Right Sidebar with Full-Width Image Banner (Jul 02, 2023)

Important: Read First!

I know we've all been reminded several times that there will be no meeting at the YMCA this week. We are meeting at Riverside Park to take down fencing from Riverfest.

The problem is, if you are like me, early on Wednesday morning, before you are fully caffeinated, you'll get in your car, switch to autopilot, and before you can say "four-way test," you'll be pulling up in the YMCA parking lot...

Don't let that happen! Tape a note to your steering wheel, put your wirecutters on the driver's seat for a gentle reminder, or program the route into your self-driving car beforehand. Be creative, and don't forget our meeting is being replaced with this time-honored service activity.

Here is the list of things to bring with you to Riverside Park:

Work clothes
Work gloves
Old plastic shopping bags to hold used zip ties
Sunscreen and/or bug spray (optional)
A smile
An extra truck or trailer would be helpful.

Open World Update
After our last club meeting, the board of directors met via email and voted to allocate $2,000 towards bringing the visitors here from Georgia for the program in September. This means that the program costs are fully funded!

I can't emphasize enough how amazing this is. Just a few weeks ago, Shari was informed that the program was being canceled this year. Because of her persistence and support from the committee and club, we may be the only Rotary club in the country hosting visitors through the Open World program this year. Shari is awesome! We are awesome!

Rotary Avenues of Service Dinner

This year's Avenues of Service dinner will be on Aug 16 at the Cargill Room. To our new members: this is when area clubs get together to socialize and recognize our individual and group achievements. Big awards are given, with lots of friendly competition. You must RSVP by Aug 2 with a meal selection. The cost is $50/person with a cash bar.

Make your meal choice and reserve your place at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0944adab23a5fdc61-avenues#/

Retirement party for Brad Quarberg

Brad Quarberg, longtime Valley View Rotarian and UWL director of news and marketing, will retire on Jul 5. A retirement celebration will be held with UWL campus and community members from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Jul 7, at the Eagle's Nest, 1914 Campbell Road. Parking is free and available in Commuter Lot 9 (C-9). RSVP by Friday, Jun 30. Complete details: https://www.uwlax.edu/calendar/?e=28350

Mobile Meals Sign-Up

It's already July, and time to sign up for our next Mobile Meals shift, July 24-July 30. You can sign up here: https://admin.clubrunner.ca/11962/Volunteer/ManageVolunteerContacts?VolunteerSignUpId=a4a77e37-4835-4e35-95bf-2cacccaa4b0f&AccountId=11962

Moon Tunes Sign-Up

Lots more opportunities to help out at Moon Tunes!

https://admin.clubrunner.ca/11962/Volunteer/ManageVolunteerContacts?VolunteerSignUpId=770a95ef-0a46-4998-a52b-44fd5115c664&AccountId=11962

Moon Tunes Volunteer Coordinator(s)

The need is real. Do you want to help your club manage this mega fundraiser/community builder, but maybe scheduling conflicts or mobility issues make it hard for you to commit to Thursday evenings? Maybe hanging out in the summer heat with 4,000 of your best friends is not your jam? Then help us ensure VVR volunteers fully staff the event to keep it safe and joyful. You can do this from the comfort of your computer screen: make it a team effort and take some weeks off. You will not be expected to fill open slots yourself or penalized for them: organizers need to know where they are at and when to mobilize for more "boots on the ground."

Seeking Raffle Items for our Golf Outing Fundraiser

Auction items should have a value of at least $20, but higher is better :)

Prizes for golfers should come in 4 (4 players per team), such as four gift cards of the same value. A dozen golf balls work well since there are four sleeves per box.

Raffle items should be worth at least $100, but again, higher is better ;)

We want 3 to 5 items with values ranging from $200 to as much as $500. We already have a quilt (valued at least $500) and will likely arrange a golf-specific item.

College Football, NFL, or equivalent tickets are a good draw also!!!

Thank you for your continued support of this fundraiser that generated $9,000 in profits last year that we could donate to the Children's Hospital of Tanzania and the La Crosse Boys and Girls Club.

Not a golfer, you say... and want to be involved in this fantastic charitable experience to help us make an even more significant impact this year? Please see Bob Newberry or me, and we will find a way for you to help grow this event!

Kenya October 2023 Mission Opportunity

Past Rotarian and Friend of Valley View Rotary, Fred Nicklaus, is seeking persons interested in joining him on a trip to Kenya in October to assist Henry Johanga (who visited us last Winter) and his wife, who have committed their lives to educate and feeding children at his school, The Anointed Community Academy. Henri ministers to over 300 children and employs nine teachers and two other staff members. These children would otherwise not receive an education or have daily meals. Henri's commitment is powerfully changing many young lives every day. anointedcommunityacademy.org

The Aquinas Interact Club has taken on this project as one of their projects and has already begun raising funds.

The itinerary for this trip can be found on Club Runner at: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/11962/Documents/en-us/fa939b8e-3cd5-45fc-803d-77bd1804d8aa/1/.

For more information, Fred can be reached at: 608.792.4006.

Henry has shared the following photos of their school and the work being completed: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M7DoUDlj7ZrnfBYal3WhPDqisV5O9onB?usp=sharing

Thanks!

As past president, Rolan is now freed from newsletter duty, and you will be seeing me, Peggy Derrick, at the top of the message. Having just finished my first newsletter, I appreciate Rolan's efforts all the more. Hopefully, this will get easier and better. Comments, suggestions, and helpful critiques are welcome and can be sent to peggyderrick@gmail.com.