Rotary International President Holger Knaack has announced Rotary's theme for 2020-2021. Speaking at the International Assembly in San Diego, he revealed the theme in a speech to 529 District Governors-Elect who will lead Rotary's 1.2 million members worldwide. Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather “an invitation to endless opportunities,” said Knaack, who becomes president on 1 July. He emphasized that Rotary creates pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those they help through service projects. You can read or hear his speech, and download the theme logo and materials, at https://www.rotary.org/en/holger-knaack-sees-opportunities-rotary-change-thrive.

Bill Pritchard, Rotary 6250 District Governor
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware… joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware
Henry Miller
For Bill Pritchard, his awareness of Rotary did not truly begin until after he had already been a Rotarian for several years. A district governor-elect asked for a cup of coffee meeting. During the meeting Bill was asked how many District Conferences he had been to? Bill’s answer was none, which prompted this follow-up question: Why would you join an organization that you obviously care enough about to attend meetings with your busy schedule, but not care enough to give even one days-worth of investigation into the ways they serve and give back to their local communities?
Bill did not have a good answer. So, he attended his first District Conference in 2010. And he became AWARE… 😊
That awareness quickly grew to involvement. Since 2010, Bill has held numerous club and district posts and responsibilities – starting with becoming a Youth Exchange Counselor in his club in 2010 (still active) and the first Ethics Committee chair for District 6250 in 2011. He has served as the District 6250 Membership Chair, the District 6250 Youth Exchange Inbound Coordinator, and was President of the Rotary Club of La Crosse in 2014-2015. His worth at the district level expanded to the Zone and Multi-Zone levels – serving as Curriculum Director for the 19 districts of Central States Rotary Youth Exchange as well as the Assistant Rotary Zone Coordinator for Zone 28.
It is well known that Rotarians do not get involved for accolades (or the pay 😊), but Bill has been honored as Rotarian of the Year by both his Rotary Club (2012-2013) and District 6250 (2011-2012). He has been recognized for his efforts in the area of Membership (2016) and in assisting with the local area Interact Clubs (2016), and most recently was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rotary Works Foundation (2015-2016).
When not involved in a Rotary project, Bill is the Branch and Portfolio Manager for Stifel Financial. When he can, he enjoys finding moments to chase small white golf balls around a golf club near his home in Holmen, Wisconsin when not on his boat on the Mississippi River. Bill is blessed with two wonderful daughters, hundreds of Youth Exchange Sons and Daughters around the world, and a wife who he adores.
When not involved in a Rotary project, Bill is the Branch and Portfolio Manager for Stifel Financial. When he can, he enjoys finding moments to chase small white golf balls around a golf club near his home in Holmen, Wisconsin when not on his boat on the Mississippi River. Bill is blessed with two wonderful daughters, hundreds of Youth Exchange Sons and Daughters around the world, and a wife who he adores.
The La Crescent Rotary club is hosting a Celebration Caravan Parade on Saturday May 2nd @ 2:00! Show solidarity with your fellow La Crescent neighbors and friends in this remarkable and unprecedented time of fear and loneliness, and show your support for our First Responders, EMTs, Fire and Police personnel, educators, and our local businesses that have been so dramatically affected by the ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 / Covid-19.
The caravan will wind through residential neighborhoods in La Crescent. We will start at the Abnet Field/Ice Arena parking lot and end at Old Hickory Park. A detailed route can be found at:
http://caravanmap.rotarycluboflacrescent.org
http://caravanmap.rotarycluboflacrescent.org
VIEWING: You can view the caravan while maintaining social distancing from your front door or yard, OR walk or drive a short distance to the route.
REGISTRATION: Please see the link below to register. We hope for a huge response and may have to limit the number of vehicles. Please try to limit vehicles to one per organization or business.
BE CREATIVE and feel free to show your support with signs and decorations.
The Rotary Club is concerned that we not increase the chances of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and for this reason, we request you take the following steps:
- all participants will remain in their vehicles during the car procession
- maximum vehicle occupancy appropriate for the make and model of that vehicle
- cars will immediately disperse at the end of the procession.
- assembly will strictly be 30 minutes prior to the start time of the procession, with all participants required to remain in their vehicles for assembly.
- absolutely no candy, trinkets, or other materials are to be thrown or discharged from vehicles during the procession
- no floats, tractors, tractor trailers; only private cars - sedans, vans, minivans, SUVs, and pickups
Pat Stephens and Bill Hoel, along with other LaCrosse area Rotarians, have organized a Virus Food Drive to take place every Friday starting April 17th through May 29th.
Each drive will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and each week will be at one of 3 locations throughout the area. Those sites are Valley View Mall by Barnes and Noble, Big Lots and The La Crosse County Building.
To save confusion, Pat Stephens is going to be the clearinghouse for sign ups.
The food drive will be a DRIVE THROUGH style.
La Crosse County Health Department is teaming up with iFeed, Rotary, and Rotary Lights to hold “Food Drive Fridays”, a drive-thru style food drive where donors don’t get out of their vehicles
Collections will be held every Friday from 11am-1pm starting on Friday, April 17th through the end of May 2020. (April 17 & 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
Valley View Mall parking lot (by former Macy’s location), 3800 Hwy 16, La Crosse Downtown La Crosse:
La Crosse County Parking lot behind the Courthouse & Law Enforcement Center, 333 Vine St:
Big Lots parking lot located at 3960 Mormon Coulee Rd, La Crosse
Non-perishable foods are running dangerously low at The Hunger Task Force, and with the postponement of the National Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, they are in desperate need of canned goods for the programs they serve. Canned items needed include meats (tuna, chicken), peanut butter, soup, fruit, boxed side dishes (stuffing, rices, potatoes), breakfast items (cereal, oatmeal, etc), canned ravioli & spaghettios, pasta & pasta sauce. We believe that everyone deserves to have access to food and essentials, especially in times of uncertainty.
IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER PLEASE CALL PAT STEPHENS - 608.385.0490 OR pstephens@eagle.uwlax.edu
With recent decisions being made about gathering during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we want to reiterate our hope that everyone takes the necessary precautions to remain safe and healthy.
In an effort to help flatten the curve, and to encourage that we all stay home, we've decided to meet virtually starting March 20th, 2020.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uZckdOCqrzwv5sSfPhEMhlybO93V8_u-CQ
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uZckdOCqrzwv5sSfPhEMhlybO93V8_u-CQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
As the situation changes, we'll keep you updated along the way and hope to be meeting in person as soon as possible. Thank you!
Need help with Zoom Meetings?:
https://support.zoom.us/…/artic…/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting
Service Above Self
La Crescent, MN 55947
United States of America