What if you had great intentions, but so much of what you were doing was actually preventing you from achieving what you want? This presentation shares the origin story of what has come to be called Poverty-Informed Practice. It is drawn from real life events which changed the questions I asked, my approach to my life and work, and eventually the focus of my career. I do not expect you to choose a new career after a short presentation, but I hope you will start looking at the issue of poverty with fresh eyes and perhaps find new approaches to get the results you want.
Lunch this week: Pear Gorgonzola Salad with Chicken, and a dinner roll.
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
Roz Schnick heard from Ina Pinkney, the poster person for polio, that she had a bad fall last week. She fractured her tibia and fibula of her polio leg. She is heavily braced and immobile for at least a month. As you may know, Roz invited her to come speak to our Rotary Club after she met her at the TriCon in Wisconsin Dells. She is an amazing person! If you would like to reach out to Ina, her address is: Ina Pinkney, 4170 North Marine Drive #22F, Chicago. IL 60613
April Collection: Backpacks & Bug Spray
The Humanitarian Committee is coordinating a collection to support last week’s speaker Sue Graf and the local non-profit WINN (What I Need Now). WINN visits local encampments and parks to deliver water, basic clothing, blankets, hygiene and first aid supplies, and other essential items to our unhoused neighbors.
WINN is currently in need of new or gently used backpacks and personal sized bug spray.
The Humanitarian Committee will be collecting these items through April 24 and invites you to participate in this drive. Please be generous and help fill WINN’s yellow van.
You may also contribute funds through Niki or VENMO the club at @RotaryClub-LaCrosse, #4491.
Al's Musky Committee is accepting applications for the 2025 challenge. If you or someone you know might qualify, consider the impact being a recipient could mean for your organization. Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions as evidenced by 501c3 public charity status
can demonstrate experience serving the youth of the Coulee Region
operate in alignment with the Rotary International mission to provide service to others,
promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace
The following community member has been proposed to become members of our club:
Daniel Gentges, proposed by Jerry Arndt, General Counsel J.F. Brennan Company (transfer from Rotary Club of Milwaukee)
Roseanne Northwood, proposed by Cindy Erickson, YWCA Executive Director
Erin Kujak, proposed by Tashyra Jackson
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 April 29th.
Our next STAR Meeting will be Tuesday, May 13th from 12-1pm. Location: The Parenting Place, 1500 Green Bay Street, La Crosse. Hosted by Jodi Widuch, Todd Restel, and Jeanne Meyer
STAR - Specialized Training for Action in Rotary....you will meet other new Rotarians from the area. We will provide programs on the Avenue of Service, The Rotary Foundation, and the Rotary Works Foundation, along with other aspects of Rotary. This is a great time to ask questions you may have about our club or Rotary in general. Hope you will be able to join us.
Come join us for an unforgettable night and make a difference in the community!
Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities available at http://holmenarearotary.org/ or call (608) 780-1628
Colgan Air Hanger #4 - La Crosse
Proceeds will benefit improvements at Chad Erickson Memorial Park
Contact Bill LaRue for tickets or more information!
FOUNDATION MINUTE: April 21, 2025
Welcome to Week FOUR of RI’s Month of Maternal & Child Health.
The Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award is a prestigious honor
recognizing Rotarians who have demonstrated exceptional service to The Rotary
Foundation, extending beyond the district level and over an extended period. It's not awarded for financial contributions alone, but for active involvement and leadership in Foundation programs. It recognizes Rotarians and Rotaractors who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Foundation, specifically extending beyond the district level and over an extended period of time. To be eligible, a Rotarian must have received the Citation for Meritorious Service at least four years before the citation. The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award is an internationally recognized honor, signifying the global impact of the honoree’s contributions.
At the recently concluded D6000 The Magic of Rotary Conference in Ankeny, Iowa, this year’s honoree was announced and the district proudly welcomed Rotarian Calvin Litwiller to the exclusive club of TRF’s highest award winners. Litwiller is one of only 50 awardees nominated worldwide. This retired science teacher, Past District
Governor, a 24-year veteran Master of Ceremonies for the Mount Pleasant
Community School District and the district’s Voice of the Panthers for athletic
events since 1978, wears so many hats and exemplifies the very best of Rotary’s ideals of service above self. Accepting the “amazing award”, Litwiller expressed profound gratitude and encouraged Rotarians “to be part of the Foundation” because, “there are few places where you see the return of the donations” and “I can’t encourage you enough to go and see what is being done to your money.”
Cal and Rachel, his wife of over 50 years, are avid travelers, having visited all
SEVEN continents and probably hold one of few records of Rotary attendance at
meetings outside of their native country. Whether it be in Africa, Europe, Asia, South
America, the Arctic and Antarctica, the couple has registered attendance in at least one city of every habitable continent on the planet. Now, that’s a record worth celebrating by Litwiller’s home club, and Foundation Minute’s very own chapter, the Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary Club. Congratulations, Rotarian Cal Litwiller of Mount Pleasant Evening Rotary. We are mightily proud of you!
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