Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
March 26th - Radisson Wisconsin Room
This Week: Rotary Lights
The annual Rotary Lights display began in 1995 and has grown tremendously since then due to the fantastic support from the greater La Crosse community.
The organization has partnered with incredible volunteers and volunteer organizations since then and now, nearly 130,000 visitors per year enjoy this holiday tradition while driving, walking or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park.
At our meeting, the past year's illumination of the downtown waterfront and some of the people who helped make it a success will be celebrated with checks to multiple organizations.
We are passing the hat this week for raffle baskets benefitting Polio at TriCon.
You are welome to Venmo as well.
Next Week: Lisa Mellon and Carla Swerman,
Abreast in a Boat
Both presenters are breast cancer survivors who dragon boat paddle with the La Crosse Mississippi Sisters. Competing throughout the Midwest and internationally, this team offers hope to all who have been impacted by cancer. Each paddle stroke proves that life after cancer can be active, purposeful, and rewarding. At the same time, each paddler feels alive, empowered, and loved. Today’s presentation will help you better understand these life-affirming outcomes.
Carla Swerman: My breast cancer story started in 2002, when, at age 40, an inflamed lymph node proved to be cancerous. After a double mastectomy (my choice), chemo, radiation, and reconstruction, I resumed my active lifestyle. I even became a stronger runner as well as a yoga addict. When the Big Blue Dragon Boat Festival started in La Crosse in 2013, I captained two teams from Root Down Yoga Studio. But, the very next year, I was in the Mississippi Sisters’ boat and wouldn’t dream of abandoning it. Nothing equals the thrill of paddling in sync and at “full throttle” with 19 other resilient women. Nothing compares to hearing words of encouragement or laughter when practicing on the Black River. Nothing can diminish my admiration for these caring women who have a surprising zest for life. We truly are “better together”!
Lisa Mellen: I am a daughter, a sister, and an aunt with little to no genetic history of breast cancer. Yet, I am a 13-year survivor. On March 6, 2012, I heard the words, “You have breast cancer.” After my surgery, chemotherapy, and reconstruction, I received a letter inviting me to be a part of a dragon boat team. I didn’t even know what dragon boating was! Nor was I comfortable with swimming. Yet, I soon found myself in a dragon boat on the Mississippi River, something I never would have imagined. From the start, I have treasured the “sisterhood” I found. Whether working out, practicing, racing, fund raising, or just “laying low,” I feel valued and empowered by the other women – my “Sisters”!
Meal for This Week
Lunch this week: Chicken A La King Buffet
Vegetarian meals are plated and available through Sue with a ticket when you check in.
The buffet is Gluten Free except for the buttermilk biscuit.
Coffee, ice tea, and water available at a beverage station inside the room.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Rotary Video Link
CLICK HERE for a link to the new YouTube video we showed at Rotary last week encompassing Paul Harris and all the Rotary stands for.
March Club Social - Thursday March 19th, 5pm
Come by for a behind the scenes look at the La Crosse Community Theatre, including a presentation by Eric Vose.
This will be followed by drinks and snacks provided by LCT.
Two of our members just announced as Conductor Wannabe contestants this weekend at the symphony. Wish you all the best Jeanne and Michael! CLICK HERE for more information on the contest and to place a vote.
Marketing Assistance Needed for Rotary Brain Game
The Brain Game Marketing Committee is seeking volunteers for a photo shoot Vendi will be conducting. We're looking for Rotarians or their friends and family to participate!
The ask:
A volunteer to host the photo shoot in their home. Ideally we're looking for a home that has a few spaces we could use to take photos: a living room, kitchen, playroom, etc. This would be a full-day commitment (8AM - 5PM) sometime in the next month. The photographer would want to stop in to do a site check a few days in advance too. The house doesn't have to be immaculately clean! And pets are OK -we'd just ask that they be secured during the photo shoot. Ideally someone in the La Crosse / La Crescent / Onalaska / Holmen or West Salem area.
Models! We're looking for volunteers of all ages to act as "parents and caregivers" in the photo shoot, plus kiddos ages 0 to 3. The time commitment for models will be approximately 1 hour, and all models (and parents/guardians of the kiddos) will need to sign a photo release. We'll have clothing guidelines (ie no logo wear) but no special clothing required.
The photos will be used in marketing and promotional materials for The Brain Game book, and may be used in future editions of the book itself!
If you are interested in volunteering your home or to be a model, please contact Kasey at kaseyb@vendiadvertising.com.
New Member Proposals
The following community member has been proposed to become a member of our club:
MaiTia Vang (Hmong Cultural & Community Center Director, proposed by Lauren Journot)
Sean Dwyer (WIZM La Crosse Talk Host, proposed by Scott Horne)
Esther Tierney (Project Manager at Trane, proposed by Ryan Geister)
Rebecca Hopkins (Western Technical College, proposed by Roger Stanford)
Natalie Moreski (Executive Director of Next Steps for Change, proposed by Lauren Journot)
Sean Garrigan (Community Financial Wellness Advisor for Verve, proposed by Bruce Waldron)
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 proposals by March 18th.
“Our meetings are dull, dull, dull! Our club never does anything interesting! And why are you and I the only two members left?”
These are common complaints. Okay, they’re not exactly common. But your Rotary Club is probably looking for ways to grow, or ways to make your meetings more engaging, or ways to make your club more active and more visible.
What better way is there than to share ideas and learn from other clubs? And what better time and place than TriCon 2026? The heart of TriCon is ideas, ideas, ideas!
Past attendees have called TriCon “inspiring,” “energizing,” "transforming," and “simply amazing.” And that is no exaggeration.
Built around Rotary’s 2026 theme, Unite for Good, this year’s conference will show you how to increase Rotary’s impact at your club, in your community, and worldwide. TriCon 2026 will offer practical learning and a celebration of all that Rotary and Rotarians can do and can be to build a better world. And as a bonus, it offers a chance bring the family and enjoy the Kalahari’s waterpark.
NOW is the time to register and book your room at Kalahari. Click the link on the bottom of this email to register.
FOUNDATION MINUTE: MARCH 16, 2026
Welcome to Week THREE of RI’s Month of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (W.A.S.H).
The Rotary Foundation’s 7 th Area of Focus, protecting the environment, just got recertified by LEED. In an online report, One Rotary Center, the world headquarters of global membership organization Rotary International, has been LEED Gold recertified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification refers to a global green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving sustainable buildings, homes and communities. The deputy general- secretary of Rotary International, Michael Berg, explains that the recertification aligns with TRF’s commitment to protecting the environment “Attaining such a high rating for our water and energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and our use of sustainable materials demonstrates that we are creating a greener and healthier workplace as our charitable arm, The Rotary Foundation, provides millions in funding each year to member projects that strengthen and protect ecosystems around the world,” Berg added. “We know that implementing a LEED strategy delivers measurable benefits, from improving air and water quality to reducing energy consumption in a cost-effective manner, positively impacting owners, occupants, and society as a whole,” said Cushman & Wakefield’s Sandra Gutierrez, general manager for the building who led its recertification efforts. Since 2009, One Rotary Center has also received the Energy Star Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for energy-efficient products and practices, including energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, a renewable electricity supply, occupancy sensors for lighting and HVAC, and more.
