Classification talks help us learn about the life experiences and professional backgrounds of our members.
Mark Jolivette, incoming Club President for 2024-2025, will give a classification talk as well as update the club on his club goals for the Rotary year.
Last Week: No Meeting, Holiday
Previous Week: Passing the Club Gavel and District Gavel, Paul Harris Awards, and Wine Raffle
Last week's program was the Passing of the Gavel/Changing of the Guard where we welcomed new club leadership. Mark Jolivette is our La Crosse Rotary Club President for this Rotary year (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025). Special thanks to Eva Marie Restel who completed her year of service as Club President when she passes the gavel to Mark.
We also hosted the Passing of the Gavel/Changing of the Guard to the new District 6250 Governor, Todd Restel. We welcomed past District Governors to our meeting. A special thank you to Michelle McGrath who completed her year of service as District Governor when she passes the gavel to Todd.
We also receiving in new members, recognizing Paul Harris fellows, and holding our Wine Raffle as well!
Thank you all for your support with our Wine Fundraiser! We raised $2246.00, half of which goes to the President's organization of choice. Eva Marie chose Habitat for Humanity as the recipient of $1123.00.
Period Project Update
Rotary Period Products Drive Summary Cosponsored by the Humanitarian and DEI Committees of Rotary Club of La Crosse-Downtown Co-chaired by Cindy Ericksen and Mary Beth Hensel:
Alison Fiebig, cofounder of The Monthlies Project and Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Emplify Health—Bellin and Gundersen Health System—kicked off the drive with an inspiring presentation to our Rotary club on June 13.
We created a specific donation account through the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. The Foundation also agreed to distribute any products we collected. The results of the drive follow:
• $1,940 donated to La Crosse Public Education Foundation • 766 tampons
• 340 pads
It was an overwhelming success. The event was announced weekly, promoted on social media, and shared. Rotarians and their colleagues and friends stepped up to meet the ask. According to Nell Saunders-Scott, Executive Director of La Crosse Public Education Foundation, the funds collected along with the donated products “…represents nearly a year of the need for free products in middle and high schools!” Thanks to everyone who answered the call to improve the lives and educational chances for students in need in our school district!
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Community Ambassadorship - Viking Cruises
Viking River Cruises has three new shore excursions in La Crosse for their guests this season. Each needs a local host/ambassador to accompany the guests on the motorcoach. The three excursions are: (1) The Dahl Auto Museum tour and Antique Car Ride; (2) The Guadalupe Shrine tour; and (3) the Taste of La Crosse + Rivoli Theater tour. Between August and October, Dahl Auto Museum and the Guadalupe Shrine will each be visited 10 times; the Taste of La Crosse/Rivoli Theater tour will occur 3 times.
What are the specific duties & expectations?
Greet the guests at their coach down on the levee where the ship will be docked.
Wear your Rotary badge to identify yourself; dress in business casual and/or Rotary garb.
Introduce yourself to the coach driver, and deliver clear driving directions to him/her once you leave.
Follow the script that will be provided, but feel free to add any additional information or personal anecdotes you may have about life in La Crosse.
Represent our city and our club in a positive way.
Behave as if you were hosting an informal reception at your home. Make everyone feel welcome.
Join Rotary After Hours for a Night at the Loggers! Thursday, July 18th. 5:30pm/all you can eat and gate open with the game beginning at 630pm.
We will be on the Interstate Roofing Deck! Please invite friends, family, and other Rotarians. We can have up to 100 people and would be great to have a lot of new and familiar faces joining us!
Adults: $35 per person (food, ticket and (3) beers)
Kids: $15 per person (includes game ticket, all you can eat food! Ages 0-3 are FREE and 4-18 are $15.00)
All you can eat food catered to our spot: Burgers Brats and hot dogs Toppers pizza (at Howies Deck) Beans and Potato Salad Chips, popcorn, pretzels, nachos (at Howies Deck) Soda/water
RSVP is required and payment online. Info to follow!
Hope to see you there!! If you have some Rotary Gear, hats, shirts, please wear!
The upcoming home dedication was the project that our area clubs worked on in 2023. You may recall that this was a project funded in part by the Rotary Works Foundation $5000 grant that enabled three build days by our area clubs.
The report this week is from Ed Arnold of Northwest Des Moines, about a recent joint
fundraising event organized by Rotary clubs in the greater Des Moines area and the Iowa Wolves, a professional basketball team affiliated with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 16th annual polio fundraiser featuring a game between the G-League Iowa Wolves and the Rio Valley Vipers provided a mechanism to raise money to vaccinate children against poliomyelitis. The previous 14 games resulted in over $150,000 being raised.
This year, an additional $9,000 was realized (not counting direct donations to TRF). With the Gates Foundation 2 for 1 match, approximately $27,000 was raised, bringing the total to $477,000; enough to provide 796,000 immunizations. Participating clubs included: Ankeny, Ankeny Evening, Des Moines, East Polk County, West Des Moines, Perry, Waukee, Marshalltown and West Polk
County. Traditionally, Polio Night with the Iowa Wolves has six objectives:
Help eradicate polio worldwide
Promote the Rotary brand
Get non-Rotarian money into the eradication effort
Provide a social opportunity for Rotarians
Provide an opportunity for local clubs to work together on a common goal
Support Iowa Wolves and local non-profit agencies by buying and donating tickets
(mostly to youth groups).
Burgers
Brats and hot dogs
Toppers pizza (at Howies Deck)
Beans and Potato Salad
Chips, popcorn, pretzels, nachos (at Howies Deck)
Soda/water
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