It is with deep sadness to share with you that Peggy's husband John passed last week. More information is available at John Bruce Derrick - Coulee Cremation.
As we honor his memory, let us remember that even in times of sorrow, the light of inspiration from John's experiences will guide us through our journey forward. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Peggy and her family during this difficult time.
Thank you to Jed Olson for updating us at last week's meeting on the great work of ORA in our community! Every week, I am more amazed at the great work and generosity that thrives in our community!
Please join us this week as Valley View Rotarian Art McClure shares with us more about himself and his experiences with his classification talk!
Your Past President... knocking out one more bonus newsletter for your enjoyment! - Rolan
It's time to sign up for moontunes
The first MoonTunes concert of the season will be on June 6, just ONE MONTH from now. That means it’s time to sign up to volunteer and help with our big annual fundraiser. You should have received an email from Mark Etrheim with all the particulars and instructions. You can also use the link below to go to the signup page in ClubRunner. As always, if you have any problems, contact Mark; he will gladly help you sign up. (NOTE: you must be signed into ClubRunner for this link to work.)
Mark your calendars for an early morning of service and fundraising on Sunday, July 7th. We will once again be taking down the fencing at Riverside Park from Riverfest.
Date: Sunday, July 7th, 2024
Time: 7:30 am or earlier or later
Place: Riverside Park near the International Gardens
Bring: Working Clothes, gloves, wire cutter, throw away bag for the old zip ties
A sign-up sheet will be circulated, and online sign-up will be available.
VVR will be partnering with BBBB Bingo to co-host Bingo on June 12. We will earn $500 for our club through our efforts. This is a fun and easy fundraising event. BBBB Bingo is held at the Onalaska Omni Center from 6-8 pm. Doors open at 4 pm. The Clubrunner sign-up lists 2 shifts. The first shift from 3:45 - 6 pm will sell bingo cards as attendees enter the center. The 5:45 - 7:45 will sell raffle tickets for raffle prizes. There is no "selling" involved here. It's just gratefully taking money from generous bingo players. We will also have some Moon Tunes items to include as secondary prizes in the raffles. If you cannot volunteer or the volunteer positions are full, please bring your family and friends to support VVR and BBBB in a fun night of bingo!
Check out more information on the Ho Chunk addition to the Riverside Gardens!
This is a great project that aligns with the following Rotary Areas of Focus:
Promoting Peace: Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures.
Growing Local Economies: We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development
Protecting the Environment: Riverside International Friendship Gardens are a place of beauty and open to all
Some additional details about the project:
The garden will be west of the existing Cameroon Garden.
The project is being undertaken with the support and guidance of representatives of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
The garden will include flagstone benches made from local stone.
The garden will include native plants, including healing plants. and a sculpture depicting Betsy Thunder. Betsy Thunder was a native healer who, in the 1860s, used her healing skills to help both native peoples and the newly arriving settlers. Ho-Chunk representatives have expressed their desire to symbolize through this sculpture a sense of community, friendship, and healing. It has been proposing the sculpture of Betsy Thunder be made out of bronze in a kneeling pose on a native blanket.
The new garden will also include statues of trail marker trees. The Ho-Chunk, as well as other native peoples, would shape young trees in a particular way to indicate a direction or other information and when the trees matured, the “map” could be used for many years.
The large pathways (wheelchair accessible) will be made of the same materials throughout the Garden, reflecting that we are all part of the same good earth and we all have a responsibility to protect and preserve it for future generations. Smaller pathways will be made from ground limestone.
There will also be educational signage to help the public learn more about Ho-Chunk culture.
The City Parks Department estimates that approximately 200,000+ people access Riverside Park annually. Think of the incredible impact this new garden will have on those visitors: conveying our community's respect for the Ho-Chunk Nation and providing education about their culture while providing another place of beauty to further enhance the downtown area.
Please reach out to Rolan or other member of The Friendship Gardens if you would like to contribute or be involved in making this addition happen!
Great day Rotary friends,
We are excited to share with you the latest progress on the Nicaragua Rain Harvesting Project, which has been made possible through the generous contributions from Rotary clubs, Rotary club members, and Interact clubs. As of now, the international committee has successfully raised over $41,000 towards this meaningful initiative.
Our partners in Nicaragua have been diligently working on collecting crucial data and finalizing the intricate details of the project's training and implementation plans. At the end of April, Rayo de Sol and the Rotary Club of Matagalpa made visits to the benefitting communities of the rain harvesting systems. These efforts are crucial as they pave the way for our upcoming grant application, and the solutions will have a lasting impact on communities, providing them with access to clean water and sustainable practices. We are aiming to submit the grant application in the summer of 2024.
The committee extends its deepest gratitude to all the Rotary clubs that have contributed to this cause. Your support and dedication are instrumental in making this project a reality, and we are thrilled to be making significant strides towards our shared goal.
We will continue to keep you updated on further developments and milestones achieved as we move forward with the Nicaragua Rain Harvesting Project.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support and commitment to service above self.
Join us on Zoom here: https://laxymca-org.zoom.us/j/81822994924?pwd=ZzlVeHZoOUdXeGZwSkxvd0tmZXhWQ (Zoom Password is 469027)
Check schedule as we do not meet in person every Wednesday and at times meet at another location.
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