and chairperson of the Infinity Group has committed $50 million (USD) to The Rotary Foundation. This gift represents the largest single individual contribution in the foundation’s 107-year history, signaling a significant shift in how high-net-worth individuals in emerging economies are engaging with global humanitarian organizations to address systemic domestic challenges. As published in Rotary International, the historic pledge will be facilitated through the Ravindra Chamaria Foundation. The funds are earmarked for large-scale projects focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as education and healthcare initiatives. Mr. Chamaria, who has been a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Old City for over 20 years, cited the organization’s rigorous transparency and its demonstrated ability to execute complex, multi-decade missions—such as the global campaign to eradicate polio—as the primary motivations for his record-breaking support. The scale of this donation arrives as India continues to grapple with infrastructure demands and public health disparities. As published in Rotary International, Mr. Chamaria’s contribution is intended to catalyze long-term change, moving beyond temporary relief toward sustainable development. Mark Maloney, the trustee chair of The Rotary Foundation, described the gift as “monumental,” noting that it sets a new precedent for how private wealth can be leveraged through established non-profit networks to achieve measurable social impact. Historically, The Rotary Foundation has relied on a vast network of smaller donors to fund its international grants. However, the sheer volume of Mr. Chamaria’s commitment reflects a growing trend of “big-bet” philanthropy in South Asia. On January 13 2026, two such “big-bet” philanthropists, Ravishankar and Paola Dakoju of The Rotary Club of Bangalore also pledged a sum of $50 million to TRF.
The Rotary Club of La Crosse Board of Directors meets the second Monday of each month from 11:30am-1:00pm.
All club members are welcome to submit agenda items, project proposals, new member proposals, and project updates by the first Monday of the month to the Club Administrator.
Mar. 20, 2026 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (UTC-05:00)
Spring Egg Roll Sale!
Our team of Rotarians will work beside the Hmong Culture and Community volunteers on their exciting Eggroll Fundraiser. We can volunteer to prepare eggrolls or assist with sales. (You can also help the fundraiser by purchasing the eggrolls!
Several shifts available to prep and sell through out the day.
This fundraiser will help the Hmong community fund community projects. Let's come together for great food and positive changes!
Wear your Rotary volunteer shirt! If you don't have one already, reach out to Niki Pohnl to get one.
428 Front Street South
