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It is Lucia’s birthday this week! We will have cupcakes and a brief celebration with her during this week’s meeting. Thank you to those who have contributed so generously to this celebration.
As you know, I like to provide educational and informative content in each weekly message. This week’s content is highly educational and is a continuation of Rotary International’s “Water and Sanitation” focus in March. My hope is that you will explore the website content within the links provided.
We live in an amazing state which is choosing to focus some of its resources on water. If you are not aware of the USGS location near the La Crosse airport, here is their website which details some of the work that they perform. This location usually has an open house every few years. It is worth touring if you get a chance. USGS LINK
On the other side of the state, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee has an entire school of focused on Freshwater Sciences. Here is a link to their school website which provides insight into much of their work. FRESHWATER SCIENCES LINK
A great source of information on the drinking water can be found in the following link from the World Health Organization LINK.
Lastly, I would ask you to invite a potential member to join us at this week’s meeting. We have funds set aside to cover the cost of your visitor.
Supporting Safe Birth is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to build the skills of indigenous Guatemalan midwives and other birth attendants, allowing them to provide evidence-based care to all women and babies. Their goal is to establish global partnerships to increase the scope and coverage of these programs in Guatemala.
Nancy is leading an effort to send vocational training teams to Guatemala in 2019. The teams will both train birth attendants and to equip them with supplies.
Mary Ann Gerrard President Shelter Development Foundation Proposed by Roger LeGrand
Help Build Rotary's Future
Share Rotary with a Friend
Every Rotarian is Responsible for Membership Growth
If no written objection to the proposal stating reasons is received by the Board of Directors from any member of the club within seven days following publication of the name of the prospective member, the prospective member shall be considered to be elected to membership.
Our next STAR Meeting will be Thursday, March 14th We will meet at the Radisson Hotel in the Wisconsin Room 3 at 7:00 a.m. Please RSVP if you will be attending to Lyn at rotarylax@charter.net.
ALL NEW members become a member of this committee for one year. This breakfast is hosted (no cost to the new members). The breakfast and presentation will last no longer than one hour and the meeting will count as a make-up. The STAR Committee, in addition to meeting other new members and some of the present membership will learn more about various aspects of the Club.
Youth Exchange Committee: Our Rotary Club's next exchange student will be Inga from Germany. Her mom and dad are both scientists (radio astronomy). Their son is on exchange in the USA this year and they are excited that Inga will have a similar opportunity this coming year.
Inga will turn 16 shortly after school starts. She is fluent in English but also studies French, Polish, Latin and Spanish. She likes to read, draw, play tennis and volleyball, bake, garden and write. She plays piano and ukulele and enjoys photography. She is not religious but is supportive of those who are. She has traveled with her family and describes herself as patient and ambitious. Her future interests are not yet decided but she has interests in being an MD, owning a cake shop or becoming an architect.
We have a first host family, presently going through the background process, but are looking for host family two and three in the Logan School District. Having three host families gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from multiple perspectives. It is also less of a commitment for host families; the typical length of stay is about three to four months instead of a full year. Hosting an exchange student is life changing for you, your family and the exchange student. It allows you to become familiar with another culture and provides the opportunity to share a young student's hopes and ambitions. Youth Exchange promises to enrich the lives of the student and every member of your family.
Happy Birthday Mary Kay Wolf - March 10 Richard Kyte - March 11 Kurt Schroeder - March 11
Happy Wedding Anniversary None
Rotary Anniversary Roger Christians - March 12 - 10 years Steve Lindeman - March 12 - 10 years David Stoeffler - March 14 - 23 years Sheila Wieser - March 14 - 23 years Matt Boshcka - March 15 - 7 years Colin Fleming - March 16 - 2 years
Benefits of sponsoring an ad on the Rotary Club of La Crosse web site: Enhance your business' public relations and image. Advertise an upcoming event. Opportunity to sponsor and support the Rotary Club of La Crosse and your community. Sharing with fellow Rotarians in our club and other local clubs who would like to know what you do.
Why advertise on the Rotary Club of La Crosse web site?The majority of visitors to our website are members and friends of our club. This makes our site's web sponsorship an ideal opportunity for small and large businesses to promote their products, services or an upcoming event in our community. Moreover 100% of the advertising revenue goes back to our club; this in turn supports the local community.
Cost is $20 per month up to $120 per year . . . . click here for form and more information. We will include your logo/link on our web site, send one email blast to all Rotarians and include an initial mention in our newsletter and on our Facebook page.
