This week we will be mixing things up a bit with a “VVR Members Only” event! In response to requests for a little more time to get to know each other, and since we have a very tight window for our morning meetings, we will dedicate time to some one-on-one conversation through a fun activity. There will be prizes!
SAVE THE DATE: AUGUST 26
VALLEY VIEW SUMMER PICNIC
Please join us for an evening of great food, fellowship, and fun on Wednesday, August 26 from 5:50-7:30pm. Dinner will be provided, and we'd love it if you brought a favorite dessert to share. Please RSVP using this link so we can get an accurate headcount: Picnic RSVP
If you're able to lend a hand, we've also included an option on the sign-up form to volunteer for table and chair setup at 1:00 p.m. We'd appreciate a few extra hands to help get everything ready before the festivities begin. NOTE: There will be no regular meeting that morning due to the picnic. More to come on driving and parking directions.
We hope you can make it and look forward to spending the evening together!
Julie nelson in RAGbRAI Ride across iowa
From July 18-25, Valley View Rotarian Julie Nelson participated in RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycle touring event in the world. In the course of her 391.4 mile ride, Julie rolled into Boone Iowa and encountered some Rotarians selling watermelon! They are using their funds to build a new veterans center. Bravo to Julie and the Boone Iowa Rotary Club!
The community really missed the three concerts we had to cancel due to weather, so everyone came out in force this past week! The Executives and the Neil Diamond Tribute were huge hits, so thanks to everyone who made it happen!
moon tunes bike corral volunteers needed july 30
We will need 4 volunteers over two shifts for the Bike Corral on July 30. Shifts are 5:00pm to 7:00pm and 6:30pm to 8:30pm, and volunteers can work both shifts (preferred). The Bike Corral is located near the Rotary tent. Smith’s Bike Shop will set up the tent, bike racks, chairs/table and security tape around the perimeter of the corral. They will return at the end of the evening to pick everything up. Volunteers will be responsible for checking bicycles into and out of the corral. More detailed instructions are available in the Moon Tunes 2026 folder on ClubRunner: click the link below. See the Moon Tunes Volunteer Signup for a link to the signup list for the Bike Corral.
We have many opportunities remaining for shifts at Moon Tunes this season. Use the link below or log into ClubRunner and click on Volunteers then View Sign-up List. Signup for the Bike Corral on July 30 can also be found there.
Check out the remaining dates and sign up for fun!
The Downtown La Crosse Rotary Club will be collecting and recycling lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable devices that you’ve been holding onto in your junk drawers! Join us at Moon Tunes and bring your lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable devices including smartphones, tablets, electric toothbrushes, laptops, power tool batteries, rechargeable vacuum batteries, wireless headphones, and any other lithium-ion battery and help close the loop. The battery drop-off location is the Interact Popcorn tent.
Climate change is creating a global imperative to electrify everything from our vehicles to our grids. Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of powering all these solutions and are made up of the same metals like cobalt, copper, nickel and lithium. At the end of a product’s life, every rechargeable lithium-ion battery is a source for making new batteries and sustainable energy products in the US. By responsibly recycling our products and batteries, we keep them out of landfills, reduce the need to mine critical minerals, and help increase the security of our domestic supply chains. Note: Only undamaged lithium batteries can be accepted. Come recycle with us!
Please mark your calendars for our 16th annual golf outing August 3 at the Golf Club at Cedar Creek in Onalaska! Foursomes are welcome for golf, and anyone can attend the dinner and silent auction. Proceeds benefit the La Crosse Area Boys & Girls Club and IHP medical facilities in Tanzania. Contact Bob Newberry for registration or any questions!
invitation from holmen area rotary club
Jamie Thielker, Holmen Area Rotary Club President, invites you to Holmen Area Rotary's quarterly social Wednesday 7/29 5pm to 7pm at Lush in Holmen. They will have social time, chat about some Rotary projects, and provide a great opportunity to just enjoy a nice summer night together. They will also have some folks discussing forming a new Rotary Fellowship for those who love Supper Clubs and a good Old Fashioned cocktail. Rotarians from all clubs are welcome to be a part of the group. Lush will have their specialty Blackberry Sage Old Fashioned available for purchase that evening as well as several other drink options. Stop by Wednesday to see what it's all about! Please reach out to Jamie via the link below.
The Ho-Chunk Garden in La Crosse, Wisconsin, will be officially dedicated on July 30, 2026, honoring Ho-Chunk healer Betsy Thunder and celebrating Indigenous culture. The garden is dedicated to Betsy Thunder, a 19th-century Ho-Chunk healer who treated both Native residents and settlers, reflecting her legacy of community, friendship, and healing. The garden includes native plants and medicinal herbs that Betsy Thunder used in her healing practices, serving as a living tribute to her knowledge and the Ho-Chunk connection to the land. A bronze sculpture of Betsy Thunder, created by Oneida artist Debra Fabian, depicts her kneeling on a native blanket and is a central feature of the garden. Additional elements include trail marker trees and flagstone benches made from local stone, symbolizing guidance, community, and the responsibility to protect the earth. The pathways are designed to be accessible and reflect the unity of all people with the land.
AVENUES OF SERVICE DINNER
The 2026 Rotary Avenues of Service Dinner is a major event for local Rotary Clubs. Amy Bettis has already been named Valley View Rotary Club's Rotarian of the Year and Nancy Schmidt has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award. See the flyer below for information about the dinner, including food options. Deadline to register is July 30. Please join us in supporting Amy and Nancy at this event by using this link to register: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/4812/Events/2026-avenues-of-service-event
DISTRICT 6250 GRANTS - DEADLINE 7/31
If you are working on a District Grant please get your application submitted soon. The DistrictGrants Committee has received eight applications for projects for the 2026-27 Rotary year, with a total request for $44,000 out of an expected $75,000 of DDF available for districtgrants. With that in mind, a second round of applications for districtgrants has been opened. The deadline for District Grant project applications is July 31.
KABARA CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE TOURS
Tours are available on these dates:
Mon., Aug 4 3 - 4 pm , room 2076
Thur., Sept 24 9 - 10 am, room 2076
Valley View Rotarians are welcome to attend the tours. To sign up for a tour contact Valley View Rotarian Monica Herman: monica.herman@gundersenhealth.org or call 608-775-8472 or 608-863-1871.
rotary works foundation
The Rotary Works Foundation was founded in 1982 with the purpose of awarding grants for qualified activities. Through generous gifts from local Rotary Clubs (including VVR) and others, the Foundation makes a difference in the quality of life in our communities. Please click on the link below for more information. Grantees of RWF funds are listed in the ABOUT section after the list of sponsors.
