This Week: Jon Miskiwski, Community and History: PBS Wisconsin's 70 Years History
Meet PBS Wisconsin Director of Television Jon Miskowski and learn how public media was invented in Wisconsin. Jon will discuss how immersive media is reinventing PBS Wisconsin’s work and will share previews of new programs, including THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.
Jon Miskowski is Director of Television for PBS Wisconsin, leading the six-station PBS Wisconsin network that includes four multicast channels, Wisconsin productions, online and digital services, PBS Wisconsin's Pre-kindergarten-12th grade education service, and community engagement. He shepherds the station’s current and future work to ensure we deliver resources that are relevant to the learning and entertainment needs of the people of Wisconsin and accessible across a range of platforms in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Miskowski has been a leader of the reinvention of PBS Wisconsin Education, a service providing teacher training and media for Wisconsin classrooms, educators and students. This work has included Wisconsin First Nations education resources, the Timothy William Trout Education Innovation Lab, and PBS Wisconsin’s first educational video games, Jo Wilder and The Capitol Case and The Legend of the Lost Emerald. He has also forged innovative community partnerships and advisory committees offering deeply informed guidance on the station's digital and broadcast programming including Wisconsin in Black & White, Why Race Matters, The Wisconsin Muslim Project, and Wisconsin Pride.
Miskowski was raised in Stevens Point. He previously served as PBS Wisconsin’s Director of Development for 15 years. He is the recipient of the 2009 C. Scott Elliott Development Professional of the Year Award from PBS.
Last Week: Rotary International Convention
Highlights from the Rotary International Convention in Calgary 2025- shared from several perspectives from Bud Hammes, Todd, Eva Marie, and Joel Restel, Dean and Nancy McHugh, and Regina Siegel.
Lunch this week: Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy 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!
ClubRunner Switch to ClubRunner Nova
This week, our club will be making a software switch from ClubRunner (CR) to ClubRunner Nova. What does this mean to our members?
This new technology and infrastructure will provide a faster, more reliable, and robust platform, and as secure as ever.
If you use the CR app, you will likely need to reboot and sign back in once we make the change.
The look will be simplified for everyday member use.
Quickbooks (our invoicing software) and CR Nova will sync so you will be able to see your account balance through CR easily.
The will simplify some of our process and help with membership tracking AND MORE!
Niki has been practicing with the new system for a while and is familiar with many of the new features. We will provide more information with in the next two weeks. Thank you for your patience.
Past Member Update
I wanted to pass along an update that my rotary membership is being transferred to the Rotary Club of Eau Claire. I appreciate all of the fellowship from my time in the La Crosse club. Regards Joe Carlson
Poverty Simulated Participants Needed!
Please Consider this Experience!
August 18th, 2:45-5:30pm, Radisson Hotel
Don’t miss this powerful experience
In less than one week, we’ll gather community members, leaders, and neighbors for a life-changing Poverty Simulation — an immersive activity that opens eyes, deepens empathy, and inspires action.
There’s still time to reserve your spot, but registration closes soon.
This event is designed for up to 88 participants, and we want every seat filled with people ready to better understand and help address poverty in our community.
The following community members has been proposed to become members of our club:
Walt Samanski, Relationship Manager; Business Banking at Altra; proposed by Mike Nickel.
Billy Bergeron, Castle La Crosse LLC, proposed by Chuck Hanson.
Lindsey Hammes, Baby Beluga, Lead Teacher, proposed by Alix Kost.
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 August 26th.
Join us in making a difference! All proceeds from this event will fuel our Rotary Youth Exchange program.
The Mini Masters will take place at Riverside Amusement Park on the northside of La Crosse! Participants will tee off in this wacky game of skill and chance. In addition to golf, food, drinks, music, and raffle prizes will be provided. With this as our 12th Mini Masters, it is our hope that this will be our BIGGEST ever.
In March, the largest wildfires in Korea’s history swept across the country’s southeast, scorching nearly 120,000 acres and forcing more than 37,000 people to evacuate. Rotary districts swiftly assessed the needs and delivered food, water, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to shelters and affected communities. Rotarians were able to reach even more people in need through $100,000 in funding from The Rotary Foundation. Rotary members also assisted with clearing orchards and with home demolition in devastated areas. Some even provided heavy equipment, including to assist with reconstruction of the historic Gounsa temple in Uiseong. “Disasters like these strike without warning,” says Ung Seop Jeong, immediate past governor of District 3590. “No one is truly prepared, but Rotary is always there for the community.”
