This week's meeting will be held at the Oktoberfest Grounds.
Free parking in the grassy area in front of the fest grounds.
The meeting will be located in the Morrie’s Heritage Hofbrau Haus.
Please enter at the Main entrance off 2nd street.
Arrive in time to pick up your meal and be seated for our noon meeting.
There will be NO ZOOM option this week.
This Week: District Governor, Michelle McGrath
Michelle McGrath, Ph. D. joined 528 Rotarians around the globe when she became District Governor of District 6250. A member of the Rotary Club of Madison Dr. McGrath is an educator and community leader with more than twenty-seven years of professional experience. Currently the Executive Director of the Waunakee Community Cares Coalition, she has been a teacher, coach, administrator, college professor and a non-profit executive. Michelle is a published author and speaks nationally about her research on “The Urgency of Youth Leadership”. Recently selected by Brava Magazine as one of Madison’s Women to Watch she encourages all of us, especially youth, to live a fearless and fulfilled life.
DG Michelle has previously served as District trainer, RYLA Chair, as well as President of her home Club, Rotary Club of Madison, one of the largest in the Rotary world. She is married and is the mother of four grown children.
Katy O'Connor shared how her history of sexual assault and an abusive relationship shaped her life, turning to drugs and crime as a way to cope. After stints in jail and prison, she explain how she went through the Adult and Teen Challenge of Western Wisconsin (ATCWW) program. Because of the programs offered in our jail system, her circumstances have completely changed. She now works at the Adult and Teen Challenge in La Crosse as the Spiritual Care Coordinator. She's been freed from her addiction and has over 3 years sober!
Ann Wales' husband Scott introduced her to jail and prison ministry once she had her degree in Christian theology. She applied to be the chaplain at the jail. Ann is so grateful they hired her in 2019 and has been there ever since.
Lunch this week: Brats/Hot Dogs, German potato salad, chips, cookie, soda or water.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnl if know you are bringing guests but last minute invites are also welcome!
Volunteers Needed: September 29th
2 SPOTS LEFT!
Our club is responsible for filling 12 spots at the Oktoberfest grounds selling beer tickets from 12-4pm. This is a fundraiser for our club. What a fun way to help with this community event AND raise money for our club!
The Humanitarian Committee is sponsoring an item drive for incarcerated individuals in the La Crosse County Jail. This is a follow up on the speakers at the September 21 meeting. Please participate by
bringing an item from the list below:
Magazines
Paperback books
Sweatpants
Warm boots
Warm coats
Hats and gloves
cardboard puzzles in cardboard boxes
large print paperback spiritual books
study Bibles
make a donation by check, cash, or club VENMO (donations go to Niki Pohnl)
Thank you for your support of this important project.
Duane Abata - Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Transferred from Rapid City Rotary, South Dakota. Sponsored by Sarah Arendt-Beyer.
Elizabeth Filter - President/CEO VARC. Transferred from Rotary After Hours. Sponsored by Jodi Widuch.
Beth Grade - Clinician at Garrrison Counseling. Sponsored by Roz Schnick.
Wade Miller - VP of Farm Resources and Sustainability. Sponsored by Mike Nickel.
Emily Onsager - Growth Manager for Ellie Diagnostics. Sponsored by Roz Schnick.
FOUNDATION MINUTE: September 25, 2023
Welcome to Week 4 of RI’s Month of Basic Education & Literacy.
Morgan Regina Kong, a recent graduate of Stanford University, will attend University of Oxford, England, to study for a Master of Science degree in Nature, Society, and
Environmental Governance with a $69,000 scholarship provided by various Rotary sources arranged by Rotary Club of Moraga (CA). In sync with Rotary’s 7th Area of Focus, Kong's focal point is: sustainable livelihoods with smaller ecological footprints that can maintain people's social well-being.
In an online report by Gary Irwin, after Oxford, Kong plans to work with a non-government organization in environmental conservation. Kong, who grew up attending Moraga schools, has already been pursuing her goal through several extra-curricular field studies. Last spring, she joined a 35-day voyage to Palmyra atoll in the Pacific Ocean to study the pristine coral reefs there. In over two months in 2019, she interviewed local fishermen in small Alaskan villages to gather data about how their livelihood is marginalized by changes in the industry.
Kong’s scholarship was sponsored by Moraga Rotary and was partially funded by a Global Grant of $24,000 from The Rotary Foundation; $30,000 was funded by the 72-club Rotary District 5160 (from San Ramon to the Oregon border), and the balance came from several Rotary Clubs and individuals.
Regina will be hosted in England by the Rotary Club of Beaconsfield, which is located near Oxford in District 1090. Clubs there are well experienced in providing extracurricular cultural and social services to visiting Rotary scholars.
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