Click on the logos under Web Site Sponsors...located on right side of our home page and in each newsletter. Our current sponsors are: Franciscan Spirituality Center, Catholic Charities, New Horizons, Drake Choir, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Designing Jewelers, Rotary Works, The Brain Game and Rotary Lights.
ONALASKA HILLTOPPERS: Spring Fling at the La Crosse Country Club on March 21, 2019. Tickets $50. Sponsor a table. Join us at the Fourth Annual Hilltopper Rotary Spring Fling on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 5:30 pm for a delicious dinner, bucket raffle, socializing, the chance to win $1,000, and more! Money raised from the Spring Fling will go help fund Club projects and the Onalaska Sculpture at the Great River Landing. Link for more information.
HOLMEN SERVICE AUCTION: Lunda Center on April 4, 2019 from 5-10 Come join the Holmen Area Rotary Club in their 2019 Service Auction. Come bid on unique and special items and services and support the Holmen Area Rotary Club and their service to the community. There will be food, drink, lots of fun and fellowship. Hope to see you there! Flyer Tickets $20 are in advance. Buy a table for 8 and get drink tickets, table candy and a table tent with your company name on it for only $200. To get tickets or become a sponsor please contact Judy at Judymchugh@msn.com or call (608) 780-1628
VALLEY VIEW ROTARY MOON TUNES: Riverside Park - Bill Miller and friends June 6, 2019. Web Site.
Rotary District Conference in La Crosse:La Crosse Center June 7-8, 2019
Centennial Dinner Celebration: La Crosse Center - June 20, 2019 - Speaker will be Stephanie Urchick - a member of the Rotary Club of Canonsburg Houston, Southpointe. She has served Rotary as a Foundation Trustee, RI and TRF Committee member, District Governor, Regional Foundation Coordinator for ZONE 29, International Training Leader, RI President's Representative, Regional Leaders Training Institute Moderator, district delegate to Councils on Legislation, Training Leader at Zone meetings, and in various club and district Foundation roles.
ROTARY ATTENDANCE Feb 21st - 44% Feb 28th- 55% March 7th - 59%
Rotary Attendance policy is to attend or makeup at least 50% of the club meetings during the first six months and the second six months. They can be done by: • Attending regular club meetings • Making up meetings at other Rotary Clubs ( which includes E-Clubs) • Engaging in club projects/events/fellowship/board meetings.
100% Attendance Winners July - Sheila Wieser August - Bob Riutzel September - Peter Grabow October - Chuck Hanson November - Grant Withrow December - Tami Woods January - Kenna Christians
MEMBERSHIP Active Membership 188 Resigned: Sandra Schultz
Honorary Members 23
Associate Membershipis a program to recruit younger members, millennials, to membership. Associate Membership is available to anyone who is proposed for membership who is 35 years of age or less. Associate membership will end when that member reaches the age of 38. They would pay for dues and $100 for meals per quarter no matter how many meetings they attend that quarter.
Corporate Membership is a program to allow multiple employees of a business Rotary participation under one primary membership. Each corporate membership is limited to a three-year term. After the three-year corporate membership term, the individuals are required to become individual members. View Corporate Membership Policy.
Family Membershipis a program to allow a second individual Rotary participation under one primary membership. View Family Membership Policy.
Honorary Membership is offered to members who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.Unlike other membership categories that can be requested by the member, Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a member by election from the Board of Directors. View Honorary Membership Policy.
Excused Membership is offered to members if the aggregate of the member’s years of age and years of membership in one or more clubs is 85 years or more, the member has been a member of one or more clubs for at least 20 years, and the member has notified the club's secretary in writing of the member’s desire to be excused from attendance and the board has approved. Excused Members will pay the quarterly dues and only for meals when they attend a meeting.
Membership Proposals....we will no longer ask for three references when you propose a new member. This was a criteria that our club had set not RI. This will help us process new members into our club more efficiently. You can access the membership proposal form online, under the Club Information site page.
Please note: Raffle, Fines, Birthday, Anniversaries and Scooters are all donations that will go to the club If you are making a donation and would like it to go to the Rotary Works Foundation or Rotary International Foundation, we ask that you write a check to the Foundation of your choice.
March 7th: Raffle $54; Fines $132; Scrip $210; Scooters $4
If you would like to volunteer for Rotarians in the News, be a greeter, a hospitality greeter, raffle ticket seller, scrip seller or announce guests, you can email the Monthly Duty Roster Coordinator that are listed above....just click on their name. If you would like to give your classification talk please contact Program Committee Chair Andy Bakkum.