Area Rotary Clubs Avenues of Service Dinner

Thank you for celebrating what our area Rotary Clubs are doing!

SAVE THE DATE: August 13, 2025

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The Avenues of Service Event (also known as the Rotary Four Way Test Award Banquet) is a chance for ALL area Rotarians to gather together to recognize and celebrate what the nine area clubs are involved in. The event includes a formal dinner and program recognizing nominated achievements in the last year.  Bring cash or reserve your raffle tickets for the many different raffle baskets provided by each club, with proceeds benefitting Rotary Works Foundation.

Lifetime Achievement Award: All Rotarians are invited to nominate individuals for the "Lifetime Achievement Award" - You can nominate any Rotarian from any of the local Rotary Clubs.  Lifetime Achievement award is given to a Rotarian who best demonstrates a commitment to Rotary's Four Way Test and the Object of Rotary.  Among the criteria considered will be length of time in Rotary (10 year minimum commitment to Rotary and its programs); who demonstrates high ethical standards in his/her business or profession, and who is committed to the ideal of service in his/her personal, business and community life.  No Rotarian who has previously received this award may be nominated.

Past Lifetime Achievement Recipients:  2007 Jack Haase; 2008 Natalie Hartigan; 2009 Mac Dahl (deceased); 2010 Pat Stephens; and 2011 Dean Dickinson; 2012 Mike Klug; 2013 Elmer Grassman and Pat Smith; 2014 Dick Spencer and Dick Wieser; 2015 Dirk Gasterland and Phil Quillin; 2016 Brad Quarberg and Bill Pritchard; 2017 Dean McHugh; 2018 Leo Chaput and Chuck Hanson; 2019 David Amborn; 2020 cancelled ;  2021 Janie Morgan and Naomi Fruechte; 2022 Terry Bauer; 2023 Mike Desmond and Nancy Proctor, and 2024 Rick Kyte and Bob Allen.

Rotary Four Way Test  Award - Rotary Rising Star Award: The Four Way Test - Rotary Rising Star award is given to a Rotarian who best demonstrates a commitment to Rotary's Four Way Test and the object of Rotary. Among the criteria considered will be length of time in Rotary (a minimum of 2 years but not more than 5 years); a strong commitment to Rotary and its programs; someone who demonstrate high ethical standards in hi/her business or profession, and who is committed to the ideal of service in his/her personal, business and community life.

Past Rising Star Recipients: 2014 Johnny Brevik & Arien O'Heron;  2015 Matt Boshcka;  2016 Justin Garvey;   2017 Natalie Olsen and Spencer Niebur; 2018 Julie Nelson; 2019 Sarah Arendt-Beyer and Jeff Sexauer; 2020 Bob Buck; 2021 Monica and Steve Holman; 2022 Marc Roen; 2023 Danielle McAlister and Neil Wieser. and 2024 Bradley Burke and Shari Laffredi.
 

Rotarian of the Year Award:   Each club will select one of its members to receive the Rotarian of the Year award.  Rotarian of the Year award is given to a Rotarian who has given exceptional service to Rotary International and/or to the Rotarian's club or to the community in the name of Rotary.  Please contact your club's president to find out how they nominate your club's Rotarian of the Year. 

2023-24 Rotarians of the Year

Rotary Club of Caledonia - Sherry Sime
Rotary Club of Holmen - Justin Bodin
Rotary Club of La Crescent - Teri Booth
Rotary Club of La Crosse After Hours - Ashley Santolin
Rotary Club of La Crosse - Julia Behrenbeck
Rotary Club of La Crosse East - Jodi Ehrenburger
Rotary Club of La Crosse Valley View - Rolan Covert
Rotary Club of Onalaska Hilltopper - Brian Stephan
Rotary Club of Sparta - Megan Arnold

PAST Rotary Club of La Crosse Recognitions

2023-2024 - Rick Kyte (Lifetime Achievement)

2023-2024 - River Clean Up (Community Service)

2022-23 - Mike Desmoond (Lifetime Achievement)

2022-23 - Bruce Swanwick (Rotary Club of La Crosse, Rotarian of the Year)

2022-23 - Karnataka Dialysis Project (International Service; Collaborative with Holmen Rotary, Rotary After Hours, and Rotary Club of WI Dells)

2021-22 - Roz Schnick (Rotary Club of La Crosse, Rotarian of the Year)

2020-21 - Andy Bakkum (Rotary Club of La Crosse, Rotarian of the Year)

2019-20 - Bruce Swanwick (Rotary Club of La Crosse, Rotarian of the Year)

2019-20 - Sarah Arendt-Beyer (Rising Star)

2018-19 - Chuck Hanson (Lifetime Achievement)

2010-11 - Dean Dickinson (Lifetime Achievement)

Note: The 2011-21 Rotary year was the first year Rotary clubs individually recognized a Volunteer of the Year.

2010-11 - Gary Klien (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

2009-10 - Ben Wedro (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

2008-09 - Steve Doll (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

2006-07 - Jack Haase (Lifetime Achievment)

2002-03 - Michael Hartigan (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

1998-99 - Sharon Imes (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

1992-93 - Anita Froegel (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

1991-92 - Chuck Hanson (Overall Rotarian of the Year)

Rotary Avenue of Service Awards:  Five Avenues of Service Awards (one in each category) are presented annually to club projects that best exemplify Rotary ideals in the five avenues of service.  A club may nominate more than one project.  Please complete a separate form for each nomination.  Club Service, Community Service, International Service, Vocational Service and New Generations.