We will be “PASSING THE HAT” for our Pickleball for Polio raffle baskets this week.
THANK YOU in advance!
This Week: Bill Soper, YMCA: Strengthening our Community
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.
Last Week: John DeDakis,
Writing as a Way to Heal
Pain is a natural part of life, whether it’s the loss of a job, a marriage, a pet, a friendship, your innocence, your health, or a loved one. John DeDakis witnessed a car-train collision that killed three people, lost his sister to suicide, and endured the death of his youngest son because of an accidental heroin overdose. Even though death is a part of life, it doesn’t have to be crippling or debilitating. In this presentation, John will share strategies—including journaling and storytelling—to help you move forward, through and beyond the pain and into a future that can once again be filled with hope—and even joy.
Grief and loss are subtexts in all six of John’s award-winning mystery/suspense/thriller novels, two of which are set in southern Wisconsin. Some scenes in his novel Bluff are set on Grandad’s. John grew up in La Crosse but now lives in Baltimore. His father, attorney N. George DeDakis, was the president of the downtown Rotary Club in 1961. John is a former White House correspondent and former editor on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” John is currently a writing coach, manuscript editor, podcaster, and rank amateur jazz drummer.
Lunch this week: Cheeseburger with lettuce/tomato, with kettle chips and a pickle
Coffee, ice tea, and water available.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnl if know you are bringing guests but last minute invites are also welcome!
Rotary Quarter 2 Invoices
All Quarter 2 invoices have been emailed. Please let Niki Pohnl know if you did not receive one.
Paula Lofstrom, Founder and Operations Director, International Health Partners
Paula Lofstrom, Founder and Operations Director, for International Health Partners will be speaking at a number of Rotary Meetings and Church Services in the La Crosse area in October. Rotary Clubs throughout the U.S. have supported International Health Partners for over 20 years helping to open three health care facilities in Tanzania, East Africa and now IHP is building a fourth hospital.
All are invited to attend any of the events listed below. The story is truly inspirational.
Sunday, October 12, Looney Valley Church, Houston, MN, regular services
Tuesday Oct. 14, 5:30 pm- Rotary Club After Hours Rotary - La Crosse, The Main
Wednesday Oct. 15, 7:30 am - La Crosse Valley View Rotary, Onalaska YMCA
Friday Oct. 17, 7:00 am - La Crescent Rotary Club, Corky's Pizza, La Crescent, MN
Sunday Oct. 19, North Presbyterian Church, La Crosse, regular service
Welcome to Week ONE of RI’s Month of Economic & Community Development.
Nadowli, Ghana – The Rotary Club of Wa commissioned six water facilities for six communities in three districts of the Upper West Region to help improve access to potable water. Over 7,000 people, especially women and girls in those communities have been relieved from the drudgery in accessing potable water, especially in the dry season.
The beneficiary communities, hitherto, either depended on dugouts and wells for water or trekked long distances to access water for domestic use. Women and girls were the most affected in the water access challenge in those communities as they were responsible for providing water for their families. However, the intervention by the Rotary Club of Wa, with funding from a Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation, has alleviated the water access challenge in those communities, restoring dignity in water access and use.
The expression of joy and thanksgiving among the people of the beneficiary communities during the commissioning was an indication of the long-awaited relief they anticipated: Madam Clementia Saamaala, a resident, showing her appreciation at the Nadowli-Ganga community during the commissioning, said it had saved them from resorting to dugout for water, which exposed them to waterborne diseases. At the Bussie-Nayirkori community, Madam Christian Boyor said women used to go through a lot of challenges in accessing water for their families, including waking up at dawn to queue at a well at the community for water. “We used to wake up at dawn, by 4 A.M., to queue at the well for water … It used to generate quarrels among the women here. But with this borehole that Rotary Club has given us, you can wake up at any time and come and you will get water to fetch. It has also helped end the petty quarrels among the women”, she explained.
