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During the month of May, Rotary International’s focus is on “Youth Service.” As we head into the last two months of the Rotary year (which ends June 30, 2019), here is a checklist for you to review and make sure that you don’t forget any of the upcoming events:
Sign up for Rotary District Conference – Friday, June 7th and Saturday June 8th
Sign up for our Centennial event – Thursday evening, June 20th
Invite our exchange student – Lucia – to do something fun. (Don’t forget that you will need a background check.)
Invite a guest to attend one of our Thursday afternoon Rotary Club meetings.
Every Tuesday in May - Outback is hosting a Give Back Night supporting the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.
Purchase a Centennial coin
Purchase a Centennial sweatshirt
Sign up to be a club electorate as a representative of our club during the Rotary District Conference
Read the materials that Lyn sent out for our May 2nd vote to determine who will serve as a member of the Nominating Committee for RI President.
Nominate one of our club members for “Rotarian of the Year”
Participate in our Fellowship event on the third Tuesday of every month
Join us for Rotary Night at the La Crosse Loggers – Thursday, May 30th
Volunteer with other club Rotarians at “Come for Supper” which takes place at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Tuesday, May 28th
If you are a Committee chair for one of our many committees, hold a meeting
Help get one of the newly created small group fellowship meetings up and running
Make your pledge to our Centennial Campaign
For as long as this list is, our club does a lot more that isn’t on this list. Find something on your own and do some good work within our community.
Once again, our program chair Andy Bakkum has a great line up of guest speakers for the month. In other words, I hope to see you at each meeting this month.
This week at Rotary our very own Rotarian Bud Hammes will give a program on his Polio Immunization Trip to India. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years and we've made incredible progress in the fight to rid the world of it forever. Many of you have donated to the Polio Plus Foundation and some of you have donated your time by being part of World Polio Day. For more information on End Polio visit their web site.
We will also be voting on a candidate for membership on the 2019-20 nominating committee for President of RI in 2021-22 from our Zone.
We also recognized the students of the month - only two students were able to make our lunche0n: Logan High School students Michael Jankowski and Samatha Gotz.
Central High School
January - Emma Scott and Nattakij Yang
February - Kiara Garves and Maximus Miller-Terbush
We are teaming up with the Riverfest Commodores with a fundraiser. They are selling raffle tickets to benefit their Riverfest Commodore Foundation, Inc....each ticket is $10 or 3 for $25....every ticket we sell we will get $5. First place will be four club seats to a Packer Game - plus 2nd- 5th place prizes will be awarded. Last year we made $2,100 from this fundraiser and our club had 3 of the 5 winners!
We are looking for someone to organize this fundraiser and keep track of the tickets and sales. If you would like to be that person, please let Tami Woods or Lyn Sheffer know.
The 2019 Rotary Conference for District 6250 will bring together members of 63 Rotary Clubs and communities to celebrate Rotary service and fellowship. It's also an opportunity for Rotarians and their colleagues to shine as conference sponsors and advertisers.
DEADLINE IS THIS WEEK....please contact David Amborn to find out your options for supporting our District Conference! Thank you!
We have had an inspiring year – now it’s time to celebrate, as well as exchange ideas and plan for the future. In keeping with President Barry Rassin theme ”Be the Inspiration”, we have some truly inspiring stories to share with you. We also have some inspiring challenges that face our entire district, that we will address and ask “What can a Rotary Club do about this?” Two of those biggest challenges are the opioid epidemic in our region, and human trafficking.
Besides the thought provoking sessions, we will have a membership summit meeting, our annual business meeting, and fun! Be sure and check out the House of Friendship, and the silent auction items up for bid. And take in some of La Crosse’s fun at the free Artspire street fair, just a block or so south of the La Crosse Center. In the evening, there will be live entertainment there. We also have several “international” ports of call lined up so you can sample La Crosse’s walkable downtown nightlife.
Rotary’s slogans and messages come and go, but this year’s theme will stay with me forever. Because a central part of each and every Rotarian’s responsibility is truly to “Be the Inspiration”. That should not end at the close of this Rotary year. I hope each of us will embrace that mission, and share the gifts of Rotary with many others in the years to come!
Bill Hoel District Governor 2018-2019
Please register early....there is no registration fee. The only fees will be for your meals. We are looking for volunteers for Friday and Saturday. Check out the links below to register, volunteer and/or to become a sponsor.
