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Thank you to all of the committee members last week who highlighted our 100th anniversary plans so well. This is certainly an exciting time to be a Rotarian. Please take some time out of your daily schedule to think about one potential new member that you could invite to our meeting this week.
One of the most exciting parts of the Cameroon Garden to me is the sculptural art pieces that will be permanently housed in the garden. The following link shows some more traditional art from Cameroon as housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Do note the many references to the “Fon” in this article. Our Cameroon garden will also have a Fon sculpture. LINK
With this being the last week of Rotary International’s heavy emphasis on “Maternal and Child Health,” I wanted to share a fantastic video (5 minutes in length) forwarded to me by Rotarian Judy Kirkpatrick. It’s amazing what insights a group of 5th graders from Alaska have to share with us. To paraphrase Judy’s comments, the world’s future is in good hands with youth like these 5th graders. LINK
I came across the following video link this weekend and was amazed at how many Rotarians came out to support the children in our own community. The video is 5.5 minutes long and celebrates the Children’s Museum of La Crosse LINK.
Will Jedlicka Owner The Twisted Moose & Legend's Nightclub Proposed by Andy Bakkum
Lewis Kohlman Environmental Planner City of La Crosse Proposed by Roz Schnick
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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 Rotary program last week was about our upcoming Centennial Celebration and project. This is an exciting time for our club!!! We hope you are saving the DATE - Thursday, June 20th for our Centennial Celebration at the La Crosse Center.
A number of members asked about naming rights at the Cameroon Gardens. Here is the list of what is available and what has been spoken for. Naming Rights Opportunities. Please contact Lee Rasch if you have any questions.
If you haven't made a pledge yet....now is the time to do so. Pledge cards are available at our meetings. Check should be made out to Rotary Works Foundation. Please contact Lee Rasch if you have any questions.
History Committee is looking for old photos, directories, etc that could be put on display at our celebration and used in our Centennial booklet. Please contact Patt Boge if you have something you would like to share.
Centennial Coins are now for sale at our meetings. Bronze $15 and Silver $30.
We will also be ordering sweatshirts with the Centennial Logo...order forms will be available next week at our meeting.
Mami Wata sculpture which was created by David Oswald is complete and ready to be placed in her forever home at the Cameroon international gardens project.
Mami Wata is Mother Water, Mother of Fishes, goddess of oceans, rivers and pools, with sources in West and Central Africa and tributaries throughout the African Americas, from Bahia to Brooklyn. Usually shown as a half-woman, half-fish, she slips with ease between incompatible elements: water and air, tradition and modernity, this life and the next. She runs through the Kumbo river in Cameroon.
To find more information about the Growing Hearts across the world Campaign click this link.
We have had an inspiring year – now it’s time to celebrate, as well as exchange ideas and plan for the future. In keeping with President Barry Rassin theme ”Be the Inspiration”, we have some truly inspiring stories to share with you. We also have some inspiring challenges that face our entire district, that we will address and ask “What can a Rotary Club do about this?” Two of those biggest challenges are the opioid epidemic in our region, and human trafficking.
Besides the thought provoking sessions, we will have a membership summit meeting, our annual business meeting, and fun! Be sure and check out the House of Friendship, and the silent auction items up for bid. And take in some of La Crosse’s fun at the free Artspire street fair, just a block or so south of the La Crosse Center. In the evening, there will be live entertainment there. We also have several “international” ports of call lined up so you can sample La Crosse’s walkable downtown nightlife.
Rotary’s slogans and messages come and go, but this year’s theme will stay with me forever. Because a central part of each and every Rotarian’s responsibility is truly to “Be the Inspiration”. That should not end at the close of this Rotary year. I hope each of us will embrace that mission, and share the gifts of Rotary with many others in the years to come!
Outback is hosting a Give Back Night Supporting THE ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM. Every Tuesday in May Outback Steakhouse will be donating 10% of sales from the families who comes in to dine in support of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program from 4:00-9:00 pm. View Flyer - bring this flyer in if you can! If you can't say you are here for Rotary!
OUR FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE will have their monthly Rotary Fellowship there on Tuesday, May 21st from 5-7...join us!
Meet the Rotary Club of La Crosse's Humanitarian Committee! (not all members pictured). This committee facilitates a monthly group of volunteers for Come to Supper; and organizes the annual Warm Feet, Warm Hearts campaign (collecting clothing and other items for Catholic Charities to distribute to those in need). Each year the committee also chooses one larger humanitarian project that fits within the six Rotary areas of focus - this year the committee has identified human trafficking as their focus. At this year's district conference they'll be collecting personal care items for survivors of human trafficking; if you're moved to help please view the list of desired items here: https://www.rotary6250.org/page/2019-exhibits-silent-auction.
We will again have a Rotary Fellowship at the Loggers Game on Thursday, May 30th...La Crosse Loggers will be playing the Duluth Huskies. Picnic begins at 5:30 with an all you can eat buffet until 7:05 - burgers, brats, hot dogs, beans, chips, popcorn, cookies and includes soda and water You will be able to purchase beer in the tent at the regular price. Once the game starts you are welcome to stay in the tent OR go to your seats in the grandstand...OR back and forth. Cost is $20 per adult and $15 child 4-12 and free for 3 and under. This will be a Polio Plus fundraiser and the La Crosse Loggers will donate $2.50 per ticket to Polio Plus. Register here if you plan on attending.
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 and third host family, presently going through the background process, but are looking for host family two 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.
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.
Congrats to Al Louis winner of the $40 marble raffle!
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.
April 18th: Raffle $33; Fines $96; Scrip $305; Scooters $12
ROTARY ATTENDANCE April 4th - 68% April 11th - 50% April 18th - 55%
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 February - Cindy Erickson March - Ed Neuman
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.
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 Sarah Arendt-Beyer.