Celebrating Women's Month - Some of our Women in Rotary!
This Week: Alan Anderson - The Climate Threat, The Climate Threat and Rotary's Good Work in the World
Alan has been a Rotarian for many years and is a member of the Northfield, MN club of 148 members. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of Rotary International’s Environmental Sustainability Action Group (ESRAG). In 2017 he & several friends started a Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT) in his club. Over the last several years, he has presented on climate change to over 180 church, school, business, fraternal and senior organizations, including 78 Rotary clubs.
In Oct. 2012, Alan and his wife Deb attended the Nobel conf. at Gustavus Adolphus College, on the health of our oceans, with some of the top scientists in the field, making presentations. This inspired Alan to take an on-line college course from MIT, on the Science of Climate Change, and begin giving public education talks on the subject.
He and his wife, Debbie, have been married 50 yrs, and have two grown kids, and five little grandchildren, who focus his concern on the health of the planet we will leave to them.
Last Week: Pat Stephens, Rotary Lights Award Presentation
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 were celebrated with checks to multiple organizations.
Lunch this week: Mushroom, Feta, Asparagus Quiche with a side salad.
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!
Hospitalizations
Keep Marv Davis in your thoughts and prayers as he was hospitalized yesterday and had a pace maker put in today (Monday). Reach out to Marv with well wishes.
TriCon
TriCon is April 25-26 in Brookfield, WI and we could love for you to join us there! As a member of the three represented districts (6220, 6250, 6270), we invite you to come together for a weekend of lively discussion, educational sessions, and tons of fun and networking. Come and be inspired by the plenary speakers and be exposed to the true breadth and depth of Rotary International through the many breakout sessions. We have 12 people registered from our club so far and our delegate spots are fulfilled. Please note that pricing will go up at the end of the week so REGISTER NOW if you can go!
Welcome New Members!
We welcome the following new members to the Rotary Club of La Crosse (listed in order of appearance in the picture):
Kahtan Al-Kaissy - Local Account Manager for Trane, engaged to be married in July, sponsored by Ryan Geister
Chad Dull - CEO for La Crosse Area Community Foundation, sponsored by Lauren Journot
Julie Kramer - Aptiv Director of Development, previously a member of Rotary Club of Harrisburg, PA, sponsored by Jenny Felty
Leo Ris - retired, moved her from Texas, previously a member of Rotary Club of McAllen, sponsored by Pat Ruda
Jodie Visker - Self-Employed Consultant, Founder of Onalaska School Gardens, sponsored by Kyle Visker
Proposed Members
The following community member has been proposed to become members of our club:
Mark Huesmann, La Crosse Clerk of Court Judge, proposed by Scott Horne
Julie Lemon, Western Tech Coll, Director of Mktg, Comms, & Legis Advocacy, proposed by Roger Stanford
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 March 25th
Our club will be the ushers for tonight's performance of Steel Magnolias. Volunteer opportunities include taking tickets, helping with seating, handing out programs, 50/50 raffle ticket sellers, and Will Call ticket distribution. Attire: Rotary volunteer t-shirt. Come out and support the La Crosse Community Theater! Volunteers see the show for FREE this evening!
Note: You don't have to be a Rotarian to sign up. Feel free to sign a friend or family member up if you wish!
This simulator offers community members the opportunity to be sensitized to the realities faced by individuals with low incomes. In the simulations, participants are assigned an identity and a family for one "month." During four 15-minute "weeks," participants try to navigate daily life on the family's low-income budget, with the goal of retaining shelter and meeting basic needs.
The opportunity is in partnership with the Rotary Club of La Crosse DEI Committee.
Note: Volunteering is open to Rotary members only.
Note: Participation is open to Rotary members first and community members thereafter.
iFeed is a food packing event sponsored by Rotary and Kids Against Hunger. The 10th Annual iFeed event is looking for our support - providing two assembly line packing teams. We committed to two teams - one team at 8:30am and one at 10:00am. The event is located at Logan High School. All volunteers are encouraged to bring a donation of canned food items. Volunteers need to arrive 40 minutes before their shift. Lunch is included. For more information, see the website: https://www.rotaryifeed.org/
Note: You don't have to be a Rotarian to sign up. Feel free to sign a friend or family member up if you wish!
Bill Pritchardis stepping down as the District RYE Chair and is looking for a committed replacement by June 30th. His successor will work with him during the 25-26 Rotary year and take over during the 26-27 year. If you are interested in more information, please reach out to Bill. Without a successor, the program will be paused.
Did you know that District 6250 received a bronze award from NAYEN for their youth exchange program. We want to keep this program alive!
Member Spotlight
Let's Celebrate!
Active Rotarians
182
Honorary Rotarians
14
Rotary Attendance
133 between in person, guests, and Zoom
Resignations/Transfers
Abbas Rahimi is moving and transferring to Plymouth, MN.
Sealing leaks and adding insulation can enhance comfort, save energy, and lower costs in your home.
*Leaks. Identifying leaks using tools like incense sticks to see if the smoke changes direction and sealing the leaks with weather-stripping or caulking can reduce energy usage by 10-20% annually. Additional measures include insulating outlets, switches, air ducts, and windows to maintain a stable indoor temperature.
*Insulation. Many homes are under-insulated, which makes them more vulnerable to temperature changes, noise, and humidity. Adding insulation to walls, attics, basements, and crawl spaces can save up to 10% on energy bills. For colder climates, insulating water pipes, hot water tanks, and windows is beneficial.
*Protecting your home against storms. In storm-prone areas, upgrading storm doors and windows, reinforcing roofs, and protecting against flooding with sump pumps or flood vents are practical steps to mitigate damage. Proactive weatherization ensures safety and comfort while preparing your home for the challenges of climate change.
Weatherizing your home is very valuable for comfort and energy conservation. It’s a money saver as well as protection for you and your family against extreme weather.
From Yale Climate Connections (abridged), by Daisy Simmons
FOUNDATION MINUTE: March 10, 2025
Welcome to Week TWO of RI’s Month of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.
According to the United Nations, 2 billion people lack access to safely managed
drinking water, and 3.6 billion lack safely managed sanitation. In recognition of this
month’s theme, RI’s Trustee Chair, states that once in Rotary, “…you never look at a
glass of water the same way…” In the current edition of Rotary, Mark Daniel
Mahoney highlights the significance of water and the efforts of TRF to provide safe
drinking water to communities who need it.
“District and global grants, made possible by the Foundation, provide a direct way for members to engage in water and sanitation projects. My wife, Gay, and I have seen the transformative power of these grants. Our clubs, the Rotary Clubs of Decatur and Decatur Daybreak, Alabama, partnered with the Rotary Club of Ecatepec, Mexico, to sanitize cisterns and tanks for about 300 schools. We are also launching a new global grant to provide rainwater collection systems for 50 Indigenous families in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Chihuahua, in partnership with five organizations. Globally, Rotary employs comprehensive approaches to these initiatives. In Mexico, the Global Grant-funded program Niñas Sabias, or Wise Girls, empowers girls by providing education on menstruation, building self-esteem, and purchasing reusable menstrual products. Our partnership with USAID in Uganda has shown how small-scale piped water systems can deliver cost-effective, sustainable solutions.…In India’s water-scarce regions, Rotary promotes solutions such as rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge, integrating water management with agricultural productivity to enhance sustainability and resilience. …When you give to The Rotary Foundation, you not only help us reach our 2024-25 fundraising goal of $500 million, you also play a role in ensuring Rotary can make clean water, effective
sanitation, and hygiene accessible for generations.
Thank you all who donated to the PETS Baby product drive.
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