A number of members asked about naming rights at the Cameroon Gardens. Here is the list of what is available and what has been spoken for. Naming Rights Opportunities. Please contact Lee Rasch if you have any questions.
If you haven't made a pledge yet....now is the time to do so. Pledge cards are available at our meetings. Check should be made out to Rotary Works Foundation. Please contact Lee Rasch if you have any questions.
History Committee is looking for old photos, directories, etc that could be put on display at our celebration and used in our Centennial booklet. Please contact Patt Boge if you have something you would like to share.
Centennial Coins are now for sale at our meetings. Bronze $15 and Silver $30.
We will also be ordering sweatshirts with the Centennial Logo...order forms will be available at our meetings.
Mami Wata sculpture which was created by David Oswald is complete and ready to be placed in her forever home at the Cameroon International Gardens Centennial project.
Mami Wata is Mother Water, Mother of Fishes, goddess of oceans, rivers and pools, with sources in West and Central Africa and tributaries throughout the African Americas, from Bahia to Brooklyn. Usually shown as a half-woman, half-fish, she slips with ease between incompatible elements: water and air, tradition and modernity, this life and the next. She runs through the Kumbo river in Cameroon.
To find more information about the Growing Hearts across the world Campaign click this link.
If you have not donated to the Centennial Project NOW is the time! Pledge cards are available at our meetings. Checks should be written out to Rotary Works Foundation and sent to PO Box 1914, La Crosse, WI 54602-1914.
Meet the Rotary Club of La Crosse's Humanitarian Committee! (not all members pictured). This committee facilitates a monthly group of volunteers for Come to Supper; and organizes the annual Warm Feet, Warm Hearts campaign (collecting clothing and other items for Catholic Charities to distribute to those in need). Each year the committee also chooses one larger humanitarian project that fits within the six Rotary areas of focus - this year the committee has identified human trafficking as their focus. At this year's district conference they'll be collecting personal care items for survivors of human trafficking; if you're moved to help please view the list of desired items here: https://www.rotary6250.org/page/2019-exhibits-silent-auction. (We will have Kwik Trip Fuel ONLY cards available to purchase at our weekly meetings.)
Every three years, Rotarians meet at the Council on Legislation to review and vote on proposed changes to thelegislation that governs Rotary. They consider enactments, which change Rotary’s governing documents, and position statements by the RI Board.
The governance structure of Rotary International follows closely that of our federal government. The Executive Branch is comprised of the President and General Secretary, now the CEO of Rotary. The Senate is comprised of our Directors, one who represents our zone 28 and its 12 districts and our paired district which is currently Zone 29 and its 15 districts. Our House of Representatives is the triennial Council of Legislation when each of the 530 plus districts send a delegate to Chicago to act on legislative issues.
Outback is hosting a Give Back Night Supporting THE ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM. Every Tuesday in May Outback Steakhouse will be donating 10% of sales from the families who comes in to dine in support of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program from 4:00-9:00 pm. View Flyer - bring this flyer in if you can! If you can't say you are here for Rotary!
OUR FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE will have their monthly Rotary Fellowship there on Tuesday, May 21st from 4-9...join us!
We will again have a Rotary Fellowship at the Loggers Game on Thursday, May 30th...La Crosse Loggers will be playing the Duluth Huskies. Picnic begins at 5:30 with an all you can eat buffet until 7:05 - burgers, brats, hot dogs, beans, chips, popcorn, cookies and includes soda and water You will be able to purchase beer in the tent at the regular price. Once the game starts you are welcome to stay in the tent OR go to your seats in the grandstand...OR back and forth. Cost is $20 per adult and $15 child 4-12 and free for 3 and under. This will be a Polio Plus fundraiser and the La Crosse Loggers will donate $2.50 per ticket to Polio Plus. Register here if you plan on attending.
Youth Exchange Committee: Our Rotary Club's next exchange student will be Inga from Germany. Her mom and dad are both scientists (radio astronomy). Their son is on exchange in the USA this year and they are excited that Inga will have a similar opportunity this coming year.
Inga will turn 16 shortly after school starts. She is fluent in English but also studies French, Polish, Latin and Spanish. She likes to read, draw, play tennis and volleyball, bake, garden and write. She plays piano and ukulele and enjoys photography. She is not religious but is supportive of those who are. She has traveled with her family and describes herself as patient and ambitious. Her future interests are not yet decided but she has interests in being an MD, owning a cake shop or becoming an architect.
