Celebrating Women's Month - Some of our Women in Rotary!
This Week: Rusty Cunningham; When a Newspaper Dies, Who Write the Obituary?
Rusty Cunningham is an award-winning journalist who served as editor and publisher of the La Crosse Tribune and River Valley Media Group for nearly 25 years. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2024.
Last 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.
Lunch this week: Greek salad with chicken - tomato, olives, red onion, feta, red wine vinaigrette
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!
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 team of Rotarians will work beside the Hmong Culture and Community volunteers on their exciting Eggroll Fundraiser. We can volunteer to prepare eggrolls or assist with sales. (You can also help the fundraiser by purchasing the eggrolls!
This fundraiser will help the Hmong community fund community projects. Let's come together for great food and positive changes!
Wear your Rotary volunteer shirt! If you don't have one already, reach out to Niki Pohnl to get one.
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!
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 17, 2025
Welcome to Week THREE of RI’s Month of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
The Rotary Foundation’s goals for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene aligns with Goal
6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; to ensure the availability and
sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. TRF supports this
by:
Improving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Improving water quality by protecting and maintaining surface water and
groundwater resources, and promoting the reuse of wastewater.
Improving universal and equitable access to safely managed sanitation and
waste management services.
Improving community hygiene knowledge, behaviors, and practices.
Strengthening the capacity of governments, institutions, and communities to develop, finance, manage, and maintain sustainable water and sanitation services.
Funding graduate scholarships for career-minded professionals related to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Since 2013, The Rotary Foundation has invested in more than $130 million in over
2000 projects worldwide.
Rotary Blood Drive - April 1st
Sign up to Donate to theRotary blood drive on April 1st, NOTE: for every pint donated (or attempted) Rotary Works receives $10, and there are still 43 slots - $430 - available, so PLEASE sign up if you can!12-5 pm at Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church on French Island. Rotary will get $10.00 per pint of blood donated since The Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3). Web link to sign up: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=RotaryBlood
.png)
