Park at the Radisson, the parking ramp, or street parking where available
Allow for time to go through buffet line!
April 16 - Radisson Center
This Week: Classification Talk, Travis Bordeau
When Rotary was established by Paul Harris and three others, each person came from a different walk of life. This diversity is a cornerstone of Rotary. The intent is to have a cross-section of business and professional experiences in your community.
For decades Rotary International listed a range of professional “classifications” and restricted how many representatives of each could be in a club. This ensures that each club reflects the community in which it serves. It also reminds us to not have one profession as a dominant voice in our club. Over time, these restrictions have pretty much given way, but your classification continues to be of great interest to your fellow club members. That’s why your Rotary badge carries your name and your classification.
Classification talks help us learn about the life experiences and professional backgrounds of new members.
Next Week: Bridget Todd-Robins, Youth System Care
The La Crosse County Youth System of Care is a voluntary, early intervention program designed to ensure youth remain in school, ready to learn through an integrated system of support designed to keep them out of the criminal justice system, mentally healthy, and safe from abuse and neglect. The overall goal is to provide school and law enforcement with a greater continuum of interventions and engagement responses for chronic absenteeism and delinquent acts in lieu of tickets and arrest.
Bridget Todd-Robbins is in her 10th year as the La Crosse Youth System of Care Administrator, a shared position between La Crosse County Human Services and the School District of La Crosse. In this position she provides interventions and supports for area youth who are at risk of entering the youth justice system. Ms. Todd Robbins describes her position as one where she gets to “live her values” as so much of the work is centered around advocating for and empowering youth and families in need. She also participates in collaborative efforts across systems to improve communication, equity and overall supports for youth.
Vegetarian meals are plated and available through Sue with a ticket when you check in.
The buffet is Gluten Free except where indicated.
Coffee, ice tea, and water available at a beverage station.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Condolences
Our thoughts and prayers are with Thomas and Julia Behrenbeck as they mourn the death of Julia's brother.
Rotary Quarter 4 Invoices
Quarter 4 invoices were emailed last week. Please reach out to Niki Pohnl if you have not received one.
Rotary Visioning Event
On Saturday morning, May 9, we’ll be holding a Visioning event in order to develop a new strategic plan to replace the current 2021-2026 strategic plan. The goal is for approximately 25-30 members to attend a 3.5-4 hour session in order to put together a vision with goals for the next three years. This is a great opportunity for new and long-standing members, members who are happy/satisfied and those who see shortcomings and remedies, and for anyone who would like to play an active role in making our club even stronger, better, more fun, and more welcoming. Please reach out Niki Pohnl or Richard Strauss if this is of interest to you. We are look at an approximate 9am-12:30pm time frame. The site is still to be determined; lunch will be served. Thanks very much.
Membership Bridge Fund
Our club has recently established a Membership Bridge Fund Policy. The purpose of this fund is to create and maintain a fund to provide temporary financial assistance to Rotary Club of La Crosse (the Club) members considering resignation due to financial hardship.
Grounded in Rotary’s 4-Way Test—especially the questions “Is it fair to all concerned?” and “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?”—this policy reflects the understanding that fairness in a service-oriented fellowship means caring for the health of the entire community, rather than treating different circumstances exactly the same.
Temporary financial relief is best understood as a shared safety net, available to any member facing unforeseen hardship. In doing so, the policy helps retain valued members and the experience they bring, preserves the club’s ability to serve the broader community, and strengthens goodwill and fellowship. Above all, it reflects Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self,” recognizing that supporting one another in times of need is its highest expression within our own ranks and affirming that a Rotarian’s value lies in dedication, service, and our common bonds.
If you would like to GIVE to this fund, please send or Venmo the club indicating this particular fund. IF you are need of applying for this fund, please click the link below.
With TriCon just over two weeks away, please note two very important details:
Registration Closes April 9th: Attendees can register up until 11:59 PM on April 9th. Please emphasize that we cannot accept registrations after this date.
New "Saturday Only" Option: For those who can't join us for the full weekend, we’ve added a Saturday-only registration (April 18th). This includes all sessions, lunch, and dinner.
CLICK HERE to register be the end of day Thursday.
FOUNDATION MINUTE: April 6, 2026
Welcome to Week ONE of RI’s Month of Maternal & Child Health.
As part of its Seven Areas of Focus, TRF recognizes Maternal and Child Health as a primary cause and makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger. Children and their mothers have benefitted from various projects funded by TRF.
During the 2024-25 service year, TRF funded 131 Global Grants in the sum of $7.3m
TRF expands access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future.
In 2020, an estimated 5 million children under the age of 5 years died, mostly from preventable and treatable causes. Approximately half of those deaths, 2.4 million, occurred among newborns (in the first 28 days of life).
The leading causes of death in children under 5 years can all be prevented or treated with access to affordable interventions in health and sanitation.
Through the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge, Rotary members are strengthening community health systems and increasing the capacity of community health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia.
In Sri Lanka, Rotary members collaborated with the ministry of health to support policy change and improve cervical cancer screening protocols. They advocated for HPV vaccination which is now part of the national immunization program
Rotary members are working to immunize 100,000 children across nine remote Pacific Islands by working with the local health system to create sustainable delivery of vaccines.
