Allow for time for parking and to go through buffet line!
October 15 - Radisson Wisconsin Room
October 22 - La Crosse Center Ballroom C
This Week: DEI Committee; Belonging Together
Join members of the Rotary DEI Committee for an interactive program focused on strengthening the relationships that make our club special. Through a series of engaging activities and conversations, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about one another, discover shared experiences, appreciate the unique perspectives each member brings, and explore ways to ensure our club remains a welcoming place for all.
Together, we'll reflect on what helps people feel connected, valued, and engaged, while building on Rotary's long tradition of fellowship, service, and community. The session is designed to be fun, thoughtful, and participatory, with practical ideas for continuing to make our club a place where everyone feels they belong.
Presenters: Lauren Journot, Anna Sprague, Andy Bakkum, Jodie Visker, Nell Saunders-Scott, Travis Bordeau, Katie Berkedal
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Jon Bingol: Failing to Plan or Planning to Fail?
Mr. Bingol will provide an overview of MRRPC and discuss the importance of Planning for communities and organizations. This presentation will provide an overview of Community and Economic Development with examples illustrating how they can be used to improve our Quality of Life. He will also share ideas that you may be able to use in your organization or community.
Jon Bingol, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) – Has over 30 years of experience in community and economic development as well as extensive experience in Continuous Improvement and Community Engagement. He strives to help communities and organizations plan for their future and improve their current processes. Jon is involved in all aspects of Community and Economic Development. MRRPC assists communities with Comprehensive Plans, Land Use, Outdoor Recreation Plans, Hazard Mitigation Plans, Economic Development Plans, Housing Studies, Historic Preservation Plans, Workforce Development, Tourism, Strategic Planning and many other projects related to advancing our Region as a great place to live, work and play. He also conducts/facilitates educational sessions and community engagement meetings across the Region on various topics.
Meal for This Week
Lunch this week: Teriyaki Chicken, seasoned rice pilaf, stir-fry style veggies (GF and dairy free). Vegetarian option: Vegan Tofu curry with rice, crispy Tofu, mushrooms, carrots, peppers and broccoli
Coffee, ice tea, milk, and water available.
Guests are ALWAYS welcome! RSVP in advance to Niki Pohnlby the end of day Monday for the meal on Thursday.
Quarter 2 Invoices
Quarter 2 invoices were sent out the end of last week. Please reach out to Niki Pohnl if you did not receive your invoice. Note the following payment options:
FREE - cash, check, Venmo, Paypal
1% fee applies to payments through Quickbooks using your personal checking acount
3% fee applies to payments through Quickbooks using a credit or debit card
Nominations for Board of Directors
If you are interested in becoming more involved in the club as a member of the Board of Directors, please reach out to Past President Regina Siegelor Niki Pohnl. The board meets the second Monday of each month from 11:30am-1:00pm.
Squares available at meetings!
We invite you to sponsor of our sixth annual Youth Exchange Cultural Celebration planned for Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at The Dash Center, Onalaska, WI. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the cultures of our Coulee Region exchange students and to show them a warm welcome. The students have hand-picked recipes that represent their culture and are working with local chefs to give attendees the opportunity to taste “comfort food” from their country. There will also be hors d'oeuvres and 50/50 raffle.
Proceeds from the event go towards the exchange students’ end-of-year trip to the East or West Coast of the United States. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. We are grateful for any support that you can provide and we offer a variety of sponsorship levels to accommodate all levels of giving. We know that you have many choices regarding sponsorships. The Youth Exchange Cultural Celebration is valuable for our exchange students as well as our community and we hope that you will join us in sponsoring this event.
The Rotary Works Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. If you have questions, please contact me and I look forward to speaking with you.
CLICK HERE to sign up or view more upcoming opportunities
Welcome to Week ONE of RI’s Month of Economic & Community Development.
The message this week, is from Rotarian Jennifer Jones, Rotary Foundation Trustee’s Chair. Jones primarily touches on the continued efforts by The Rotary Foundation to make life better for the good of all. “Families face displacement, communities navigate climate shocks, and humanitarian needs arise both close to home and across the places we serve. These realities touch us. Yet even as the world shifts, Rotary’s response remains steady, compassionate, and effective. We don’t turn away from uncertainty — we meet it with purpose. The Rotary Foundation was not built for fair weather. Over the last decade, we have strengthened our approach: weaving sustainability into every project, expanding partnerships, and embracing evidence-based solutions. This evolution has made us more resilient and more community-driven. It’s why our comprehensive goal of raising $500 million across the Annual Fund, Endowment Fund, and PolioPlus Fund is not only ambitious but achievable. We’ve proved before that we could reach it, and momentum is building again. While global attention shifts from one crisis to the next, Rotary stays. We convene partners who might never otherwise collaborate. We mobilize resources quickly because our networks are already in place, built through decades of trust. And we strengthen communities not through one-time interventions but by sustained presence and shared commitment.