We have a first and third host family, presently going through the background process, but are looking for host family two in the Logan School District. Having three host families gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from multiple perspectives. It is also less of a commitment for host families; the typical length of stay is about three to four months instead of a full year. Hosting an exchange student is life changing for you, your family and the exchange student. It allows you to become familiar with another culture and provides the opportunity to share a young student's hopes and ambitions. Youth Exchange promises to enrich the lives of the student and every member of your family.
VALLEY VIEW ROTARY MOON TUNES: Riverside Park - Bill Miller and friends June 6, 2019. Web Site.
ROTARY EAST LOBSTERFEST: Join La Crosse Rotary East's 3rd Annual Lobsterfest at Colgan Air, Hangar #4. All Lobster Dinner Tickets ($50) will be advance purchase only (as we will be flying in fresh lobsters for the event). Sweet Lou barbeque as well as beer, wine and soda will be available for purchase the day of the event. We will have live entertainment during the event. Proceeds from the event will continue to go to supporting the Chad Erickson Memorial Park. ***Attendees are not required to purchase a Lobster Dinner Ticket ***Lobster Dinners will be served from 4pm-8pm. ORDER TICKETS HERE.
Rotary District Conference in La Crosse:La Crosse Center June 7-8, 2019
Centennial Dinner Celebration: La Crosse Center - June 20, 2019 - Speaker will be Stephanie Urchick - a member of the Rotary Club of Canonsburg Houston, Southpointe. She has served Rotary as a Foundation Trustee, RI and TRF Committee member, District Governor, Regional Foundation Coordinator for ZONE 29, International Training Leader, RI President's Representative, Regional Leaders Training Institute Moderator, district delegate to Councils on Legislation, Training Leader at Zone meetings, and in various club and district Foundation roles.
Invitations will be distributed the next two weeks at Rotary. Please stop and pick yours up to help us save postage.
Please note: Raffle, Fines, Birthday, Anniversaries and Scooters are all donations that will go to the club If you are making a donation and would like it to go to the Rotary Works Foundation or Rotary International Foundation, we ask that you write a check to the Foundation of your choice.
April 24th: Raffle $58; Fines $73; Scrip $270; Scooters $4
ROTARY ATTENDANCE April 4th - 68% April 11th - 50% April 18th - 55% April 24th - 53%
Rotary Attendance policy is to attend or makeup at least 50% of the club meetings during the first six months and the second six months. They can be done by: • Attending regular club meetings • Making up meetings at other Rotary Clubs ( which includes E-Clubs) • Engaging in club projects/events/fellowship/board meetings.
100% Attendance Winners July - Sheila Wieser August - Bob Riutzel September - Peter Grabow October - Chuck Hanson November - Grant Withrow December - Tami Woods January - Kenna Christians February - Cindy Erickson March - Ed Neuman
Associate Membershipis a program to recruit younger members, millennials, to membership. Associate Membership is available to anyone who is proposed for membership who is 35 years of age or less. Associate membership will end when that member reaches the age of 38. They would pay for dues and $100 for meals per quarter no matter how many meetings they attend that quarter.
Corporate Membership is a program to allow multiple employees of a business Rotary participation under one primary membership. Each corporate membership is limited to a three-year term. After the three-year corporate membership term, the individuals are required to become individual members. View Corporate Membership Policy.
Family Membershipis a program to allow a second individual Rotary participation under one primary membership. View Family Membership Policy.
Honorary Membership is offered to members who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.Unlike other membership categories that can be requested by the member, Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a member by election from the Board of Directors. View Honorary Membership Policy.
Excused Membership is offered to members if the aggregate of the member’s years of age and years of membership in one or more clubs is 85 years or more, the member has been a member of one or more clubs for at least 20 years, and the member has notified the club's secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be excused from attendance and the board has approved. Excused Members will pay the quarterly dues and only for meals when they attend a meeting.
Membership Proposals....we will no longer ask for three references when you propose a new member. This was a criteria that our club had set not RI. This will help us process new members into our club more efficiently. You can access the membership proposal form online, under the Club Information site page.
If you would like to volunteer for Rotarians in the News, be a greeter, a hospitality greeter, raffle ticket seller, scrip seller or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Duty Roster Coordinator that are listed above....just click on their name. If you would like to give your classification talk please contact Program Committee Chair Sarah Arendt-Beyer.