How long have I been in Rotary? I joined Valley View in 2010 after the fabulous Steph Fraase asked me to be her guest a couple times. As the mother of a toddler and preschooler at that time, I was looking for something beyond my daily trajectory between home and work. My parents instilled the importance of the "service above self" concept (although they were not Rotarians) with me and I was anxious to do my very small part in the local or world community. The benefit of joining when my kids were so small, which many other Rotarians have found to be true too, is that they have really grown up "with Rotary" and understand the importance of doing what you can, when you can. Interact was the first club/activity my son joined in high school.
My favorite thing about Rotary is two things:1) The weekly meetings to connect and learn. 2) The fact that Rotary provides the opportunity to anyone with a giving heart to make a difference through volunteerism and/or contributions, no matter what you have in terms of time or treasure. Honorable mention is the holiday party - so fun and thanks to everyone who makes it special.
Fave pet:Cheers to my previous pets who have gone over the rainbow (Kitty, Barky, Fergus) but my "favorite" pet is Bucky, a 9 lb. Shih Tzu who 100% directs the daily activities of our household - which includes my two kids (Peter, 19- freshman at UWM) and Brooke (17- junior at La Crosse Central). Bucky is also known as Bubba, Bubs, Buckers and Buck-buck.
Steve McCombs' cancer has returned and he is currently undergoing very tiring treatments. We wish him the very best outcome. He hopes to be back with us later this spring.
Troy Harcey is leaving the club as a result of professional conflicts - hope we'll see him at Moon Tunes and we encourage him to stop at a club meeting when he can!
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Club Social & Tortilla Making Fundraiser
Funds will help Ana with West Coast trip expenses. Ana will teach us the art of making tortillas. We will also enjoy other Mexican favorite foods!
When: Friday, April 11th, 6pm
Where: Sue & Mike Weidemann's, W7748 Volendam St, Holmen WI 54636
Fee: $35/person
Limited to 40 participants.
Sign up on sheet passed at meeting or email or text Nancy Schmidt, nkschmidt4965@gmail.com or 608-518-2666.
Ana's presentation link
Here is a link to the video about her state and Mexico that would not work at our March 12 meeting.
April 9 regular club meeting theme is Membership Day: Bring a new member! The program will be announced shortly.
April 11 at 6:00pm: Mike & Sue Weidemann are hosting a tortilla-making event as a fundraiser for Anna’s year-end trip. $35/person, Limit of 40 attendees.
April 30 (5th Wednesday) 3 Fun Facts game - more information just below.
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IFeed and Club IFeed Food Drive
Food Drive:Please bring a food or cash donations to our VV Rotary Club meeting this Wednesday, April 2nd. You can also bring donations to Logan HS on April 5th. The team that collects the most wins a prize and a warm & fuzzy feeling for doing good!
IFeed is this Saturday, April 5th,9:15am arrival at Logan HS. Packing is at 10am. Volunteers should wear a Red, White, or Blue T-shirt. We still need 3-4 more volunteers for our team. Family and friends welcome. If you want to be part of this event, please contact Nancy Schmidt (nkschmidt4965@gmail.com or 608-518-2666). Our team theme is Red, White & Blue for Food!
Thanks to the volunteers who
have already signed up:
Sandy H, Sue H, Matt M, Mark E, Greg C,
Amy B, Elle S and Nancy S.
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2025 Valley View Mobile Meals Delivery Calendar
Thanks to the Valley View Rotarians and Friends that
delivered food last week!
Shari Laffredi, Nancy Schmidt, Dana Alitz, Bruce Nuttall, Tom Byerly, Peggy Derrick, Ashley Santolin, Cinthia Shireman, John Dunnum, Kate Dunnum, Amy Bettis, Liz Huber, Sarah Huber, Scott Safranski
Nominations for this year's Avenues of Service Awards are due by May 1 this year. Watch this space for more detailed information soon. Now's the time to start thinking about possible nominees from Valley View!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
District Dispatch: The District is seeking more Rotarians to be involved in writing District Dispatch newsletter articles. If you are interested please contact Megs Lunn (admin.rotary6250.org@clubrunner.email). The April 2025 RI theme is "Environmental Month" and the May theme is "Youth Service Month." Submit articles to: admin@rotary6250.org
Sign up to Donate to theRotary blood drive on April 1st, NOTE: for every pint donated (or attempted) Rotary Works receives $10, and there are still 43 slots - $430 - available, so PLEASE sign up if you can!12-5 pm at Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church on French Island. Rotary will get $10.00 per pint of blood donated since The Rotary Foundation is a 501(c)(3). Web link to sign up: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=RotaryBlood
Habitat for Humanity Neighbors Day on Saturday April 26th 2025. Every year hundreds of volunteers help La Crosse residents complete yard projects they no longer can do themselves such as washing windows and trimming shrubs. Consider coordinating a group! Habitat for Humanity’s Neighbors Day is a family friendly, active, outdoor event that brings people together for a common good. Here is a flyer and link our webpage with information on volunteer registration as well as where community members can request to be serviced. A light breakfast and lunch will be served to volunteers.
TRI CON is April 25th- 26th in Brookfield, WI. Registration is still open.
Holmen Club Service Auction will take place on Friday, May 2. In the meantime, all Rotarians are welcome to visit the Holmen club for their "608 at 608" meeting on the 4th Wednesday of every month (6:08 pm at 608 Brewing in Holmen).
Miss RemarkAble pageant Saturday, May 10, 3:00 pm at the UW-La Crosse Union Bluffs Room (great supporters of Moon Tunes - let's show that we can support them too!) aptive.org/MissRemarkable
Rotary International Convention is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 21st - 25th.
Join us on Zoom here: https://laxymca-org.zoom.us/j/81822994924?pwd=ZzlVeHZoOUdXeGZwSkxvd0tmZXhWQ (Zoom Password is 469027)
Check the schedule as holidays, social events or off-site meetings can alter our regular meeting time or place.
Rotary Club of La Crosse
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